Dear J
I find it a bit strange that you are combining classes like bird watching and plant identification. These types of educations are science-based. Aren’t literature, art, and philosophy what you want to teach here? Isn’t it right to teach science scientifically?
Charulata Krishna
Dear Charulata,
The birdwatching and plant identification that we teach are not science. Science has its own principles and methods. Science teaches the scientific names, uses, classifications, and properties of birds and plants.
We do not teach them. We teach bird watching and plant identification as a hobby and as a kind of art.
Why do we combine these with philosophy, literature, and art? We do so because they provide a deep understanding of nature. Nature closely relates to philosophy, art, and literature. Knowing the living world around us is the first step to understanding ourselves. Nature itself provides the basic images for literature, art, and philosophy.
We can call these practices meditation. Regardless of the knowledge one may acquire today, the primary requirement is mindfulness. The ability to observe one’s own inner self is crucial. Observing birds and plants can naturally lead to these realizations.
Jeyamohan