You know, you don’t need to enroll full time to enrich your life with education.
I am personally a huge fan of the lifelong learning concept. One reason that I love technology and think that it’s so interesting, is that it’s always changing, which requires constant learning and updating.
Recommendations:
- Go to lectures.
- Read books about different subjects. (Just read any books!)
- Join a book club.
- Take classes to learn more about what you already know, take classes to learn about subjects you have an interest in, even take classes on subjects you know nothing about.
- Apply and share what you have learned.
Teach—you will never learn more…
I am lucky enough to have been the guest at several Humanities West productions at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco.
The interesting things I’ve learned, the energy that has been exposed, the pondering and thinking that has ensued—all of it, inspirational, on the learning front.
I have heard experts speak on subjects like Genghis Khan and his Empire, Benjamin Franklin and his letters, and recently India Rising Tradition meets Modernity. (Napoleon is up next)
Humanities West has brought together the people whom have made these subjects their life’s work and gotten them to share their knowledge with the world.
The presentations have included the meaningful and representative art and music from that period tied together with the speakers’ knowledge has filled in some blanks, enriched my life, and has left me thinking and asking.
Sample of some thoughts and questions from India Rising Tradition Meets Modernity:
Vikram Chandra spoke about research for his books and his personal experiences of living in India. Vikram writes fictional stories about corruption based on his life and research. I came away with several interesting nuggets:
- The corruption is vast and touches all parts of the society including social, economic, and governmental levels. The corruption has become common place and part of their lives to the point where it’s not noticed to be abnormal. (I wonder how that wild west mentality can be changed and life without such corruption can be overcome—and yet we did it here in the US—how was this accomplished?)
- Indian society is unlike the US melting pot society concept. Instead because of it’s youth of independence (60 years old,) many different cultures, religions, and languages it’s like a large plate with many separate foods not mixing with the other flavors. (seems to me the US is headed from a melting pot to a large plate—starting with language, from one common language to many different languages)
- High poverty rates, vast corruption, and a huge population—yet the country is still achieving in areas of commerce, science, art, math, (education) exploration, advanced weapons technology, militarily and diplomatically. (This progress is simply amazing under the conditions and circumstances!)
Dard Neuman took us through some stories about the musical development and the understanding of change of the teacher student relationship. Where musicians were products of their master or teacher first, and the music preformed by the disciple or student (music belonged to the master) was their rendition or interpretation of the music/seed nourished.
- He told us the story of King Akbar, Tansen Akbar’s musician, and Swami Haridas (was a spiritual poet and classical musician), Tansen was a disciple of Swami Haridas. Great line from the story. King Akbar says to Tansen, “no offense, but Swami’s music is so touching it brings tears to me.” And Tansen says, “Swami plays for god, no offense, but I only play for you…” (I thought the sounds of the instruments sampled reminded me of sounds from the throat singers of the Genghis Khan era and wonder if it had influence.)
Any true seeker of knowledge should be attending these presentations. The thoughts and discussions that are conjured give me a warm feeling of life’s purpose.
What a wealth of information!
Thank you Humanities West!
And thanks to all the people who take time from seeking knowledge to share their knowledge…
—iChef
PS
Get yourself some education! Now could be the perfect time!
Technorati Tags: Akbar, Benjamin Franklin, Dard Neuman, Education, Genghis Khan, Herbst Theater, Humanities West, India Rising, lifelong learning, Napoleon, seeking knowledge, Swami, Tansen, Vikram Chandra
