Integral Learning Paradigm

In Search of an Integral Learning Paradigm

The program announced for the Spring Semester 2009 is as follows:

Toward an Integral Learning Paradigm: The Psychology of Social Development

Since Sri Aurobindo wrote the book originally titled The Psychology of Social Development (The Human Cycle), the field of developmental psychology, and related disciplines in anthropology and sociology, have pursued an understanding of human beings and societies based on patterns of development from the archaic and magical to the mythical and rational structures of thought and behavior in Gebserian terms. Important references include authors such as Howard Gardner, Ken Wilber, Abraham Maslow, Jean Gebser, and the recent field of Spiral Dynamics. 

 

In this course we will explore Auroville’s development in such developmental terms, with reference to six primary areas of the integral paradigm: social, linguistic, architectural and artistic, philosophical, psychological, and ecological/economical. Anyone interested in participating in such an exploration, either making presentations or participating in the follow up discussions, is invited to attend.

 

Unity Pavilion

Saturday mornings, Jan 17- Apr 4, 9:30 – 12:00.

 

The discussion of the planning meeting of Jan.10 produced the following outline for further develeopment during the next sessions:

 I. How to be together in a seminar?

    a. rules - behaviors

    b. no rules - behaviors

II. How to communicate through or toward an integral frequency?

    a. movement, art, music, psychological practice, gardening, architecture, etc.

    b. recognising universal values

        1. developmental stages (individual and collective)

        2. truth, good, beauty, power, freedom, harmony, perseveramce, etc.

    c. creating forms of expression

III. How to make the experience a living reality?

On the basis of the projected content of the seminars, especially the focus on the Psychologicay of Social Development by Sri Aurobindo, the application of developmental psychology to understanding and furthering Auroville's development, and the questiuons formulated by the planning meeting, it should be realized that participation in this seminar requires and presupposes a frame of mind that is primarily interested in these ideas and issues, able to put aside personal preoccupations, and committed to achieving an understanding of the potentials of integral learning to further auroville's development. This would therefore primarily be a series of seminars for Aurovilians and not for those primarily interested in furthering their own agendas. Visitors would therefore be expected to be observers unless they have demonstrated a commitment to a longer term process. These assumptions are of course open to discussion at the next meeting.

This forum is closed for comments
 

commented by Arul Dev on Jan 17, 2009

I thought today's discussion group on the Value Memes has started a process of looking deeper both on the intent and the form - as the memes express through us ongoingly. I guess it is the process of constant attention and awareness that would enable us together to integrate all our earlier stages and take the leap forward. It is important not to avoid or skip through any meme. Especially in India we have people who are at different levels of development. An Integral Consciousness and culture is one where we can embrace and integrate all of these memes. One thing i have found in my own life and experience is if i am annoyed with someone demonstrating aggressive exploitative behavior (red) and my not able to handle this; it is always good to look at my own redness so to say; I feel developing healthy expressions of all memes in ourselves and facilitating healthy expressions of all memes of others is the first step we need to do. I look on this as the 1st stage of evolution. It is only then we can leap into evolution of a higher level or pace so to say. I am not too sure what that could look like. But i guess we need to do a lot of work in first integrating and having healthy expressions of all memes in ourselves and others.

replied by Rod on Jan 26, 2009

Arul - Would you be willing to lead a role playing session next Sat - Jan. 31st so that these concepts can become more concrete and applicable? I would like to begin with a more philosophical reflection on the general framework for about 30 min. then for the rest of the morning we could have a guided interactive session.

replied by Arul Dev on Jan 28, 2009

Rod….The following are the basic ideas I am working on. Do invite all of your feedback and comments.

So first you would be presenting the SD levels. Then we could do role play/ experiential work.

Purpose of the Role Play/ Experiential Work:

 Phase 1:

  • To examine where the memes are existing/living within us
  • To examine our ‘reactions’ to memes of other people. Invariably when we are not able to respond integrally to an unhealthy memematic response of others or when we are shaken up a little bit, this normally could indicate that there is some work we need to do in that particular memematic level or levels above.
  • The goal is not to use these memes understanding as a prescription. But use them as indicators and to go beyond experientially.

 Phase 2:

In the future we can extend this role play to include: Now what do we do. What is our response? Is our response from 1st tier levels or is it Integral. What would an integral response look like?

 
Phase 1 : Basic process (which we can attempt this Saturday)

 

  • People are subdivided into 6 groups [5 - 1st level memes and integral]
  • We then give 15 minutes for all the groups to interact independently and decide how they are going to experientially represent these memes through theatre and role play. No words to be used. Only actions; sounds etc.
  • Each group will then present their expression of meme in around 5 minutes.
  • After each group we can come together and using a work sheet contemplate / reflect on how these memes are living in our lives currently. What are the healthy and unhealthy expressions? Then we could share in groups of 2 or 3. This could take around 15 minutes, for each meme discussion.

 
Rough time estimated for role play/ experiential work will be about 2 hours and 15 minutes.