Birth and Death

During my yoga teacher training course, Hansa Ma gave us beautiful definition of life. 

That life, which we consider happens between birth and death. In simple and short story, she said life is what happens between 'B' and 'D'. Life is something which happens between birth and death. that is generally what we know. But we forget there is a 'C' in between. C for Choices. This choices is what makes life. 

The Mother of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry says

Life is a perpetual choice between truth and falsehood, light and darkness, progress and regression, the ascent towards the heights or a fall into the abyss. It is for each one to choose freely.

29 February 1952

On day of my birth, I have chosen and consecrate all to Parampriya. 

The 35th year of this physical existence and year 2021, I wish to work upon few things and as a practice have taken few steps. Sharing those steps below.

1. Goal and area of work - practice & development for the year can be summed up in 5 C's *
• Capacity (mainly at physical level but not limited there.)
• Collaboration 
• Creation
• Concentration, and
• Consecrate (अर्पण किया हुआ) 
2.  In process I have made a list of 108 things vaibhav would be creating in the year 2021. {even after writing 108, it seems list can go beyond 108.} To fulfill all the need of the creation, there require devotion of time and energy to lot of learning & mastering few art as well as create.
3. To fulfill above goal, I have taken a break from almost all forms of Social Media (Whatsapp, Instagram, Facebook). I wish, I could have taken some more other account deletion too but have kept them open. They are LinkedIn and Telegram. Gmail is unattached yet due to technical complications. 
4. Above social media withdrawal is also part of practice to observe some of the internal working, of whose I have got addicted to. Once 108 are done, I would be back, and in between just to test my own mental & emotional balance and time management, might appear for few days/week. but as of now, and at least for next few weeks, I am away. 
5. There are other choices which are also taking place, but its better to do them rather speak beforehand. 
6. Already collaborating with few people to create courses, material, program. If you are interested to collaborate in learning journey or want to learn along with me - drop an email on vaibhav@love2learn.xyz I will share the list and we can have conversation on how, what to build up. 

Yesterday night, I went through all melodrama of neurons and finally plunge into the virtual death for new creation. This whole experience is just amazing and every passing moment, I can see how much mind is accustom to living and dearly clings to it. How Intellect looses the power and serves the senses, making us do things which we want and we do not want.

For some of you this might look shocking, strange or silly. May that be so. 

Hope to see you here and few places more real. and May be on virtual world after gap of time.

* C - of choices and other C's is something I love. C of Carbon is second largest constituents of the body and what is left on earth after we pass away. One of the program I ran last year CiC, in which 14 people got chance to interact & learn is wholly based upon the choices and consciousness. This year, I wish to design it in collaboration with participant & make it more experiential with real projects.

  

शिक्षक से आचार्य : परिवर्तन

शिक्षक से आचार्य : परिवर्तन

आज से बारह (१२) साल पहले शिक्षक का पेशा मेरी परिघ् के बाहर था. हलकि उसे सन्मान की नज़र से देखते थे, पर कभी उसे पेशा नही बनाना चाहते थे. हद तो तब हुवी जब हमने शिक्षक प्रशिक्षण के ३ वर्षीय अभ्यासमे जुट गये, ९ साल पहले. वहा भी जब पूछा गया 'अभ्यास मे जुड़ने का कारण बताओ?' और मेरे उत्तर मे उन्होने पाया की मे शिक्षक नही बनना चाहता. तो भैया थोड़े हमसे नाराज़ भी हुवे थे. उस समय अगर कोई मुझे शिक्षक बोल दे तो मुझे चीड़ आती थी. वह शब्द मुझे बेहूदा, घटिया लगता था. मेरे ही समुदाय (मनुष्य) के कुछ लोगो ने उसे शायद ऐसा रूप दे दिया हे. शिक्षक - जो शिक्षा करता हे. वो जो पगार ले कर मस्त हे, घ्यान और ज्ञान  उपार्जन से त्रस्त हे. ऐसी कुछ छबि थी. और मुझे ऐसा चिला-चालू तो बनना नही. करना भी अलग हे, पढ़ना अओर पढ़ाना भी अलग से था. मिराम्बिका के शिक्षक प्रशिक्षण कार्यक्र्म मे जुड़ने का इरादा कुछ वही था, अपने को बदलना, थोड़ा अनुशासन जीवन् मे ले आना और योग के मार्ग पर चलना.
यह चीड़ २०१० से २०१८ तक रही. अभी कोई शिक्षक कह के बुलाता हे तो बस हलके से मुस्कुरा देता हू. क्यूंकी मिराम्बिका माई ने बहुत कुछ बदल दिया हे.
एक बदलाव का ऐसा किस्सा आज 'शिक्षक दिवस' पर टीचर प्लस मगेज़ीन मे छप्पा - यह लिंक से आप भी पढ़े.

