Where Should I Educate My Child

From: Mununda@fourlinks....
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Where Should I Educate My Child
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:06:55

Baba

This entire email is composed of 3 parts:
(1) Posting: Where Should I Educate My Child
(2) Trailer Quote: Correct This Mistake in Your Ananda Marga Books

(#) Prabhat Samgiita #2429;

Each section is demarcated by asterisks (***).

== WHERE SHOULD I EDUCATE MY CHILD ==

Namaskar,    
One day Baba's laokik brother was contemplating where to send his son, Niltu, for his schooling.

Although his plan was to ask Baba for advice, first he brought the matter to various Dadas for their thoughts and suggestions. They were telling him to send his young boy Niltu to one of those prestigious, non-margii schools in Kolkata that offered so-called top-notch facilities and a "high-standard of education".

After discussing the matter with numerous acaryas, he approached Baba for His suggestion.

Everyone was thinking that Baba will also suggest a fancy school in Kolkata for Niltu to pursue his studies. But that was not Baba's reply. Instead Baba advised that Niltu should attend the school in Ananda Nagar and get his education there.

Those who heard this felt surprised because those days Ananda Nagar was lacking even the most basic facilities. Yet it was Baba's firm recommendation that Niltu should do his schooling on our Ananda Marga Master Unit. Ultimately, Niltu attended our Ananda Marga schools in Ananda Nagar.

THE WAY BABA DID WITH GAUTAM

That case of Niltu's education is not an isolated one. When Baba's first laokik son Gautam was living with Him - those days before 1970 - then he too attended an Ananda Marga school.

This stands as one clear path for raising our own children, as well as guiding others, if they ask our suggestion.

ANANDA MARGA / NEO-HUMANIST EDUCATION

The main idea is that our Guru has created one beautiful, unique approach: Neo-humanistic education. We need only to accept it and bring it into practice. Naturally there will be a "learning curve", but the more we practically adopt neo-humanistic learning centers / Ananda Marga schools in our own lives, the better and more established those schools will become. We should not sit back and wait for others to make our Ananda Marga schools famous and well-reputed. We should step forward.

As we know, the Ananda Marga system of neo-humanistic education is the solution for the present-day crisis in schools. But, if in place of using or recommending our Ananda Marga schools, we follow another path, then that is not at all helpful. Rather, it will hinder or even halt progress. The situation may become more complicated and the problem may multiply.

Here Baba guides us how the Ananda Marga system of education aims at the all-round development of the human personality. Neo-humanistic education recognises all realms of life: Physical, psychic, social, moral, and spiritual. In contrast, other systems of education, especially western / materialistic approaches, fall far short of the mark. They merely train students to be money-making machines. They do not address high ideals like a sense of duty, sacrifice, service, or spiritual outlook - all of which are pillars for making an ideal human being. Such qualities are entirely lacking in the western model.

"Defective systems of education also strike a blow at pra'na dharma'...Ananda Marga is ever vigilant in this regard. The Ananda Marga system of education has been formulated in such a way that the fundamental pra'na dharma' of humanity has been fully recognised. The educational system of our schools is based on the principle of pra'na dharma. It includes the study of various aspects of modern branches of human knowledge, as well as the development of qualities such as reverence, good manners, humility, dignity of labor, social consciousness etc. The western system of education has miserably failed to inculcate these rare qualities in the students minds." (1)

OUR MODEL OF NEO-HUMANISTIC EDUCATION

IMPORTANT TENETS AND AIMS:

As we know, our neo-humanistic educational model aims for the all-round development of the human personality. Here are a list of topics, approaches, and strategies that are inculcated in our educational system:

1. Emphasis placed on duty, sacrifice, service, and cosmic outlook: These qualities can be inculcated only through sadhana, a spiritual, God-centered vision, as well as via role-models who verily embody these principles. Perhaps above all else, this is the absolute specialty of Ananda Marga and our neo-humanistic model.

2. Infusing within the student a sense of inquiry and reflection: What is life? Children should be encouraged and taught to contemplate and discuss the true value of human life. With sadhana and proper guidance, they will easily understand how they should conduct themselves in order to reach the Goal.

3. Asking and answering big questions:
(a) Who am I?
(b) From where have I come?
(c) What is the destination of my life?
(d) What happens after death?
(e) What is my relation with this creation?
(f) Under Whom do I take shelter?
(g) What is the purpose of life and death?

