St Thomas More's Catholic School Newstead
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125 Abbott Street
Newstead TAS 7250
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Email: stm@catholic.tas.edu.au
Phone: 03 6337 7200

Reflection

THE SOUND OF ONE HAND CLAPPING

“What is the sound of one hand clapping?”—a question that has puzzled and frustrated many. For most, it seems like an unanswerable riddle, a piece of Eastern mysticism designed to confuse rather than enlighten. But as with many deep questions, its purpose is not to be answered outright but to shift our way of thinking.

At its core, this koan invites us to recognise that sound, like all things, is relational. A single hand cannot clap. It takes two. The meaning of the koan, then, is not found in a clever response but in the realisation that nothing truly exists in isolation.

This idea resonates far beyond Zen philosophy. Science, particularly quantum physics, points to the same truth: at the most fundamental level, the universe is built on relationships, not separate, independent pieces. Particles don’t have inherent properties on their own—they only take on meaning in relation to something else. Reality itself is shaped by interactions. This concept has profound implications for how we understand our world. We often think of things—objects, people, even ourselves—as fixed and independent. But what if our true nature is not as isolated individuals, but as beings who exist through our relationships with others?

In a school, this idea is particularly powerful. A student’s growth is not just about their individual effort, but about the support and challenge they receive from teachers, classmates, and family. A strong school culture is not just a collection of separate people working in the same building—it is the sum of relationships, the moments of connection, encouragement, and learning.

Like the sound of a clap, learning and growth happen in interaction. A student thrives not because they are brilliant in isolation but because they are engaged in a network of teachers who inspire, friends who encourage, and challenges that stretch them. As educators and parents, our role is not just to impart knowledge but to foster the connections that make learning come alive.

The Christian faith echoes this truth. We are not meant to walk alone. We are called to live in community, to support and be supported, to give and receive. Jesus’ teachings continually point to the importance of relationships—love your neighbour, serve one another, build each other up.

Thich Nhat Hanh, the great Buddhist teacher, called this interbeing—the idea that nothing exists by itself, only in relationship with everything else. Just as a wave cannot exist without the ocean, we cannot exist without one another. It is in our connection to others that we find meaning, purpose, and growth.

As we navigate the school year, may we remember that no one flourishes in isolation. Our greatness, as individuals and as a community, is found in our relationships.

Mr Casimir Douglas

Saturday 8th February, 2025

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