Hi all,
This is just an idea that I have been knocking around, and I
don’t know that it is solidified yet.
Just as in the book the idea was
presented that the previous trend in American public education was inextricably
linked to protestant Anglo-Centric values, I can’t help but wonder if the
techniques of contemplative pedagogy are in some ways inextricably linked to eastern
mysticism. Ideology is often subconscious. According to the book, the Puritans / Protestants
essentially tried to create and education system that was open to all and only
was specific on the points of Christianity “we all agree on.” They didn’t realize that those ideas of assumed
Christianity and assumed individual relationship with the Christian God without
any intermediary were inherently protestant. By creating an education system that taught
protestant ideology and protestant values, they created (unknowingly?) a system
that marginalized minorities and people of other faiths. I suppose Protestants of the day would have
found the idea of meditation on anything but God to be idolatry and “wrong”
just as they would have found anyone who didn’t believe in the faith of Christianity
to be “wrong.” In point of fact I KNOW
there are several previous members of my own school board who would find
contemplative pedagogy uncomfortable.
The idea of
emptying your mind and opening yourself smacks of eastern mysticism to me-
inherently so. Just thinking out loud
here, but I would be curious to see what role bells serve in the theology of
eastern mysticism. I seem to remember
hearing that one corresponds with the spirit world through bells. I am by no means an expert on eastern
religions, but from what I understand, emptying of self is often a central
idea. Does anyone have insight on
this? Matt, maybe you could weigh in… As I said, these are just thoughts.
Additionally,
I find it interesting that these meditations seem self-focused. We were asked to focus on our breathing first.
Simplistically, this is self focus, your breathing. To clear and empty or turn off your thought
patterns, you again have to focus on them to become aware of them, your thoughts, self. Protestants found all self focus wrong. I wonder if in their view it is possible to
extract meditation from the Idea of God without theological deviance. In that light, self focused meditation seems
interesting to me - that what would perhaps have been found wrong by Protestants
is now being taught as cutting-edge pedagogical practice. It seems easy to look back on the founding
fathers of education and see their mistakes, or how their subconscious ideological
assumptions colored the educational practices and content of the system they set
up, but I think it would be naive of us to believe that we are free and
objective - that we are not victims of our own subconscious ideology. Perhaps we are just shifting to a national
religious paradigm more in line with eastern mysticism than with the Judeo-Christian
God. I don’t know, perhaps I am just
the student from Amy’s presentation with the shower cap on. I honestly have a hard time giving my mind
over to anyone- turning off my thought process, my filters. I don’t want to
allow someone else to suggest ideas to me unfiltered. I consciously put those filters there for a
reason - to filter out the B.S. that assaults me every day. Again, I am not solid on this, and I am
interested to learn more. At this point
though, I am skeptical and attentive. Maybe
I have just read 1984 too many times.
Hi Tom. Just trying things out!
ReplyDeleteLots of food for thought, Tom. I can see where you are making connections to what we are being asked to do and the text that we are reading. Personally, I don't think that when I am sitting up straight, feet on the floor, hands on my lap (but not crossed), eyes closed (if I want), quietly listening to Matt talk or listening for a bell to ring that I am giving my mind to anyone or anything. I’m quiet. I’m still. I’m breathing and I’m focused. Nothing is coming in that I don’t want to come in because I have the power to stop thought or change thought. Our brains are wonderous things so we can't really comprehend all that we are doing at the time of 'meditation'. I can also think about nothing or think about everything. I could be praying for the strength to endure this time or praying that it will last longer if I am enjoying the peace and quiet. I could be thinking about what I want to write or what I want for lunch. I am paying attention to me because there is nothing else to do in the sitting position with other people being contemplative around me. I could be having a “meditation of compassion”…thinking about all of the things that I am grateful for or blessed with or all of the ways that I could be of benefit or serve others. I’m not worried about “thinking the kool-aid”. Should I be? Respectfully submitted.
DeleteHi Tom
ReplyDeleteI will never profess to being an expert on yoga, mediation, contemplation, or religion, however I think I might be able to give a little insight into a few of your questions...