अब यह मेरी मिराम्बिका माई ने बताया की बनना हो तो आचार्य बनो.
आचार्य शब्द का प्रचलित अर्थ तो सब जानते हे, जो अपने आचरण से द्रष्टांत दे. शिखना उसी से होज़ाये.
दूसरा अर्थ नियमो को तोड़ के आज मेरे सामने आया. जो सब कुछ श्रेष्ठता के, सत्य के चरण मे अर्पित कर दे वो आचार्य. क्यूंकी श्री माँ ने कहा 'उसे एक योगी और नायक बनना पड़ेगा, जो अच्छा शिक्षक हे|'  और योगी तो सब कुछ अर्पित कर देता हे श्री के चरणमे.

यह परिवर्तन सरल नही हे, बहुत कठिन हे. मज़े की बात यह हे की बच्चो के लिए प्यार. और  बच्चे ही हमको बदलाव के लिए याद दिलाते रहते हे. यह परिवर्तन कभी पूर्ण होगा की नही? यह बता पाना आसान नही हे. शायद जिंदगी भर यह क्र्म चलता रहे. मेरी माँ ने सब देख रखा हे. और इसीलिए एक सुंदर सी जगह पर, कुछ बच्चो के संग, यह परिवर्तन को जारी रख पा रहा हु.

  

21st Centuries Skills : Self - Learning

21st Centuries Skills : Self - Learning

Past few weeks most of us have seen advertisement of idea cellular's ‘IIN’, Idea Internet Network. Apart from common mistake like adding extra word like network with internet, adv tells many things. It gives us message of you can learn anything, without any constraints of social or financial or distance or learning pace. One might easily get carried away about how much people can learn and achieve. Yes, you can make -believe Indian consumers. Yes, you can sell any product in India if you have some quirky mind, loud the point voice and ability to show bigger dreams.

Never mind, I am not going to talk about advertisements and marketing here. My sole purpose is to put in front one of the unrated skill and underdeveloped skilled in India. IIN  adv. only relation with this article is pointing towards that skill, which educationalist has termed as self-learning. If any one has studied national policy documents of education, one will find high-level of importance given on developing abilities of self-learning. To quote from Yashpal Committee’s famous report ‘Learning without Burden’ of 1993

“…inadequate programmes of teacher preparation lead to unsatisfactory quality of learning in schools. The content of the programme should be restructured to ensure its relevance to the changing needs of school education. The emphasis in these programmes should be on enabling the trainees to acquire the ability for self-learning and independent thinking.”

It points importance of acquiring the ability of self-learning for teachers, so they can help children to develop the same. Not just in India, all over the world it has been kept as most essential skills of 21st century. Whether it is UNESCO or OECD, all of them have argued and made brilliant programs with lots of funding from world bank and other organization. With advent of Computers and Internet, it seems that we can achieve those target for Self-Learning. Still in reality picture is quite different. Instead of showing you a gloomy pictures and status of Self-Learning, I am showing you major problems one faces in self-learning. Problems which our education system fails to solve and we can make an attempt for solving it by understanding what is self-learning and doing self-learning.

Self-learning requires high level of motivation, a passion for learning. Passion for not just getting success and earning money but a hunger to learn, for joy of learning and to do something different. That comes when Individuals are allowed to learn what they truly want to learn or by those teacher who can inspire student to learn. How to Create and develop such an interest? Our society whose prime importance is clearing exams for success and money, will be able to provide freedom and environment where learning can take place?

Self-learning requires one to take responsibilities of one’s learning, from deciding what to learn? how to learn? when to learn? from whom to learn? and all other decision making in path of learning when you get choices. Do we [teenagers and youngsters] have a right or even say in this?

Self-learning requires better commitment, an unmatched discipline, sincerity, confidence on oneself and many other traits. Do We have such commitment and discipline within us?

