Final Thoughts and Reflections

I have been waiting to write my critique of this book, prepared to express my disappointment in my choice of selections. The book focuses mostly on young learners. And while there is much overlap from pedagogy to andragogy, many times throughout the book, the relevance to adult learning was just not there. The writing is brief, quoting a principle from the Tao Te Ching and then providing examples from the lives and experiences of one of three different teachers, selected by the author as representative of living the Tao. Many times I found myself confused about the author's choice of examples, feeling that they often didn't correlate with the principle expressed.
But as I finished the final pages of the book, I began to soften my stance on it's cogency. The Tao of Teaching is not something to be rushed through. It's pages hold many gems -- but they are best realized with time, and contemplation. It's a book that can be picked up again and again, leafed through, stopping on a random page and gleaning meaning when you least expect it. The truths inside require drawing on personal experiences to bestow the understanding that is sought.
Many virtues are espoused in this book -- simplicity, flexibility, harmony, compassion, and moderation in all things, to name but a few. The ideals are timeless and have relevance to all of us, whether teacher or learner. For anyone wanting to connect these ideals to the life of teaching, The Tao of Teaching offers a good start.
I was glad for the opportunity to write this blog while reading the book. It forced me to contemplate and ponder, sometimes against my will, but always with deeper understanding in the end. I failed to post as often as I had intended, but a hectic summer schedule prevented me from giving this the time it deserved. I hope I presented at least a few of the salient points in the book and gave my readers something to ponder.
Thanks for reading my blog.
Connie

Personal Reflections on the Tao

A mother's passing. A father's dementia. A friend's cancer diagnosis. Hospital visits. An understaffed work environment. Three grad school papers to write within a week. Stress.

Stop. Breathe. Yin and yang. "Yin understanding and wisdom must be balanced with yang energy to realize their own qualities" (p. 7). "Immortality is won by acquiring the wisdom of acceptance, taking what comes along. In going along with things, an individual avoids becoming separated from them" (p. 7). Go with it. Go with the flow. To not go with it is to be stagnant, at a standstill.

My mother's loss marks 60 years of love and kindness bestowed on a daughter--thank you, Mom. My father's descent into dependence means an opportunity for me to give back to a man who has done so much for his children. The cancer is treatable and has brought me closer to an already close friend. The children I teach bring me joy and make me laugh! The papers are complete and I survive--and thrive!

Life goes on. "All things, events, and beings are varying and unequal combinations of yin and yang in unceasing motion without beginning or end" (p. 7).

Coming next: Wrap up and final thoughts on the book, The Tao of Teaching.