Wrong Moral and Educational Ideals are Responsible
The principle cause of this threat to civilization is the neglect of spiritual ideals and the acceptance
of materialistic ideology. It is materialism tat is the ideal of the Western nations. From them,
this ideology has flooded the entire world. India too couldn't escape it. It has entered into all
our life, particularly so in the sphere of education.
If Iam asked, "Why is our country in a bad condition? Why is there lack of real men?" I shall reply,
"The trouble is at the very root. The education we get can in no way produce men of character
and integrity." It is said in the Bible : 'Do men gather grapes off thorns, or fig off thistles?'
Having come to our country, the English had burdened us with the European educational pattern.
Even now, even after independence, we are more or less following the same pattern. Their educational
pattern was evolved according to their requirements. It has no connection with our hopes, aspirations
and history. So if we are not able to mould our pattern of education in tune with our national life-stream,
if we continue to follow blindly the British pattern, then the situation would remain unchanged.
Since ages past, this race has aspired for the attainment of the highest Truth. Our ancient system of
education was oriented only towards this ideal. It is what has been called Para`-vidya` or
Spiritual Knowledge. But for that reason,Apara`-vidya` or Secular Knowledge has not been condemned.
That is why India was leading even in the aquisition of Apara`-vidya`. What we want is the harmony
between Para`-vidya` and Apara`-vidya`. It is the separation between the two that
has brought about all the problems in the educational field. Swamiji has said that we should teach
all those branches of knowledge which we had in India in ancient days. And along with it, learning
the English language is also imperative, because through it we can speak to the world at large.
Modern science too is essential along with technology which would build our industries. But if we
want to be real 'men', we must combine Para`-vidya` with this education. The foundation
of Para`-vidya` lies in character. Unless the character is moulded, nothing can be achieved.
Character cannot be built by giving lectures or enacting laws in the Parliament.For that we need
pure religion and moral education. This would cultivate the student's mind and intellect, make
his heart strong, and make his mind pure. The mind has an important role to play. It is only
by means of the mind that man obtains knowledge. If the mind becomes defective, no real aquisition
of knowledge is possible through it.
Here is an example. Once a professor of science came to see the laboratory in one of our colleges.
He saw a hazy picture through a microscope there. When he removed the lens, cleaned it with his
kerchief and replaced it on the instrument, then the view became clear. Now if you don't keep carefully
the 'microscope' called the mind through which you see, if you don't clean it, tell me, how would
you gather knowledge through it?
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