Concept of Education
Swamiji wanted human to make ready for terrestrial and extraterrestrial both of lives through education. He had faith that until we are not rich and happy in physical terms, till then knowledge, deeds, devotion and Yoga; these are imaginary things. He gave slogan in terrestrial terms—We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded and by which one can stand on one’s own feet. He called it Man Making Education. But he considered ultimate objective of the life is to feel the inside hidden soul. In terms of extraterrestrial he declared that—Education is manifestation of perfection already present in man. In his terms, the education can do both of works, is the true education. He called it Complete Education.
Objectives of Education
Swami Vivekananda considered human’s physical and spiritual, both of forms as real, as truth, so he forced to develop both of the aspects of human. In his terms, there should be physical and spiritual, both kind of human development take place. The education which does both of works, he called it Complete Education. For this, Swamiji forced on that objectives of education, we can sequent those in the following way:
- Physical Growth—Swamiji believed healthy body is necessary for both, physical body protection and fulfilments of its need and self-realization. In physical terms he told that this time we need those strong persons who have iron like muscles and steel like tendons. For self-realization he told Gyan Yoga, Karm yoga, Bhakti Yoga or Raj Yoga is necessary and cleared the necessity of healthy body for any kind of Yoga practice. In his view, physical growth of human should be done first of all.
- Mental and Intellectual Growth—Swamiji said the reason of backwardness of India is its intellectual backwardness and forced on that we should go for mental and Intellectual growth of our children and for this they should be introduced to the national and international knowledge and science, where and what good knowledge is available, it should be achieved and should be given ability of standing with the confidence in the world.
- Developing the feeling of Social Service—Swamiji told in clear words that meaning of literacy is not to bless our self only, after literacy; human should work for human welfare. He saw the poverty of Indian public through his own eyes. He wish that literate and rich people serve the poor’s and try to raise them. His meaning from social service was not with the kindness or donation, his meaning from social service was with the helping to raise the poor’s, they will rise themselves only. He wanted to gather a team of social workers through education. In spiritual terms also he was giving big importance to the social service. He considered human as temple of God and considered service to it as service to God.
- Moral and Ethical Growth—Swamiji felt this thing that human should be character-full along with the healthy from the body, developed from intelligence and strong from the economy. Character only makes human honest and dutiful. So he forced on moral and ethical development of human also through education. His meaning from morality was with both the social morality and religious morality and meaning from ethical development was with that will power which help human to follow the right rout, to stop him from following wrong rout. His faith was that any of these moral and character-full human can lead further the society or the nation, can rise up.
- Occupational Growth—Swamiji closely saw the poor public of India; saw their peeping bones demanding for bread, cloth and house. Also he saw the luxurious life of western countries and he reached on this result that those countries get this physical luxury through knowledge and science and development and use of technologies. So he declared that life cannot be run through blank spiritual principles, we should come forward in every field of work. For this he forced to train human in production, industrial work and other occupation through education.
- Development of national unity and cosmopolitanism—Our country was under British at the time of Swamiji, we were dependent. Swamiji felt that dependency give birth to inferiority and inferiority is the biggest cause of our all sorrows. So when he returned from America, he called youngsters after step in on Indian land – ‘Your very first work should be made country free and whatever has to sacrifice for it should be ready for that.’ He forced on necessity of that education system at that time which rise national consciousness in natives, making them unite to fighting for the freedom of country. But he was not promoter of narrow nationality, he meet divine only in all human and believed cosmopolitanism in this view.
