John Dewey, the father of modern education, suggested that the purpose of education “is life itself.” What is “life itself?” That’s a spiritual question with important implications for education. Dewey posited answers, one of which is, “Education is a science, the science of the formation of character.” Robert Coles, Harvard professor of psychiatry and medical humanities and a winner of the Pulitz
er Prize, defines character as: “... a process, not a possession, but something one searches for: a quality of mind and heart one struggles for…” Vivekananda, one of the great teachers from India, believed that “Education is the manifestation of the perfection already existing in man.” The Dharma of Education: Where Western Knowledge Meets Eastern Wisdom concerns itself with pedagogy to nurture the human values that constitute virtue or character—education as transformation. Ronne uses a 5+5+5 Pedagogy: 5 Domains of Human Development: physical, vital, mental/emotional, discriminatory knowledge/intellect, and spiritual; 5 Universal Human Values: Truth, Right Action, Peace, Love, and Nonviolence; 5 Traditional Wisdom Teaching Techniques (integrated with contemporary research based instructional innovation): 1) storytelling or reading for meaning and message, 2) music and songs, 3) inspirational quotations, 4) moments of meditation, self-reflection, and mindfulness, and 5) experiential activities. She offers her deepest gratitude to her spiritual teacher, Sathya Sai Baba, for the patient transformation of her character and introducing her to the Five Universal Human Values upon which pedagogy as transformation is built: Truth, Right Action, Peace, Love, and Nonviolence. She is also grateful for the teaching and presence of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, Byron Katie, and Thich Nhat Hanh in her life.
