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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 17

But memorization is just the first step. The next stage This Buddhist approach can be found in the records of
calls for the student to master the material, digest that the great universities in India, such as Nalanda. It also
information, so that it is there at his disposal, ready survives to the present day in the monastic training
to be used as the raw material for logical analysis or provided in many Tibetan monasteries.
creative thinking.
On Creative Thinking in Buddhist Education

Creative thinking doesn’t arise in a vacuum. You need to
have raw materials at your fingertips, not in a book or in The creativity we are interested in is part of a larger
a computer somewhere, but right within you. When you process. Having defined a particular goal, we gather
can draw upon that information effortlessly then your necessary information, create various possible
ability to think on the spot, to deal with unexpected strategies or solutions, and then put them to the test.
situations, is greatly enhanced.
Creativity here is dependent on a mind that is neither
Memorizing information also gives students a great deal fixated on old ways of doing things, or on new ways. It
of confidence. It is empowering to a student to feel that is free from self-consciousness. It is fuelled by a love
she’s on top of her subject, that she has the information and interest in the task, and grounded in appropriate
and tools that she needs to fulfill tasks successfully. knowledge and skill.

The valid criticisms of memorization are really of A good example of creative thinking is the traffic
learning things just because you’ve been told to, without lights which have a countdown so that motorists don’t
any real interest in them, and then not being taught how have to get so tense when they are waiting for the
to process and apply that information. When this occurs light to change color. This development is based on a
then the student learns things and then soon forgets recognition that we find it easier to accept certainties
them, (does this sound familiar?). This problem is not (another thirty seconds to go) than uncertainties (how
restricted to the Thai education system either. much longer? How much longer? Come on!).

It is a false idea that Western schools are full of kids Starting off with the fact that drivers get tense at traffic
who are incredibly creative, and don’t just memorize lights and with a goal of reducing that tension, the
things like Thai children. I see a general over-estimation inventor used his knowledge of human psychology,
of the education system of Western countries, and together with practical knowledge and skills to come up
assume it to be conditioned by the fact that most Thai with an elegant and effective solution.
people who send their children to schools in the West
are wealthy enough to send them to the best private The kinds of creativity that come from the ability to step
schools. Comparisons with the teaching provided back from the situation, look at it afresh, look at it from
in such institutions to that provided by the public a different angle, are the kinds of creativity that can be
education system in this country are therefore unfair. cultivated, particularly through Buddhist mindfulness
techniques. We develop the ability to look within, to let
The original Buddhist system, based upon which the go of unnecessary thoughts of the past and the future, to
Thai education system was taught in monasteries for be able to dwell unwaveringly on an object, to put down
hundreds of years, emphasized memorization of texts the habitual thought processes and dwell in a fertile
followed by questioning, discussion and debate. The idea state of clarity and mindfulness.
is that once you learn something, you talk it through, you
discuss it, you question it, you look at it from different
angles, you assimilate it, and make use of it.