Education, Teaching and Humanity
The modern age is known as the age of mechanical civilization. The unprecedented progress of science has made human life completely dependent on mechanical equipments. Keeping pace with the times, life on earth is running at a breakneck speed. Science has gifted mankind with fast-moving vehicles. Distances of thousands of kilometers can now be crossed within an unbelievably short time. It is amazing how the computer, which is a gift of science, can complete a complex work with great precision. Cooking gas & refrigerator has reduced the grueling domestic chores. Moreover, people can enjoy the unlimited store of entertainment merely sitting at home with the help of TV, radio etc. Every day new items of luxury are beckoning with their glittering lure. People are falling into its trap and are gradually sinking into the mire of self-gratification, forgetting their own true self. As a consequence, mankind is being transformed into weakling and selfish inhuman beings.
This is one side of the story; on the other side, the picture is different. Here in this part of the world, the magnificent contribution of science is hardly felt. The neglected and hapless people who spend the life of nightmare in tattered clothes, passing days without proper meals somehow eke out their existence with toils of sweat and struggle. They have no complaints but their tears run down their cheeks in silence.
Since the object of consumption is beyond their reach, they are unable to engage in the wanton gratification of desire. Being not exposed to conventional academic education, they are relatively plain and simple. To those proficient in worldly education, they are uncivilized, ill-mannered and thus neglected even to the extent of being untouchables. People who belong to this category cry in their grief but they also sympathize with others in their moments of sorrow. But since they are weak themselves their capability to relieve others of their grief is limited.
From the above two pictures of the modern human civilization, it becomes apparent that most people lack substance, are consumptive, helpless, lacking qualities of human beings and subject to continuous degradation. Who is responsible for this? Some may put the blame on the progress of science, a few on social or economical disparities and some may make the explosion of world population accountable. Politicians will inevitably come out in support of their respective party ideals and say that it is only the path blazed by their ideas that can bring a solution to this problem. The religious leaders of various sects will say that people can be free of all problems merely by adopting their religion. But on proper analysis it can be found that the root cause of all problems is the lack of proper education. Educationists have different opinions regarding the process and methods of imparting education. However, it is encouraging that of late, educationists and also some politicians are voicing the opinion that the main aim of education should be to awaken humanity in mankind. They further go on to say that education systems favouring this objective should be implemented on a national level in all countries. It is indeed eternally true that the awakening of humanity which is the true religion for mankind in general is the only key to the solution of all problems because Humanity is inseparable from the Truth Absolute. Whereas the truth can lie hidden within falsehood, the reverse can never be true. Hence, society or the immediate environment cannot impose any influence on the person who has attained the true nature of humanity or, in other words who is eligible to know truth. Instead, the effect of humanity cleanses the society. The person who has become eligible for humanity becomes conscious of the process of consumption and easily discards the items of consumption that are not really necessary. He follows the principle of necessity and discipline, and repels excessiveness. The mission of his life becomes dedication to the welfare of others. His life is regulated by the sense of discipline. As a person within whom humanity has awakened becomes simple, he can easily share in the grief of other people. He is humble and soft spoken and due to this he can build an intimate relation with the rich and the poor, the learned and the illiterate, the high and the low alike. He is tolerant and, as such, violence in others does not cause impatience in him. He is broad minded, therefore, he can proceed on the path of truth unwaveringly while carrying out his duties diligently. As he has no inclination towards self-gratification, he is a conscientious person and feels immense peace in rendering service to the needy.
It is clear that the objective of proper education is to blossom the qualities of humanity in mankind. Now the question arises as to what is the nature of this type of education. I have heard from Sri Guru that perception (Bodh) is the Supreme (Brahma). Hence the Supreme exists in a subtle form in the inner core of all that is created. A question crops up that if the normal power of perception exists in all beings why do they foolishly indulge in inhuman acts? In each of the 24 elements (tatwa) of the human body the power of perception exists and it is in continuous action. These 24 elements are, the five physical elements (pancha bhut), the five organs of action, and the five sensory organs, the five vital airs (pran), the mind, the intellect, the inner mind and ego. Under normal circumstances, the power of perception acts as a physical perception in the basic elements or it acts like the shadow of itself. It is impartial, and hence, the consequence of its action depends upon the manner in which it is used. As such, its action in the gratification of one’s desire indulging in excesses (byatikram) leads to dissatisfaction and fatigue. On one side the action of perception activates the body and on the other enlightened power of perception makes a man truly educated and helps in character build-up.
Now let us see how the power of perception exists in the 24 basic elements of the body as the shadow or image of Brahma or the Supreme Perception and what its activity is.
The five physical elements (Pancha bhut):
Byom: The serenity that exists in the element of Byom is the true nature of its perception and renouncement is its action.
Marut: Marut is the element of communication among the basic elements and that is its true perception while movement is its action.
