love of learning and serving is the purpose of integrated education.

The question of motivation and emotions has been one of the most captivating subjects in my career. I am excited to see that science is giving this fascinating subject due attention. As our material civilization faces challenges of great magnitude with its material solutions to spiritual problems, the hope is better understanding that man in reality is a spiritual being having a physical experience. Until and unless we understand the spiritual reality of man, we will miss the real target of education; the human heart. The heart of education is truly the education of the heart. Integrated education is committed to the integration of human heart in the process of real education.

A few years of ago I was asked to teach an on line master’s course called Understanding Motivation and Emotions to the students of Baha’i Institute of Higher Education (BIHE) in Iran who were barred in their own country from attending university because of their religion! Yes, you heard me right, because of their beliefs.

The students had to take the course via skype in English language. Speaking English was by itself an effort not mentioning that during the one hour lesson the skype connection would break every fifteen minutes and we had to reconnect again and again. My first surprise was their unconditional commitment to learn. Not even once my students complained or expressed frustration or anything but a joy and enthusiasm for learning. This love of learning and heartfelt appreciation for the opportunity of learning struck my heart. This kind of attitude had not seen in any of my regular conventional students who have all the comforts of sitting in a US college campus!

What was the reason for this delightful spirit? What motivates these young student to persevere with such zeal and courage; disregard the threat of the government of Iran to raid their houses and confiscate their books and computers because of being a member of the Baha’i Faith? Their commitment and enthusiasm was more than contagious; it was compelling and there was no force in the universe that could make me miss our class each Wednesday morning. What captured my heart was to see that for these students the degree and grades even the knowledge of the subject matter was secondary to their sense of purpose and what they could do with that knowledge and expertise to make a unique difference in their communities, to serve its best interest and throw a zing in the universe around them.

My students brought into the equation the force of love and will. It reminded me of the words of Abdu’l-Baha one of humanities greatest teachers and role models saying; “When there is love, nothing is too much trouble and there is always time”. The inner reward of serving a greater purpose is at the heart of great accomplishment and sacrifices of humanity.

There must be a balance between educators attention to the heart and the brain in the process of education.

The following video is one delightful exploration of the science of motivation.
Keyvan

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