Acharya Tulsi
Value-based education is the slogan of this era. Education without the acquisition of values leads to a life devoid of cultures or principles. There may be a difference between valueless education and illiteracy in the context of livelihood but there is no significant difference as such in context of life-building. This could be the reason why values have become a topic for debate in the field of education.
Which all values are there those can be linked to education? There is no consensus evolved on this issue. We decided on some values in the context of Anuvrat (small vow) many years ago. These values are:
Abhayam mriduta satyam aarjwam karuna dhritih
Anasaktih swawlamboh swashaasanam sahishnuŧa
Kartavyanishthata vyaktigat-sangrah-sanyamah Praamanikatvam yasmin syurnitimanuchyate narah
Fearless, softness, truth, simplicity, compassion, patience, non-attachment, self-sufficiency, self-discipline, tolerance, conscientiousness, personal collection limit and authenticity - the person in whose life these 13 values are found will be considered as moral or noble or ethical. Values do not have quantity. They can be condensed or elaborated. How will life be influenced by their mere determination?
When the above said or akin values are added to the education, the teachers can make the students learn them by rote, make them understand their meaning or tell them stories to assimilate those values in their life, but will this help ingrain these values in their lives? Values cannot be taught, they are acquired. It is important to view them as achievement, rather than tendency. Achievement will only come when there will be transformation of consciousness. In ancient times, two types of experiments were carried out to transform the consciousness -practice and mortification. Until the practice and mortification are entrenched, change cannot be expected. In the language of science, as long as the nerve centre and organ centre flow is stabilized, the possibility of change is ruled out. In Preksha meditation process, the greater accountability is on Anupreksha. In the utilization of Anupreksha, values can be harnessed. All efforts so far in value-based education have been in the direction of the irrigation of flowers and leaves. Greenery in a garden is not enhanced by the irrigation of flowers and leaves. That can be accomplished by irrigation of the roots. How can the roots be irrigated? This problem can be solved by the use of awakened people's mind. The support of spiritual leaders through their experiences is essential to this cause. Awakened and spiritual leaders can direct the progress through a concerted thought upon which the pillars of value-based education can be founded. The time wasted in value determination can be avoided by collecting the Indian traditional values and passing them to students, which will yield desired results.
