The Art of Teaching

The study of language (linguistics) reflects the culture, the mindset and priorities of the people. How a people perceive life, their priorities, the flow of time, concepts of love, and spirituality can be discovered by looking at the form and content of a people’s language. The USA is filled with diversity and even though the main language is English, cultural factors influence the use and understanding of language and patterns of speaking and learning.  In mainstream America the primary use of language is based on white Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) the culture of the primary invaders of America and what can also be referred to as the “middle-class” economic group. (Remember this is a very short article so this is the readers’ digest version of  some very profound socio-economic knowledge base).  Other ethnicities living in the USA that have moved into the lifestyle of the middle class (and above) did so by  learning to adopt and use the mainstream language patterning in order to survive and thrive in the culture of their job. This is true for women as well who need to “fit in” the predominately male workplace.  The  structure and vocabulary  of mainstream English delivers messages in a linear fashion,  a logical left brain organization that also requires the speaker to present a conclusion to the message delivered, as if it is the only possible conclusion that one could consider.  It is an efficient manner of communication for instruction, how to do something step by step, for contracts etc. This kind of communication creates passive listening because it meant to be an efficient way to tell someone what to do and expect them to do it will little thinking or questioning other than to clarify how to carry out what one was told to do.  Sadly, for many people it becomes their only way of communicating because it is the only way they ever learned or were taught.

Learning is different than receiving instruction. In order to learn, consider spirituality, philosophy, self-examine, become self-aware, willing to change patterns or challenge paradigms, one must employ other means of communication, including a different approach to the use of language.  To participate in deep learning, one must first go through a learning curve in order to be able to trust themselves and a Teacher enough to even open up to and learn new ideas and with that, new ways of communicating.  If someone’s primary culture already has the qualities of learning, of not being a passive listener built into their natural culture this openness will be built into their language.  If the person is highly intuitive or energy sensitive (no matter what his/her cultural background is) or if  s/he is deeply into music, poetry and other art forms they too will have an intuitive connection to deeper energies underneath the words spoken and an openness, an inquisitiveness that makes them more receptive to asking questions, contemplating new ideas, and able to learn new ideas and concepts about themselves as well as the world around them

Using language to teach Knowledge, Spirituality, and even to open others up to intimate levels of self-awareness (such as in therapies as well as Spiritual Teachings) is an art form.  This is why people study and try to use the “Teaching Stories” that are traditional in  Socratic teachings, Zen, Sufi, Native American, Thai and many other  cultures that use language to stimulate listeners to contemplate and seek knowledge rather than feeding another person a pre-formed conclusion and step by step instructions on “what to do”. This is an incredibly profound difference from American middle class communications which seeks to  “tell” people what to think, or to convince someone that the speaker is “amazing” and “knows it all”  instead of using language to allow another to discover a breakthrough in thinking or knowledge.  One can use language to “suggest” rather than to spell out “everything”.  This means the listener is given the opportunity to develop his/her own understanding of the communication and to come to his/her own conclusion which will be based on one’s current development, one’s current ability to grasp what is offered from a Teacher.  This kind of communication creates and develops active listeners rather than passive receptors being spoon fed someone else’s thoughts. In reality, all answers are incomplete. Teachers can only give you a direction. You have to make the journey, the journey to gain understanding, comprehension, an epiphany and ultimately awakening and enlightenment.  This is different than trying to understand something intellectually.

Teachers, Gurus, Shamans, Medicine People, Curanderos, Brujas,  Masters (in any intuitive field) use words to keep your left brain busy while engaging your energetic field and this is why you cannot learn these kinds of  “Truths” from reading.  True Teachers use energy, and use language in a manner that will invite you find your own truth, your own being-ness, your own learnings  which need to be sifted out of the stirrings that occur while you are present in the energetic field of that Teacher. (This can also happen when one experiences great art or artists as well). True Teachers do not lead, they share while creating an energy field that supports each individual to find his/her own Light. It is a transmission beyond words, it will be energy provoking and it supports you in your growth rather than collecting “groupies” for the Teacher (or artist).

As the person seeking out such a Teacher you will benefit most if you have an open heart and are willing to enter a space of “not knowing”, not knowing who you are or what you know being willing to arrive as “rasa tabula” a blank slate open to something so far beyond your current body of knowledge that you cannot ask for the Teachings as you don’t even know they exist…. yet.  The caterpillar cannot even conceive that it will at some point evolve into a butterfly as a butterfly is currently beyond comprehension. The butterfly cannot convince the caterpillar it will become a butterfly, there is no logical way. But the butterfly can provoke a longing in the caterpillar; that is possible. This is what great art offers, this is what a Master Teacher brings to you, longing, vision, inspiration, and the desire to become something more.  But, you also must be ready, ready to receive, to perceive, to question, to contemplate, to trust the process, to let go, to engage and not wait passively to be told what to do or what conclusion you should accept without any work on your part. It means you welcome the challenge as well as the stirrings of love. And most of all, you are willing to begin to ascend, to move your own feet, to walk on the Path, the Way, the Tao.

Journey On