- Vaibhav (27 May 2015)

Teaching Style vs Substance in education

Namaste,
In past few days I wrote, talked, did and reflected a lot about education. From the need of education till the satisfaction of those needs. Learning and Teaching Style, was a topic where some more reflections took place. Started questioning the belief system, research proven work which endorse both side. Tried to see what actually matters in learning style in one of the previous blogs.
{
Links of previous posts:
Why style matters in education? Or does it really matter? http://godsknow.blogspot.com/2018/09/why-style-matters-in-education-or-does.html

Learner, need and style http://godsknow.blogspot.com/2018/09/presence-makes-difference.html
}

In this post, in short will share about teaching style. Actually there is nothing more to say. You might have just guessed it right from the title itself.

Style basically means a manner or a way in which something is done.It's a phenomenon emerging from a person's presence. Which can be recorded and put forth as a typical method.
A lecture method or discussion way or experiment or hybrid or demonstrate or delegate or whatever other names.
All can be used depending upon the nature of the subject. But demand of meeting learners style is something different altogether. That can only be meet when learner and supporter has a freedom. From teachers perspective it's more about bringing subject alive. That's only possible when one has a right knowledge of the subject. That's only possible when person has lived that subject and still humble enough to live with the young fellow learner. To dive deep and find out hidden meaning beneath. Teacher needs to bring presence of such truth , knowledge that makes style work.

We can not put one teaching style against the other. As every teaching style has its own pros and cons. So teacher need to be careful while planning the lesson.

Still, when just followed those step, as mentioned in method. To follow a particular style. Result ought not to be the same as expected emerging from the presence, a style mastered or generated by a person.

Person, in our case teacher's presence. His/her own life and living, not the level of acquisition of information but level of understanding brings the spirit in any method. Bringing this spirit, knowledge and seeking of truth into the methods makes it a style.

We cannot denounce or ridicule any method. All depends upon readiness of a learner and presence of a facilitator.

Whichever style best suits the personality. One which comes very naturally spontaneously should be the teaching style of that teacher. Should not break head and heart too much on completely changing and remodeling one style. Teacher need to be open and once a while see, try and improve skills of other teaching style without living own.

Changing a mere teaching style will not help to meet the need of the learner as well as of the teacher. Rather taking inward journey and finding ones own unique way. along with that teacher continues the search of truth, alignment of thoughts, speech and action ... Are things which will bring presence into the method..
That's the real substance , a core and not just an outer decoration of style.

To start journey of bringing substance. Here is a few task (sharing again) which can be initiated.
21-day challenge for teachers http://godsknow.blogspot.com/2018/09/21-day-challenge-for-teachers.html

Learner, need and style

On Saturday, I paused while writing the blog post on style of teaching and learning.

Today, little more insights, an understanding has been developed on same ground.

Before diving deep into the topic
some process and purpose needs to be stated in terms of education, teaching and learning.

In very simple words there is a person who feels a need to know, do, develop for own progress so one can do something more better or do something which never done before, know something little better. To be able to participate in worldly affairs. And list can go on from knowing things within to knowing things without.

In this process there is a learner, who has a need. And someone or something who is able to help in fulfilling the need. This someone or something , can be friend, teacher, mother, father, book, songs, movie, experience..

Unlike taking both the strand (learner and learner supporter /teacher/others) together for this part, we will take learner in our center.

A process of pause and listening is a first thing to be done. Listening here stands for observing and finding , hearing those parts.
What we going to pause and listen is real need of learner.
This pausing and listening can be done by learner himself or herself, in consultation and guidance. In case of small children  the Parent can do pausing and listening. (Here small children taken are below 10 and maximum age allowed is18, that to progressively keeping child invovle in the process and giving freedom. Some might get wise by age of 14 too and may be before.) It's a role of parent to find real need of a learner and not to impose some demands as per own, society or any other agency.

Needs of learning is what needs to kept at center.
To meet this need learner has to take certain steps, put ones hand, heart and head into it. In simple word use whole body, mind , intellectual complex system fir this learning.
What we have seen style is some outer behaviour and ways.
When we work in the world, whole of our life... It's not that we only use one sense or one particular part.

When I am accessing information and knowledge, it's all sense.. through all sense only an integral picture can be made. Some sense will work predominently while few in dorment. With activities it can be different.

Finding out predominent style of Learning. Then people defend and give as much as possible information to instruction to knowledge through that style only.
This sounds like, if I am visual learner I will use eyes more than the ear.
Is it possible?
Such lope sided attempt builds and slowly brings disharmony.

