Guest guest Posted February 19, 2004 Report Share Posted February 19, 2004 > Thanks Zenbear and Eddie....wonderful responses...the idea of > unconditional love is the ultimate....the ultimate teacher...the > ultimate experience....so... I am having the work for breakfast and > sincerely hope it I'm going deeper and deeper. > > > ...and thanks for the invite to explore here.... I'd like to > identify something here to work on. > > I'm an art teacher...painting & drawing. > The state mandates I teach core curriculum material. > I comply...with creativity. > I create a lesson plan with handout's, examples of art, and say, a > worksheet on values (shading). Then when the class comes in I give > them the materials, I explain the concepts and perhaps do a > demonstration on a shading project. > The kids follow with their drawings. While they work I walk around > and note the ones that are easily enjoying the project and others > who are having " difficulty " (my judgement...I'm in their business) > and I say something like, " ok, this part is fine, but you might add > a little more shading here, (I may assist if they're willing) and > say... " can you see the difference? " Now generally they seem to > follow what I'm getting at and make adjustments without apparent > stress, and some really 'get it' and express thanks, but a few keep > struggling and one or two seem bored or distracted. And then there's > the student who is sending text messages on his cell phone and not > drawing at all. I say, " ok, how about working on your drawing " . (I > confess...I want them to change what they're doing...I'm in their > business and they may be uncomfortable or slighly annoyed even if I > say it casually and with a smile). > > When they're finished. I have them put them up where everyone can > see them and ... we critique.... > > Good grief Just with this much of an intro to teaching I feel the > weight of so many belief's. This could take a while. > > Sigh....Is it true that.... > > Students have difficulty... > 1. is it true? Yes...well, they seem to struggle..sometimes they > have confused looks on their faces...sometimes they call me over and > ask for help...sometimes I look at their drawing and think, " hmmm, > you need help " ....sometimes they distract themselves because they're > having a hard time. > 2. But no, not absolutely. > 3. How do I feel when I think that thought? > I think I understand their 'difficulty'...I also had 'difficulty' > once. I practiced and practiced. I have had hundreds of students go > through this and they all improve skills when they practice. All. > And that's the way I learned to draw well, so I think it's THE way > to learn. I also know I feel committed to assist them. I see myself > as their 'coach'. I see them as 'lacking skills'. I see myself as > superior in those skills. I feel so...ummm...helpful...Worthwhile, > while assisting them. I also feel in charge...in authority the > whole while. I treat them as unskilled...maybe a little " less than " > myself. I get a little thrill when they catch on. I think I had > something to do with it. I think I have to praise them, coax them, > instruct them. I think they've got to be as serious about drawing as > I am. They do seem happy and enjoy it for the most part. I try > to " explain " what to do to help them overcome their " problem " and > sometimes they complain that I talk too much. Hmmm. > > Behind this little scenerio there are numerous 'shoulds' in > my 'teacher's brain': > > I should be a better teacher. > > My success as a teacher is based on their performance, interest, > cooperation, happiness. > > Students should perform based on the state's core curriculum. > > Students should follow instructions. > > Students should be enthused about drawing. > > Students shouldn't use cell phones in class. > > Students should respect and appreciate me. > > Students should stay on task and practice, practice, practice. > > Practice makes perfect (hahahahahaha....that just popped up) > > etc. etc. etc. > > I've got to stop...whew...simply, > Dancin' Isn't this so exciting? Thanks for sharing, Dancin' :-) The beauty thing about inquiring into all of this is that it brings you right into no-mind....into non-local intelligence... into unconditional love.... where all things are possible. You could be right in the middle of the worst chaos, but if there is peace of mind then there is no suffering, no reflecting on a past, and no projecting into a future. This leaves all the energy for right NOW, where the heart's desire is possible. Inquiry facilitates being in the world but not of the world. You can stay right in the middle of teaching and school with all its rules, and seeming problems, and not believe any of the stories like you've mentioned above. When you have inquired and not attached to the stories....burn-out and frustration do not have to occur...conflicts may minimize, or if they do occur, are no big deal.... seen for the passing burp! that they are... you are peace and unconditional love and wherever you go, there you are We can create 'heaven on earth', (so to speak). :-) C-K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2004 Report Share Posted February 19, 2004 Dear CK, You said: " We can create 'heaven on earth', (so to speak). " I agree, or at least, we can turn a nightmare into a happy dream! Love, Steve D. > > Thanks Zenbear and Eddie....wonderful responses...the idea of > > unconditional love is the ultimate....the ultimate teacher...the > > ultimate experience....so... I am having the work for breakfast and > > sincerely hope it I'm going deeper and deeper. > > > > > > ...and thanks for the invite to explore here.... I'd like to > > identify something here