Devoted to the Question: An Interview with Ben Bogin

To be devoted to the journey, to the essential questions that we seek to answer, rather than the destination is well, quite bluntly, way easier said than done. Ben Bogin, Associate Professor of Asian Studies and Director of the Asian Studies Program at Skidmore College and a practicing Buddhist, not only challenges himself to follow the questions rather than seeking the answers, but considers this core to his work as a guide. Ben’s presence was immediately calming to me, as he emanated humility and care for own conversation across the screen. His zen approach to guide work filtered throughout the interview, as his answers flowed seamlessly and magically tied together with a thread of intentionality.

“Great guides are completely devoted to the question and not providing answers. They have an eternal respect for the openness that questions provide and a patience to allow them to just be,” stated Ben. People are more traumatized and burnt out than ever before and seeking alternative ways of seeing the world and imagining their space in it. People are refusing to go forward with how things were and what is expected of them. They want a better and more intentional life - and that requires a devotion to seeking.

Ben spun a beautiful metaphor about openness to the quest, as illustrated through maintaining a flexible curriculum and program structure. Whenever Ben sets up a syllabus or an itinerary for a travel experience, he ensures there is space within that for improvisation for a needed conversation, an unforeseen opportunity or a chance encounter. The balance between flexibility and structure is crucial to planning two steps ahead but embracing the detours along the way. “As a guide, how do we envision what is possible with this group? How can each person stretch to fulfill the potential of the group?,” asks Ben. Leaving as much of the canvas blank as possible while also ensuring that everyone has the information they need to succeed is that balance.

As a guide, Ben also encourages his students to try big and fail spectacularly, to push their imagination of what is possible and support them with tools and skills needed to achieve that. “The best way I can do that is to be a lifelong learner myself. That way you are always experiencing what it’s like to do something new as well,” stated Ben.

In what ways are you free from expectations and devoted to the question?

How do you inspire the passion of a group?

Ben’s conversation left me with more questions than answers, but in the best way possible.