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Educating for Character and Chakra Development 06/27/2024 |
[FROM THE ARCHIVE: 8/3/2020]
Recently, the state of Louisiana passed a law demanding that the Ten Commandments be posted in ALL public classrooms in the state—and the governor begged groups to sue them. Which is happening since there is supposed to be a separation of church and state in education. I propose that instead of such a silly and provocative law, we propose the “10 C’s” for all to consider—a value system that does not represent any one religious tradition. We employed them in a two-year experiment in an inner city public high school in Oakland to very great benefit. Here we are discussing that “C” called Character. |
One fresh way to conceive of character development is to borrow language from the East which has identified the chakras of our bodies and psyches as important center points of healthy power. I do this in my book on evil, where I contrast seven chakras of the East with the seven capital sins
of the west |
Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Viritruvian Man” with the symbols of the seven chakras. Collage by William Vroman on Wikimedia Commons. |
to arrive at a new language for talking about Evil. I think that the results speak for themselves. The elders’ task and parents’ and educators’ task can be seen as educing authentic power and wisdom and ability from each child. We need to educate ours and our children’s chakras, therefore, for they can represent the powers we carry within us. The modern age put all education into just the head chakra, in fact in the left hemisphere of the brain which is the sixth chakra narrowly conceived. Rationality abounds. Tests and exams multiply. Values, which Einstein declared to be found in the intuition (or right brain), are excluded in rationalistic setting. This is why Einstein said “I abhor American
education.” |
Rachel Larimore of Samara Early Learning
discusses nature-based education from her experience founding the Nature Preschool at Chippewa Nature Center. Froebel USA | The pre-modern age did not restrict education to the head alone. Monastic education, for example, incorporated working the fields and chanting and meditating along with intellectual studies. Native American children learned in the woods, along |
with the
animals and birds, trees and fauna. Sitting in desks is not the sole way to learn. We need to make room for educating all the chakras. Consider this. 1st chakra: Educating for cosmology and healthy pride (and against couchpotatoitis or acedia; and arrogance such as racism, sexism, homophobia,
anthropocentrism). The first chakra relates to the earth we walk on and to the whole universe–all vibrations of the universe (cosmology). 2nd chakra: Educating for balance and the generativity that results (and against power trips that employ lust as a weapon or that preach a repression and fear of our
bodies and sexuality). 3rd chakra: Educating for strength, grounding and positive use of anger and moral outrage (and against violence and injustices of any kind). |
4th chakra: Educating for compassion and justice-making; for forgiveness and courage and magnanimity and overcoming of fear. 5th chakra: Educating for speaking out and telling one’s wisdom (instead of gluttony and its postmodern equivalent, consumerism that stuff
one’s wisdom back down one’s throat). |
A YELLAWE student’s documentary about her connection to boxing and martial arts, not only as exercise but as meditative practice |
6th chakra: Educating for intuition and values and for intellectual analysis (and against one-sided rationalism masquerading as intellectual life and education). 7th chakra: Educating for community with all beings (and against envy). A person of character is one who has developed virtues or practices for living out one’s values. Naming the chakras or power points we carry inside us can assist our character building. |
Adapted from Matthew Fox, The A.W.E. Project: Reinventing Education, Reinventing the Human, pp. 141-145.
See also: Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society, pp. 183-374.
And Fox, Confessions: The Making
of a Post-denominational Priest, pp. 353-359.
Banner Image: Teaching character: a teacher helps students to understand what to do if a family member has cancer. Photo by National
Cancer Institute on Unsplash
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Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, or read other comments and enter into dialog, please click HERE to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
Queries for Contemplation |
Which of the seven chakras alluded to here seem to you to be the strongest in yourself? In your culture? Which do you think need the most attention at this time? |
The A.W.E. Project: Reinventing Education, Reinventing the Human
The A.W.E. Project reminds us that awe is the appropriate response to the unfathomable wonder that is creation… A.W.E. is also the acronym for Fox’s proposed style of
learning – an approach to balance the three R’s. This approach to learning, eldering, and mentoring is intelligent enough to honor the teachings of the Ancestors, to nurture Wisdom in addition to imparting knowledge, and to Educate through Fox’s 10 C’s. The 10 C’s are the core of the A.W.E. philosophy and process of education, and include: compassion, contemplation, and creativity. The A.W.E. Project does for the vast subject of “learning” what Fox’s Reinvention of Work did for vocation
and Original Blessing did for theology. Included in the book is a dvd of the 10 C’s put to 10 video raps created and performed by Professor Pitt.
“An awe-based vision of educational renewal.” — Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice. |
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Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society
Visionary theologian and best-selling author Matthew Fox offers a new theology of evil
that fundamentally changes the traditional perception of good and evil and points the way to a more enlightened treatment of ourselves, one another, and all of nature. In comparing the Eastern tradition of the 7 chakras to the Western tradition of the 7 capital sins, Fox allows us to think creatively about our capacity for personal and institutional evil and what we can do about them.
“A scholarly
masterpiece embodying a better vision and depth of perception far beyond the grasp of any one single science. A breath-taking analysis.” — Diarmuid O’Murchu, author of Quantum Theology: Spiritual Implications of the New Physics |
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Confessions: The Making of a Post-Denominational Priest (Revised/Updated Edition)
Matthew Fox’s stirring
autobiography, Confessions, reveals his personal, intellectual, and spiritual journey from altar boy, to Dominican priest, to his eventual break with the Vatican. Five new chapters in this revised and updated edition bring added perspective in light of the author’s continued journey, and his reflections on the current changes taking place in church, society and the environment.
“The unfolding story of
this irrepressible spiritual revolutionary enlivens the mind and emboldens the heart — must reading for anyone interested in courage, creativity, and the future of religion.”
—Joanna Macy, author of World as Lover, World as Self |
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In the Beginning There Was Joy: A Cosmic Celebration for Kids of All Ages
The first book in the Father Fox’s Fantastical Fables series tells the story of the big bang and how humans fit into the awesome, fantastical,
cosmic picture! With artwork curated from illustrators around the world, this book expresses the joy and wonder of all peoples and cultures, planting seeds of respect, cooperation and hope to work together for the healing of our planet. "Matthew Fox has created a narrative, for every parent and grandparent, both spiritual
and scientific, that is a gift for all elders who recognize their responsibility in initiating the young ones into the grandeur of existence." Cosmologist Brian Swimme, Author of Cosmogenesis and The Universe Story "Matthew Fox has given all of us, children included, a wondrous and enchanting view of
creation and all that humanity should aspire to." - Caroline Myss, Author of Anatomy of the Spirit and A Time for Grace |
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HERE |
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Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book Prayer: A Radical Response to Life in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, July 18, 6:00 - 7:30 pm PT.
Register HERE. |
Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Matthew Fox speaks on "Preserving Things in the Good" at the Unity of Walnut Creek Earth Day worship service held on April 21, 2024. |
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