I am learning

[china]

What do we mean by learning? Is there learning when you are merely accumulating knowledge, gathering information? That is one kind of learning, is it not? As a student of engineering, you study mathematics, and so on; you are learning, informing yourself about the subject. You are accumulating knowledge in order to use that knowledge in practical ways. Your learning is accumulative, additive. Now, when the mind is merely taking on, adding, acquiring, is it learning? Or is learning something entirely different? I say the additive process that we now call learning is not learning at all. It is merely a cultivation of memory, which becomes mechanical; and a mind that functions mechanically, like a machine, is not capable of learning. A machine is never capable of learning, except in the additive sense. Learning is something quite different, I shall try to show you.A mind that is learning never says, "I know," because knowledge is always partial, whereas learning is complete all the time. Learning does not mean starting with a certain amount of knowledge, and adding to it further knowledge. That is not learning at all; it is a purely mechanistic process. To me, learning is something entirely different. I am learning about myself from moment to moment, and the myself is extraordinarily vital; it is living, moving; it has no beginning and no end. When I say, "I know myself," learning has come to an end in accumulated knowledge. Learning is never cumulative; it is a movement of knowing which has no beginning and no end.Your thought as always .

 

[MikeyDB]

Wouldn't want to "twist your words" so won't offer comment China.

 

[china]

Love you too Mickey ......for ever ....

 

[Outta here]

I'm learning that everyone has something to contribute to my experience - and that the more experiences and opinions I listen to - not just here, but in all in interactions - the less inclined I am to discount almost anything anyone has to say, without a serious attempt on my part to try on their point of view for awhile.

I'm learning that I can separate what someone has to say from who they are.

That's been a big one for me - I think I've often overlooked what I can learn from someone because I didn't like a tone they took or the manner in which they presented their opinion.

I'm glad I keep trying though...

 

[china]

Hi Zan ,thanks for Your post.

That's been a big one for me - I think I've often overlooked what I can learn from someone because I didn't like a tone they took or the manner in which they presen nted their opinion.[/QUOTE

I do not believe that there is any teaching; there is only learning, and this is important to understand. When the individual who is listening regards a speaker as one who is teaching him something, such an attitude creates and maintains the division of the pupil and the master, of the one who knows and the one who does not know. But there is only learning.A man who says he knows, he does not know; a man who says he has attained liberation has not realized. If you think you are going to learn something from me which I know and you do not know (this is only an example) , then you become a follower—and he who follows will never find out what is truth. Check my early posts (2006 or so).I have always placed a little note at the bottom of the posts advising the reader not to believe what was written above in the post but to investigate it,inquire deeply into it ,search and find their own truth .After all, that's the only thing that matters .

 

[Outta here]

China,

I think I get what you're saying - but I'm not sure I agree. There is not 'just' learning, imo. Teaching can and does occur independent of reciprocal learning taking place - but the wisest teachers know they've not finished learning just because they have something to teach... they open themselves to also learning from those they teach. Acknowledging knowledge acquired by others doesn't necessarily make us followers at all - it makes us wise enough to recognize that another has acquired a set of experiences or a body of information that can enhance our own experience and pool of knowledge.... and if we're really learning, we're also testing what we've learned in experiential ways - if we accept blindly what another has to say, that's neither learning, nor is the teacher actually teaching... A true teacher will always insist that the pupil test the knowledge for themselves. Anything less negates the title of 'teacher' imo.