learning

Here are my musings after returning from an advanced study tour to Reggio Emilia in 2003. Printable version here.

This article appeared in “The Challenge” - the national journal of the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange. These are the people to talk to if you are interested in study tours or direct dialogue with the Reggio project.

Reggio & Buddhism

Has it ever occurred to you there are strong parallels between the Reggio experience and Buddhist philosophy? This confluence came back to me again and again during a deeply affective week in Reggio this October 2003.

It seemed we were being invited to:

See the immense potential of questions, and

Question everything - within our OWN context - before accepting, then to keep questioning.

Listen…listen…listen.

Enter into ongoing dialogue.

See loving relationship as a key. See the interconnectedness of life. Of children and families and teachers and their environments, their culture/s.

Look deeply into the present (the eternal moment), with respect for the past and thought for the future.

Respect thinking as a process, and as a discipline.

Embark on an inner journey.

All of this rings true for the invitations Buddhism presents. At least that’s how I’m seeing it. I wonder what others think?

One of the last times I gave myself the chance to sit - thinking and listening - for days on end was during His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Australia in 2002. This wise and gentle man spoke of such elements coming into play if we are to develop wisdom and compassion.

In the spirit of all this, a question or two (out of hundreds) that remained with me. How can I continue this journey of awe and thoughtfulness whether I am in Reggio Emilia or not? How can I understand and respect my own context better, my own Australian culture, values and community?

One thing’s for sure, I’m preregistering for the 12th International Conference on Thinking in Melbourne, July 2005 where Carlini Rinaldi is presenting, along with Edward de Bono, Richard Slaughter and other leading thinkers and philosophers. (See www.thinkingconference.com for information.) I’ll also be dreaming of the possibility of returning to Reggio Emilia in the next year or two to continue learning within that very fruitful community.

Thank you to Jan Millikin, Marie Martin, Jan Phillips, Sarah Lovegrove (nee Giambazi) and everyone in Reggio Emilia who help create such rich soil for our own gardens to grow.

Libby Davy

Libby is working on a Reggio-inspired project in Fremantle, Western Australia - to set up a progressive childcare centre for children 0-6 years. She is the mother of Beatrice (three in January) and has a background in cultural studies and communication theory, ethical business and stakeholder relations. Libby was a co-founder of the Sustainable Business Network (Aust.) in 1998.

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