Knowing ones predominent style is good. But should not be made a case for a learner in terms of not developing and using other ways of learning. Rather focus can be refinining and making instruments better in all domain. Such should be our approach. Mastering one side will easily lead to master others too.  If practiced sincerly, one can develop more.

Many time it has been seen finding such learning style give another fancy of working in one direction and trying that method absolute on other. Interest of learner also has some stack in it. Learner might not have got that sense of need completely. So much that learner can identify a right support who can help in fulfilling those needs. Whether it can be teacher or a book ot a video or internship.
If learner doesnt have a choice to select support to fulfill need, learner mind should always keep higher end of aim, the need. Also other in any ways not suggest about or disrespect learner support. Not to tell that such teacher or books are useless and degrading talk. If learner finds such things , tries to find a way, change the support or develop such capacity through which it can adapt the teaching style. Asking someone else to change is much more difficult and expect other to change. It's easy to change oneself. Here to one is not actually changing ones style just enhancing less predominent style or using them more. Which eventually going to produce better result and develops learner into much better learner.

In short we, learner, parent, teacher need to come out of mindset that only and only through this way I can learn something. Finding style is good but macking it exclusive is not. Rather one can work in direction of improvement holistically. Sense development and awareness through body program are such things which can help learner to become better adapter to learning in different forms and style.

PS: at the end quenching the need of learning is the goal. One cannot give away learning from some very knowledgeable or experience person just because it doesn't match or doesn't cater to our learning style.
I haven't done editing and reading thrice this time.. if any mistakes , pls help..

Link of next post , teaching style
Style vs Substance in education http://godsknow.blogspot.com/2018/09/style-vs-substance-in-education.html

Junglee

After spending three hours in jungle, I felt I am junglee.

I want to sing aloud,

याहू!
चाहे कोई मुझे जंगली कहे
कहने दो जी कहता रहे
हम प्यार के तूफ़ानों में घिरे हैं
हम क्या करें
याहू!

मेरे सीने में भी दिल है, हैं मेरे भी कुछ अरमान
मुझे पत्थर तो न समझो, मैं हूँ आख़िर एक इन्सान
राह मेरी वही, जिसपे दुनिया चली
चाहे कोई मुझे …

एक मुद्दत से ये तूफ़ाँ मेरे सीने में थे बेचैन
क्या छुपाऊँ, क्या छुपा है, जब मिलते हैं नैन से नैन
सब्र कैसे करूँ, क्यूँ किसीसे डरूँ
चाहे कोई मुझे …

सर्द आहें कह रही हैं, है ये कैसी बला की आग
सोते-सोते ज़िंदगानी घबराके उठी है जाग
मैं यहाँ से वहाँ, जैसे ये आसमाँ
चाहे कोई मुझे …

Even though song has been filmed as romantic and depicts romanticized Hero in its attempt to make heroine his.

Yet words are such that it moves above romantic and moving towards True Love.

few lines are perfectly telling what I want to share.

first loudly want to say, Yahoooooo....

चाहे कोई मुझे जंगली कहे - Yes, as person living in India been called Indian, in America called American and so on.. similarly why not person living in Jungle be called Junglee.. Whether jungle is natural or artificial (concrete).

हम प्यार के तूफ़ानों में घिरे हैं - Always surrounded in torrent of love.. love synonyms of Supreme, Divine.

actually each line has impact and a story... so rather than deciphering each and every line...

coming to last one..

सोते-सोते ज़िंदगानी घबराके उठी है जाग - Remove this line from the song and read aloud. So far I was sleeping, this whole life was sleeping and now it has awaken as fear has smashed me so hard. Fear of loosing my true self, getting corrupt, loosing friendship with myself. I do not want to submit and live in a rut. I don't want to be part of rat race going on in concrete jungle.  

Yahoooo.. Now I have friend, I want to keep that amity alive.. within...

[watch/listen song yahoo too on youtube. While you do, for time being just listen and forget that it is romantic song but plain listening and find what emotions it evokes in you? what kind of thoughts comes?

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDH8uzVcRds]
  

What I listen is, what I want to listen.

