In order to
impart all inclusive, secular character education to the new generation and to
fulfill the real purpose of nurturing the upcoming youngsters throughout the
world, A suitable blueprint has to be prepared. The need is widely felt and
such plan of action would fulfill the purpose of education.
What thinkers say?
“When
educating the minds of youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts” H. H. Dalai Lama.
Teaching is
a very noble profession that shapes the character, caliber, and future of an
individual. If the people remember me as a good teacher, that will be the
biggest honor for me. A. P. J.
Abdul Kalam.
It is the
supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. Albert Einstein.
What
should be the aim of education and how can this be achieved?
Everybody
and all human being desire to be happy, satisfied and peace full life. So,
achieving such a state should be the aim of education system. A famous quote
says ‘if you want one year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want ten years of
prosperity grow trees; but, if your dream is to bring about hundreds of years
of prosperity, nurture the youths and build Nation”
Statistics
reveal that presently; India has 50% of its total population below the age of
20 years and about 70% or more below the age of 35 years. Therefore India is
known as nation of youths in the world. India is predicted to be a world
superpower in next 10 to 15 years. Realization of this dream is largely based
on the assumed success and accomplishment of young generation. Thus, we can
conclude that if India or any nation for that matter, wants to gain and
maintain a top position in the world in coming years, it is necessary to start
and continue the process of creating capable, virtuous and patriotic young
generation.
Educational
institutions, office bearers, principals, teachers, parents, government
officials, politicians responsible for educational policy making – all should
consider this fact before planning and implementing a strategy. Education
system should create efficient and competent youngsters. These people should be
multi-skilled to face successfully the challenges of the world tomorrow.
Educating-global-citizens-for-the-21st-century.
Inter-dependent world demand a new vision of world citizenship
that is not confined to national boundaries, but encompasses moral and ethical
responsibilities to all humanity. People coming of age in the 21st century will
need to develop unprecedented levels of intercultural cooperation, mutual moral
concern, creativity, and skill in effectively addressing the challenges of the
world today—challenges economic, ecological, and inter-cultural/religious in
nature. An education that will prepare young people to become competent and
compassionate world citizens in such a context. It cannot be measured only in
terms of cognitive skills and knowledge, but must address wider aspects of the
heart, including skills and qualities of awareness associated with conscious
self-regulation, ethical and social responsibility, and empathy and compassion
for others. The time has come to usher in a holistic view of education that
empowers children and builds resiliency, hope and confidence.
With the initiative of “Mind and Life Institute” at the end of the first decade of 21st century, the topic of Character development has been taken up by leading experts in the field. This is indeed a good news. But the emphasis seems only at “school level”. As seen below the learning process doesn’t start after the child is admitted to school, but right from prenatal stage, rather from pre-conception stage. The role of homes (parents), and other stake holders is also critical.
There are millions of children in the world who do not afford good school admission, rather any school admission. If planning at global level is to be considered, then more comprehensive approach appears necessary. Way back in 1960s, Swamy Vijnananand, the founder of Manashakti Research Center (MRC) in India, thought on these lines and evolved rational, secular, all affordable approach. All human beings of all age groups strive to live happily. All parents also desire that their children should lead happy life.
With the initiative of “Mind and Life Institute” at the end of the first decade of 21st century, the topic of Character development has been taken up by leading experts in the field. This is indeed a good news. But the emphasis seems only at “school level”. As seen below the learning process doesn’t start after the child is admitted to school, but right from prenatal stage, rather from pre-conception stage. The role of homes (parents), and other stake holders is also critical.
There are millions of children in the world who do not afford good school admission, rather any school admission. If planning at global level is to be considered, then more comprehensive approach appears necessary. Way back in 1960s, Swamy Vijnananand, the founder of Manashakti Research Center (MRC) in India, thought on these lines and evolved rational, secular, all affordable approach. All human beings of all age groups strive to live happily. All parents also desire that their children should lead happy life.
Where Is Happiness?
Matthieu
Ricard is a French scientist turned Buddhist monk. He has reputation of being
‘happiest person in the world’. He has published a book on ‘happiness’. He says
that our mind is flexible and constantly changing. We can dramatically change
our life, if we slightly change our attitude toward world and our perception of
external things.
Happiness/pleasure, Satisfaction, Bliss/balance/peace.
In day today
life we see, any pleasure or feeling of happiness is a passing phase and
generally follows by displeasure or unhappiness. The state of satisfaction
relatively lasts longer. If the mindset is peaceful or blissful, then there is
nothing more to achieve. If we want to have a peaceful world the character
education alone is the step in right direction.
What is success?
Wealth? / Recognition? / Respect? /Good health? / Good
relationship? / Peace of mind? Different
things to different people. It is subjective.
