WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH PREVAILING EDUCATION SYSTEM?

Uncertainty about its aims

Although Education is an instrument as well as a catalyst of social transformation and expected to bring about qualitative change in man’s perception, attitudes, habits, priority and goals, the real sense of values in recent days is somewhere missing. Moreover, the present system of education is information oriented not character-based. It is consumerist in nature and tends to make one selfish, self-centered, irreverent and cynical. It sharpens reasons but hardens the heart. It lays little or no emphasis on such basic values as truth, love, honesty, humility, compassion, forbearance and justice. It makes one conscious about one’s rights not duties. The net result is that a strongly individualistic and materialistic culture has taken birth, which promotes self-aggrandizement, nurtures opportunism and chicanery, and generates tension in society.

The ghost of technological power unwittingly released by man can be contained only by the right kind of education which combines science with spirituality, fitness with health, reasons with faith, empirical knowledge with intuition and insight; which keeps both progress and peace as its goals and is helpful in mitigating social evils. The parenting in the earlier years and character education in school hours has to be re-organized to meet the needs of the fast moving world.

 The Right Approach

Quote from ‘Manashakti’ published book:  “Learn to Mind Your Mind”

Foundation for nurturing the character has to be set at the earliest, even at preconception and prenatal level. Though it’s never too late to be right, one needs to be totally flexible to melt into new mental mold. Right from prenatal stage to the age of seven, major brain development takes place which is the correct time for the emotional foundation of the child. Emotional and physical, both types of growths are almost complete at age 21. It’s a vital period to inculcate right values and ideas. Teachers, parents and every member of the society concerned, have a key role to play in preparing kids for life and not just for exams and careers. However, elders cannot go on preaching and teaching as they must lead by example. Children learn more through observation. Therefore the proper behavior on parts of parents and teachers is necessary. Indian thinkers and sages have put forth their views in classical literature. Patanjali’s Ashtang yoga is the master plan laid out for the entire life, a guide for highest human evolution by own efforts.

YAMAS AND NIYAMAS.

       

The age-old Ashtanga Yoga system in its initial steps; namely Yama and Niyama ensures the above aspect. If this is imparted properly, children will have a strong base and problems in the next generation will be substantially lesser.

YAMA (यम - Duty for others)

Ahimsa (अहिंसा): Non-violence. Inflicting no injuries or harm to others even to own self. Non – violence of thoughts, words and deeds.

Satya (सत्य): Truth in word and thought.

Asteya : (अस्तेय) Non – covetousness to the extent that one should not even desire something that is not his own.

Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य) : Abstain from sexual intercourse. To the extent that one should not possess any unholy thought towards any other man or woman except one’s own spouse.

Aparigrah (अपरिग्रह) : Non – possessiveness.

NIYAMA (नियम-Duty for self)

Shaucha (शौच): Cleanliness of body and mind.

Santosha (संतोष): Satisfaction. Satisfied with what one gets after right efforts.

Tapas (तपस): Austerity and associated observances body discipline and thereby mental control.

Swadhya (स्वाध्याय): Study of the Vedic scriptures (spirituality) to know about God and Soul, which leads to introspection on a greater awakening to the soul and God within.

Ishwarpranidhan (ईश्वर प्रणिधान): Surrender to (or worship of) God / cosmic power.

A Road Map for Life:

The yamas and niyamas are the foundation for a meaningful and Life changing yoga path. They are not only useful for the kids but also for all elders. Living according to these principles bring Peace, joy, and understanding to your world. Your compassion and awareness will grow, and your life journey will flourish. As you begin incorporating the Yamas and Niyamas into your everyday life, it would lead to positive changes! This is the right path for the nurture of right character, and total personality development of a person.

Character is everything

Money can give you bread, But not hunger.

Money can give you bed, But not sleep.

Money can give you medicine, not health.

Money can give you comfort, But not peace.

Money can give you power, But not respect.

Money can give you degree, not knowledge.

Money can give you security, not freedom.

It is CHARACTER and CHARACTER alone that can give you … Everything

 

What is the assistance available from Manashakti?

Manashakti Research Centre conducts special training camps for the children and their parents, teachers on this subject. The training camps receive an overwhelming response as it is useful to help parents in molding character of the kids. Every parent’s experience of raising a teenager is different. More parents probably need support than ask for it. If you have concerns about your teenager’s behav­ior, MANASHAKTI can help. Counselling for specific issues you face and group guidance / counselling is available. Some relevant training programs are given.