Tej: The true nature of perception of the element of Tej is radiance and its action is to fight against indulgence to excesses and wrongful deeds.
Ap: The perception of coolness is the true nature of the element of Ap and its action is flowing movement.
Kshiti: Carrying or bearing is the nature of perception in the element of Kshiti and to express the true nature of all matters that are to be borne is its action.
The five sensory organs:
Eyes: The nature of perception in the eye is to express the vision and its action is to analyze the good and the ugly.
Ears: The nature of perception in the ears is an expression of sound and language. Its action is to communicate the sound and the language to the mind.
Nose: Smell is the nature of perception in the nose and its action is to communicate the joy of a fragrance or the repulsion of a foul odour.
The tongue: Taste is the nature of perception in the tongue and its action is greed and rejection in matters of food.
The touch: The nature of perception in touch is feeling and its action is sensitiveness.
The five action organs:
Voice (Bak): Expression of sound and different words is the nature of perception in voice and its action to succeed or fail.
Hand (Pani): The nature of perception in hand is to exchange and its action is to preserve.
Legs (Pad): The nature of perception in legs is movement and its action is to travel distances.
Anus (Payu): Excretion is the nature of perception in anus and its action to relieve.
Genitals (Upastha): The nature of perception in genitals is ejection and its action is urination and reproduction.
The five vital airs (Pran):
Life (Pran): The nature of perception in Pran is to keep alive and its action is to maintain the vitality.
Apan: Exhaling is the nature of perception in Apan. Its action to feel relaxed after exhalation.
Saman: Maintenance of balance is the nature of perception in Saman and its action is to distribute nutrition to all parts of the body.
Udan: The nature of perception in Udan is the nine exit points (Nabadwar) and opening up of the confinement in sweat pores and similar exits. Its action is to cause upward movement of wind in the body and take those things that belong to the upward strata to their own place.
Byan: Cleansing of the body juices and the nutrients is the nature of perception of Byan and its action is to disintegrate the dirtiness in the body and to accumulate the pure objects.
The mind: The nature of perception in the mind is to cogitate and its action is to receive and renounce.
Intellect: The nature of perception in intellect is knowledge and its action is to analyse.
Chitta: The nature of perception in Chitta is thoughtfulness and its action is the power of implementing the subject of thought.
Ahankar: The nature of perception in ahankar is egotism and its action is to express vanity.
On an analysis of the action and the nature of perception in the basic elements of the body it can be seen that while on one hand its action assisted by the mind and the senses indulges mankind in wantonness and immerses them in ignorance accompanied by spells of happiness and grief finally causing their downfall, on the other hand its action cleanses human beings with repentance and elevates them towards the path of devotion to duty and renouncement. Obviously, proper education should be oriented in such a manner as to cause overall uplift in a person and channel the action of perception inherent in the body in an inward direction. Earlier it has been mentioned that Perception is Brahma (the Supreme), Divinity or the Truth and it acts as a shadow-perception. Under the influence of true education shadow-perception gets directed towards Supreme-perception and transforms into Self-perception. Self-perception is the realisation of humanity and humaneness. Humanity makes man dedicated to work and adorns him with the divine ornaments of simplicity, humbleness, tolerance, openness, and expansiveness. It does away with discriminative outlook. It awakens the sense of international fraternity through understanding and unity. As such, education can considered to be complete only through awakening of humanity.
At present mankind has fallen victim of ignorance in the form of worldliness. The so called system of education that is practised nowadays lack of substance and can only increase the appetite for wanton consumption instead of rectifying and cleansing the character. Sentences taught in the primary levels such as, ‘whoever studies hard, rides motor cars’ may seem to be very motivating but its effect in reality may be disastrous. A large percentage of people known as ‘highly educated’ in the yardstick of traditional education system, can indulge in inhuman deeds without hesitation in order to grow wealthier or obtain their objects of desire. On the other hand where is the scope of looking beyond discrimination in sentences like ‘the rich are the enemies and leeches of our society’? Where is the scope of developing a feeling of fraternity among all of mankind irrespective of high and low, rich and poor, caste, colour or religion?
In conclusion I would like to say that unless humanity awakens through the blossoming of perception in shadow-perception or materialist-perception, no education can become complete. Therefore, as it is possible to awaken humanity through education, it is absolutely necessary that similar education system should be implemented in national and international levels. The day is not very far when the leaders of nations, philosophers, educationists will seek the answers to questions like, what will be the process of such an education, what will be its syllabus and what will be the criteria to determine the eligibility of teachers who will impart this education.
However, it will only be possible for each and every human being to find solution to this problem by taking the shelter of Sri Guru and following his instructions and advises because Guru is eternal Brahma, the Creator of the infinite Universe, motivator, bearer and deliverer. As such, it is imperative that all should seek the shelter of Sri Guru.