ILLUSTRATION

Fingleheim

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After his biology lecture Fingleheim talks to a student.

F.: "I knew you would take my statement - 'Do not think so much and you will understand more' - paradoxically."

S.: "But it was the same when you told us to 'Look, look, look and you will see.' I thought you were saying something totally obvious.”

F.: "It just goes to prove how predictable you are. I tried to prove other things as well."

S.: "What? "

F.: “That you were unrealistic in your thoughts. The method works well and is very easy to understand when your minds are not blocked."

S.: "I don't quite see what you mean?"

F.: “It is very simple.
If you had thought less and looked more deeply when I asked you to, you would have seen very clearly that my ear was many other things, apart from just an ear. What I meant was to unblock your minds. I wanted to tell you: open your ears, open your eyes, open your minds, and you will hear, see, feel and experience Nature as a living reality, and not just as abstract and disconnected facts taken from books."

S.: "Good grief, I did not realize you meant that!"

F: "Look, look, look and you will see!”



Fingleheim tells how he first discovered his method

I was alone in the mountains. I had lost my rucksack over a ravine and was searching for a cabin to camp in for the night. From a corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of something. When I turned, it was gone. I stared for a long time into the dazzling whiteness, straining my eyes to see. Suddenly it reappeared: a tiny black speck far off in the distance. It could be anything, I thought. It disappeared again, veiled by a cloud. My map showed nothing unusual in that direction. But still I turned and started towards the spot. During my trek I caught one or two very brief glimpses of the black speck, then for a long time it completely disappeared. I almost gave up hope of seeing it again, when a dazzling light flashed into my eyes. I struggled forward until I saw, just beyond a small slope, a newly built cabin nestling in an outcrop of ice-covered rock reflecting the light from the setting sun.


QUESTIONS TO ILLUSTRATION

  1. Fingleheim's trek in the high mountains was very nearly a matter of life and death. Which two great points mentioned in the story depict his method? Why?

  2. In the second part of Illustration III, it might be considered illogical for Fingleheim to take such a risk by going toward the black speck. Is it illogical? If so why? If not, why not?

  3. What is the underlying desire constantly present in Fingleheim?



I. To give the students the greatest possible knowledge on the subject of biology?

    1. Search for what is hidden?

    2. To train the eyes?

    3. To make his students direct their eyes and minds toward the glories of nature?

    4. To direct the students toward a deep and living comprehension of our Universe?

    5. To open doors leading into undiscovered realms?

    6. To use the minds and eyes correctly throughout their lives?

    7. To instill in them a great desire to discover more?