Sound waves and ghosts
The other day Dr. Jumsai gave a very interesting lecture on different learning styles. First he discussed the accepted Western Model, which is called Brain-based learning. The main idea is that we have short and long-term memory and our processing speed is determined by the synapses in our brain. When we don’t use our brains enough for processing information these connections get weak and eventually die. Therefore in order to improve the academic performance of our children should expose them to the most experiences, academic exercises etc. as soon as possible. Scientifically, he explained, this makes sense, as we age parts of our brains do in fact die. But, the main factor that this model is missing has to do not with our innate capacity to learn, but rather our receptibility (I might have made that word up, but I mean our ability to use our brains to their full potentials). Most people are too distractible, worried etc to even use their brains to their potentials, without needing to strengthen them. As he explained this, it immediately made sense. How many bright kids are too hyper to learn the lessons that their brains are capable of grasping? Therefore, calming the mind is the first priority, then direct learning. I know personally rarely have I said “my brain is just incapable of grasping x material” but have often gotten frustrated, say studying a difficult subject when I’m anxious, thinking about other subjects, or letting my fear of say, not understanding chemistry, interfere with the actual learning. Here at the school the children have ample time to practice calming their minds, both through focused prayer and meditation (a scary word in the US, but really just focusing your mind so you control it, rather than letting it control you). Every morning before breakfast the whole school (as I’ve described) has a prayer session and also do a “light meditation” where they picture a flame of a candle spreading through the body and out into the world. They say two prayers before meals, and most classes start with a few minutes of silent sitting, guided meditation or chant. We watched the steadfast concentration of a group of twelfth graders chanting in Sanskrit before their exam – the idea is that they’ve already learned the information, so in order to make full use of it their minds must be clear and uninhibited to let it flow forth. At night the boys and girls also have prayers/meditation in their respective hostels. I can’t say I have nearly the concentration of many of these kids, but I try to focus on my breath and Yamini and I have started meditating, or trying to for 15 minutes at night.
Okay, the title of this posts is thus named because
a lot of people here apparently see/hear ghosts. One student in our program packed her bags because she was so scared by a noise at night. If they are here I don’t think i’m sensitive enough to see them, and the notion hasn’t really bothered me. Though I’m usually cynical of people perceiving different forms of energy, I do think that the good vibes here definitly outweigh any scary ones.
Tags: Thailand, Travel
nabrams
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