Until, modern times when it became mostly a civic task, education was considered a sacred work. It was sacred because it involved the indwelling spirit in the student and because it required an awakened spirit in the teachers. Spirit to spirit, genius to genius, soul to soul go the true lessons that help young people become themselves. Ultimately, each person holds the key to the story trying to be lived from within, but first someone else must help unlock the mystery of one’s life.
Interpretation
Education is a profound and spiritual journey that involves both students and teachers in unlocking one's true potential.
This quote emphasizes the sacred nature of education, not merely as a civic duty but as a profound spiritual connection between teachers and students. It highlights that true learning involves an awakening of the spirit within both parties, where the teacher plays a crucial role in helping students discover their inner selves and potential. The quote suggests that each individual's journey in life is unique and requires guidance to unlock their personal narrative.
In practice
In a graduation speech to inspire students about their future journeys.
There's an African proverb: 'When death finds you, may it find you alive.' Alive means living your own damned life, not the life that your parents wanted, or the life some cultural group or political party wanted, but the life that your own soul wants to live.
When you step further into the story you came to live, not only does the mythic territory open, but the deep self moves and the world of imagination and meaning comes towards you.
In many tribal cultures, it was said that if the boys were not initiated into manhood, if they were not shaped by the skills and love of elders, then they would destroy the culture. If the fires that innately burn inside youths are not intentionally and lovingly added to the hearth of community, they will burn down the structures of culture, just to feel the warmth.
The paper is patient, but the reader is not.
All readers are tourists. We want to make sense of what we see and hear, to find the balance between what is unknown and what we can call ours.
Education is the proper way to promote compassion and tolerance in society. Compassion and peace of mind bring a sense of confidence that reduce stress and anxiety, whereas anger and hatred come from frustration and undermine our sense of trust. Because of ignorance, many of our problems are our own creation. Education, however, is the instrument that increases our ability to employ our own intelligence.
I hate the idea that, when it comes to books and learning, hard is often seen as the opposite of fun. It's strange to me that we should be so quick to give up on a book or a math problem when we are so willing to grapple, for centuries if necessary, with a single level of Angry Birds.
People often believe that character causes action, but when it comes to producing moral children, we need to remember that action also shapes character.
Governments want efficient technicians, not human beings, because human beings become dangerous to governments – and to organized religions as well. That is why governments and religious organizations seek to control education.
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