Educational Methods
According to Swamiji, education is the acquisition of such knowledge and skills that enable an individual to progress both materially and spiritually. For material progress, he stated the following “We require such education that enhances our character, gives us inner strength, a beautiful mind and makes us self-dependent;”and for spiritual progress he stressed on “Education leads to the complete growth of an individual.”
If we try to see the above statements through Swamiji’s perspective, we’ll understand that education is the means to achieve both material and spiritual progress. However though, such complete education is not included in the educational system. It is essential to include it in the curriculum and to put into practice the knowledge gained through such education.
Objectives of Education
Swamiji gives equal importance to man’s religious and material progress. According to him, education should fulfill both purposes. Hence related to this, he emphasized on seven main points namely; physical progress, mental/moral progress, the spirit of social service, ethical upliftment, character building, unity, brotherhood and spiritual progress.
If we analyse carefully we will find out that Swamiji’s principles on education is universal; in today’s India the present education system comprises of physical, mental/moral, social, ethical and character building and spiritual upliftment. However despite being the pioneer of Hindu culture, he did not emphasize on cultural progress; maybe he used to think of religion and culture as one. At that time our country was not independent, so how could anything about governance and citizenship come into his mind. Independence is the motto of this era, in his time it was known as universal brotherhood.
Educational Curriculum
Swamiji’s vision was very universal regarding the educational curriculum. On this topic the first thing he talked about was on the importance to include topics and actions that are required to uplift man materially and spiritually. Secondly he said that all best practices obtained from other countries be included in the educational system. Thirdly, he emphasized on the use of ancient knowledge as well as modern technology to ensure the material progress of man whilst focusing on the importance of using English language as a means to understand the modern technology; and for spiritual upliftment he advised strongly on including Indian culture as a subject in the school curriculum. For the material progress of man, he included the following languages in the school curriculum namely the mother tongue Hindi, foreign languages, English and Sanskrit. He also included the arts, music, history, geography, political education, science, astronomy, meditation, social work, ancient knowledge and physical activities; and for his spiritual progress he laid emphasis on history, culture and values and chanting of devotional songs. At that time he sensitized people in India on the need for higher education and to go abroad to learn more and become knowledgeable in scientific methods.
If we analyze Swamiji’s views on education, he laid much emphasis on reinforcing the educational curriculum with a variety of subjects. He did not have a second opinion about where to use scientific subjects in life; however though man cannot learn almost everything in his everyday life and neither is it important for him to do so. We wish Swamiji were alive for few more days for he could draw a limit to the school curriculum. Swamiji talk today do not take people’s throats even though that Vedanta be essentially everybody learning but they believe that if the country corruption, scandals, chaos, and karen shared-free, children from the start to be religious and moral education will inevitably.
Educational Principles
Regarding the principle of education, Swamiji has made no new contribution; he merely merged some traditional (Simulation, teaching, interpreting, self-education, logic and yoga) and modern views (Guidance, counseling and used). In so doing he gave the first and foremost place to Yoga.
Swamiji has undoubtedly made his name by merging both ancient and modern principles of education. But in today’s modern circumstances it is not practical to make use of the yoga principle. If Swamiji had made use of Shankar’s psychological means and modern methods, he could have surely given something new to India.
Discipline
According to Swamiji, meaning of discipline is directed by the soul. Swamiji cleared that human is like an animal by birth, so its congenital that is natural behaviour cannot be called discipline, he learn social behaviour while living in society and when this behaviour is self-inspired, then we called it discipline.
In this context, our request is that until human do not realize the self-element, there is not any question arise to be directed by it and for realizing the self-element, it may take whole lifespan. It is clear that Swamiji did not say the discipline of school. In our view, meaning of school discipline should be that students and teachers can control their natural self and inspired from inside to behave according to rules and ideology of society. It is called self-discipline today.
Teachers
Swamiji’s views for teachers were traditional. He expected from teachers that they should be Gnostic, virtuous and able to recognize the divine nature of students. He also expected from teachers that they should understand the deeds generated variation with the help of psychology and arrange the education accordingly and with the help of divine knowledge, he understand their spiritual unity and let them provide knowledge of self-element.
Self-knowledgeable teachers cannot be expected in this age but all are expecting that they should be expert in their subjects. All are unanimous in their relation to the virtuous. If teachers are to be honest and dutiful, then all problems of teaching world can be solved easily.
