One of the problems the School faces at the moment is its lack of specialists. Mr MacLaren used to inveigh against "experts" and their "qualifications", which was fair enough in a way, but taken to extremes it leads to some very narrow thinking. For example, the idea that "falling still in the moment" is the only necessary thing in learning the truth.
As a consequence, we are a school of Advaita Vedanta philosophy almost entirely staffed by people who are unable to explain the word Vedanta; who do not know what characterises that philosophy and sets it apart from, say, Yoga or Buddhism; and who have no awareness of Western philosophy other than smatterings of Plato and Ficino.
I recently spoke to a new tutor who explained Advaita as "Er ... duality?"
The problem is not that most people don't know these things. Most people have more important issues in their lives, and indeed in their approach to philosophy. There is no reason for us all to be egg-heads. But some of us need to be, if we are to develop as an organisation. As a minimum, all tutors should be given a basic grounding in Indian philosophy, and a nodding acquaintance with Western thought wouldn't hurt either. That would make it so much easier for everyone else.
A knowledgeable person is like a tent pole - you don't need many of them, but without them we must all stumble around in the dark, confused.
So this is a plea for diversity. Let's celebrate the boffins - for all their strange knitted cardigans, oddly high foreheads and unkempt appearance, they also are God's creatures.
8 comments:
Call me shallow, but is that a digitally enlarged forehead? Or does he really need all that space for brains?
Vincent Price in the days before CGI ... not his real forehead one presumes!
Don't think a knitted cardie is obligatory... otherwise where would we be without Son of Moses?
Yes, a canter round Indian philosophy, let's make that 'Philosophies of the World', would be helpful in ensuring a well-rounded approach and an intelligent response to questions from students.
But there are advantages to the School being non-intellectual. This distinction doesn't preclude knowledge, of course, which may have only a glancing relationship with intellect.
Being intellectual not only puts the non-brainy at a disadvantage, it's also an enticing trap for the high IQs. Or it can be.
But we should know why we have chosen to go along the Advaita path and, to do that, we can either affirm its values from direct experience (a sine qua non for tutoring) and we need to know why we say 'not this, not this' to Aristotle, Kant et al.
I find this a tricky one. Taking as a proposition that 'a little knowledge is a dangerous thing' we could find ourselves in a cat's cradle with students much better versed in western philosophy than ourselves.
But that may be where the Intellects come in. We've got them already but their precepts tend to get tired and mouldy after a time and need refreshing. Take John Stuart Mill/Jeremy Bentham's 'The greatest happiness of the greatest number,' discarded because it doesn't include everyone and is therefore dualistic.
The implications of that in the world are enormous.
I think it's worth the risk of the School becoming over-intellectualized to have a debate about some of these ideas - the purpose of life being foremost. I do get tired of people trotting out the old shibboleths when they've just lazily adopted them without examination.
I bet he has a fine collection of cardies.
Laura, I am in total agreement with you here. The only reason we have said "not this" to Aristotle etc is that Mr MacLaren said so, not because anyone actually bothered to read it. I had to read some recently and it was not the devil-worshipping one might have thought.
You do get about! No moss nestling between your toes. However, a little research on Wikipedia produces the following quotes by Aristotle:
'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.' (Said of mathematics but widely applicable as we know.)
'It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.'
A little further examination reminds me that I found Aristotle unsatisfactory when I was 18, but I'd still like help in knowing why.
'The gods too are fond of a joke.'.....
Kevin's remarks are very apposite at this particular time, when the School seems to be searching for a more student friendly identity; although it may not helpful to caricature those who are well informed on a particular subject(s) as eggheads.
The School advertises itself as Advaitic, yet relies on tutors who know little about Advaita. This scarcely breeds confidence in students, some of whom quickly see through the pretence. An introductory course for new tutors is overdue, so as to remedy this situation.
There may be a fundamental reason why the School does not address many aspects of Avaita: it has yet to decide what it really stands for. Even on this blog there seems to be a reluctance to debate with any rigour what the School's defined objectives should be.
Why is it here at all? A cosy spiritual club? To reach self realisation through Advaita? To teach Self awareness? An amalgam?
Q12, long time no speak.
I hope that no-one will be offended by my use of the term egghead, which is just to offset the general feeling of depression caused by the presence of someone better-informed than oneself. The geek shall inherit the earth, apparently, and in the meantime he ought to suffer some mild abuse so that he may feel that he has earned it.
The School does now (in some places) advertise itself as Advaitic. When this was proposed a few years ago I responded that it would lay tutors open to questions they could not answer. We have gone ahead with it nonetheless, and so I think that the tutors need to be educated in the basics.
It doesn't have to be very extensive, because most people's curiosity does not extend very far. I think that if every tutor had a clear elementary knowledge, any particularly troublesome questions could be directed to some nearby ... boffin.
PS I will delete the extra submissions.
Egghead is a well-established nomen, hallowed by tradition, even mildly affectionate. So much energy and power has gone to the brain that the hairs on the head have just sprung away, leaving the sun to polish up the pate.... ah.... bless.
Sure, if the School is advertising itself as Advaitic - and certainly the word occurs in the first year - then we need to know what it is.
Yours ever, Laura
p.s. the site keeps removing my identity (perhaps I should say thank-you?).
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