Education has failed to envision how to make the Vikasit Bharatiya committed to selfless kartavya-palan', who alone can create the Vikasit Bharat
Sunil Kumar is currently member, managing committee, Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi. An engineer and project manager trained at Vickers Armstrong Engineers and Babcox & Wilcox, UK, he is a former general manager of The Projects and Equipment Corporation of India, Ministry of Commerce and Consultant, NIDC, Ministry of Industry. Sunil has been member of a high-power government committee for value orientation in Planning Commission and In-charge of Value Education Programmes of Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi. He has written books on Vedanta, managerial effectiveness – Indian Insights, human values, etc. His passion lies in applying Indian wisdom & Vivekananda's principles to managerial situations. His vision and managerial expertise led to the setting up of a unique PGDBM Management Institute in Delhi, called SriSIM, of which he was a Founder Trustee and Professor and which offered education in Indian ethos based Management. He is currently taking the message of Vedanta-centric human development to public servants through programs on 'Ethics in Governance. LESS ... MORE
Essence of being a Bhartiya: Modern education has created a new English-speaking elite ruling 'caste', to replace the erstwhile 'Brahmins'. This new ruling elite 'caste' is taught to focus more and more on 'earning and enjoying' and 'external' material development, technology, etc. but remains totally ignorant and unconcerned with learning to manage our 'inner' instrument, our mind and directing it towards appreciation of our time-tested Vedantic wisdom that defines the idea of being a 'Bharatiya', i.e., which means and implies those who strive for the highest illumination, thru' commitment to selfless kartavya-palan! Our strategy must be to plan how modern education can also create the Bharatiya, thru' additional focus on inner governance to awaken viveka and build powers of mind to walk-the-talk.
2. Let's first look at the book 'Ignited Minds – Unleashing the Power within India' by Hon. APJ Abdul Kalam, where our former President says: I always tell the young to dream. Dreams transform into thoughts. Thoughts result in actions. If there are no dreams, there are no revolutionary thoughts; if there are no thoughts, no actions will emanate. This comes from the understanding that each one of us has within ourselves, the ability to create the circumstances for success – to attract, so to say, to ourselves what we desire…
We see many points where external science and the inner science of mind converge. He says, in the West we have built a beautiful ship. It has all the comforts, but one thing is missing; it has no compass and does not know where to go (it is said to be in a state of perpetual purposelessness!). Men like Tagore and Gandhi and their spiritual forbears found the compass. Why can this compass not be put in the human ship so that both can realise their purpose?
'Inner', Self-realisation is the focus. Each one of us must become aware of our higher, inner Self… We should ignite our dormant 'inner energy' and let it guide our lives. The radiance of such minds embarked on constructive endeavour will bring peace, prosperity and bliss to this nation. When I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even if I did not have it in the beginning…
3. The Maha-Vakyas, Profound Facts, explain the inner 'self': We're taught 'Love thy neighbor as thyself', be more and more selfless; but not explained, why. We must learn that the neighbor is loved, because he is your own 'self'. The kingdom of God is within you; seek you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and everything else will be added unto you. 'Ana-al-haq' in Islam means 'I am truth'. Same as: 'I am God'.
The Idea of knowing, realising the self within is the essence of the idea of being a Bhartiya and so, besides IQ, education must awaken Viveka-buddhi to look inwards to know the Self.
Knowing our Self: i) Consciousness is Brahman (God)', Pragyanam Brahman; ii) We ask: Where is it? 'You are That', Tat twam asi; iii) I reflect and realise that when I separate myself from the 'ever-changing Body-mind, all that is matter', then I experience 'This Atman in me is Brahman', 'Ayam Atma Brahman'; iv) I reflect, what is Brahman? Who is this 'I' and 'You'? How are or how can they be one? In essence, I have to realise 'I am Brahman', 'Aham Brahmasmi'; I realise it when I stop looking at 'name-forms'. I first realise I am Brahman. Then I expand to realise I am all that exists; 'Sarvam khalvidam Brahman'.
Reflection: That which exists can never cease to exist; nor can non-existence ever come into existence. 'I' exist. So, 'I' is the consciousness, Brahman, is our unchanging reality! Therefore, see and serve God in man and in all beings. This is work as worship and it gradually purifies the mind and we grow to experience the power, wisdom, bliss of self.
Because we the English-speaking ruling elite are ignorant of this essence of being a Bhartiya, we've allowed narrow-minded preachers and pundits to teach of my vs your god, an unknown entity who has been shut up and is jailed in places of worship or somewhere in heaven!
4. Essence of education and religions is to establish us in daily self-development practices, Life-skills, to learn and imbibe commitment to selfless kartavya-palan. A few will become competent as seekers with vivek, self-control, burning desire for higher truths. They will appreciate and as mentors of society will teach others of the truth that the great infinite truth we're seeking is consciousness; the supreme truth, is right within our innermost self; being the subtlest of all, is all pervasive, present everywhere, I am pure consciousness'.
To make the Bharatiya, education must provide opportunities, inspiration, know-how, for reflections & life-skills to imbibe the spirit of Karma Yoga (KY) and constitutional Fundamental Duties (FD), which is in accordance with GOI's instructions that all Govt. servants are to be trained to be Karma Yogi. GOI has also envisioned the G20 Global Vision of 'One World. One Family. One Future'. Earlier, GOI has declared Vivekananda as National Youth Icon. His ideas on practical Vedanta and Karma Yoga, expressed in inspiring English, offer us the best opportunity to evolve a course for mainstream schooling to appreciate the GOI vision.
Various inter-faith NGOs are working to make good human beings, and they must learn to work together with academia to plan how we can together make enlightened citizens.
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