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Learning - by Sundar Srinivasan
By - 9:06 AM Saturday 28 January 2006
Learning is a critical aspect of life.We are all learners and teachers at the same time.The process of learning is not what we learn at schools. It could be that too.To me, learning about learning has been a big learning by itself.It has opened myriad doors for me and made me a more accepting individual.The Rig Veda is very inspiring when it proclaims, "Let noble thoughts come to us from all sides."
some learnings I have had on "learning" itself"
...never pre-judge, pre-suppose.judgements and closed minds are the most common inhibitors for the learning process.
...be aware of the contexts and the assumptions.Our "beliefs" are our assumptions.
...every speck in creation is a potential teacher.
...our perceptions and mental formations can inhibit genuine learning.Awareness is critical to learning aspects.
...learning is an attitude in humbleness; we never know all that is there to know.we need not be here in this multi-media school if that were the case.
..teachers persist in our lives until we learn what we have chosen to learn.Hence , we observe repetitive patterns recurring time and again.
...unlearning is a critical part of learning.
...the process of learning is joyful, a voyage in discovery ; not self-condemnatory or guilt-provoking.
...to be a learner is a choice in our attitudes, our dispositions towards life and its' events.
...we are most resistive to events which serve as our most critical teachers more often than not...the learnings we need most are very often the ones we are most resistive to also.Sometimes, we are resistive to some people; we dislike them, they can be critical sources of our learnings too.
...where we look is as important in an event as how we see it.We often bark up the wrong tree in our perceptions and miss the learning.
....not a coincidence that we have 2 ears and 1 mouth. to listen more and to talk less...and listening requires a silence within.
...we live to learn as we learn to live.
.................and so much more.....
written as a tribute to the process itself.....please add your insights ..
Posted By - 9:06 AM Saturday 28 January 2006
Comments
Hi Sundar,
What a beautiful expression of the essence of learning! Very well written.
I can say this from my personal experiences so far that, there is so much to learn all the time. From people, from life, from nature, from anything actually. And Anusheh, I so agree with you when you say that we tend to miss the point of an unpleasant experience as we keep getting pulled into the dark dungeons of pain and misery. To be able to come out of it, see the bigger picture and learn your lesson is the whole purpose of the experience and that becomes the most difficult thing to do at that point of time.
We have always been told - Forgive and Forget. But I would rather - 'Forgive but NOT Forget the lesson'!
Cheers to the wonder of learning and being alive! :)
Posted by
Dear Sundar,
'we are resistive to some people; we dislike them, they can be critical sources of our learnings too.'
So very true. We always learn from our bad experiences. Bad experiences make us learn so many new things. One of the promblems in our culture is that as young people we are not allowed to learn from our own experience.
I saw this reall nice cartoon in a magazine. The picture showed a lady standing in front of two blackboards. One showed the tally of Successes and the other showed a tally of Learning Experiences. The latter outnumbered the former.
Posted by
tx anusheh, shubhosree and sohini...yes, sohini, learning through experiences is not readily acceptable, but expereinces have a way of forcing themselves into our lives if we need the learnings enough...
Posted by on January 28, 2006 01:02 PM
A priceless tribute Sundar to living itself.
Thanx
Posted by
Post a comment
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criscommented ( 2:10 PM Monday 28 April 2008) on
HOW TRUE IS IT? -
vijaya rajagopalcommented ( 2:20 PM Sunday 16 March 2008) on
how you see the it depends on that the spirituality would like to know more about this subject -
Miekecommented ( 4:57 PM Monday 10 March 2008) on
Dear Aachi, Thanks, found the book but haven't any idea how to order it from them, because it is only ... -
Harbcommented ( 4:00 PM Monday 10 March 2008) on
Aachi, please write at the following email address: harb_singh@yahoo.com -
Aachicommented (12:18 PM Monday 10 March 2008) on
Dear Mieke, Harb, Lots of love to you.:) The book is in the Young Adult Fiction category of wisdomtree. Harb, ... -
Miekecommented ( 5:17 PM Saturday 08 March 2008) on
Hi Harb, I have been reading the blog just now. This one on one conversation is very straightforward and I ... -
Miekecommented ( 5:15 PM Saturday 08 March 2008) on
Dear Aachi, This is certainly a wonderful verse, straight from the heartphone :) Life, in all it's simplicity mostly offers ...
Sundar that's a really clear and comprehensive post. Truly everything that we come across and that happens to us is a message of learning about ourselves. Unfortunately most of us get so caught up in the event that we totally miss its point. I suppose fear leads to reaction and in reaction one can never learn. Its only when one learns to respond, to understand events not as personal attacks by some cruel god but instead as messages of light and love that true learning is possible.
Thanks for that.
love
anusheh