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Global Action in Education: Contemplative Learning of Unity in Diversity
Hundreds of thousands of us die each year from addictive habits of drug use, gun violence, and stress-related diseases that, amongst other stressors, can be attributed to racism, interfaith aversion, and other forms of bigotry. This behaviour, manifest in “us versus them” thinking, is central to a host of elusive human problems that no one escapes. Lack of mutual trust has led to a life of fear and conflict devoid of peace and harmony leading to mental stress underlying epidemics of internal disease, both mental and physical, and identity violence. Challenges faced by humanity are compounded by the addition of greed. This toxic mix is the root cause of the exploitation of nature. Climate change, not long ago seen as a distant threat, is now a daily reality for people across the globe. We have no clear path to the future, but we know that “more of the same” is not an option.
Where, then, to begin the transformation that is so clearly needed? If we are to act differently, we need to think differently. One place to look is education.
Natural distractions continually rob our minds of clarity. Truth is subtle. It eludes perception by a distracted mind. Learning with a distracted mind is superficial. Global action in education must make the teaching of “how to eliminate distractions” its first priority. This Global Action in Education is the theme of this book.
We learn about how our genetic inheritance of survival traits and emotions underlies the immutability of our mental distractions. They define the natural state of mind of all living beings. We also learn that humans have an inbuilt capability of attenuating and eliminating distractions. Contemplative traditions of humanity used this ability to cultivate an undistracted focus in their explorations of the truth underlying the existence of the diverse universe which is inaccessible to our physical organs of cognition. This book argues that the undistracted focus used by our contemplators to explore, the difficult-to-see truth, can also be used as a spine in our education systems, making them a central part of student learning and thus human behaviour. Our prevailing educational systems must follow the lead of our contemplators to transform the thoughts and actions of the students.
Shiv Talwar argues that education can and must result in the Contemplative Learning of Unity in Diversity. Global educational systems must teach time-tested simple-to-use contemplative practices which transform us from within raising our consciousness with the elimination of mental distractions.
Shiv Talwar brings to his work, a scientific cast of the mind and a profound curiosity about the relationship between science and spirituality. Years of study of religious and spiritual traditions have broadened his perspective and deepened his conviction that all of these traditions share a common core truth. This combination of attributes and experiences has led Shiv Talwar to become a scholar of what he calls holistic science , a convergence of religious wisdom and modern scientific disciplines. He explored this convergence in his award-winning book, unifying science and spirituality, entitled The Common Ground Vol. 1 . Now, in his second book, he draws out the implications of holistic science for education.
In support of his proposal, Talwar takes the reader on a journey through neurophysiology, yoga (of which the exercise regime that goes by that name is only a small part), executive function, Bildung (originally a German educational tradition flourishing in Scandinavia) and much else. We discover that the proposal is an important application of holistic science, combining the wisdom of ancient spiritual traditions with the insights of modern scientific disciplines.
Anyone interested in education — from policymakers, educational administrators, and teachers to parents and grandparents — will find this book thought-provoking, and possibly life-changing.
Where, then, to begin the transformation that is so clearly needed? If we are to act differently, we need to think differently. One place to look is education.
Natural distractions continually rob our minds of clarity. Truth is subtle. It eludes perception by a distracted mind. Learning with a distracted mind is superficial. Global action in education must make the teaching of “how to eliminate distractions” its first priority. This Global Action in Education is the theme of this book.
We learn about how our genetic inheritance of survival traits and emotions underlies the immutability of our mental distractions. They define the natural state of mind of all living beings. We also learn that humans have an inbuilt capability of attenuating and eliminating distractions. Contemplative traditions of humanity used this ability to cultivate an undistracted focus in their explorations of the truth underlying the existence of the diverse universe which is inaccessible to our physical organs of cognition. This book argues that the undistracted focus used by our contemplators to explore, the difficult-to-see truth, can also be used as a spine in our education systems, making them a central part of student learning and thus human behaviour. Our prevailing educational systems must follow the lead of our contemplators to transform the thoughts and actions of the students.
Shiv Talwar argues that education can and must result in the Contemplative Learning of Unity in Diversity. Global educational systems must teach time-tested simple-to-use contemplative practices which transform us from within raising our consciousness with the elimination of mental distractions.
Shiv Talwar brings to his work, a scientific cast of the mind and a profound curiosity about the relationship between science and spirituality. Years of study of religious and spiritual traditions have broadened his perspective and deepened his conviction that all of these traditions share a common core truth. This combination of attributes and experiences has led Shiv Talwar to become a scholar of what he calls holistic science , a convergence of religious wisdom and modern scientific disciplines. He explored this convergence in his award-winning book, unifying science and spirituality, entitled The Common Ground Vol. 1 . Now, in his second book, he draws out the implications of holistic science for education.
In support of his proposal, Talwar takes the reader on a journey through neurophysiology, yoga (of which the exercise regime that goes by that name is only a small part), executive function, Bildung (originally a German educational tradition flourishing in Scandinavia) and much else. We discover that the proposal is an important application of holistic science, combining the wisdom of ancient spiritual traditions with the insights of modern scientific disciplines.
Anyone interested in education — from policymakers, educational administrators, and teachers to parents and grandparents — will find this book thought-provoking, and possibly life-changing.
361 pages, Paperback
Published January 8, 2023
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