Episode 3: aachaaryaath paadamaadaththe paadam shiShyah svameDhayaa | paadam sabrahmachaariBhyah paadam kaalakrameNa cha ||
आचार्यात् पादमादत्ते पादं शिष्यः स्वमेधया ।पादं सब्रह्मचारिभ्यः पादं कालक्रमेण च ॥aachaaryaath paadamaadaththe paadam shiShyah svameDhayaa |paadam sabrahmachaariBhyah paadam kaalakrameNa cha ||Meaning: Learning happens in 4 phases. One gains a quarter of their knowledge by listening to experts. Another quarter through self-study and contemplation. Discussions and learning from peers contribute another quarter of their knowledge. The final bit happens over a longer time, as one gains experience.In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini and Madhavi Nadig discuss how to learn.This subhashitha teaches us that there are many ways to learn and gain knowledge.It asks us to learn by ourselves too, rather than wait for someone to teach us.It's best for students to learn actively, rather than memorize others' ideas.Madhavi connects this wisdom to the courses her ed-tech company offers learners.She thinks this subhashitha captures the modern ways of learning too.Today, most courses use a combination of lectures/webinars by experts, exercises that need learners to research and analyze by themselves, peer interaction through discussion boards and chat rooms, and, projects for gaining practical experience.Cohort-based courses, social-learning, facilitator-led courses, and discussion boards for students and faculty to interact—although these are new-age concepts, the ideas already feature in this ancient subhashitha.Dr. Hema Malini calls subhashithas “nutshells of knowledge”.She quotes a popular Kannada proverb “ಹಳೇ ರೋಗಿ ಹೊಸ ವೈದ್ಯನಿಗಿಂತ ಮೇಲು (haLE rOgi hosa vaidyaniginta mElu).” This translates to “An old patient is better than a newly-minted doctor.”An old patient may know more about their disease than an inexperienced doctor.Subhashitha Sambhashanam has been exploring subhashithas on learning. Do you know any other subhashithas on learning?madhavinadig@gmail.com | @susambhashanam (Instagram)
