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Dear Je,
Thank you for your letter about direct learning.
That being said, why not conduct classes in the cities, which will make them more accessible? I ask this in order to gain a better understanding, not to be provocative.
Anandraj
Dear Anandraj,
Firstly, real education is not a ‘door-delivered’ consumer product. What you give it in return, is important. There is a difference between something you buy for ten thousand rupees and something you buy for ten rupees, is it not? Your mind will not accord the necessary value to classes that are conducted where ‘convenient’ to you. The value that accrues when you go in search of such learning is something else altogether.
We can conduct classes in the city, but it is difficult to find suitable spaces there. Only very large institutions can make that happen. A good learning set-up is one that should be located in a peaceful area, surrounded by trees.
Why should real education require a certain environment? No other space can offer the peace and focus that a place in the midst of trees, in the midst of nature, can provide. The place where learning takes place must be exclusive to it. It should not be connected with any other type of activity. Our mind should come to associate it with learning.
Nature, and more specifically a naturally flourishing forest, is very essential for learning. It is a tradition that has continued in our land for many thousands of years. Philosophical and spiritual education have always happened in the forests. As a matter of fact, the beginner texts of Hindu philosophy, are called aranyas (forests). It is true of the rest of the world too. In the western world, modern learning retreats take place only in the most splendid of forest getaways.
Furthermore, such a space should also be a gathering place for like-minded people. The integration and encouragement offered by a congenial environment are very very precious.
Je.
