By Surya Prakash Mohapatra, Bangalore: These days when we talk about education, many associate it with employability, getting students job ready, skill development etc. Many others associate it with emerging technology, new age tools and methods being used to impart teaching in schools, colleges and universities. Essentially, most of the discussions on this topic revolve around the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of education. But in this process, we always miss the most crucial point, i.e., the ‘why’ aspect of education.
I have asked several parents why they want to provide education to their kids. The usual answer I get every time is: “We want our kids to get good jobs and earn loads of money and live comfortably all their life”. Is getting a good job and earning a handsome salary the true objective of education? When I ask the same question to students in colleges or professional institutions, I find them to be equally clueless like their parents.
Why Education?
The irony of our times is that the so-called educated human beings need to be educated on the true meaning of education. At this critical juncture, the extremely practical insights by Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra come as a breath of fresh air. Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra, a spiritual guide of our times combined great insight and love while showing the path of existence and growth to millions of human beings on this earth. He touched all aspects human life including education, science, literature, marriage, eugenics, business, administration, politics and so on through his life-changing philosophy.
He talked about different facets of Education. He proclaimed that the main purpose of education is to lead man towards life, growth and self-realization, by awakening and unfolding his inherent latent potentialities and adapting them to fulfilling the needs of society. What a compelling statement!!Are the premier educational institutions of our country in pursuit of this purpose? Unfortunately, the answer is ‘No’.
Effective Education
Education, Thakur Anukulchandra holds, to be productive and effective should aim at formation of right types of concentric habit and behaviour, unfoldment of distinctive traits and faculties, disciplining of intellect and powers of reasoning, broadening and deepening of feeling, sympathy, sentiment and interest, cultivation of inquisitiveness and a creative research-spirit, unfurlment of efficiency, active skill and constructive ability, inculcation of a genuine desire for perfect conception and thorough execution, improvement of knowledge and wisdom, fostering of self-control, self-denial and selfless service and development of a consistent character and an integrated, complete personality.
Personality glows and grows through Adherence
I am reminded of a conversation between Thakur Anukulchandra and the famous educationalist Dr. DS Kothari. On one occasion, Dr. Kothari was on a visit to the Satsang Ashram in Deoghar to meet his spiritual guide Thakur Anukulchandra. In the course of his conversation with Anukulchandra, Dr. Kothari narrated how he was getting increasingly disturbed by student indiscipline in universities and colleges across India.
‘Well, what is the true meaning of discipline?” asked Anukulchandra. Dr. Kothari stumbled and stammered to give an apt response. Seeing his struggle, Anukulchandra, replied, “The word discipline has come from the word disciple. If you want to make the students truly disciplined, you must first make them disciples. Without being a disciple, no one can ever become disciplined.” “Disciple to whom?” enquired Dr. Kothari. Pat came the reply, “Disciple to the living acharya or teacher.” Anukulchandra went on to say, “Adherence to the teacher or acharya is the foundation of a strong moral character. A strong moral character is the cornerstone of discipline and adjusted behavior.Alas, where are the ideal teachers and the ideal students today? Unfortunately, there is a lack of true disciples and true acharyas in our Universities and educational institutions today. This has left a void difficult to fill.”
A powerful insight indeed ! ! Today our Universities and educational institutions have reduced to nondescript bodies merely producing job-seekers. They have failed to produce a single original man.
A man’s development and growth is conditioned by the object where his active attachment is set. Every man has an inherent longing for perfection, and this longing can be fulfilled only if his attachment is centered in a guru, guide or Living Ideal symbolizing perfection. To surrender to such a Guru and begin to follow his instructions, directions and commands are the ingredients of character building and evolution into an integrated complete personality. And this is the true essence of Education.
To learn more about, Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra and His ideology, please log into: www.satsang.org.in
About the Author: Surya Prakash Mohapatra is a devotee of Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra and a member of Satsang Ashram based in Deoghar. Mr Mohapatra is a senior management professional and an industry thought leader in HR and L&D space. He has been awarded as one of the 25 Most Talented Training and Development leaders in the world by World HRD Congress.
