Credentials. Some have them. Some do not.
Some are necessary. Some are not.
When we walk into a doctors or lawyers office, we often see all types of diplomas on the wall. From where they went to undergraduate school, graduate school, or even to some form of professional specialization within their respected field these pieces of paper are prominently on display.
Doctors’ degrees such as the PhD, the Doctor of Philosophy,
the M.D. the Medical Doctor, and the J.D. the Juris Doctorate, certainly all
require a significant portion of one’s time and effort in graduate school and
then successfully passing some type of state certification to be earned.
I fall into the first category, the PhD. But when you come
to our meditation center, or look around our website, or even on any marketing
material, you will not find any reference to doctor or PhD anywhere.
Why is that?
When I first obtained my doctorate, before I embraced
Buddhism and mindfulness, I was very much a ‘title’ person. I even enjoyed the
little perks that came along with it. Upon hearing ‘Dr. Zivkovic’ it inflated
my ego, my sense of better than you, it was a thin protective shell for the ‘hey,
look at me and what I did’.
Now as I look back with mindful reflection, for me, my title
or degree has nothing to do with the quality of the messages I convey to you. My
messages on the Dharma and mindfulness all originate from my heart and are
transmitted with love, compassion, and wellbeing to each one of you. This is
not something a certificate or degree will ever contain.
But doesn’t a PhD give you credibility when speaking to
others?
No. For some, seeing these letters may offer some
reassurance, but in my opinion these letters may get someone some initial
attention but does the message they speak hold true. It very well may and I am
pleased for them. But this is not how I prefer to transmit my message. If the
letters offer you reassurance, I respectfully ask that you ask yourself ‘why’?
Look deeply within yourself to find that answer.
As for me, when you come across what I say, I hope you find
value in the words I say and not only because I have some letters after my
name.
What is your PhD in?
I have a PhD in Geology. But that’s not why I don’t use the ‘PhD’
in my message. It’s not that I feel unworthy or that it might be misleading in
some way or even some form of ‘clickbait’’ to get attention. To me, doctor, or
any other title is divisive. They promote divisiveness and not unity. An air of
superiority instead of belonging. And as Dharma beings we are all connected as one.
This is much the same as your little toe belong to ‘you’ as does a single
strand of hair. Your toe is neither superior nor inferior to this singular
strand of hair.
And you are neither superior nor inferior to anyone else. We
are all connected with love, compassion, and empathy in the Dharma to all and you don't need credentials for this.
And with that my friends I wish you all peace and ease,
Vladimir
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Blue Lotus Meditation and Mindfulness Center is a registered 501(c)(3) religious organization.
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