a guru by any other name...

This episode on acknowledging and honoring our teachers was poetically recorded on Guru Purinima (a Hindu, Buddhist celebration of teachers - it honors the day the first guru was born - click link for more information).

This personal episode has the hosts reaching back for memories of primary and secondary teachers, as well as their own identification as teachers. Both agree that their students often show up as teachers. In the world of reflection, everything has the capacity of being a teacher, if we pay attention.

Timestamped summary of this episode:

00:00:00 - The Teacher-Student Dynamics

The hosts discuss the flip-flop of teacher and student roles and how learning can come from unexpected sources, such as animals.

00:03:24 - Lessons from Animals

The hosts talk about the lessons we can learn from animals and how observing them can provide valuable insights.

00:05:02 - The Once and Future King

The hosts discuss the book "The Once and Future King" and how it explores the concept of transformation and learning through different perspectives.

00:07:34 - Critical Thinking and Learning

The hosts share their experiences with education and how critical thinking and curiosity are important for true learning.

00:10:05 - Impact of Teachers

The hosts reflect on the impact of teachers on their learning journey and how teachers can either foster or hinder a student's progress.

00:15:12 - The Importance of Teaching and Absorbing Information

The hosts discuss the importance of teaching in fully absorbing and understanding information. They mention that there is data suggesting that we absorb different amounts of information through hearing, reading, and seeing. They also share their personal experiences of how teaching has helped them gain a clearer focus on yoga philosophy and other aspects of their practice.

00:16:14 - Seeing Classrooms as a Circle of Learning

The hosts talk about their perspective on classrooms and teaching. They view all classrooms as a circle and see themselves as arcs within that circle. They mention how Sean Corn's statement about having the capacity to communicate information in a way that people can best receive it resonated with them. They emphasize the importance of communication, humor, and personal anecdotes in teaching.

00:17:36 - Learning from Students

The hosts share an example of how they learned from a student during a yoga class. The student expressed reluctance to perform a cleansing breath because she felt it would be wasting her prana. This perspective made the hosts reconsider their teaching approach and they adjusted it to encourage mindfulness and directing the breath and energy towards someone who could benefit from it. They highlight the importance of listening to and learning from students.

00:20:27 - Transforming Teaching Approach

One of the hosts reflects on a teaching experience where none of the students did the assigned reading. Initially, they reacted with frustration and employed a punishment-like approach. However, they realized their mistake and transformed the situation into a positive teaching moment by having students teach

00:29:59 - Mr. Woodley's Intuition

The narrator reflects on their experience with Mr. Woodley, a coach who showed understanding and support during their nose job. Mr. Woodley recommended the narrator for Honors English and expressed belief in their potential.

00:31:13 - Mr. G and...