- Religious Education and Spiritual Development—Swamiji forced similarly for development of physical and spiritual both the aspects of human through education. His clear opinion was that physical growth of human should be on the background of Spirituality and spiritual growth should be on the basis of physical growth, it is possible only when human follow the religion. Swamiji took the religion in the broad way. In his term, religion is that which teaches us to love and save us from malice, insist us in the service of manhood and protect us from the exploitation of human and helpful in our physical and spiritual both kind of development. Swamiji forced to provide this kind of religious education from the beginning. In his term, all these properties are present in our Adwaita Vedanta Religion; it makes feeling of unity in the world and teaches love to all. It is the universal religion. In his terms, other religions of this world are also giving somewhat same kind of education but among these religion, our Indian Vedanta Religion is the best. So we should give its education from the beginning. Also for achieving the ultimate objective of life, from the beginning we should orient the children towards Gyan Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga or Raj Yoga. In his terms, real education is that only which make ready human to live physical life and to achieve spiritual salvation.
Curriculum of Education
Curriculum is the mode to achieve the objectives. Swamiji presented a provision of detail curriculum for achieving the objectives of education fixed by him. He forced to include games and sports, exercises and Yoga practice for physical growth and language, art, music, history, geography, political science, economics, mathematics and science subjects for mental and intellectual growth in educational curriculum. Swamiji’s view in context of language was so broad. In his terms, mother language for normal life, Sanskrit language is for understanding our religion and philosophy, regional language is for understanding our country and knowledge of English language is to understand foreign knowledge and science and technology is necessary. He considered art as integral part of human life and was in favour of include painting, architecture, music, dancing and acting in the educational curriculum under this. Under the history, he was in favour of to teach Indian and European both the history. His logic was that through studding the Indian history, home country love will develop and through studding the European history, they will becoming hardworking for physical prosperity. He also forced to include political science and economics in the curriculum. His faith was that with the study of both subjects, political consciousness will develop in children and they will get success in economic field. To develop the feeling of social service in the human and orient them towards social service, Swamiji forced to make social service compulsory at all levels of education and forced to make education of religion and moral science compulsory for their moral and ethical growth, forced on education of mother language, English language, physics, agriculture, technology and industrial skills for occupational growth and forced to include subjects like literature, religious philosophy and moral science and hymns, Satsanga and meditation activities for spiritual growth.
Swamiji also forced on making arrangements of higher education and with the help of this education he forced on making arrangements of education of Engineers, Doctors, Advocates and Administrators in our country only. He knew that until we are not self-dependent in every field of life, we neither progress physically nor spiritually. He attracted the attention of academicians on this that in nation or abroad, where ever what is good, beneficial, necessary to raise our society and our nation, it should be given place in the syllabus of higher education. Thus Swamiji’s view, in relation with the curriculum of education, was so broad. And why would not, he studied and understood the highest religious philosophy of his country and saw the physical luxury of western countries with his own eyes. He knew that we can do our physical development with the help of physical knowledge of western countries and can do our spiritual development with the help of spiritual knowledge of our country. Thus Swamiji’s view in relation with curriculum of education was so modern and broad.
Methodologies of Education
Swamiji believed in the completeness of the soul and considered that soul is omniscient. But it is possible only when human has self-knowledge, he itself would be self-visionary. In Swamiji’s opinion, human has self-knowledge only when he has both physical and spiritual knowledge. Swamiji supported Direct, Simulation, Lecture, Discussion and Experimentation methods for obtaining physical knowledge and supported Self-study, Contemplation, Meditation and Yoga methods for obtaining spiritual knowledge. On the basis of his experience, he said this statement so forcefully that Yoga method (concentration) is the best method ever for obtaining both physical and spiritual kinds of knowledge. Swamiji himself was a teacher. He taught Vedanta to country and foreign people and trained them in meditation. But he used the above mentioned methods in his specific way, so here it is needed to understand his specific way.
- Simulation Method—Swamiji knew this thing that in the beginning, human learn the methods of language and behaviour through simulation only, so he called it best method for education of pure language and society agreed behaviour. He forced that parents and teachers should use pure language before children and should present top models of behaviour, by following this children can learn correct language and behave nicely. He considered the correct method for education of games and sports, exercise, Yoga practice and other action. He was teaching Yoga with this method only.
