ON EDUCATION

ON EDUCATION

Education is absolutely essential for the existence of man on earth for without it he cannot gain knowledge. “Vidya vihinah pasuhu” says Bharthruhari! One without education is equal to a beast! We generally consider education as attending a school, college, or some other institute, study the subjects of our choice and get a degree or diploma to earn a decent salary! That is just to eke out our daily life with the help of knowledge acquired! “What is education? Is it book learning? No. Is it diverse knowledge? Not even that.The training by which the current and expression of will are brought under control and become fruitful is called education.” remarks  Swami Vivekananda. Mere bookish learning cannot be called education till you are the master of your will! According to WB Yeats ”Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.” It should fill the individual with the fire of inspiration.

What is the use of learning in schools and colleges? “Learning gives creativity, creativity leads to thinking, thinking provides knowledge, knowledge makes you great” says our past President Abdul Kalam. It should be the attempt of schools and other institutions to train students to think high and involve them in creativity. Mere memorizing and getting high marks will not help.”Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever” remarks Mahatma Gandhi. There are innumerable things to educate you in life. In short you should be a student all through your life. You can learn,‘books in the running brooks, and sermons on stones’. As Wordsworth says,” One impulse from vernal wood May teach you more of man Of moral, evil, and of good than all the sages can” He further says, “ Let Nature be your teacher”.

What is the use of education? Chanakya says “Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth” Bhartruhari echoes the same idea. “ Vidya bhogakari yasas subhakari Vidya gurunam guru”-- education brings  enjoyment and luxuries, renown,and everything good; it is the guru of gurus. In what way can education be of service to mankind? “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.says Nelson Mandela. Lack of education made nations servile to other nations! The Industrial Revolution and innumerable discoveries that followed changed the face of the world and made life comfortable and worth living. The terrific advancement of science and technology has placed man on the moon and it may not be very long for man to reside on Mars!! In the words of Albert Einstein “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” In short actual education starts after he comes out of school and college or university!

What is the goal of education? “Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education” says Martin Luther King! Character is Destiny. Without character whatever accomplishments  you may have shall come to nothing! The end of education is character. Have we not seen examples of very great personalities brought down through lack of character? Education should make man humble. If it brings arrogance in its wake man ruins himself. History has many such illustrations. The danger with education is that man becomes obsessed with his knowledge and may harm society! It is character that should control him! The fruit of education and knowledge is to be seen in the peace, prosperity and well being of all nations, not in the destruction and disintegration of humanity! Knowledge should be used for peaceful purposes only. But unfortunately man has no control over himself and his senses and his education and knowledge may be the cause of destruction finally!

“Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man” said SwamiVivekananda! But it  is very rare to see that perfection in educated individuals! Modern education has lost its values and ethics! It is purely employment oriented and money minded! Cultural values have gone with the wind and gross materialism has occupied their place. Religion is forgotten! Virtues and values of life are secondary! Spirituality is significant by its total absence! “Educating the mind without educating the heart of no education at all”! Sri Satya Sai Baba asserts,”Virtue is the life breath, character is the backbone”. When there is illumination or real knowledge there cannot be darkness or ignorance! “ The secret of life is not enjoymoment but education through experience” ( Swami Vivekananda)