to work on. > > > > I'm an art teacher...painting & drawing. > > The state mandates I teach core curriculum material. > > I comply...with creativity. > > I create a lesson plan with handout's, examples of art, and say, a > > worksheet on values (shading). Then when the class comes in I give > > them the materials, I explain the concepts and perhaps do a > > demonstration on a shading project. > > The kids follow with their drawings. While they work I walk around > > and note the ones that are easily enjoying the project and others > > who are having " difficulty " (my judgement...I'm in their business) > > and I say something like, " ok, this part is fine, but you might add > > a little more shading here, (I may assist if they're willing) and > > say... " can you see the difference? " Now generally they seem to > > follow what I'm getting at and make adjustments without apparent > > stress, and some really 'get it' and express thanks, but a few keep > > struggling and one or two seem bored or distracted. And then > there's > > the student who is sending text messages on his cell phone and not > > drawing at all. I say, " ok, how about working on your drawing " . (I > > confess...I want them to change what they're doing...I'm in their > > business and they may be uncomfortable or slighly annoyed even if I > > say it casually and with a smile). > > > > When they're finished. I have them put them up where everyone can > > see them and ... we critique.... > > > > Good grief Just with this much of an intro to teaching I feel the > > weight of so many belief's. This could take a while. > > > > Sigh....Is it true that.... > > > > Students have difficulty... > > 1. is it true? Yes...well, they seem to struggle..sometimes they > > have confused looks on their faces...sometimes they call me over > and > > ask for help...sometimes I look at their drawing and think, " hmmm, > > you need help " ....sometimes they distract themselves because > they're > > having a hard time. > > 2. But no, not absolutely. > > 3. How do I feel when I think that thought? > > I think I understand their 'difficulty'...I also had 'difficulty' > > once. I practiced and practiced. I have had hundreds of students go > > through this and they all improve skills when they practice. All. > > And that's the way I learned to draw well, so I think it's THE way > > to learn. I also know I feel committed to assist them. I see myself > > as their 'coach'. I see them as 'lacking skills'. I see myself as > > superior in those skills. I feel so...ummm...helpful...Worthwhile, > > while assisting them. I also feel in charge...in authority the > > whole while. I treat them as unskilled...maybe a little " less > than " > > myself. I get a little thrill when they catch on. I think I had > > something to do with it. I think I have to praise them, coax them, > > instruct them. I think they've got to be as serious about drawing > as > > I am. They do seem happy and enjoy it for the most part. I try > > to " explain " what to do to help them overcome their " problem " and > > sometimes they complain that I talk too much. Hmmm. > > > > Behind this little scenerio there are numerous 'shoulds' in > > my 'teacher's brain': > > > > I should be a better teacher. > > > > My success as a teacher is based on their performance, interest, > > cooperation, happiness. > > > > Students should perform based on the state's core curriculum. > > > > Students should follow instructions. > > > > Students should be enthused about drawing. > > > > Students shouldn't use cell phones in class. > > > > Students should respect and appreciate me. > > > > Students should stay on task and practice, practice, practice. > > > > Practice makes perfect (hahahahahaha....that just popped up) > > > > etc. etc. etc. > > > > I've got to stop...whew...simply, > > Dancin' > > > Isn't this so exciting? > > Thanks for sharing, Dancin' :-) > > The beauty thing about inquiring into > all of this is that it brings you right > into no-mind....into non-local intelligence... > into unconditional love.... > where all things are possible. > > You could be right in the middle of > the worst chaos, but if there is > peace of mind then there is no suffering, > no reflecting on a past, and no projecting > into a future. This leaves all the energy > for right NOW, where the heart's desire > is possible. > > Inquiry facilitates being in the world > but not of the world. > > You can stay right in the middle of > teaching and school with all its rules, > and seeming problems, and not believe > any of the stories like you've mentioned > above. When you have inquired > and not attached to the stories....burn-out and frustration > do not have to occur...conflicts may minimize, > or if they do occur, are no big deal.... > seen for the passing burp! that they are... > you are peace and unconditional love > and wherever you go, there you are > > We can create 'heaven on earth', (so to speak). > > :-) > > C-K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2004 Report Share Posted February 22, 2004 Dear Eva, >> But all this time I keep wondering, and I'd love to hear your >> thoughts about this: >> >> I was a teacher too, actually I still am, but circumstances are >> very different. >> >> I taught maths for two years to 12 to 16- year olds. >> I like the sharing of knowledge, being on an adventure of >> exploration together, yes, this is even possible in maths, in case >> anyone >> wonders, and to discover together with the students the various >> ways of solving (mathematical) problems. >> But the system made me hate the same things that Dancin' is talking >> about. I was manipulative, stressed, and felt awful. The system made me hate that. Can it really be