All these queries, which are verily absent from the present-day western model of education, are key principles of neo-humanistic education. We are to cultivate within the student a broad vision and empower them with the ability and insight to realize their place in this cosmos. By addressing such grand philosophical teachings through practical daily circumstances and stories, students gain tremendous courage and strength to persevere in life and attain the Goal.

4. Practicing sadhana regularly: Without dharma sadhana, the mind cannot develop properly. Baba guides us that every child should start sadhana at the age of five. That ensures proper spiritual growth and a healthy mental outlook.

5. Sing and Dance Kiirtan: Devotional chanting and music awaken the finer sentiments and goad the human heart to the path of bhakti. This is verily a blessing for every youth and sadhaka.

6. Learn Prabhat Samgiita: This will help develop one's relationship with the Supreme Entity, Parama Purusa Baba. Students will learn how music, song, and dance are for channelizing one's mind towards the Divine. These devotional compositions provide youths with a God-centered vision and awaken one's tendencies towards both nandan vijiana (aesthetic science) and mohan vijiana (supra-aesthetic science).

7. Teaching yama and niyama: Students must be made to understand - practically and theoretically - the proper meaning of these moral principles. In the general society, there is a lot of misunderstanding about this. BY teaching young students the right meaning of yama and niyama will fortify them with the tools to live properly in society and proceed on the spiritual path.

8. Following a sentient diet: In our neo-humanistic model, food, diet, and nutrition are key components for learning about human health. Students learn that a sentient, vegetarian diet is also in harmony with caring for and respecting the animal and plant kingdoms, as well as the greater ecosystem.

9. Ensuring teachers practice what they preach: All teachers are responsible for upholding a standard of conduct that is consonant with neo-humanistic ideals. There is no scope for hypocrisy: Teachers must emulate what they teach. Thus they will not indulge in any kind of intoxicants - neither nicotine nor tobacco - nor eat non-veg food.

10. Gender-separated classrooms: No co-education will occur once children reach adolescence. This will aid greatly in the transfer of knowledge as students will focus on the lesson and not be diverted elsewhere.

11. Universal Outlook: The hallmark of a neo-humanistic system of education will be the universal approach where all are looked up as being expressions of the One. There will be no scope for narrow-mindedness etc.

12. Subjective approach and objective adjustment: This fundamental idea of our Ananda Marga way of life will be imparted to all students. They will understand first and foremost that the aim of life is the Spiritual Goal - serving and pleasing Him - and that with this aim in mind all kinds of service should be done in the world.

13. Respect: Values such as reverence for parents, teachers, elders, and acaryas etc will be inculcated.

14. And so many more points related with the physical, psychic, emotional, moral, and spiritual development of the child.

All of these above themes and topics are wholeheartedly conveyed and included in our neo-humanistic education curriculum and approach. This will spark a great change.

Thus far, the western system of education has utterly failed to touch any of these ideals and values. This distinct vacuum has led to the downfall and degeneration of western, materialistic society - as well as any portion of the globe that copied the western model.

Here below are Baba's teachings related with this topic of education, neo-humanistic schools, and child development.

"A THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE"

"The thirst for knowledge will have to be awakened among students, and reverence, devotion, orderliness and discipline will have to be taught as well." (2)

"So as I was saying, it will not do to impart education through intimidation. A thirst for knowledge must be awakened, and, to quench that thirst, proper education must be given. Only then will education be worthwhile and develop the body, mind and ideals of the student." (3)

"Education must awaken the thirst for knowledge in the students’ minds. The students themselves will create environmental pressure by persistent demands for answers to queries like: What is the answer? Is it correct? The longing, “I wish to know...I wish to understand and assimilate the entire universe” should be created. Such a thirst for knowledge should be created in the minds of students...So a tremendous thirst for knowledge must be awakened in the students’ minds. They will constantly pry their teachers, their parents and their neighbours with questions like: Why is this so? What is that? Why does that happen? Why does this not happen? etc. They are ready to assimilate the entire universe." (4)

"How many teachers try to awaken a genuine thirst for knowledge in their students?" (5)

