Stories of Jivavarta: Two Stones

The first stone hit the water with a great splash, drawing every eye; the second sank in silence, becoming one with the river.

Koboa was a very smart young man. So when his village wanted to send somebody to visit the famous school in the capital city Trishala and learn about new ways of life, they picked him.

Today, the whole tribe was gathered on the river bank to see off Koboa. Though many from the capital had visited his tribal village in the past, Koboa was the first one from his tiny village to visit the capital town. His father, Gilot, looked at Koboa. He felt extremely proud of his son. Suddenly, Gilot noticed nervousness on Koboa’s face.

"Why are you nervous? Are you not pleased to see a new place? To learn new things?” Asked Gilot.

"I am happy, but ..." said Koboa.

"But what?" asked Gilot anxiously

"But, but I have seen town folks who visited our village in the past, I look so different from them.”

"Are you ashamed of your roots?" asked Gilot. There was anger in his voice.

"No father, I am proud of my roots, but I don't want those people to make fun of me, because I look different."

Gilot pondered for a moment. But before he could say anything, boat moved in the deep waters.

“Koboa look, Koboa! Look here!” shouted Gilot.

Koboa looked from the boat.

Gilot picked up a stone and threw it in the water. The stone hit the water with big splash, and everybody looked at the stone. Then Gilot took the second stone and immersed it into the river and slowly let it go; the stone sank and became part of river without making a noise. Nobody noticed this time.

Koboa saw what Gilot did, but he couldn't understand. He kept thinking about his father’s actions during his entire journey.

Koboa reached the capital city after two days. As he got down from the boat, he noticed many people were staring at him. Some kids started following Koboa, laughing and calling him names. Koboa hated this; his fear had came true.

He had made quite a splash, it seemed. Splash? He now remembered his father’s words, the splash of the first stone, and realized what his father had wanted to tell him.

He went to the market, bought a local attire, and changed into it.

When Koboa reached the school, he looked like was one of the locals. He talked to them, ate with them, and made many friends over the next month.

A few days before his return to the village, Koboa changed back into his tribal attire, and went to the school. Everybody looked at him with surprise. A few laughed at him; he ignored them. Most just asked him about his attire — he proudly told them that this is his tribal attire. His friends were curious, and asked many question about his tribe. He answered happily, and invited them to his village. Many accepted.

When Koboa went back to his village, his father came to receive him at the river. "How did it go? Did other people laughed at you? Are you all right" asked Gilot, concerned.

The homecoming of Kaboa: A journey from the fear of being different to the pride of being understood.

“Everything went fine, Father! Town people are very curious about our tribe. Many of them will be visiting our village in the future."

“It's all because of you, Koboa” said Gilot.

“It’s all because of your second stone, father. It taught me how not to impose my difference on others in a splash, but to let it sink slowly.”  Said Koboa.

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Sayings of Jivavarta

The ignorant man arrives in noise, like a small stone cast into water—raising ripples that soon fade. The wise man arrives in silence, like a great stone resting in the river—shaping its course without disturbing its peace.

— Shon Mehta 

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The Philosophical Core of the Two Stones

I. Phronesis (Practical Wisdom)

This Aristotelian concept is the "master virtue." It is the ability to discern how to apply general principles to specific, real-world situations.

• The Story: Gilot’s lesson wasn't just about "hiding"; it was about the wisdom of timing—knowing that a truth presented at the wrong time (the splash) is often rejected.

• Wiki Link: Phronesis

II. Wu Wei (Effortless Action)

The Taoist principle of "non-striving" or acting in alignment with the natural flow of a situation rather than forcing a result through sheer will.

• The Story: The "first stone" is the ego forcing its presence. The "second stone" is Wu Wei, where Koboa yields to the city’s customs to eventually "soften" their hard prejudices from the inside.

• Wiki Link: Wu wei

III. The Phenomenological "Look"

Sartre’s theory on how being watched by others can turn a free human "subject" into a categorized "object" or a spectacle.

• The Story: By changing his clothes, Koboa shattered the "objectifying" gaze of the townspeople. He forced them to see his humanity before they saw his "difference."

IV. Upaya (Skillful Means)

A Buddhist concept describing the use of a temporary, pragmatic strategy to lead others toward a higher understanding or truth.

• The Story: The local attire was a skillful placeholder. It wasn't Koboa's "final truth," but a necessary bridge that allowed the townspeople to become ready for the deeper truth of his tribal culture.

• Wiki Link: Upaya

V. Desha-Kala-Patra (Contextual Ethics)

The Indian framework stating that the rightness of an action depends on the Place (Desha), Time (Kala), and Circumstance (Patra).

• The Story: Koboa realized that while his tribal pride was a constant, the expression of it had to change to suit the specific context of the capital city to be effective.

Shon Mehta is an author and philosopher known for creating the Jivavarta Universe, a fictional setting used to explore sociopolitical themes, human resilience, and moral philosophy. Her work has transitioned from contemporary fiction to foundational academic material used in several countries. Rough Hewn is her series of reflective essays, where she explores the personal memories and philosophies behind her writing.