Before we left for our trip, we were asked to formulate an 'essential question' which would guide our exploration of the Indian education. The following was my question:
In what ways does spirituality affect Indian education? And how could such principals (oneness, non dualistic, circular thinking, ect.) be implemented in education to promote service-mindedness and greater equity in schools and the global community
Before I begin, I need to clarify what I am defining as spirituality. I use the words religion and spirituality very specifically. To me, religion is a very man created construct. An often intellectual, left-brained, understanding of Creator, creation and one's life purpose. Implicit in my categorization, since it is a human creation, religion is highly affected by cultural influences and current events and thus appears to be constantly changing and evolving. Spirituality on the other hand is more of a universal construct, highly individual and universal at the same time. A right-brained experience of something greater than yourself whether you wan to call that God, Science/Laws of Nature, the Divine. To me, spirituality transcends time and culture. It speaks to the individual but on a universal level. In my own personal world view, religion is the gateway through which many of us enter the house of spirituality. It is from the standpoint of spirituality that many of the world religions find there commonalities including the values of love, peace, kindness, compassion, connection to others, fostering a relationship or communion with the Divine/Nature and finding a purpose in life that is not only personally fulfilling but contributes to the happiness of others and all life on earth.
As I prepared to leave for India, I was expecting to encounter a country seeped in deep spirituality. I expected to FEEL a difference going there because I believed that in many ways, Eastern Religions (Hinduism and Buddhism) seem a little further along on the path to spirituality. Maybe that is because of how they are often portrayed; maybe its because Hinduism and Buddhism are both older religions than their western, Abrahamic religious counterparts or maybe I just have misconceptions of them since I they are not the dominate religions of our culture, so maybe do not see them in their totality like I do with the religions of my own culture. Nevertheless, these are the major differences I see between Eastern and Western religion (Western religion will be in parentheses). I will also include what I consider some of the natural consequences of these paradigms.
I believe the at many of these paradigms are results of religious influence on ideas of creation and death. In the West dualism was promoted as a part of the Abrahamic faith (which ultimately has its roots in Zoroastrianism) and the belief in right and wrong, heaven and hell, good and bad, God and Satan). And, it is easy to understand how linear thinking is promoted in such branches of Western religion such as Christianity who promotes that God created the world and will ultimately destroy it and you were born and you will die and then go to heaven, hell for all of eternity. Very absolute and final
In what ways does spirituality affect Indian education? And how could such principals (oneness, non dualistic, circular thinking, ect.) be implemented in education to promote service-mindedness and greater equity in schools and the global community
Before I begin, I need to clarify what I am defining as spirituality. I use the words religion and spirituality very specifically. To me, religion is a very man created construct. An often intellectual, left-brained, understanding of Creator, creation and one's life purpose. Implicit in my categorization, since it is a human creation, religion is highly affected by cultural influences and current events and thus appears to be constantly changing and evolving. Spirituality on the other hand is more of a universal construct, highly individual and universal at the same time. A right-brained experience of something greater than yourself whether you wan to call that God, Science/Laws of Nature, the Divine. To me, spirituality transcends time and culture. It speaks to the individual but on a universal level. In my own personal world view, religion is the gateway through which many of us enter the house of spirituality. It is from the standpoint of spirituality that many of the world religions find there commonalities including the values of love, peace, kindness, compassion, connection to others, fostering a relationship or communion with the Divine/Nature and finding a purpose in life that is not only personally fulfilling but contributes to the happiness of others and all life on earth.
As I prepared to leave for India, I was expecting to encounter a country seeped in deep spirituality. I expected to FEEL a difference going there because I believed that in many ways, Eastern Religions (Hinduism and Buddhism) seem a little further along on the path to spirituality. Maybe that is because of how they are often portrayed; maybe its because Hinduism and Buddhism are both older religions than their western, Abrahamic religious counterparts or maybe I just have misconceptions of them since I they are not the dominate religions of our culture, so maybe do not see them in their totality like I do with the religions of my own culture. Nevertheless, these are the major differences I see between Eastern and Western religion (Western religion will be in parentheses). I will also include what I consider some of the natural consequences of these paradigms.
- non dualistic (vs. dualistic..."right and wrong/ good and bad") ...Non Dualism encourages finding your own creative and individual path, also tends toward multiple solutions versus black or white, "one way or the other" options. Dualistic thinking also tends to encourage judgement, rigidity and conformity because of the belief that something is either right or wrong.
- circular (vs linear thinking)...Circular thinking tends towards the perspective that not just one thing leads to the other but that all things are connected. The end result is not so final, instead it is simply an outcome that has happened before and will be repeated once again. The process of learning and knowledge then is more along the lines of something remembered from an internal, divine source instead of learned form an external divine or superior source. Linear thinking also promotes more logical, though limited thought whereas circular thinking promotes creativity since thinking is not limited by logical, cause and effect and simply learning form what has come directly before
- Oneness, Connection and unity (vs. separatist focus on the individual)...this perspective is connected to circular thinking and non dualism. It tends towards holistic perspectives since there is the idea that "all is one" and "as within, so without." I also believe this is due to an eastern focus on the unseen/mystic world versus the western influence from the scientific revolution, on the material world...only what can be perceived with the 5 senses is trusted. This also tends towards community based thinking versus that of soley what is good for the individual
- allowing and letting go (vs. force)...this perspective is connected to the ideas that you are your only obstacle since the answer lies within you already and the only thing that is blocking it is your own thoughts. The point of meditation being to let go, and be in the moment. To allow things, including your own thoughts and feelings, to be instead of trying to control them and force yourself to think or feel a certain way
- focus on feeling and intuition (vs. intellect and rational thoughts)...tends towards compassion, and trust versus constant criticism/judgement and searching for evidence to support decisions and actions. This paradigm also supports a focus on valuing the what is unseen versus the material world...a pursuit of wisdom (the application and deeper, more eternal meaning of knowledge) versus a pursuit of "facts" or material possessions
I believe the at many of these paradigms are results of religious influence on ideas of creation and death. In the West dualism was promoted as a part of the Abrahamic faith (which ultimately has its roots in Zoroastrianism) and the belief in right and wrong, heaven and hell, good and bad, God and Satan). And, it is easy to understand how linear thinking is promoted in such branches of Western religion such as Christianity who promotes that God created the world and will ultimately destroy it and you were born and you will die and then go to heaven, hell for all of eternity. Very absolute and final
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