                                                                                         

Youvanachya Kranti-disha (Revolution in Youth-hood)

This course is meant for teenagers between the age 15 and 21 years. It covers:

1. A special session to enhance better communication between parents and pupils.
2. The technique to develop the right brain along with the left brain.
3. The three day camp at a stage of life when youths wish to prove themselves.
4. The scientific information, guidance and test based solutions about the various
Stages of intellectual and emotional development along with the physical development.

Kutumb-Sukha-Vardhan (Family Contentment)

This course is conducted for parents. In it, basic remedies in principle, on various problems in family life are suggested. The course is designed to guide as to what should be the role of the parents when their children are coming of age as independent personalities, how to guide them while maintaining a friendly relationship, how to help them in getting over their intellectual, physical and psychological stress and how to find a golden median amidst all of this and enhance the overall happiness of the family. This course is conducted parallel for the parents while their children undergo the Youth Revolution course. This course also discusses a number of tips to establish stability in the family. Duration: 3 days

Activities for Teenagers

Teenage is a time of bubbling exuberance, dreaming about goals, boldness to face challenges; a gushing yet a tremulous, sensitive mind having empathy for others! A time when one prefers the company and joy of friends to one’s parents! It's like standing at a crossroad having attractive avenues of future colorful life! At this time, your life can take a successful turn if competent and prudent guidance is at your hand! Manashakti helps through Books, Workshops, Machine Test, Experimental aids, Health Products etc.  The details can be seen from website www.manashakti.org.

The most serious weakness in modern education is the uncertainty about its aims:  

A famous quote on education says “When I was bachelor and doing research I had 5 different theories on parenting. Now married having two kids, I can’t practice any one”.  

Though many of the above points are known, why they are very difficult to practice in prevailing lifestyle? Swami Vijnananand, the founder of Manashakti deals on this in his book “Save your child from yourself”, as follows:

The champions of the cause of ideal education the world over, unreservedly give assent to salient features of model education.

(a) The primary necessity is to impart moral education, a mission which is hardly mechanical.

(b) The pupils possess receptivity beyond our stretch of imagination. They of course learn by our actions. Equally our words subscribe to build their wit, wisdom and personality.

(c)       The essence of education is character-building. Parents in the uphill task should share with the school the bulk of the burden.

Instructors, guides, relatives, priests, parents are too many cooks that spoil the broth. Ordinarily most of them are incompetent to take up the task, when they themselves lack moral conception as well as character. Over and above, they hang fire having no courage to admit it. It is in this sense that the proclaimed aims of education have admittedly ended in smoke.

It is imperative to check up where the shoe pinches. The shoe, pinches where our, own imperfection is evidenced. The delicate embarrassment experienced in acceptance of the moral measure by the parents themselves becomes apparent. They accept moral education as the aim not to be ever fulfilled in practice. None dare pit against canons of morality in theory, therefore- `morality' in education is an accepted goal. But none cares implementing the conditions put forth by ethical law, in the name of formidable practical difficulties in life. As if, all concerned; the parents-and the educationist, have come to an unwritten understanding that, `truth' should be talked of with unrestricted vigor; but practiced or taught strictly when remunerative.

In this world of unbounded, chaotic selfishness, the children inherit pure selfishness-more than his parents goad him to learn. Obviously because the child excels the parents in intelligence. When the child himself ascends to the adult age he learns by heart unqualified selfishness. He himself becomes chaotic. The parents have no clue to the Gordian knot because they themselves were very small kids some decades back and were taught untruth, howsoever inadvertently.

This has to be a collective movement.

 

Parents may take following stance dealing with their children: “I know my child is born with some of my attributes and it is my responsibility to bring him up properly. But still I have to respect him as a unique and different person. It is not necessary that his entire thinking and behavior will be according to my opinion. I must first accept a fact that my child’s point of view can be different from my point of view. Otherwise my efforts will not be in a right direction.

“It is not a one way process. What I preach has to by my practice. While I would like my child to develop as a responsible citizen with high values of life, I would endeavor to nurture in the best possible manner.  Not the efforts are essential only for my kid, but this message has to spread effectively in society so that all kids in the upcoming generation will develop in proper manner. This has to be collective process wherein all members of the society have to be involved to seek cooperation. This awareness has to be created by collective efforts. To the extent possible I would share my efforts towards this need”. Everyone need to resolve to devote some small percentage of own resources/abilities (time/money) for this important cause of the future world.

This has to be a collective movement.

Vijay R. Joshi.