education not literation
dr uma prasanna pani
Every parent, in present day situation, wants to send their wards to much-moneyed institutions only for content and career opportunities. In return, they want a heavy income by the child. The concept of ethics and morality do not exists in their minds. It leads both the parents and the child to a state of complete bankruptcy. Thus, the society where they live in remains devoid of all moral human values. This money-making motive behind education remains far from the truth of education which is ‘Sat-Chit-Anand’ – realization of Supreme as quoted by Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra. Right from the beginning of job, the educated individual thinks of ‘earning and earning’ only and not a whisper of service in their attitude of work. As a result the personal life of an educated man is not ‘pure’ rather polluted with severe sense of selfishness, exploitation and materialistic outlook. Are we going to pass such a dirty tradition of education to our next generation?
Therefore Sree Sree Thakur urges for a radical change in the system of education by emphasizing a congenial relationship between the teacher and the taught accompanied by a high sense of idealism. Learning by the students should be passionate and affectionate at the same time. Any adverse situation during learning span will train him to cope up with oddities in life in future. This learning of owning hardship will never prevent him from continuous progress in life.
The concept of education as propounded by Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra is as follows:
1. Spiritual aim of Education
The spiritual goal of human life finds a beautiful expression in a memorable verse of Svetasvetara Upanishad as, “Many may try through his technical advances to reel up the sky itself as if it were a piece of leather; but with all that, he will never succeed in achieving peace and the end of his sorrows without realizing the luminous divine within his”. Swami Ranganathananda (1971) : Electual values for a changing society. P.687.
In the words of Sree Sree Thakur:
“Spiritualism is investigation and invention
of the hows and whys
by which matter extends and grows –
to the acceleration
of our Being
and Becoming!”
(The Message, Vol. I)
2. Ideal: the Living Embodiment of Education
The Vedas says, “Brahmabite brahmaiba bhabati” means the Great-self (Ideal) to which individual surrenders is but the God himself. Without Him or His guidance and enlightenment, the attainment of Brahmaprapti is impossible. He is the living embodiment of love, life, light, knowledge and wisdom and a practical Ideal in flesh and blood. Befitting example is the structure of solar system and the structure of atom. In the solar system, Planets are revolving around the Sun in their respective orbits. Similarly electrons are moving around the nucleus in a certain orbit. Planets and electrons have their existence because of the Sun and nucleus respectively. An individual grows spiritually only when he marches towards the Ideal. An Ideal is one who is over and above free from all kind of complexes. The guidance of the Ideal makes this movement of individual simple, easy and comfortable making life well adjusted, well disciplined and well integrated. In the long run, the individual achieves self-realisation and attains godly nature. In the words of Sree Sree Thakur:
“An object with impulses thereof carried through the seeing of one which promotes the being towards perfection is one’s Ideal.”
Devotion to the Ideal serves as a crystallizing agent in the very go of life of a person. To quote Sree Sree Thakur:
“Ideal or spiritual guide
is the living embodiment of education
and he alone can feel this
who has adherence – delighting to go
in accordance with him.”
(Siksha Bidhayana)
3. Education : realization of higher values (Sat-Chit-Anand)
As propagated by ancient Indian philosophy, life has four distinct higher values ‘Dharma’, ‘Artha’, ‘Kama’ and ‘Mokshya’ which means righteousness, wealth, pleasure of life and attainment of spiritual illumination respectively. In the words of Vinoba, “The Soul is Sat-Chit-Anand: Truth, Intelligence and Bliss”. Further he said, “The watchword of our education is Sat-Chit-Anand. Sat is work, without which life can not go on; Chit is knowledge, without which life lacks freedom; and without Anand life loses its flavor. (Thoughts on Education)
Sree Sree Thakur holds the view that all the human beings are idols of Sachidananda which means ‘Sat’ – the existence; ‘Chit’ – the responsiveness; ‘Anand’ – overcoming resistance. These are three fashions of expression of Trinity. Sree Sree Thakur explained
“He is the existence of all that exists, -
thereby He, ‘the Sat’
He is the responsiveness of all that responds, -
So ‘Chit’ - that He is;
He is the becoming of each that comes, -
thus He – the ‘Ananda’ as known”.
