Educational Implication of Bhagvad Gita
INTRODUCTION
Bhagavad
Gita literally means 'The Lords Song', i.e., the philosophical discourse of
Lord Krishna to persuade the reluctant Arjuna to fight. It is the most popular
and sacred book of the Hindus and is contained in the Bhisma-Parva of the
Mahabharta, the greatest Sanskrit epic. One of the greatest contributions of
India to the world is Holy Gita. Arjun got mentally depressed when he saw his
relatives with whom he has to fight.To motivate him the Bhagavad Gita is
preached in the battle field Kurushetra by Lord Krishna to Arjun as a
counseling to do his duty while multitude of men stood by waiting Krishna gave
education to perform his duty as a prince, as a warrior, as a righteous man to
fight against evil and restore peace and order. The central teaching of the
Gita can be beautifully summarized in this sentence of Annie Besant: 'It is
meant to lift the aspirant from the lower levels of renunciation, where objects
are renounced, to the loftier heights where desires are dead, and where the
yogi dwells in the calm and ceaseless contemplation, while his body and mind
are actively employed in discharging the duties that fall to his lot in life.'
The Gita tries to build up a philosophy of karma based on janana and supported
by Bhakti in a beautiful manner. The real meaning of education is to impart
knowledge. True education would provide children not only an intellectual
stimulation, but also a real purpose in life. The Bhagavad -Gita is called the
king of education because it is the essence of all doctrines and philosophies.
It is the purest knowledge and because it gives direct perception of the self
by realization.
Metaphysics
of Gita:-
The
important metaphysical point of teaching in Gita is being. Gita advocates
"Nasato vidhyata bhavo nabhavo vidyate satab" (of the unreal there is
no being and of the real there is no non-being.) The soul is eternal (nitya),
unborn (aja), industructible (avinashi), undiminishing (avyakta), all-pervasive
(sarva-gata), unthinkable (achintya), and immutable (avikrya), unmanifest
(avyakta). Soul cannot be killed by sword, it cannot be diminished or destroyed
by fire, air or rain can diminished it. Neither soul is born nor it dies it is
out and out immortal and everlasting. He, who find the ultimate reality seated
equally in all beings and un-perishing with the perishing bodies, see truly.
Bhakti (devotion) is defined as disinterested service to God. So it is a form
of Karma. The Lord himself lifts up his devotees from the 'ocean of
birth-and-death'. To love of God becomes the divine and supreme love.
Gita
describes four kinds of devotees:-
1.
Arta (The suffering one)
2.
Jigyasu (Seeker of truth)
3.
Artharth (Self-interested one)
4.
Janani or Gyani (The wise man)
Bhagavad
Gita represents the unique synthesis of action, devotion and knowledge. Man is
generally of complex intelligence, will and emotion. Intelligence entails upon
philosophy, will to philosophy of action and emotion to philosophy of devotion.
Yoga means union, i.e., individual with absolute yoga is sthita-prajana-rooted
firmly in higher reason to attain highest state of Brahman (Brahmisthiti) where
one is never bewildered) and from which he never falls down.
Epistemology:-
There
is no specific theory of knowledge provided by Gita. As per Gita, yoga is
essentially and predominantly the path of knowledge. The yogi's ideal is self
realization which cannot be attained without knowledge. Even the devotees are
granted knowledge by the Lord so that they may realize the goal.
Axiology:-
Action
is better than inaction. Life depends upon action as none can remain just
inactive for a single moment. Inaction is death. The Bhagavad Gita anticipates
the conception of Bradley 'My station and duties'. Every individual is born
with particular attitudes. His station in society is determined by his
particular aptitudes. By performing his own specific duties appropriate to his
station in society, he can contribute to the good of the society and realize
his infinite self.