Yesterday night, mind started dwelling on possible topic for writing short paragraph. As mind dwell on option, few others came to join party. Soon, clashes began and continuity broken. No topic went further than link up of more than three thoughts. Why? Other thoughts of topic didn’t allowed chain to continue and grow. Before links were made between thoughts on single topic, either a thought of new topic popped up or argument against that topic. Before situation get out of my hand, I tried to paused and relaxed. After few minutes they again started moving around mind freely, with more intensity. I postponed the task itself on tomorrow. Slowly they died and only thing left is question somewhere hidden in mind, I have to write on something?

After an hour, while surfing television channel I came across DD Girnar [local Gujarati channel]. Swamiji from Swaminarayan Sect was speaking on some topic. In his address, something touched me. Essence of His saying or rather explanation of some text was simple. Here is a brief version, as I remembered, “… Problem of human life is not of current but from the past centuries and millenniums it is there. So many saints and Scripture came and went away. Some are still there, but we don’t listen to them.  Forget about listening to other and changing. Human don’t listen to their own voices. How can one expect one to listen sage and scripture. Can Change happen by listening to sages and scripture when one doesn’t listen to one’s own voices. It is mistake if I think that by listening to me I am going to change you or going to make difference in your life. In fact you listen according to what is there within you. ...”

That last sentence rang the bell in me. Thoughts started pouring and soon, I sat with pad and pen to jot them down. [! This time instead of typing, I went for writing.] I began…

Many times I wonder about working of our senses! Its way of working is complex and different from other parts and system of human machine. Whole process sounds too complex to me now. All other system is circulatory in nature, in and out, in some movement. Most of those activities happen unconsciously. While working of the senses is neither cyclic nor happens fully consciously with 100% purity, compare to common perception. Also our emotions, natural habits, previous images and experience along with other factors play a vital role in process. [! I have edited from second line onwards for final write up.]

At this point, I remembered by Master Sri Aurobindo and one of his article ‘The Training of Senses’ as part of his writing on ‘A System of National Education’. I decided to read it next day.[link of article]

Then mind was again clattered with thoughts on different senses and which one to select for illustration. Even though I had begun with listening, here came up an option and selection was to stick to old plan.

I further wrote this quote:

“What I listen is, what I want to listen.”

After that another two paragraph about process involved in listening. I am not sharing that, as it is incoherent. Also, after reading article of master, I found more depth and figured out why I have inclination to it. You can guess that. Here is a hint from Sri Aurobindo’s text.

“…This is a preliminary process of Yoga and was effected in our ancient system by various means, but would be considered out of place in a modern system of education.

It is clear, therefore, that unless we revert to our old Indian system in some of its principles, we must be content to allow this source of disturbance to remain. A really national system of education would not allow itself to be controlled by European ideas in this all-important matter. And there is a process so simple and momentous that it can easily be made a part of our system…”

 Eti Shubham

Free Progress Way in Integral Education

Free Progress Way in Integral Education

 something for trickling, raising question first.. 

In an Integral Education,

Free progress is one of the ways.

Where free stand for being free,

Free of own desires and impulses,

Free of outer view and concepts,

Free doesn’t stands here for

Doing what one like to do,

Or wants to do,

Nor about free to do anything.

It is about being free to do,

What is relevant for progress?

How we come to Know,
What is relevant for progress.

Thus it requires discipline and guidance,

To know and discover ones aim of life.

One is free for this discovery

To take up this adventure

Only and only for a progress,

Without which life is dead.

[Now in form of analogy, has to try out in poetic way later. Also keep in mind no analogy is 100% complete as after all it is an analogy not real thing itself.]

It is a way of water cycle; of a river. River knows her goal, her aim in life. She wants to achieve it. Traditionally we had been kept goal of river as meeting to ocean. But for me, at this moment it is not final and true aim of hers. Her true aim is to become nectar. She wants to help others in her course and wants to forget about herself. With this aim in mind, she begins her journey from her home in mountains. First thing she has to do is to come out of comforts and conditioned imposed by older on her. First step towards free. Yet she has to keep in mind that I have to progress, for which she accepts being in discipline and takes helps of banks. Without which she can’t move further and work for progress. Despite of all odd with this free progress she meets her goal. This is not complete she has to go for another level of freedom. Not to lose her originality, purity within. Again she aspires, with divine grace of Sun sets herself free, forms a union and comes back again for progress. She will keep on till whole of water comes to its natural state. Not of sweet and sour, not of color or shape. Completely free.

 [so much its symbolic, without pretext i doubt if anyone can understand it. hope soon i will come with proper introduction.. right now only this much.]