Buddhi- the faculty that discriminates, Chith-the treasure trove of Sanskar are at a deeper level. Education helps man in evolution of inner self, thereby enabling the Buddhi in him, in exercising firm control over Mann. If the mind becomes wayward with debilitated Buddhi control, then it is un-education. The training and grooming that helps man in opening his third eye or inner eye is education. If not, it is un-education. It is interesting to note that Socrates rightly explains to us that the process of education is to bring out what is there within us. The role of a teacher is that of a midwife. In Freudian model, there is always interplay of Id, Ego and Super ago. Id is uncoordinated instinctive trends striving for sensual gratification. Ego represents the organized realistic part of the psyche, which builds up rational content or basis and Superego is the critical component of moralizing function. Education is that which strengthens Ego and which enables the Superego to have its sway and control in all decision taking processes. I believe that Sigmund Freud’s superego and the Buddhi- the inner instrument is one and the same. If Id- the uncoordinated instinctive trends are not put under check, then, the purpose of education is defeated.
Un-education pulls for conquest of the outer, but the true education aims at realization of the inner self or potential. The mythological story of sprint competition between Kartikeya and Vinayaka for winning the position as controller of Ganas or Id in Freudian terminology amply reveals this simple eternal truth. If one is successful in opening inner door, he enters into the domain of education, if not; no amount of present day university education would make him educated in the true sense. Guru shows his students, the way out. Any student who understands the trick of taking a U- turn enters the real school of education. He becomes the master of the mind – mastering control over Id or Ganas and not vice versa. If the instrument of superego is strong in a person, then he is ethically strong to the core. The dividend he gets is equanimity. He would not take the path of unrighteousness. He would not be enamored by material prosperity and sensual pleasures. In respect of students who hanker after sensual pleasures, no amount of pontification of ethical values or moral education would be of any use. Material comforts can be shared by one and all; even by those who have not contributed to generating the material prosperity. On the other hand, spiritual progress, which imparts real education cannot be demised or transferred or bequeathed to anybody. Each and every individual has to earn on his own effort. No individual, however great, could possibly help in bringing about inner metamorphosis by another person without the latter’s and burning desire for improvement. True education is not easy to acquire like modern education that helps us in accumulating wherewithal, without providing us insight or know-how in deriving
happiness out of them.
Method of recognizing an educated person:
An educated person exhibits and practices humane values. If man possesses the virtues of love, compassion, empathy universal brotherhood and other benevolent qualities, he is educated and if these virtues are absent, he, without any doubt, can be treated as uneducated. Our snobbish attitude, our attempts in using every conceivable opportunity to belittle others for satisfaction of our superiority complex, the parrot type pep talk of communication skills or exchange of pleasantries that we have picked up as a part of our sophisticated outer veneer, do not really reflect education, but pseudo education.
Spiritual progress and material progress: Spiritual progress and material progress are complementary to each other. Material progress of a society without having corresponding spiritual insight and moral character of people will be perilous to its own growth. Such a lopsided development may prove to be a death knell to the wellbeing of the society and endanger sustainability of human development. Bringing about radical changes in education is the need of the hour.
Objective of education: The objective of
education should be transforming the student into an ethical being with the ultimate objective of building an ethical society. As I stated above, ethical society cannot be built by introduction of some lessons relating to ethics in the curriculum of studies and simply making him sit to hearken to moral pontifications. All these efforts, which may have peripheral influence on him, may be necessary, but what is more important is bringing out a sea change in his personality – just by turning his gaze on himself.
Importance of inner growth: A fellow who achieves unity in his Anthahkaranas cannot be an unethical person. He prefers death to making a compromise on his deep ethical values. What we witness today is rampant corruption, practice of shameless demoralized moral values, breeding untold violence and injustice. For human survival on earth, peace initiatives and efforts must gain upper hand over war cries and violence. For this, the student deserves right education. It is possible to impart right education, if the present day teacher takes the role of Guru.
Spiritual guidance: The present day education which is caught in the tentacles of Arishadvargas–Kama (urge for desire and fulfillment unconcerned about moral values and social wellbeing), Krodh (anger-unrighteous anger caused due to irrational thinking and religious dogmatism etc, Moha (Passion- uncontrolled passion losing sense of balance), Lobh ( greed and miserliness), Mada (egoism) and Mastsara (jealousy). True education helps the student for purification of his inner self and equips him with knack and strength in controlling Arishadvargas. The present day education is preparing us for running fast. But the spiritual guidance helps in taking a break from the senseless running and compels us to reflect upon the basic issues of where we are running for, what is the goal post we have to ultimately reach etc. We see an admirable glitter of contentment in the eyes of a roadside pauper, who rests under the shade of a tree peacefully, while the fellow who has untold affluence spends sleepless nights amidst air-conditioned comforts. We have tangled ourselves unwittingly with unhelpful limitations and bemoan our pitiable state of helplessness. The world today has become a hospital. Most of us are patients. One fellow collects grievances feeling that he could not get opportunity to pursue higher education in the portals of higher learning. Another fellow feels itching in his palm for not getting easy money- or money through questionable means. Each fellow has his grouse and squanders his precious time in grievance collection.
We try to chase for ‘Kasturi’ running after mirages. A wise Vinayaka, reflects on himself realizes the source of Kasturi is within him and reins control over ‘Ganas’ or Id impulses and becomes Ganapathi. Education helps us in the processes of liberation. The prescription of Geeta for seeking freedom from entanglement is contained in the following golden words: “He, who does his work without desiring for the fruits of his actions, is the real renouncer of the world, certainly not the one who renounces actions or worships the sacred fire.” quoted from Google website. Every body wants Ananda- pleasure without pain. The trick in realizing or maximizing happiness does not lie in indulging in carnal desires.
Out ability in enjoyment is constricted because of the limitations we impose on ourselves by way of giving primacy to issues that do not contribute to our happiness or wellbeing. In the process, we reap only Duhkka – unhappiness. For maximizing happiness in leading a mundane life and to enjoy material prosperity, sheer indulgence in sensual pleasure is not the right approach, the recondite secret is hidden in an Upanishad aphorism that we should enjoy life with a sense of renouncement. The full import of the Vedic truth can be understood, only after one is successful in reflecting what he is.
I have just heard a discourse of Kanakeswari Devi ji on Bhagavwata Purana, telecast live from Haridwar through Sanskar channel. She expounds that human beings must relentlessly strive to achieve higher values of life ‘Uddan’ by not following ‘Surichi ‘ path of self indulgence in fulfillment of carnal desires , but tread the path of ‘Suneethi’- ethical value based approach of life for attaining ‘Dhruv’- enduring values or happiness of life.
Conclusion: Spiritual guidance in modern education is the panacea for all the ills the student as well as the society at large is suffering from.