How do Tibetan monks learn science?  They invite the best Bay Area scientists to join them in Sarna on the northern tip of India in order to learn how the scientific method works.

About a decade ago, the 14th Dalai Lama, leader of the Tibetan government in exile, began a collaboration with Western scientists to include advanced science and math in the training of monks. Science for Monks, funded by the Sager Family Foundation, has annually brought astrophysicists, neuroscientists and other professors to the exiled monk communities scattered around India.

This year, Science for Monks expanded from didactic teaching and conversation to introduce hands-on workshops. It was a new style of learning for the monks. “We said, ‘We’re going to build this contraption.’ And they just look at us funny and laughed,” said Anzivino, who with his Exploratorium colleagues conducted experiments in mechanics, light reflection and cause-and-effect.

The Exploratorium is a science museum that invites visitors to learn by interacting with science; it also teaches science teachers. “We try to provide conditions for people to become stuck and then get themselves out of it,” said Mike Petrich, director of the Exploratorium’s Learning Studio.

What do you make of this meme of how learning is propagated from one culture to another?

Is this a forced process mandated by the Dalai Lama — or is there a naturalness to the progression of education that thrives beyond the mandated requirements of belonging?

7 Comments

  1. ANNE – I live and teach on the upper West Coast of the United States. My interests are Philosophy, English, and Social Communication.
    ANNE says:

    This story just proves how important it is to stay open to new ideas, David. We can always learn. Sometimes we need to be forced there by our parents or religious leaders.

  2. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    You’re right that sometimes the untrained mind needs to be led to the well for the drinking of knowledge, Anne. We aren’t always born with the need to take on a formal education.

  4. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Right, Gordon! The process of learning flows through them and they are able to better themselves and those they serve.

  6. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    I appreciate that background information, Katha! I love that blend you identify!

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