- Lectureship Method—To give the information about the facts in verbal form is called Lectureship method. Swamiji believed that the knowledge of found by ancestors cane be imparted through lectureship method in easy and fact manner. However, he emphasized on accepting the fact after judging it through intelligence. He used to impart the morals of the Vedanta through lectureship method, scientific method.
- Logic and Discussion Method—Not accepting logic just like that, questioning ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘how’ etc about them, receiving their logical answers, raising doubts time and again and finding out solutions for these and discussing upon these, is called Logical and Discussion method. The logic method of Swami Vivekananda is different from the method of justice philosophy. In this method, teachers solve the students’ problems. On this basis, some scholars also call it problem-solving method. In this method, teachers explain the solutions to students’ doubts. On this basis, some scholars call it explanatory method. These doubts have to be analysed for their explanation. On this basis, some scholars call it analysis method. Swamiji used to think and discuss logically to before clarifying any doubt. That's why he has called it logical and discussion method.
- Directive and Consultative Method—By directing students through giving them right direction and though discussion, helping them to learn on their own and solving their doubts time and again, is called Directive and Consultative method. In this process, teachers help students in, what and how to study, what and how to do. In this process students learn on their by practising themselves and on their own, teachers only assist them in showing them the right track. Swamiji considers this process as the suitable process.
- Demonstration and Experimental Process—Swamiji supports this process for education and training of experimental and technical subjects and activities. In this process a teacher presents a thing or activity, student study the same, teacher elaborate on each aspect, students experiment and prove it. Now a days, advice of students are also taken in this process. The education of Scientific and experimental subjects can be provided by this manner in the real sense.
- Self–Learning Method—Self-Learning Method means learning by self. In this process, students get the knowledge of the areas by studying from the books. For his religious education, Swamiji has emphasized on studying the granth. He said that not everything can be taught by lectures and discussions, it is must to study related evidential texts for any subject. Reading and studying these texts by students themselves is called Self- Learning Method. Swamiji considered this process incomplete unless and until it was thought, remembered and discussed. His claim was that any fact should be accepted only after giving an intelligent thought over it. This way, Swamiji’s proposed Self-Learning method is a bit different from book method and library method, its more than that more useful also.
- Meditation process—Swamiji considers this process as the topmost process of attaining any kind of physical and spiritual knowledge. According to him, short term meditation is needed for attaining physical knowledge whereas long term meditation is needed for attainment of spiritual knowledge. Even today’s scholars say that it is important to focus for attainment of knowledge. Our experience says that the more a learner has the patience to meditate, the faster he learns.Swamiji practised this method from his childhood itself.
Discipline
There are three main aspects of the human life namely the physical, social and spiritual. Swamiji gives importance to all three of them, but he gives utmost importance to the spiritual aspect. According to Swami Vivekanada, the meaning of discipline is to achieve self-control through the soul that is atma. According to him action performed by man is not disciplinary when it is guided by the physical plane compared to action guided by the soul.
Swamiji used to teach the concept of self-discipline to both the guru and the disciple. The question arises, how can children carry out self-discipline? Swamiji has stressed out that to motivate disciples to practice self-discipline, the guru himself has to practice it fully; this will incite the disciple to think about the Gurus’ behavior and the former will be inspired to follow the same ideal path.
Guru
Swamiji was the pioneer of Gurukulas in olden days. According to him, the Guru should impart both secular and spiritual knowledge so that they can prepare the disciples for both the material as well as the spiritual world. He used to advise the Gurus to practice self-control and self-discipline, and then only disciples will follow their footsteps and practice same. He also expected the Guru to make use of so as to understand each student’s learning capabilities and prepare their education techniques accordingly and through self knowledge the Guru can gain an understanding of the student’s spiritual knowledge; hence the Guru may assist the student in his spiritual growth.
Disciples
According to Swamiji, to gain both secular and spiritual knowledge, the disciple shall be in the celibacy stage of his life. According to him, until the student does not undertake rituals to initiate into Brahmacharya, he does not obtain inner strength to learn and to respectfully surrender to the Guru in search of true knowledge, till then neither can they gain scientific knowledge nor spiritual knowledge. According to him the relationship between the Guru and the disciple should not be limited to knowledge gain, but both should be acquainted with the divine form inherent in one another.
