Theory Vs. Practical

Running a Corporate Entity is so tough nowadays especially with those who don't understand what is this business all about. After all why do we earn, is it not making a materialistic earning, it is all about earning a living. But no one understands living in itself is a movement which no knowledge can buy as it is with a printed paper called money. I can see a lot of youngsters are dumped to the society as professionals but who is not making a living. Even though they earn money their day to day life ends up with conflicts in everything – in relationships, in profession and everywhere. I often use to feel this is because the education been provided to them is merely for creating academics who are none other than money making machines. I cannot see a glimpse of humanity in that.

It was a time when I imposed the zen way of teaching practicality into life, to the job tasks in the team I am leading for my project. I always use to ask the people to experience and learn. It is one such event I asked my team members to prepare a practical feasibility report on what they are doing on their own. I always insisted to have a real genuine quest in any job they do. Only then one can be able to find out what exactly they are doing, where they are now and where they are supposed to go. That young boy one of my team member after my repeated meets about corrections in the report wanted to see me.

He : Sir, I want to ask you something.

Me: Yes, my friend. You are free to ask anything, if at all I have answers about it.

He : Sir, it is nothing personal. I just wanted to talk about the project. When we will get into real work sir?

Me: What, isnt it what you are doing is your real work?

He: No Sir, I meant we are actually wasting time to prepare report like this. Our project is all about to create an output and we have already heavy jobs to do. Is it necessary at all to do the report now, that too on our own? 

Me: Do you feel that preparation of this report is irrelevant? Is that not a part of your project? Don't you realize this will help you further develop your skillset?

He: No sir. I didn't said it as irrelevant. I feel it is not extremely necessary as we have acquired all our skillset while we are studying. We had two exams in our school. One is theory and another is practical. This report seems to be a theory for me. I am just wondering when would we get into practicals.

Me: Ahh. That's the matter. It is the trouble of your education system. It has just taught theory and practicals separately. The theory subjects consists of papers and the practicals consists of experiments. But these school systems fail to teach elaborately that only you study theories to apply in your practical day to day life.

I am not talking about the practical examinations. I am not trying to create an academic. Our education system fails to create a human who is so practical with what he has learn't so far and still not satisfied, pushed by his instincts and desires, inquires himself, getting aware of new knowledges and moving forward in life. I mean living the movement of life in itself practically, not for any exams.

He: Sir, We do only experiments in practicals no sir?

Me: Exactly, you are taught in that way. What do we mean experiments? When we don't know a result of our process then that is called experiments. But won't we be having a bit of knowledge about it atleast. This theroetical knowledge which we acquired through books, classes or through any other means, won't it elevate our mind to experience really the experiments.

He: Yes sir.

Me: Then here the experiment becomes an experience which is the result of the knowledge acquired so far. The knowledge which you gain through books as theory or said by someone.

He: Yes Sir. But we know the result no sir. It is foretold in the book. So I do have the knowledge which someothers have experimented and succeeded. Why do I have to put forth my energy for what has been done already?

Me: I am coming to it. When you use the acquired knowledge and apply it practically, it becomes an experiment especially when you know and sure of desired results. But can you say you go through the same dumb process to get the result you look for in an experiment. Won't you face any new kind of troubles, more or less chemicals, wrong reading etc.,

He: This is all part of the experiment, sir.

Me: Yes, the process as per theory is same, but when you are experimenting it practically you are experiencing something new every time. Then the experiment becomes experience.

He: Yes sir, I understand the logic in it.

Me: Good, then hear this. Life is same that. Let it be a job what you do, or your day to day life itself. We have lot of acquired knowledge which is nothing but theory. But often we do forget that we study this theories to apply them practically in life. But lifeis not an experiment, it is a living movement whose course will change duly from time to time so you cannot predict the results. Hence your experiments on putting this knowledge practically will become a new experience.

The report what I asked you to prepare is to acquire knowledge of what is happening currently in your area of specialization of your job. But why do we need that knowledge, to apply it practically, to experiment things what you have learnt and face new challenges, new experiences and hence experience the movement which wil be the ultimate joy of your success.

It is not that the theory and practical are separate. They can be segregated by our school systems. They fail to teach this, we need theory to apply practically and practicals is not always the same, which will be new experiences always. Am I right my young friend?