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Story, Metaphor, and Altruism in Cross-Cultural Teaching and Learning

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Last modified
  • 06/25/2025
Type of Material
Authors
    Michael P. Black, Georgia State UniversityAndrew Masami Kazama, Emory UniversityKalden Gyatso, Sera Jey MonasteryThukten Dema, Jangchub Choeling Nunnery
Language
  • English
Date
  • 2022-02-20
Publisher
  • Frontiers
Publication Version
Copyright Statement
  • © 2022 Black, Kazama, Gyatso and Dema.
License
Final Published Version (URL)
Title of Journal or Parent Work
Volume
  • 7
Grant/Funding Information
  • All authors received funding from the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative. The Emory-Tibet Science Initiative (ETSI) funded the printing costs of this article. ETSI also covered logistics, travel costs, and accommodations for the Western scientists to teach and learn at Sera Monastery and in India. ETSI covered logistics, travel, accommodations, and tuition for the monastics to teach and learn at Emory University in the United States.
Abstract
  • The Emory-Tibet Science Initiative (ETSI) is a cross-cultural exchange of Western and Tibetan Buddhist education and scholarship. In this partnership between the Dalai Lama Foundation and Emory University, two visiting Western scientists to Sera, Gaden, and Drepung Monasteries and two monastics who studied at Emory University reflect on their experiences teaching and learning from Western and Buddhist perspectives as part of the ETSI program. Specifically, authors explore the power of story, metaphor, and altruism in Buddhist and Western ways of teaching and learning. Authors consider the pedagogical similarities between (1) the variations of the Greek Method of Loci (Memory Palace) and the paintings and temple decorations found throughout Tibetan architecture and (2) the role of altruism and intrinsic motivation in learning outcomes. Current psychological and neurobiological evidence for the increased recall of episodic memories present in both Buddhist and Western use of story, metaphor, and intrinsic motivation associated with altruism will highlight the underlying principles that support these ancient methods. Finally, considerations on how each perspective informs the other is discussed, as well as practical suggestions for integrating methods across cultures.
Author Notes
Keywords
Research Categories
  • Education, Religious
  • Health Sciences, Education

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