"Students go to school and sit for examinations in order to pass. Examiners should bear this fact in mind. They should not adopt the rigid position that “Only such-and-such percentage of students will be allowed to pass.” Examiners should take into account only the range of knowledge and the extent of the thirst for knowledge the students possess." (6)

TEACH CHILDREN UNIVERSALISM

"Children are by nature most inclined towards play, so a thirst for knowledge will have to be awakened in children through the medium of play – children should be educated through play methods. Children are also by nature inclined to listen to fantasies and stories. Through stories children can easily be taught the history and geography of various countries, and they may also be taught the initial lessons of how to practise universalism in their lives. Children love play and stories almost equally, so in their case the two should be equally utilized." (7)

MOST ADULTS ARE EITHER IGNORANT OR INDIFFERENT

   "The mental outlook of children has already been moulded in a particular fashion by the influence of their family environment before they start school. No matter what or how much they learn at school, it is extremely difficult for them to free themselves from the influence of their family. Drawing on what they have learned in the family, the immature minds of children begin to learn about the world and understand it, and to receive ideas and master language so that they can express those ideas. Unhesitatingly they adopt their elders’ way of looking at the world. Hence the primary responsibility for acquainting children with the world lies with their parents or guardians. Children will become assets of society in the future to the extent that their parents or guardians discharge their duties properly."
   "I have no hesitation in saying that today’s adults have not yet developed a scientific method of training children’s minds. Even most so-called educated and refined people, let alone average adults, are either ignorant about or indifferent to the education of their children. Their ignorance may be pardoned, but how can we forgive their indifference? The family into which a child has been born will naturally have to bear the primary responsibility for the physical, mental and spiritual development of that child." (8)

"GO OUTSIDE AND START SMOKING"

"Speaking of ideals, yet another point comes to my mind, and that is the moral character and conduct of teachers. Many teachers demonstrate a flagrant lack of restraint over their language. There are also teachers who, after discussing the abuses and evils of intoxicants in the classroom, immediately go outside and start smoking. This sets an extremely bad example. If the teachers would just use intoxicants, without saying anything about them, it might not be so bad. But this approach naturally encourages the students to be undisciplined. They will think that the use of such things must be enjoyable, and that their teachers deprive them so that they can enjoy them alone." (9)

BOTH ARE RESPONSIBLE

"It must be the teachers’ responsibility to impart knowledge, teach restraint in social life, and give instruction about all the various aspects of collective endeavour, but the parents will have to take on most of the responsibility for the moral and spiritual education of the child." (10)

"INVOKING IMAGINARY GOBLINS OR FRIGHTFUL GHOSTS"

"The method of extracting work by terrorizing the minds of children is not only made use of by a particular type of teacher, it is also often still more harmfully practised by parents. They frighten their children, tell them lies, engage in scurrilous brawls before them, and deceive and torment them; but they still expect that some day their children will become respectable members of society – that their children will bring glory to their family name. When their children are reluctant to drink milk or sleep, they terrify them by invoking imaginary goblins or frightful ghosts. Children initially have no fear, yet a fearful panorama is played out before them. Through this practice the parents may achieve some temporary gain, but even if the children wait a lifetime, they can never be compensated for the harm done to them. Even when these same children attain young adulthood, the thought of ghosts will not leave their minds – ghosts will become their permanent companions." (11)

"I AM NOT IN FAVOUR OF STARTING COLLEGES" - BABA

"We must start primary schools throughout the entire world to create a spiritual urge amongst the little pupils. I am not in favour of starting colleges; I am in favour of starting primary schools. In the entire world we have got one degree college at Ananda Nagar and thousands of kindergarten schools. That is why it is desirable in the first phase to start many primary schools instead of colleges. Merely opening high schools and colleges without a proper system of education will not serve the purpose. Rather, thousands of kindergarten and primary schools must be started with this new system of education, to create a spiritual urge amongst children throughout the entire world." (12)

"It is the birthright of everybody to march in this universal march, to move along this path of righteousness. Just show the path to all-- just tell them, 'Oh, human beings, the path is ready for you, you just come!' Whoever is endowed with a human mind and a human body is entitled to follow this path." (13)

"TRAINING THIS TURBULENT MIND"