(The Message)
4. Education : Formation of Character
The main objective of education is the formation of character. In education, the character is formed, where as in literation the character remains untouched. Sree Sree Thakur says
“Where education does not collaborate
with character and conduct
it is merely an induction
of knowledge.”
(The Message Vol. VIII)
5. Literacy degree : not the emblem of education
Education today has become a business of yielding degrees and certificates which have no practical implications in life. Degrees and diplomas seldom display the innate worth of an individual.
As Henry Ford says, “An educated man is not whose memory is strained to carry a few dates in history. He is one who can accomplish thing. A man who cannot think is not an educated man however many college degrees he may have acquired.” Sree Sree Thakur also holds the same view. In his words :
“Literacy degrees
are not the emblem of education
what leads to the
domain of wisdom
that concentrates
with a meaningful adjustment
in a unicentric condensation of truth
is education.”
(The Message Vol. VIII)
Education is not to acquire degrees and diplomas; rather it is a development to the domain of wisdom where the individual can establish a meaningful adjustment to reach into the realm of truth. In the words of Sree Sree Thakur education also means an ‘objective experience with subjective collaboration that makes the experience rich’ and remold one’s intelligence and character with a better proficiency in practical life.
6. Shraddha or Faith : the gate way to knowledge
Shraddha or faith is the gate way to knowledge. Shradha is the key note of the Vedas and Vedanta. Shraddha makes the world move. An individual without shraddha is sure to run into ruins. As said by Vinobaji, “Knowledge cannot be had without faith, so the student must have faith ………..trust of faith, is the fundamental to learning. Knowledge begins in faith.” (Thoughts on Education by Vinoba)
According to Sree Sree Thakur, Shraddha is the building block of knowledge. ‘Shraddhavan lavate gyanam’ means shraddha leads an individual to get knowledge. It leads to acquire a perfect proficiency through hard work. Further, Sree Sree Thakur asserted that nothing can be learnt or understood properly in the absence of shraddha. An educated person without shraddha is no better than a load carrying ox or a gramophone record. In the opinion of Sree Sree Thakur, “You may be a learned man; but if lacking in faith, surely you are no better than a gramophone record or an ox carrying a load of woods.” (Satyanusaran)
7. Knowledge breeds humility
In Sanskrit, ‘Vinaya’ is the other name of education. Humility is still another name of education. Humility is the gate-way of all other virtues. It facilitates uninterrupted growth of other virtues. According to Sree Sree Thakur ‘Vidya vinayang dadati’ which means knowledge breeds humility. Knowledge without humility is meaningless. Education based on love and devotion harbings new colour to life and character of an individual. On the other hand, education generated by envoy, jealousy and inferiority complex leaves an imprint in the brain like gramophone record. (Narir Niti)
8. Education : Harmony between habit and behavior
Shiksha embodies the twin words ‘literacy’ and ‘education’. Sree Sree Thakur says education is not synonymous with literacy. Literacy means the ability of reading and writing. Education, in his views, is not a mere expertise upon reading and writing, rather an exaltation of habits, behavior and common sense. Sree Sree Thakur says:
“To become mere expert in reading and writing
is not to be called education;
without habits, behavior and common sense,
there is no education at all.”
Sree Sree Thakur puts education into a “meaningful active adjustment of habits and behavior.” (Alochana Prasange Vol. VII)
According to Sree Sree Thakur “The systematic organization of instincts and habits that will fulfill the becoming of life through a graduated, active manipulation of behavior is education.”
9. Education : Training for adversity
According to Sree Sree Thakur, life has two paths. The first path is easy and simple. But the second path is critical and dangerous stuffed with accident, enmity, conspiracy, calamity, conflict, fight, famine, epidemic and the like. Hence, one has to train up his mind to face any of the above emergencies with confidence. Sree Sree Thakur explains that education, which trains the man to lead life on the lap of luxury, to swim over extacy is not true education. True education is that which trains the individual to face the life in its abysmal depth of despair, sinking in sorrow and braving through bad times. Education should build up an individual to face reality in totality. (Alochana Prasange Vol. X)
Adverse situation supplies the man with an extra dose of courage and resourcefulness to face any such situation with a readiness – anew and afresh. The growth of an individual is strengthened by overcoming misfortune with confidence; no matter how powerful the adversity is.
