Sylvia's class this summer featured stages of
faith, Buddhist and Christian. The Buddhist stages were presented
metaphorically in eight stylized pictures of an ox-herd's search for the ox
(his "self"), then taming and releasing it. The Christian stages were the
James Fowler stages.
One of the
series of the Zen drawings used in the summer class. In the journey to
rediscover one's true self, the ox is the self being sought; the person is
the seeker. In this sketch, the ox has been tamed. Google Ten Zen Ox
pictures to see the entire series.
The class was a tour de force. In one hour
Sylvia summarized the Buddhist and Fowler stages of faith, used a handout
for the Fowler part (no reading by the class required), and still had time
for the class to react to what she said with experiences of their own.
Here I am speaking as one teacher admiring
another.
No, they didn't call one another up before
class to coordinate shirt colors! From last summer's class, from left:
Paul Byrd, Kip Murray, Pat Murray.
If You Would Like Additional Information:
Please contact the church office at
713.468.9543.