What are the
things required to make one happy, satisfied?
Personality triangle
(1) Wealth,
for which exam success is necessary.
(2) Physical fitness, for which good
health is necessary.
(3) Peace,
for which balanced behavior is necessary.
Aid of
Character education to the prevailing system.
In
prevailing education system emphasize is put on scoring the marks and grades in
examination. Curriculum and training regarding focus on health and character
building attracts very less attention or is completely ignored. There has been
emphasize on developing logic based intelligence. If this is supplemented with
measures of character education, then both I.Q. and E.Q (intelligent quotient
and emotional quotient) will be improved and a balanced well behaving new
generation will be available, which indeed is the need of the hour in view of
the emerging situation in the world which is coming nearer in fast pace.
Indifferent attitude towards the important factors.
In the
triangle given above, except passing the exam with good grades, other two sides
of the triangle grossly neglected by Parents/ Schools/policy makers.
Importance of Good Character.
Imagine a
person equipped with success in academic/ professional exams, and physically
fit. Can s/he be successful in life if not able to get along with others in any
given situation? The answer is “No”! For
success, right character i.e. right attitude, temperament and mature behavioral
skills are essential. Negative, self-centered, egoistic and unsatisfied person
is bound to score less in spite of favorable status in wealth and health. While
a person with balanced behavior, i.e. right character will be happy, satisfied
even in some adverse situation of health and wealth. So, while educating the
new generation for the new world the nurture of right character assumes
importance. We have in this series of blogs have tried to see how this
objective can be met with.
Behavior/ Character.
Though, each
of us have a mind, it is not visible, can’t be shown as an object. Expression
of mind is the behavior of a person, or as commonly called ‘Nature’ of a
person. Nature is instinct, attitude, style of reaction, motives etc. Good
behavior leads to formation of good character. That is why if we want to
develop new generation of good character, it is essential to imbibe the good
values in the behavior of the upcoming generation by systematic efforts. All
concerned stake holders should note this with great care. We have to make right
efforts to impart this training of mind not only to the children but even all
adult stake holders also.
Main features of Nature. (Fear, Rage, Courage, Peace)
Fear or Rage
dominated nature - This is Inborn, no efforts needed.
Courage or
peace dominated nature - This is not in born but achievable only by deliberate efforts.
These efforts have to be learn.
Teen Agers’ behavioral problems.
As per one published survey, the major problems of the teenagers world over are as follows:
1. Indulgence in Sex, Alcohol, and Drugs
2. Increased
Use of Communication Devices and Social Media
3. Mood
Swings
4.
Aggression
5. Lying or
Hiding Facts
6. Defying
Rules and Arguing
7. Drastic
Changes In appearance
8. Decreased
Communication
9. Spending
More Time with Friends
10. Indecisiveness.
If we refer
to the personality triangle figure discussed above, it can be easily noticed
that almost all of the above problems relate to the nature, character or
behavior. Starting from the first decade of this century, lot of research is being
conducted in this area. How a person develops his nature, what is the role of
genes, what the role an external environment plays in these are some of the
research topics. This branch of research is called as “Epigenetics”. One of the
branches of epigenetics which deal with the behavioral aspect is called as “Behavioral
epigenetics”.
Behavioral epigenetics.
Behavioral
epigenetics is the field of study examining the role of epigenetics in shaping
animal (including human) behavior. It is an experimental science that seeks to
explain how nurture shapes nature, where nature refers to biological heredity and
nurture refers to virtually everything that occurs during the life-span (e.g.,
social-experience, diet and nutrition, and exposure to toxins).
Behavioral epigenetics
attempts to provide a framework for understanding how the expression of genes
is influenced by experiences and the environment to produce individual
differences in behavior, cognition, personality, and mental health.
How
Nurture assumes importance.
The behavior
of a child is at the behest of brain.
The brain
action is based on genes.
And the
genes expression is dependent on the signals of the environment. That makes the
need to create right environment of nurture.
Train Your Mind Change your brain.
The thought
waves in the atmosphere (of homes and schools also society, media) influence
the child’s behavior. The decision process in brain influence the action of the
child. The brain functioning depends upon genes functioning. The genes function
depends upon nature and nurture.
Behavior in daily routine gives shape to the personality of the child.
The genes
(nature) and the environment (nurture) both have equal or vital role in shaping
the personality of the future adult. Providing proper environment for right
nurture is necessary. And this responsibility rests obviously with Homes and
Schools where children spend their formative years. The efforts in right
nurture will effect in right shaping of the brain resulting in right behavior
in future years.
Character building is essential for nation building.
Nobody is
perfect. Every individual has some vices and some virtues.
Multiplication
of virtues and Division of vices is the process for Character building of the
students. This is the process of Sanskar/nurture. Teachers and parents should
be given proper training of this process which would be useful not only for the
character education of children but for parents as well. M.R.C. makes efforts
towards this objective.
