Journal of Spirituality, Leadership and Management
Volume 4: 2010
Learning and development as a spiritual journey
Patrick Bradbery
Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW
ABSTRACT: pp. 62-74.
In this paper, contemporary interpretations of learning are challenged. Learning is presented as a multi-dimensional process that operates at different levels of consciousness. As a human matures as a learner, they become more adept at accessing deeper and deeper levels of consciousness. The deeper the level of consciousness accessed, the more spiritual does the process of learning become. The spiritual journey is one of accessing the unconscious and making it conscious, of ultimately recognising the interconnectedness of everything. The recognition of the development of the learner into deeper levels of consciousness allows a more diverse praxis for learning facilitators, whether they be teachers or other leaders. While instructor and trainer are important roles for such facilitators, if they would be helping learners to develop as learners, they must also become co-learners, guides and companions. Ultimately learning is a collective and interconnected (spiritual) process.
Key words: levels of consciousness, interconnectedness, levels of learning, levels of teaching