Our Philosophy

Overview:

• Teleosis refers to the natural tendency of organisms to grow into greater organization, intelligence and perfection
• Homeopathy as an ‘energy medicine’ is a highly evolved form of healing
• Our values include the importance of personal growth, of mutual support and respect, and building community
• Our philosophy of education incorporates active learning, practicing necessary skills, and adapting to learners of different perceptual patterns (auditory, visual and kinesthetic)

Our mission statement:

• To become healers we must practice.
• To be healers we must continue to grow.
• To sustain healers we need community.

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The Meaning of Teleosis

The Greek root telos means the end point or ultimate point, while the suffix -osis refers to a natural process of all living beings. The word teleosis thus sums up the idea that we are all growing towards greater perfection and greater awareness or realization of our own higher self. This commitment to grow as human beings and as healers, and to nurture a developing and expanding community of homeopaths, expresses the concept embodied in the name Teleosis.

We are all familiar with the concept of homeostasis, the natural tendency of living organisms to return to a state of inner balance, to self-correct whether their functioning is insufficient or excessive. Some scientists and philosophers believe that inherent in nature there is also a different tendency, one leading to ever greater intelligence, consciousness and perfection. This aspiration to self-transcendence and self-realization is embodied in the word Teleosis.

Evolution can be seen in this light, as an expression of nature’s urge to ever-higher levels of consciousness and development.
When we consider different systems of healing in the history of the world, homeopathy represents one of the most profound forms of healing on the planet. It incorporates the wisdom of the world’s ancient healing traditions and a deep understanding of the body’s healing energy with a science so advanced that the technology barely exists to measure its action. Homeopathy can treat a wide range of conditions, from emergencies to longterm degenerative diseases, from potentially fatal epidemics to mental and mood disorders. It challenges the mind/body split of Western medicine by considering the human organism as a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual totality.

One of the founding principles of Teleosis is that in order to work effectively with homeopathy (because homeopathy requires a subjective awareness greater than that in perhaps any other discipline except psychotherapy), we must make an ongoing commitment to our own inner growth. We must see a homeopath and take remedies and/or do psychotherapy, practice a spiritual discipline or self-awareness technique, and/or exercise regularly and in many other ways take care of ourselves and work towards greater self-awareness.

Another principle is that we need the support and feedback of a community. We need comrades and colleagues with whom we can enjoy exchanging stories of our triumphs and stumbles with homeopathy. We need to stand up for each other when in trouble, and to refer to other professionals when appropriate.

Respect for the individual and support for a plurality of beliefs and practices is another core value at Teleosis. There are many approaches to practicing homeopathy, and the homeopathic community has suffered too long from isolation and competition rather than cooperation and mutual support.

Teleosis incorporates this pluralistic vision into the classroom in several ways. We are unusual among homeopathy schools in the number of visiting faculty members we invite, to expose students to a multiplicity of approaches. And while our faculty members all share a commitment to spiritual growth, we each come from a different tradition and practice—
including Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Hindu-based meditation, and shamanism. There is no dogma or doctrine here—only the inspiration of sharing new experiences.

In addition, Teleosis represents a commitment to constantly improving the educational process. It provides the only classroom design in homeopathy that is based on the model now being used at Harvard Medical School and many other top medical schools around the country. The concept of problem-based learning in small groups means that adult learners are motivated to learn more when they have a specific problem to solve — like what remedy to give to a patient or a sick child. And by working in small groups, they are also learning things about themselves as people and developing a community, in keeping with the Teleosis emphasis on personal development and community support.

Teleosis’ Philosophy of Teaching

The daily practice of homeopathy is fundamentally a problem-solving activity. To best develop the necessary skills, problem-based learning modules are integrated throughout the program. Cases form the center of the Teleosis curriculum. Students work in small groups to master specific skills. Small class size and a recognition of different learning styles create a supportive learning environment.

Critical thinking is emphasized throughout the program. No single technique of case analysis or prescribing style is emphasized. Students learn a range of homeopathic techniques from a variety of teachers, and are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills and reach independent conclusions. There is no one best way to practice homeopathy—different techniques have strengths and weaknesses depending upon the circumstances.

Teleosis is committed to providing high quality homeopathic training based on contemporary teaching strategies. Our elements of education include:

• Problem-Based Learning in a Student-Centered Classroom: hands-on learning using innovative teaching strategies.
• Individual Tutors: each student is assigned to a tutor who provides individualized coaching and feedback on written work. These tutors have completed years of professional training in homeopathy and can provide individualized and supportive feedback on students’ written assignments.
• Highly Trained Faculty: Our faculty members are all trained in progressive educational methods as well as in homeopathy. The learning experience reflects careful planning.
• Highly Motivated Adult Learners: we are fortunate enough to attract mature adult learners who are willing to take responsibility for their learning. Since classroom time is mostly spent on developing deep understandings and practicing skills, students are expected to spend 3 to 5 hours a week on home study to master the necessary information. Students are also expected to speak up if some aspect of their learning is not working for them, and to give us feedback to help us continuously improve our process.

Mission Statement
The goal of the Teleosis School of Homeopathy is to serve our community:

• by training excellent classical homeopaths
• by inspiring a wider community of self-prescribers infused by a homeopathic vision of healing,
• and by offering a low-cost teaching clinic to make homeopathy more widely accessible.

To become healers we must practice.
Humans learn best by doing. We believe it is essential that our students actually execute what they study. They will be encouraged to take and analyze cases, give remedies, and evaluate their results. Using problem-based activities, we illustrate classical methodology, allowing us to share the learning process. In this way, practice is a cornerstone of learning.

To be healers we must continue to grow.
Each student will be encouraged to delve into the spirit of homeopathic philosophy. Through experiences of personal growth and helping others, students mature as individuals and healers. By practicing the highest ideals of cure, we know ourselves more fully, and know others more deeply.

To sustain healers we need community.
We believe that homeopathic practitioners benefit from one another. Our school uses ongoing cooperative learning methodologies, encouraging a healthy sense of professional interdependence. We are developing a continuing community of practitioners in our region to foster mutual growth.