"For this purpose we should have a two-fold approach. For the purpose of training this turbulent mind, what is to be done? One is to get proper education, one is to be imparted with proper education -- not general education -- in the gospel of, in the idea of Neo-Humanism. This will help human beings in training the mind. And at the same time spiritual practice should go on for proper psychic remoulding. This what we require most. There is no alternative." (14)

Namaskar,
At His lotus feet,
Mukunda


References:
1. Prout Nutshell - 18, p. 57-8
2. Problems of the Day, pt #33
3. Human Society-1, Education
4. Prout in a Nutshell - 18, Talks on Education
5. Human Society-1, Education
6. Human Society-1, Education
7. Human Society-1, Education
8. Human Society-1, Education
9. Human Society-1, Education
10. Human Society - 1
11. Human Society-1, Education
12. Discourses on Neohumanist Education: Prama-4
13. Neo-Humanism in a Nutshell - 1, p.66
14. Prout in a Nutshell - 18, p.42

The section below demarcated by asterisks is an entirely different topic,
completely unrelated to the above material. It stands on its own as a point of interest.

*****************************************
Correct This Mistake In Your Ananda Marga Books

Here is one critical publication error done to the discourse "The Chariot & The Charioteer". The publishers wrongly wrote: "you have eyes in the back of your head", but it should be "you have eyes in the front of your head".

Here is more information about this error.

This discourse "The Chariot & The Charioteer" has been published as the first chapter of Subhasita Samgraha part 4 and the first chapter of Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life part 5. In both of these editions it is wrongly printed. In addition, this mistake appears in the Electronic Edition of Baba's Books. Here again is that critical error the publishers made. They wrote: "you have eyes in the back of your head". This is the bogus line which they have attributed to Baba in His own publication. Yet, everyone knows that human beings have eyes in the front of the head, not the back. So, what they have published in the name of Baba is completely ludicrous.

Here is how they wrongly printed that portion of the discourse.

"O sádhaka! You must forget all your past deeds, all your tales of glory or ignominy, from the memorable moment you start moving on the path of sádhaná or intuitional practice. Do not look back: you have eyes in the back of your head. As indispensable as it is to be cautious and careful, so that the self-created tornado propelling you forward does not dash you down to the ground to ensure your safe journey ahead, you may sometimes throw back a cursory glance and no more."

Here is how that fateful line should have been published: "you have eyes in the front of your head".

Indeed by the context of the discourse it is quite evident that Baba was telling that humans have eyes in the front and that one should not look back and drown in thinking about past mistakes. So Baba is warning us: Do not look back, your eyes are in the front - look ahead. That is the spirit of what Baba is telling. But this simple teaching was lost on those publishers. They could not understand.

They wrongly wrote: "you have eyes in the back of your head", but it should be "you have eyes in the front of your head".

Here below is corrected version of how this passage should have been published.

"O sádhaka! You must forget all your past deeds, all your tales of glory or ignominy, from the memorable moment you start moving on the path of sádhaná or intuitional practice. Do not look back: you have eyes in the front of your head. As indispensable as it is to be cautious and careful, so that the self-created tornado propelling you forward does not dash you down to the ground to ensure your safe journey ahead, you may sometimes throw back a cursory glance and no more."

It is unfortunate that such awful mistakes appear in our AMPS books published by Kolkata publications. Everyone should take note of the above and correct their own personal copy of the discourse, "The Chariot & The Charioteer". Once again, this discourse has been published in two places - first chapter of Subhasita Samgraha part 4 and the first chapter of Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life part 5. It is also important to send this correction to the editors of the Electronic Version of Baba's books so they can update it in the next edition.

*****************************************

Prabhat Samgiita

"Sakal duya'r khule dile prabhu, Va'ta'yan-pathe a'lo elo..." (P.S. 2429)

Purport:

O' Parama Purusa, O' Baba, You are so gracious You have come and opened all the doors and windows,and inundated this world with Your divine effulgence. On the eastern horizon the crimson dawn is visible. The darkness is fast fading away.

Baba, in the past there was the domination of dogma and groupism all around. Countless superstitions and negative samskaras were doing their naked dance. Now, with the presence of Your divine effulgence, in the blink of an eye those dogmas and negative things have disappeared. The creatures of darkness have dissolved into thin air. I do not know where they have gone - they have vanished.

Baba, O' my Lord, with Your love and punishment You are keeping everyone in Your shelter. Baba, You are graciously caring for everyone...