Students
Swamiji’ view for students were traditional as well as modern too. He expected from the students to follow celibacy vow. His clear opinion was that until the students are not doing sense repression, they do not have strong will power to learn and if they do not respect the teachers, they can neither be given physical knowledge nor spiritual knowledge.
Today academicians are even not agreed with the celibacy vow word of Swamiji but all accept it that students should be Spartan, eager to learn knowledge, interested to study and hardworking. All these symptoms are of celibate. In our view, at least Indian should respect celibacy word.
School
One side Swamiji supported Gurukul system and on the other side he forced to establishment of general and special educational institutions for the arrangements of public education and specific education. He himself established schools in tribal colonies. But wherever schools are and whatever kind of, according to him its environment should be clean, social atmosphere should be ideal oriented and there should be Yoga practice for spiritual development.
Today all are agreed with Swamiji’s first two things but all academicians are not unanimous with the giving position to hymns and Yoga practice in the schools for spiritual growth. Their logic is that this is work of family or religious organization.
Other Aspects of Education
- Public Education—As far as the concern is of public education, female education, occupational education, religious education and national education; Swamiji guided us in all these areas. His view was so broad in context of public education; he wanted to see all children, youth, elders and veterans of India as literate, wanted to make them able to life normal life and wanted to make them expert to earn their food. These views of him gave us inspiration for making arrangements of general, compulsory and free education and adult education both.
- Women Education—There is not two opinions that Swamiji saved Indian culture and respect by giving respect woman in the form of Mother-Power and emphasis on women’s education is our big favour but his views in context of women education that they should be made perfect housewife, perfect mothers and perfect teachers only, will be said narrow only. Today also his rejection for co education is the subject of criticism.
- Occupational Education—Making arrangements for occupational education and emphasize on giving space to education of western science and technology, for removing the poverty of our country, is indicative of his broad mind and comprehensive approach. Today through this education, we are on a path of growth.
- Religious Education—Swamiji considered Vedanta as universal religion and emphasize on its compulsory education. In this age today, people are not in favour of any specific religious philosophy education but surely in the favour of education of religious morals widely.
- National Education—As far as the thing is of national education, Swamiji could not create its outline, but he emphasized that it should be like that, by which nation grow and raise up in physical and spiritual both views.
Effect of Vivekananda
Vivekananda equally emphasized on physical and spiritual both the aspects and led to live Vedanta in life. He emphasized on taking advantage of national and international knowledge and skills for physical growth of human and emphasized on use of Indian religion and philosophy, especially knowledge of Vedanta philosophy and Yoga practices for spiritual growth of human. Thereof there was increment in the importance of truths, related to physical life in religion dominant Indian philosophy, tendency to take advantage of national and international knowledge developed in the society.
From one side, Vivekananda led his country people towards the taking advantage of western knowledge and science and on the other side introduced the foreigners to Indian spiritual knowledge, especially Vedanta philosophy and Raj Yoga. Today around the globe, Indian spiritual knowledge and western science and technology is used. Knowledge is not considered as paternal wealth of any country, it is for the whole world today.
At the time of Vivekananda, there were two opposing philosophies—one was eastern and other was western. Vivekananda combined both. With its effect, arrangements were made for education of Indian language, literature, religion, philosophy and growth of knowledge along with western language, literature, religion-philosophy, knowledge-science and technology, country was progressing in physical form. Today, what we are is just result of this combined and broad view.
Summary
Swami Vivekananda is the first Indian in this age who introduced us spiritual superiority of our country and physical superiority of western countries and awaken us for our physical and spiritual both kind of growth. He announced that make every person of India educated and make him able to function efficiently in every field of life through education, make him self-supporting, independent, fearless, and proud and above then all, make him true human who will be successful in achieving God through human service. He established Ramkrishna Mission for materialize his philosophical and education views, open its branched in country and abroad and with this made arrangements for public service and public education. He specially cared of weak and neglected people of India. But organizations established by Ramkrishna mission are negligible and which are present they are not having anything new. They were established for what objectives, Spartan and solitaire teachers are needed for that. Wish Swamiji live some more days. But overall educational thoughts are based on religion and philosophy and compatible for Indian public life. Planners of national education should use it. View of Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru is quotable about Swamiji. He wrote at one place – ‘Rooted in the past and full of pride in India’s heritage, Vivekananda was yet modern in his approach to life’s problems and was a kind of bridge between the past of India and her present.’ —Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