In the words of Sree Sree Thakur, “Gain success by avoiding or defeating misfortune and see that difficulties do not cheat you of success”. (Satyanusaran)
Therefore Sree Sree Thakur urges for a radical change in the system of education by emphasizing a congenial relationship between the teacher and the taught accompanied by a high sense of idealism. Learning by the students should be passionate and affectionate at the same time. Any adverse situation during learning span will train him to cope up with oddities in life in future. This learning of owning hardship will never prevent him from continuous progress in life.
The concept of education as propounded by Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra is as follows:
1. Spiritual aim of Education
The spiritual goal of human life finds a beautiful expression in a memorable verse of Svetasvetara Upanishad as, “Many may try through his technical advances to reel up the sky itself as if it were a piece of leather; but with all that, he will never succeed in achieving peace and the end of his sorrows without realizing the luminous divine within his”. Swami Ranganathananda (1971) : Electual values for a changing society. P.687.
In the words of Sree Sree Thakur:
“Spiritualism is investigation and invention
of the hows and whys
by which matter extends and grows –
to the acceleration
of our Being
and Becoming!”
(The Message, Vol. I)
2. Ideal: the Living Embodiment of Education
The Vedas says, “Brahmabite brahmaiba bhabati” means the Great-self (Ideal) to which individual surrenders is but the God himself. Without Him or His guidance and enlightenment, the attainment of Brahmaprapti is impossible. He is the living embodiment of love, life, light, knowledge and wisdom and a practical Ideal in flesh and blood. Befitting example is the structure of solar system and the structure of atom. In the solar system, Planets are revolving around the Sun in their respective orbits. Similarly electrons are moving around the nucleus in a certain orbit. Planets and electrons have their existence because of the Sun and nucleus respectively. An individual grows spiritually only when he marches towards the Ideal. An Ideal is one who is over and above free from all kind of complexes. The guidance of the Ideal makes this movement of individual simple, easy and comfortable making life well adjusted, well disciplined and well integrated. In the long run, the individual achieves self-realisation and attains godly nature. In the words of Sree Sree Thakur:
“An object with impulses thereof carried through the seeing of one which promotes the being towards perfection is one’s Ideal.”
Devotion to the Ideal serves as a crystallizing agent in the very go of life of a person. To quote Sree Sree Thakur:
“Ideal or spiritual guide
is the living embodiment of education
and he alone can feel this
who has adherence – delighting to go
in accordance with him.”
(Siksha Bidhayana)
3. Education : realization of higher values (Sat-Chit-Anand)
As propagated by ancient Indian philosophy, life has four distinct higher values ‘Dharma’, ‘Artha’, ‘Kama’ and ‘Mokshya’ which means righteousness, wealth, pleasure of life and attainment of spiritual illumination respectively. In the words of Vinoba, “The Soul is Sat-Chit-Anand: Truth, Intelligence and Bliss”. Further he said, “The watchword of our education is Sat-Chit-Anand. Sat is work, without which life can not go on; Chit is knowledge, without which life lacks freedom; and without Anand life loses its flavor. (Thoughts on Education)
Sree Sree Thakur holds the view that all the human beings are idols of Sachidananda which means ‘Sat’ – the existence; ‘Chit’ – the responsiveness; ‘Anand’ – overcoming resistance. These are three fashions of expression of Trinity. Sree Sree Thakur explained
“He is the existence of all that exists, -
thereby He, ‘the Sat’
He is the responsiveness of all that responds, -
So ‘Chit’ - that He is;
He is the becoming of each that comes, -
thus He – the ‘Ananda’ as known”.
(The Message)
4. Education : Formation of Character
The main objective of education is the formation of character. In education, the character is formed, where as in literation the character remains untouched. Sree Sree Thakur says
“Where education does not collaborate
with character and conduct
it is merely an induction
of knowledge.”