Relation
between Bhagavad Gita and Education:-
"Shrikrishna
Bhagw¡an says, the real meaning of education is receiving of virtual knowledge
but question arise 'what is virtual knowledge'? Whenever we see or we feel the
university in diversity and God exists everywhere". "True knowledge
is that which teach us to see God in each soul". The Lord says that King
of all such knowledge, the essence of all knowledge that can be derived from the
study of the Vedas and different kinds of philosophies. The Bhagavad Gita
specially stresses on the importance of the soul. The Lord says that this body
is perishable and the soul is not perishable. That is a confidential part of
knowledge; simply knowing that the spirit soul is different from this body is
finished, or one is liberated from the body, the soul remains in a void and
becomes impersonal. But actually that is not the fact, how can the soul, which
is so active after being liberated from the body. It is always active. If it is
eternal, then it is eternally active, and its activities in the spiritual
kingdom are the most confidential part of spiritual knowledge.
Education
According to Bhagavad Gita:-
In
order to formulate the principles of education the divine teacher Lord Krishna
has not imparted his wisdom to his student as mere dictation like others. The
Gita answer the 'why' of such education. The human child in the world is not a
tabula rasa or an empty being. He inherits the certain tendencies, instincts, propensities
of character, mental dispositions etc. from his past life. Parents give to
child only his body but his physical apparatus and soul's doing are his own.
This explains individual differences. The Bhagavad Gita reconciles metaphysics
and physics, nivritti and pravrtti, psychical entity, and hereditary and
environment of men and gives the principles of education clearly indicating
that education is spiritual-social necessity. It is a value and its edifice
cannot be built on sand.
The
teacher must teach his subject with great competence but when the issue of
judgement is involved he should let the student free as Arjun was finally left
to decide himself whether to fight or not. The concept of the teacher in the
Gita is that he must be most balanced. The true teacher not only teaches truth
but also demonstrates it. In short, the teacher is vigilant enough to keep the
soul and body of his student as well as his own together. The student,
according to the Gita, is not a disciple but a learner. But the first and the
last characteristic of an ideal student are to surrender before the teacher
accepting his ignorance of the subject he wants to know. Genuineness, humanity,
obedience, faith in his teacher is the essential characteristics of a good
learner. He must also posses an intense urge to know without which he will not
be able to digest what the teacher gives. Humility, obedience, faith etc.
towards the teacher imply that the student should be virtuous. The student,
according to Gita, must shun three great vices- Kama, Krodh and Lobha in his
personality. Obedience means respect to the teacher; however, it does not mean
the foolish obedience in which everything is accepted by the student blindly.
The eager intellect of the student must be satisfied.
Objectives
of Education According to Bhagavad Gita:-
·
Development of virtual
knowledge
·
Development and
modification of personality
·
Adjustment in
individual and social aims
·
Development of internal
consciousness
·
Development of
intellectual and reasoning ability
·
Establishment of
importance of duties in life
Curriculum
on the Basis of Bhagavad Gita:-
Two
types of Gyan (knowledge)-
Physical
(Art, Science, Engineering etc)
Spiritual
(Knowledge of body and soul)
The
Gita teaching stands not for renunciation of action, but for renunciation in
action. It is emphatically stated that Samnyasa does not mean the renunciation
of action, but of interest, desire and attachment; it means the giving up the
fruit of all work. Actions are our sphere; fruits are not our concern. We
should never be attached to the fruits of actions and at the same time we
should never be inactive.
Methods
of Teaching:-
•
Conversational method
•
Question-Answer method
•
Demonstration method
•
Contemporary method (rational analysis with proper analysis)
•
Learning by doing
Discipline:-
The
moral of Bhagavad Gita entails upon the discipline of the life and performance
of one's duty without attachment to the result in sattvic way. Gita rightly
strikes at the root of the problem. Ideal personalities of teachers and deep
scholarly efforts can save the untracked indiscipline among students. Faith on
the instructions of Gita can remove the problem of indiscipline and anomie that
are prevailing in Indian education.
Conclusion
In
this age of intellectual capital you are busy acquiring the latest skills and
expertise in the belief that it guarantees success. But success comes only when
you put all the knowledge to us. The Gita introduces you to your inner
personality. The intellect, which reasons and discriminates the mind, is the
centre of emotions and impulses. So go ahead, connect with Gita. Embark on a
journey to transform your life from one of mediocrity to that of excellence.