true? How can someone else make me hate something? Hate comes from fear. I investigate fear. >> I feel that learning is the students' business, but the job made me >> feel I had to make it my business. The job made me feel it. Is that really true? How can someone else make me feel something? When I feel that I have something to give, how can it be my job if it is accepted? >> My colleagues, the administrators, >> the whole system I was in made me feel I had no choice. They made me feel I had no choice. There was no choice. Is that really true? I can always choose between rejecting or accepting. >> Or, more in particular, I felt that if I would do it my way, I'd >> have to be >> brave enough to go against everyone's expectations, even those of the >> students, If I did it my way I had to go against everyone's expectations. If I do it my way, he will get upset. Can I really know that that is true? In my experience I can not know for sure if someone else will get upset. He may have a good day, or just realised something wich could make him not become upset. So you did it for their sake. So their expectations would be fulfilled. How loving of you. >> and, since they were feeling the stresses of the system >> as >> much as I was, As much as you were? Can you really know what they were feeling? >> my fear was that it would create chaos. Ok, that was >> my story. Yes, it's a story of a future. >> And also my story was that I'd lose my job, because I felt >> that my integrity was not compatible with what was expected of me. Yes. You had lost your job. Everyone had been much better of with you having the job. Can you really know that that is true? And how can I not be in my integrity? In my experience, that can only be because of my thinking, never because of my action. >> So my conclusion was that I did not fit in a system like that. >> So my question to you is, could it be possible that inquiry leads >> you to decide that the circumstances are not compatible with what >> feels >> right to you? I don't know. What I do know is that inquiry leads me to inner peace, whatever the circumstances might be. >> Maybe it's not always possible to be LOVE and fit in a system that >> is based on distrust and force. I don't know. Is it possible not to be LOVE? I think it is possible to be LOVE and not to realize it. >> Can you be a janitor and be LOVE? To me it looks like it. >> Can you lock another human being behind bars and still be LOVE? Fully. As long as I don't believe I am hurting him. >> By the way, now one of my jobs is to teach adults who have made it >> their own choice to learn maths, so I can feel free to share with >> them what I know, it's such a different experience. Beatuiful. >> And also... here in the Netherlands new schools have started, based >> on the principle that the students learn what they want to learn, >> from age 4 up to adulthood. My youngest daughter is on a school >> like this. And interestingly, among the people involved with setting >> up >> this school I met several who are practicing The Work.... >> Seems like the two go together very well.... >> (there are schools like that in the UK and in the US too) >> So, really my question is, inspired by Dancin's inquiry: maybe some >> circumstances are not really compatible with a lifestyle of >> inquiry, of trying to undo your stories, unless one is already totally >> enlightened? And even then? In my experience I can inqiure in any lifestyle and all that has to change is my amount of inner freedom. It looks like some people also find they have choices where they did not see them before. >> Eva, wondering, wondering and very interested in your thougths on >> this! Lovingly, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2004 Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 It's wierd and interesting to me how one thing leads to another. Talking about teaching and doing that bit of work rather quickly lead to more personal stuff for me....core stuff that looked like addiction (sugar cravings) and on to many old fears...very strange and fascinating....zip, zip, zip ... Interesting too that I did insight therapy for so many years...educational yes...and I think it's in the wings during inquiry. ....yet Heartsong...your post hits home there too...the presenting problem can take many turns into the depths of irrational thinking, but the solution....simple and clear. Your post is profound and a gem. Thank you. It's time for breakfast...JYN and the work. Bon Appetite! dancin' > Isn't this so exciting? > > Thanks for sharing, Dancin' :-) > > The beauty thing about inquiring into > all of this is that it brings you right > into no-mind....into non-local intelligence... > into unconditional love.... > where all things are possible. > > You could be right in the middle of > the worst chaos, but if there is > peace of mind then there is no suffering, > no reflecting on a past, and no projecting > into a future. This leaves all the energy > for right NOW, where the heart's desire > is possible. > > Inquiry facilitates being in the world > but not of the world. > > You can stay right in the middle of > teaching and school with all its rules, > and seeming problems, and not believe > any of the stories like you've mentioned > above. When you have inquired > and not attached to the stories....burn-out and frustration > do not have to occur...conflicts may minimize, > or if they do occur, are no big deal.... > seen for the passing burp! that they are... > you are peace and unconditional love > and wherever you go, there you are > > We can create 'heaven on earth', (so to speak). > > :-) > > C-K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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