Shaping of the character, process:
A repeated
action by a person forms imprints in the neural pathways. When these imprints
assume strength they become the tendency. Tendencies after a while get
converted in to habits. When habits are repeated over time it gets converted in
to attitude. Attitudes shape the daily responses/ reactions and finally the
cumulative effect of this process
lead to the behavior or character of a person at given moment. The process goes
on till the end of life. The accumulated effect of the character based behavior
forms the destiny of the given moment in the life. So, the character building
is the life long process, useful for all age groups. However the process has
significant impact in the formative period in life. That is early years or even
the prenatal or pre-conception stage, as per the latest research in this field. When action assumes the form of tendency, it
starts taking roots and later it is difficult to control or undo it. So one has
to watch carefully and apply appropriate measures as early as possible.
Ability and Character.
Many people
know how to become successful but after becoming successful, they don’t know
how to handle it. Ability will get you success. Character will keep you
successful. Character building starts from infancy and goes on till death.
Character means: Behavior (Mind expression):
The way someone thinks, feels, and behaves. Some one's personality is aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature, his moral or ethical qualities, qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; and Integrity.
What a Teacher needs to know?
If he says “I teach English to Sunil”.
Not only I
should have expertise in “English” and in “Teaching”, but also, I should have
adequate knowledge of “Sunil” as well as “I”. Here the ‘me’ in a person enters
the scene. And the training of ‘mind’ assumes importance. This assumes more
relevance in the emerging world of this century.
Role of parents in nurture is important as the role of a teacher.
The simile of the skills
required by two profession, viz. Doctor and Teacher as stated by one of the
speakers in the Washington 2009 conference organized by Mind and Life Institute
is worth mentioning. In a major accident (like train accident where lot of
people suffer different types of injuries and damages of different organs),
each patient needs specific, special treatment which can be given by different
specialist doctors… and the patient can be restored to normalcy. In the
class room in a similar manner, the need and requirement of each child is
different, requiring different special skills. But this has to be attended by
single or two academician teachers. The job is complex, beyond the reach of a
teacher. This is neither simple, nor practical. Rarely some teacher would be
able to meet such expectation. It is difficult for a teacher to understand the
specific need of each student in a class room of fifty students. Here the need
of training emerges.
What to do? Can we
depend entirely on teachers for child’s complete personality
development? Here the role of parents assumes importance to supplement the
efforts of school teacher. It is possible for parents to closely observe and
understand the needs of own children and make tailor made efforts for the
nurture of the children in their early years. In fact a partnership between the
parents and teachers would be the ideal situation for effecting the desired
nurture. Guidance to teachers and parents is also necessary for the right way
of nurture.
Key to the Character Education is Gratitude and Equality.
Selfishness
is in-born, selflessness is to be imbibed, nurtured with restraint and
consistency and developed by practice. The self-centered behavior cannot
develop good character. Any individual is a very small part of family, society
and all humanity. That is why the concept of ‘self’ has to be developed in this
larger context, not in dwarf context.
Essential virtues for such mind-set.
1. Gratitude: To be grateful to each and
every one who has been of help in any manner. (pay respect)
2. Giving to needy: One should be open
to give help, assist others as need arises.
3. Association/ Organization: get
together, associate with the people around by ‘give and take’ means.
If the new
generation is nurtured by imbibing these concepts systematically, then we would
be able to create the desired high character new generation.
In age-old
Indian social systems, this was achieved by the concept of “Yagnya” / Yajna.
(see foot note).
Twelve Qualities to be nurtured.
MRC guidance
helps parents and children to identify and optimize the in-built personality
virtues and reduce vices. The twelve virtues to be nurtured are:
Exam.
Success.
Healthy
body.
Skill in
games.
Proficiency
in arts.
Patriotism.
Humanity
Good manners
Farsightedness.
Inter
relations skills.
Love for
peace.
Fearless
adventures.
Leadership
qualities.
The process of Learning / Education.
To be
successful in the life a child should get good education. Good education is
bringing about good change in behavior by proper learning. When, Where, How the
learning starts? What is the process of learning?
The process
starts indirectly at pre-conception stage. But directly the learning process
starts from Pre-natal stage. The knowledge is taken by the mind from the
surroundings. Mother and Father are the first teachers. Sense organs assimilate
available knowledge and the process starts before birth.
Brain growth and needs of children.
Age up to 7
years - Right Brain (Emotional support)
Age 7 to 14
years - Left Brain (Behavioral nurturing by own role model)
Age 14 to 20
years – Brain growth getting shape. (Support and friendly advice)
Beyond age
20 – Maturity in Thinking.
Grasping of Knowledge.
