DHARMA THEMES AT MWS

UNSEEN WORLD

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
– Antoine de Saint Exupery (The Little Prince)
 

Step into The Unseen World, an exciting new Dharma thematic unit currently being co-created by MWS’s teacher-researchers. This dynamic, evolving curriculum invites bold inquiry into what lies beneath and beyond ordinary perception—through topics like archaeology, microbiology, emotions, more-than-human beings, communication, social justice, the arts,  spiritual inquiry, sound, and more. 

Grounded in core Buddhist teachings such as Anicca (impermanence) and Pratītyasamutpāda (interdependence), this unit encourages learners to explore the subtle processes and unseen conditions that shape experience. Students are invited to notice the ever-changing nature of thoughts and emotions, investigate the hidden causes behind suffering (Dukkha), and reflect on how actions ripple outward through systems of relationship and responsibility (Karma)

Blending curated readings, systems thinking, and creative practices, learners are encouraged to spark curiosity, deepen awareness, challenge assumptions, and engage with the often-invisible dimensions—both inner and outer—that shape our shared reality.

 

Essential Question

Why does it matter to ‘see’ the unseen?


Guiding questions for reflection and conversation:

  • Is magic “real”? What is “real”?
  • When does the seen become unseen?
  • Why is it important to see/perceive/experience the unseen?
  • Can you imagine  what is happening inside the planet or under the ground?
  • What can you not see but know is there? And how?
  • What can’t be named? What words cannot be translated- only experienced?
  • How does understanding the microscopic world change how we see ourselves and our world?
  • What do you imagine far outer space to be like?