Gurukula
Swamiji had strong values pertaining to the establishment of Gurukulas. But in the modern system and noisy environment the establishment of Gurukul was practically impossible. He only stressed on the point that the teaching environment shall be pure, along with teaching, practice of physical activities, games; there shall also be meditation practices, social services and chanting of devotional songs.
Other aspects of Education
- Mass Education—In the times of Swamiji, the situation prevailing in the country was very deplorable. Compared to India, the situation in western countries was much better; their citizens practiced discipline and spirituality. Swamiji saw that with his own eyes. He has experienced that our dirty politics, degradation of moral values, social malpractices and blind belief in Indian traditions was the result of ignorance. He has propagated the message that until the inhabitants of India, men and women alike, do not become knowledgeable, there won’t be progress in any aspect of their lives. He expected the society and the State to educate the mass. With mass education Swamiji targeted mainly children, the youth, and illiterates. He encouraged the educated ones to impart knowledge to illiterates and elders so as to dispel their ignorance and make them knowledgeable.
- Women Education—Swamiji was very much concerned about the deplorable state of women. He stressed on the importance for respect towards women, educating them and opening up opportunities for their self-growth and progress. He emphasized that until we don’t educate women we cannot make the society knowledgeable and until the society does not become knowledgeable, there will be no upliftment of the State. But related to women’s education, his vision was based on Indian values. He wanted to make of them ideal housewives, ideal mothers, and ideal imparters of knowledge and reformers of the society. He focused on providing education to women with the objective of uplifting the holy women, liberating them from fear, making them excel in their household, enabling them to be ideal mothers of robust sons and social reformers to guide the society towards righteousness.
- Mix education—Swamiji was against mix education. His main belief was that men and women learning capabilities were not similar, due to which they cannot be educated together. His second belief was that mix education can be a barrier to self-control. He firmly believed in having separate schools for girls and as their instructors, women would be most suitable.
- Business Studies—Swamiji saw a nude picture of his country and at the same time he saw the influence of foreign countries. He experienced that there are two main reasons of the country’s poverty: the lack of common knowledge, good quality education and business studies. First and foremost he started a sensitization campaign on educating the mass population and then on inculcating good quality education as well as business studies. With business studies, he did not only mean simple trade methods and common knowledge but also essential knowledge on best practices from foreign countries to prepare engineers, doctors, lawyers and politicians in India. And was also the administrator and organizer of preparation. Their approach in the context of vocational education was very comprehensive and practical.
- Religious Knowledge—Swamiji was the founder of religious knowledge but his opinions on religious knowledge were very different. These binders in a denomination of religion were not in favor of these eternal values of religion human beings life accepted as announcer. He propagated the message of his Guru Shri Rama Krishna Paramhansa that all the religions of the world are one; all revolved around one universal truth. Swamiji said two things pertaining to religion in the Chicago Parliament of religions, these two things remain exemplary – “I am proud to belong to a religion which has sheltered the persecuted and refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth”. And the second - that people think it is pointless the only religion in the world ever will. From these words it is clear that he was a spiritual leader who believed in universal tolerance and unity.
- State Knowledge—Apparently Swamiji did not start any projects on state knowledge but he did stress on its importance. He emphasized that education is primordial for all including the individuals, the society, and the state; hence the state shall make provision to educate all its citizens. He had strong beliefs pertaining to the education of the Indian nation. He propagated the message about being receptive to what is positive; he has experienced that foreign countries excel in secular knowledge and that India is unbeatable in spiritual knowledge. This is why he stressed on the importance of learning the best practices of foreign countries in order to progress in the field of secular knowledge and to progress in spiritual knowledge, he emphasizes on learning from Indian culture. He firmly believed in Vedanta and therefore motivated one and all to spread the teachings of Vedanta.