Learning by Sense organs
84% Eye. Seeing (screen impact significant)
12% Ear. Hearing.
4% Touch,
Test, Smell. (Skin, Tongue, Nose).
So the child should see and hear what is good.
Time spent by students.
40% Rest
16% Home
16% School
16% Friends,
Neighbours, Society.
12% Mixed.
Influence in shaping youngsters.
(Media has significant influence.)
(Media has significant influence.)
This environment make impact on child’s mind and shapingthe character.
Friends,
Neighbours, Relatives. Society 33%
School 33%
Home 33%
Home 33%
Key to Nurture.
(संस्कार).
Search and
identification of in-built virtues and vices of the kid.
Identification
of areas of natural inclination for future development.
Efforts for
multiplication (increasing) of virtues and division (decreasing) of vices.
In the
formation age of children, Genes and Environment, each have a 50% share.
Therefore, it is the parents’ responsibility to behave well. And to create good
environment, the behavior of teachers is also a matter of consideration.
Tentative mile stones in growth.
-
Sense
and work organs – up
to 2 years.
-
Ego
awareness and growth – 3 to 7
years.
-
Awareness
of situation around – 8 to16 years.
-
Logic
of things to do - 8 to 12 years.
-
Imagination
to predict - 13 to 16 yrs.
-
Sexual
attraction, plans for future, social views, conscious of self-esteem – 12 to 21yrs.
Early years’ treatment has long term impact.
If the child
is criticized then later it condemns, criticizes others.
If dominated
and made fun of, then fearful, hesitating nature.
Rough
treatment, scolding then arrogance.
Provided
encouragement then self-confident.
If
appreciated then have appreciation for others.
If provided
support, love, then believes others.
If subjected
to gentle, straight forward treatment then it tends to be just towards others.
This is why the early years nurture assumes importance for the effects in later life.
This is why the early years nurture assumes importance for the effects in later life.
The table indicates stage wise responsibility.
STAGE/AGE
GROUP
|
RESPONSIBILITY
|
1)
PRENATAL STAGE
|
MOTHER/FATHER
|
2)
TILL AGE 7 YEARS
|
MOTHER/FATHER/TEACHER
|
3)
AGE 8 TO 14 YEARS
|
TEACHER PRIMARY
MOTHER/FATHER SECONDARY
|
4) AGE 15 TO 21 YEARS
|
TEACHER
MOTHER/
FATHER FRIENDLY GUIDANCE IF SOUGHT.
|
Conclusion.
Systematic efforts
from pre-conception/pre-natal stage till adulthood are necessary to nurture a
youngster. While academic excellence is necessary, the sound body and mind is
also necessary. With these, the person will be able to lead a contended life of
co-existence in the new world of 21st century. We have tried to
cover pros and cons and also given the plan of action for implementation in
each stage of the formation year. While the all-acceptable, secular character education
syllabus is necessary, the outline of Manashakti Research Center (MRC) programs
is also briefly mentioned. It is revealed that in initial years, efforts will
have to be initiated for training of teachers and parents. The importance of the
character education has to be imbibed on the policy makers who hold the tool of
governance. Some training programs may be necessary for the concerned
authorities. Moreover, this has also to be a social movement to the extent
possible. Though for initial years, substantial efforts are involved, and it
may take several years or even generations, they are worth. This is the only
way to make the future generations and the world community to lead contended,
prosperous life and to prevail peace. Hope this important aspect of relevance
to every human being attracts the attention of the schools, homes, leaders,
policy makers and all stake holders.
With prayer
for word peace, we conclude the series of articles on this subject.
Foot note: Yajna literally means "devotion, worship, offering", and refers in Hinduism to any ritual done in front of a sacred fire, often with mantras. Yajna has been a Vedic tradition, described in a layer of Vedic literature. The tradition has evolved from offering oblations and libations into sacred fire to symbolic offerings in the presence of sacred fire (Agni).
This is the procedural part. But in the Vedic era this proved to be a great tool for social cohesive reforms. Any individual in society has some people superior to him, some equal and some inferior and some people of equal status. Superiority / inferiority on consideration of age, knowledge, skills, experience, wealth etc. In the Yajna concept where there will be mass gathering of the people, you have to pay respect to your superior by giving service. Help/ give gifts/ donate/support to the inferior and endeavor to bring him up. While you have to form association of the equals by cooperation, share your resources by give/take process for the mutual benefits. This process brings 'haves' and
'have nots', all the sections together with love and the cooperation. Cohesive, harmonious society is the result.
Besides ritual, this social aspect of religion is useful in all ages.
'have nots', all the sections together with love and the cooperation. Cohesive, harmonious society is the result.
Besides ritual, this social aspect of religion is useful in all ages.
Vijay R.
Joshi.
