Like the previous blog of this sequel, I address only the process of true learning and mastery, not the mass information imposition that the conventional “education” system does. Read the Blog for better context.
The first key as I’ve already mentioned in the blog 68: The One thing that distinguishes excellent students, is the most crucial aspect.
But that takes time. For some, it might have come naturally from the initial stages of learning itself through Samskara cultivated by parents. For others, it may take time. Longer than we expected. Sometimes it may be too late because by then the student would have dropped out of learning that particular craft.
So what is the next most important key/aspect that can ensure good results from a student’s learning journey?
Persistence/resilience/sustainability whatever you may call it– The ability to continue the course of action despite difficulty in achieving
Don’t take me wrong, I’m not saying you should keep doing what you’re not loving, what you’re stagnating at. All I’m saying is to broaden your time zone by which you decide whether you’re enjoying something or not, whether you’re good at something or not.
Give it some more time before you judge. Because first of all, when you’re learning under a master, it’s not your job to judge.
And two, depending on the craft you’re learning, it takes time. Especially if it’s not so easy craft, it definitely takes longer than you may have anticipated. But that is an advantage, and you must ensure you take it so. I tell to my new students – “If it were easy, every home would have a violinist. But that’s not the case right? How many of your friends are violinists? How many of the students at your school/college are violinists?”. And because it is not easy its value gets inflated.
And three, there will be inequivalent learning capacity and speed among students. Some students take more time, some less, but that doesn’t mean you are not fit to learn that craft. It simply means you haven’t figured out your way of learning. And even that does not mean you have to abandon that path of learning altogether right?
Four. Aren’t you eager to see your potential realized? If you know are not the worst or that this is not at all possible (which is rarely the case), wouldn’t you want to see your potential realized? If you were to see this learning journey as a movie, wouldn’t want your protagonist to not quit despite all that he/she faces?
Now that I’ve told you why one must give time. Now let’s come to see how you can do so. What are all the qualities that can contribute to this kind of persistence?
- Devotion/Passion as mentioned in the last blog of this sequel. As mentioned earlier, if there’s devotion, rest will be taken care of. When there is devotion, there is faith.
- Faith in the master
- Faith in yourself
- Patience – An easily overlooked quality. Especially when one is on the journey of learning something that is infinite, Patience is a must-have right? Sometimes it will be the only quality that helps you continue despite every obstacle and dilemma. How to increase patience? Ah, a good idea for another blog.
- Hunger/ Curiosity – that’s what is called a learner’s mindset right? There are two approaches in which this quality must be applied. One in a short term or in a general sense you need to be curious about how to learn a specific aspect of whatever you’re learning. And that curiosity will transfer to different specific aspects of learning as you learn them. Two, you must be curious as to how this journey pans out. So, at least to see how this goes, you’ll stick with the journey longer.Â
- Viveka – This word is too heavy for this context. If you like to know more, read the Blog 85: Viveka. However, what you need to know here is that the student must have the capacity to observe one’s own process and progress objectively and move accordingly.
- Problem-solving mindset – Once you see the problem, you must have the ability to solve it creatively. I invented many exercises in order to solve various problems I came across in music. My students get inspired to learn those exercises now! Those were simple creative solutions I found to overcome my obstacles. Viveka itself is the problem-solving mindset, but I made a separate point to emphasize the action part of it. Just thinking about the problem and coming to a solution to it mentally isn’t enough. The problem must be solved, and that requires an action-oriented mindset.
If you or someone you know is thinking about quitting a journey of lifelong learning, I hope this blog convinced you otherwise. Having something to learn for a lifetime is truly a gift! You may not realize that now, but it will hit you someday. Many youngsters are depressed, confused, or resentful because they lack one thing they do despite any obstacle. And if that one thing is a learning process, then by their prime age, they’ll be so clear, composed, courageous, and confident that they do not get trapped in the system, burning their life for the sake of money. [Read more about the problem here: The Tragic Drama. Read about the solution here: Arise with Awareness.]
Thank You
Sanath Kumar Naibhi
