Durval's question is an interesting one:
"Is there a possibility of a learning system which is not ecological?"
Perhaps it is possible to adjust our PERCEPTION of such systems so as not
to "solidify" our understanding as being "this" or "that", but rather
encompassing ALL.
When I read Durval's message, I closed my eyes and tried to dredge up some
alternative to the "consumable" system which was depicted. I came up with
the YIN/YANG symbol as that which offers an alternative to a system which
is destructive, such as an ecological or "feeding" one. The YIN/YANG
symbol offers all advantages of a living organism or system, without the
need for the consuming aspect. (This almost sounds like the "bell curve"
or "win/lose" concept.)
The important thing to me is that the LO come to "know itself" as being
exactly that, and LO. While each of us thinks and feels and learns
uniquely, as a conglomerate we assume the sum of all, plus one. The system
is ever-changing, due to the living entities within it, and always is open
to new possibliities. The YIN/YANG symbol does it for me, as it offers
just a bit more than an ecological system in that there is metaphysical
potential, spiritual growth, within it. Though the membership may not be
aware of it, the organization is constantly changing at all levels, at all
times, similar to sunspots perhaps, its current state visible and knowable
but briefly, and then it is gone, changed again to something else, this
process repeated endlessly.
As I said in another post today, today's tradition is yesterday's bright
idea. As humans our difficulty lies in maintaining the positive aspects
and improving upon them while shedding the negative. The YIN/YANG
symbolism points out that both the positive and the negative will always
be part of the overall system. In the short-term things may look and feel
like they are quite different, but in the longer term it is just part of a
larger process. That's what the idea of a "learning organization" is
anyway, is it not? When the system "resonates", there will likely be
"progress"; when it does not resonate, the opposite will like be true.
This is true for many types of groups of people, whether in a monastery or
on a basketball court. When things "click" members feel an energy flowing;
things seem to work smoothly, almost on their own, people remark that they
could almost read others' minds and know what they were going to do.
On a small scale then, in a small group or team, the YIN/YANG symbol
expresses this energy in a constant state. On a larger scale, the collapse
and re-emergence of the universe can be conceived and appreciated. Thus,
Chaos and Complexity are metaphors for a continuum, elements of which we
are discussing in this membership. I for one am enjoying other's input
very much, as it adds to my storehouse of knowledge, some of which I
return to during the quiet times. Please keep it up (I'm told this is
supposed to be a bad winter in these parts.) :)
--Regards, John Constantine rainbird@trail.com Rainbird Management Consulting PO Box 23554 Santa Fe, NM 87502 http://www.trail.com/~rainbird "Dealing in Essentials"
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>