Bells or chimes are used in many religions, not just eastern. I was raised Catholic and chimes are used during service to help signify Christ's sacrifice. Bells are also used to call the faithful to service. (hence church bells)
From my understanding of some eastern religions, they can have a religious meaning or represent a form of purifying. I think they were also believed to remove evil spirits. In my yoga class they are a way to quietly bring the mind back to the present moment. I am guessing that is what Matt is using them for as well. The use of bells and chimes are definitely one the things that both western and eastern religions have in common.
I have to say that I am a fan of mediation or contemplative time. I don't think that it has to be just self-focused - that is just a part of it. Although, it is a part of it, and I think kids could really benefit from spending time with their own thoughts and getting to know who they are, as opposed to being pushed or pulled by peer pressure. There have been some studies done on the effects of focusing ones mind on breath on ADHD and test scores and it is pretty remarkable the difference that it can make. In a world where we are constantly flooded with information, ideas, sounds, noise, etc. what a difference it could make if you could learn to shut it all out and just spend a few minutes with your thoughts. Many of us adults know how to do that, but I am not sure if all kids do.
I think our challenge as educators will be to find a way to do this in a way that doesn't get a knee jerk reaction from parents that this is type of religious practice. It may have some resemblance, but to me contemplative time in class is just allowing the students some time to reflect, and time to learn how to focus their thoughts and quiet their minds.
Just my thoughts..
Kathy
Interesting,
DeleteThanks for the thoughts Kathy. The ADHD connection is especially fascinating.
I have never been a fan of eastern mysticism myself. In fact, I had a social studies teacher in seventh grade who wanted us to participate in a transcendental meditation activity. He sent home a permission slip, which my mother became enraged over. Not only was I not allowed to participate in the activity, my mother wrote an entire page listing every scripture possibly pertaining to it and how my religious beliefs were under attack. I too, was raised in a very protestant home. But then, like I mentioned to the class, I am very susceptible to the subliminal message, because I was raised to never challenge what I believed and those who loved me were guiding me down a path of righteousness.
ReplyDeleteBy opening your mind up to other possibilities, we can make more informed decisions about issues that we have very opinionated perspectives on. Now days, I tend to be one of those people who is willing to play the Devil’s advocate just to get people to think outside of the little box they have placed around themselves. Maybe that is why I like oval and circular picture frames rather than rectangular. You can never really come to a point until you have tried every edge of the boundary.
I don’t want to squash anyone else’s beliefs or squelch a dream. I am a realist; however, I do know that with beliefs and dreams there is an element of faith, the hope of things unseen. I lack the ability to sometimes get beyond the faith, and sometimes I can’t even begin to muster up the faith that is needed. Communication is the key, but it has to be reciprocating with the willingness to respectfully disagree when a consensus cannot be made. I want my students to think outside of the box, and sometimes I will take whatever means necessary to get them there, within my limits, of course.
Bobbi Jean
See my response...it was too long to be posted here so I put it up as a blog post...its entitled "On Contemplation and Bells..."
ReplyDeleteMaybe this will be an interesting thought and maybe not. When I was in High School all of the athletes were required to take a PE class for athletes only. The meditation we follow in class seems like what our lifting instructors had us do the day of a game. Right down to the listening to their voice, our breathing, visualization, and thought process. My husband also does this meditation with his PE classes and his basketball teams. I asked one of his athletes today and she seems to enjoy the relaxing meditation time. This athlete says it gives her time to relax and focus with so much pressure placed on her and her team to win. On another personal note Deaconess Medical Center had me work on meditation when I was pregnant with my kiddos. I was a resident of their hospital while pregnant for four months and I spent much of that time in the ICU. We were finding that medication wasn't able to control my blood pressure and Hyperemesis gravidarum (I threw up a lot. I lost 40 lbs while pregnant), but the meditation did seem to help. To be clear, I would wonder if the meditation helped to keep me alive. At this time you could inject me with a syringe full of medication to make me relax and I couldn't relax or focus, but a calming voice and music really did help. I can't explain it, I can't tell you why or how, but I do think it can work for the right person. I hope this helps with your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteJessica--we did the same thing on our volleyball team. I have also used meditation in a variety of settings--spiritual and secular. I find that it really helps me to delve into a particular idea in an intentional,reflective way that I wouldn't otherwise do in the midst of activity.
DeleteI regularly use breathing exercises with my preschool students as we transition between very active parts of the day to times that need more body control and working cooperatively with others.
ReplyDelete