(The Message Vol. VIII)
5. Literacy degree : not the emblem of education
Education today has become a business of yielding degrees and certificates which have no practical implications in life. Degrees and diplomas seldom display the innate worth of an individual.
As Henry Ford says, “An educated man is not whose memory is strained to carry a few dates in history. He is one who can accomplish thing. A man who cannot think is not an educated man however many college degrees he may have acquired.” Sree Sree Thakur also holds the same view. In his words :
“Literacy degrees
are not the emblem of education
what leads to the
domain of wisdom
that concentrates
with a meaningful adjustment
in a unicentric condensation of truth
is education.”
(The Message Vol. VIII)
Education is not to acquire degrees and diplomas; rather it is a development to the domain of wisdom where the individual can establish a meaningful adjustment to reach into the realm of truth. In the words of Sree Sree Thakur education also means an ‘objective experience with subjective collaboration that makes the experience rich’ and remold one’s intelligence and character with a better proficiency in practical life.
6. Shraddha or Faith : the gate way to knowledge
Shraddha or faith is the gate way to knowledge. Shradha is the key note of the Vedas and Vedanta. Shraddha makes the world move. An individual without shraddha is sure to run into ruins. As said by Vinobaji, “Knowledge cannot be had without faith, so the student must have faith ………..trust of faith, is the fundamental to learning. Knowledge begins in faith.” (Thoughts on Education by Vinoba)
According to Sree Sree Thakur, Shraddha is the building block of knowledge. ‘Shraddhavan lavate gyanam’ means shraddha leads an individual to get knowledge. It leads to acquire a perfect proficiency through hard work. Further, Sree Sree Thakur asserted that nothing can be learnt or understood properly in the absence of shraddha. An educated person without shraddha is no better than a load carrying ox or a gramophone record. In the opinion of Sree Sree Thakur, “You may be a learned man; but if lacking in faith, surely you are no better than a gramophone record or an ox carrying a load of woods.” (Satyanusaran)
7. Knowledge breeds humility
In Sanskrit, ‘Vinaya’ is the other name of education. Humility is still another name of education. Humility is the gate-way of all other virtues. It facilitates uninterrupted growth of other virtues. According to Sree Sree Thakur ‘Vidya vinayang dadati’ which means knowledge breeds humility. Knowledge without humility is meaningless. Education based on love and devotion harbings new colour to life and character of an individual. On the other hand, education generated by envoy, jealousy and inferiority complex leaves an imprint in the brain like gramophone record. (Narir Niti)
8. Education : Harmony between habit and behavior
Shiksha embodies the twin words ‘literacy’ and ‘education’. Sree Sree Thakur says education is not synonymous with literacy. Literacy means the ability of reading and writing. Education, in his views, is not a mere expertise upon reading and writing, rather an exaltation of habits, behavior and common sense. Sree Sree Thakur says:
“To become mere expert in reading and writing
is not to be called education;
without habits, behavior and common sense,
there is no education at all.”
Sree Sree Thakur puts education into a “meaningful active adjustment of habits and behavior.” (Alochana Prasange Vol. VII)
According to Sree Sree Thakur “The systematic organization of instincts and habits that will fulfill the becoming of life through a graduated, active manipulation of behavior is education.”
9. Education : Training for adversity
According to Sree Sree Thakur, life has two paths. The first path is easy and simple. But the second path is critical and dangerous stuffed with accident, enmity, conspiracy, calamity, conflict, fight, famine, epidemic and the like. Hence, one has to train up his mind to face any of the above emergencies with confidence. Sree Sree Thakur explains that education, which trains the man to lead life on the lap of luxury, to swim over extacy is not true education. True education is that which trains the individual to face the life in its abysmal depth of despair, sinking in sorrow and braving through bad times. Education should build up an individual to face reality in totality. (Alochana Prasange Vol. X)
Adverse situation supplies the man with an extra dose of courage and resourcefulness to face any such situation with a readiness – anew and afresh. The growth of an individual is strengthened by overcoming misfortune with confidence; no matter how powerful the adversity is.
In the words of Sree Sree Thakur, “Gain success by avoiding or defeating misfortune and see that difficulties do not cheat you of success”. (Satyanusaran)