Advanced Discussions 101
Jun. 7th, 2009 09:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yelosonLearning How to Learn, Idries Shah, on the topic of advanced discussions/learning (in Sufism, but applicable to so much more):
I come back to this idea over and over when we talk about safe spaces.
The ways in which privilege demands to be let in, demands to ask questions and not listen to answers, demands to "correct" everyone else, and the temper tantrums when told, "No." The way in which the truly misguided actually take time to utilize Mr. Google, books, or to actually, you know, talk to people as people and learn something vs. privilege's defensiveness and anger.
And, of course, the fact that most of us aren't in the job of education- we're in the job of surviving.
First of all, it is not for us to satisfy each and every would-be student about Sufi applicability to himself and Sufic probity or otherwise. It is for him to satisfy himself; and he will probably use the same methods he uses when eh applies to learn anything else.
But he should remember that if he goes, for instance, to a school of medicine and asks: 'How do I know that you can teach me?' he will be shown the door. He is not eligible. Such an approach is neither correct behavior nor indicative of a stage of intelligence in which one can be taught. There are plenty of people who do not adopt the attitude of an idiot, and it is the duty of the medical school to give its limited time to such people.
It is someone else's task to do the more preliminary work with you.But he should remember that if he goes, for instance, to a school of medicine and asks: 'How do I know that you can teach me?' he will be shown the door. He is not eligible. Such an approach is neither correct behavior nor indicative of a stage of intelligence in which one can be taught. There are plenty of people who do not adopt the attitude of an idiot, and it is the duty of the medical school to give its limited time to such people.
I come back to this idea over and over when we talk about safe spaces.
The ways in which privilege demands to be let in, demands to ask questions and not listen to answers, demands to "correct" everyone else, and the temper tantrums when told, "No." The way in which the truly misguided actually take time to utilize Mr. Google, books, or to actually, you know, talk to people as people and learn something vs. privilege's defensiveness and anger.
And, of course, the fact that most of us aren't in the job of education- we're in the job of surviving.
