Learning to Live Together Harmoniously: Spiritual Perspectives from Indian Classrooms
This book (can be purchased through Palgrave, Macmilan and SpringerLink) calls for an expanded vision of holistic education that emphasizes togetherness and harmony through the discovery of oneself, others, and the larger society. The chapters brings together teachers’ voices, experiences, and practices to bring about such an education with Southern Knowledge, philosophy and ideologies proposed Indian philosophers and spiritual leaders such as Aurobindo, the Dalai Lama, Gandhi, Krishnamurti, and Tagore. The book reconceptualizes and extends UNESCO’s “Learning To Live Together” to emphasize “Learning to Live Together Harmoniously” (LTLTH) and develops a novel conceptual framework for it. The book also explores how LTLTH can be translated into practice; calling for a continuum of harmonious lived experiences created through experiential and project based pedagogy, systems and processes for autonomy, autonomous behaviour regulation, empathetic teacher student relations, schoolwide ethos of harmonious living, and teachers’ ways of living and being.
Endorsements
“This effort is very encouraging and offers a ray of hope to the coming generations. I am sure it will draw the attention of educationists, teachers, students, and parents and initiate a serious consideration and positive action for evolving an education system that can inculcate a compassionate heart in the coming generations.”
His Eminence Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, Tibetan Buddhist monk
“One of the main strengths of the book is how Patel lets us hear how teachers work to create learning environments that are truly holistic and are helping students live to together.”
Professor John Miller, Professor at University of Toronto
“Laying the foundation of a harmonious world is both – the biggest need and the biggest challenge of the present times. Exploring visions, approaches, and practices to take it into the classrooms is a worthy endeavour that merits kudos.”
Brahma Kumari Shivani, practitioner and teacher of Rajyoga Meditation at Brahma Kumaris
About the author
Dr Jwalin Patel is a research scholar who also works in the developmental / social action sector. His research (MPhil, PhD, Postdoc at University of Cambridge, UK and ongoing research) focuses on educational philosophy, classroom and schoolwide ethos and practices, teacher professional development, and interventions for holistic education, education for harmony, and social emotional learning. He has published several academic papers, book chapters, educational reports and books. He has also previously taught undergraduate and postgraduate students at University of Cambridge, UK, University College London, UK and St Xaviers College, Ahmedabad. He has been working in the education and international development sector since 2009, as the cofounder and codirector of two charities in India and consultant to various Indian and international multilateral organizations (including Global Innovation Foundation, Inter Network Agency for Education in Emergencies, UNICEF and Cambridge Partnerships for Education).
