Acharya Tulsi
Education is the foundation of life. This statement is true, but even this statement has truth in it that the education which helps in only intellectual or material development can never become the foundation of life. Such education neither helps to develop life nor does it teach the art to live life. For systematic and well-balanced development of personality such education is required which shows the path of emotional development along with intellectual development.
Incomplete Education
We have heard many people saying that the present education system is not right. I want to ask them that if the education system is not right then how so many people go on to become doctors, lawyers and engineers? Who here is concerned about character-development? Whatever is being taught to the students in educational-institution is it even remotely related to character? If not then we should believe that our educational system is not wrong but incomplete. Practical teaching, along with theoretical teaching is required to remove this incompleteness.
The Result of Incompleteness
The education which aims only for materialistic development makes the most important side of life, spiritualism, in all intend and purposes, secondary. The young generation who are taught with these educational values cannot develop strong character, spread patriotic feeling, develop the society, or maintain and sweeten their family relation. The incompleteness of one generation destroys three generation simultaneously.
The Main Aim of Education
Indian culture, tradition, lifestyle, character building is mainly related to spirituality. India has achieved the status of spiritual leader in the whole world based on this. The main attraction to the people who stay beyond the oceans, in foreign land, is this spiritualism. But that spiritual tradition is going into oblivion today. This is the reason why India, the country with such great civilization and culture is today flowing relentlessly into the course of darkness and materialism. If this flow is not stopped then we can't say where it will take us. In this view, the first thing that is worth doing is the inclusion of spirituality, ethics, self-control, moral values and courtesy in our education system. Giving only bookish knowledge should not be considered as the end of a student's education. The main aim of education is to make him in control, well-maintained, organized and punctual. Achieving this can only make education meaningful.
The Co-ordination of Teaching and Meditation
Respected Kalugani had an internal wish that the female in the society should also be educated. He made me a young teacher in Gangapur, gave me the responsibilities of the organization and enlightened me about the right path to do the works worth doing. At that time, point of education of the females was also put forward. With the blessings of our respected teacher, the females in our organization are moving forward in the field of education with good pace, but their education is not concentrated in one direction. For them meditation is necessary before education. Rotation, transcription, to beg, travelling by foot etc. these activities are vital for their meditation. The person who gains knowledge neglecting these values can become intellectual but not devotional.
Relative Demonstration
Jain considers transcription as an obstacle for self-study. In this reference there is a saying - "padilehnaa sajjhass palimanthu". The transcriptions of books are also relative. It is right that there transcription etc. are considered as obstacle. But it is not an obstacle in meditation, rather it helpful. Therefore their disregard cannot be pardoned.
A question can arise that in between these two which one has more importance? Which one should I say as less important? Both of these are important in their own places. In effect, knowledge and work coordinate to make the path of salvation. Work is blind without knowledge. Workless knowledge is paralytic. If both are alone then neither can move towards the goal. In this light, sages should worship both of these materials under normalcy.
Obstruction Arises from Pride
One thing that is well known in field of Science is that knowledge is limitless. Hence, it is necessary to always remain a student in order to gain knowledge. A studying sage should never think that he has become an expert or that he has become great. That he has attained completion. This complacency from feeling of completion creates obstruction in the path of learning.
Stay Away from Inferiority Complex
Just like pride, inferiority complex is also an obstruction for learning. Studying sages must stay away from this feeling. They should also not forget that failure is the first step to success. A person reaches success' doorstep after facing failure. The person who faces failure and then overcome by inferiority can never achieve success. Hence studying sages should always keep the goal in mind that they have to earn knowledge first and then take rest.
Courtesy is Needed for Knowledge
Courtesy is very intimately related to learning. Normally knowledge is not achieved without courtesy. Even if knowledge is gained without courtesy, it isn't fruitful. In effect, courtesy brings eligibility for learning. Worthiness is the first condition for gaining anything. Where there is no eligibility, how can there be any gain? Today in the field of science eligibility or courtesy is being given less importance. This is not helpful in any respect. There is a proud history of courtesy in Terapanth Dharma sangha. This is a tale from the time of the worshipped sage Kalugani. One disciple sage used to keep a lot of interest in learning. But he lacked humbleness. The sage Kalugani noticed that the disciple sage neither worshipped the learned sages nor offered thankfulness after learning any matter. When the sage Kalugani encouraged him to worship the learned sages, he said "Should I keep on worshipping every second." On the basis of his answer, the great sage deemed the disciple sage as incapable or unfit to attain knowledge through learning from learned sages.
There is a very deep connection between learning and humbleness. The courteous and the rude both study together in the same class under the same teacher. There is no partiality in the distribution of knowledge on behalf of the teacher. But there comes a difference in the absorption of this knowledge. While the courteous gains intense and complete knowledge, but the rude gains only superficial knowledge. Hence it becomes necessary that the student is humble while gaining knowledge.
Use of Knowledge
In the ancient Jain texts, the word "Cognizance" has been used to describe knowledge. There are two types of Cognizance - Wisdom and Repudiation. Cognizance of wisdom is used to recognize the difference between useless and worthy. Repudiation cognizance keeps a person's consciousness separated from the unworthy. If there is no recognition between worthy and unworthy and there is no intention of giving up the unworthy then what is the gain in being knowledgeable? A human’s life is multifaceted. There is the need to draw a line between the correct and the incorrect. After making a differentiation, to embrace the correct and renounce the incorrect is the real usefulness of knowledge.
