A Cultured, Educated Life-Part II

Another quality that education needs to foster in human beings is the ability to overcome selfishness. Narrowness of vision makes a person completely identified with his or her physical body and all thoughts necessarily converge towards personal gain. Yet a human being is a social animal. One cannot live by oneself like a mountain or an island. One's life is bound with the general well-being of the society of which one is a part. Human beings have a dual existence in that they are distinct individuals completely different from others yet part of the total also. A harmonious blending ,of these two forms of existence yields joy in life.

We must learn to think big - at the total as well as the individual level. This is where true culture and the concept of righteousness come in. To destroy society for the promotion of self-interest is demoniacal; to neglect self-interest for the sake of harmony around is suicidal. A rose bush need not destroy the jasmine in order to bring forth her own fragrance, nor does the rose bush need to destroy itself to keep harmony with the jasmine. Both the jasmine and rose have place in the Lord's good creation and they can live together harmoniously.

A human being should be educated in getting a clear idea of what is right and what is wrong. He or she must be taught to walk the path without treading on the heels of others. Values of what is proper and improper must be taught as part of education.

These values are no doubt being taught in the schools and colleges by way of good manners and social behaviour, but judging from the results, it is clear that this teaching is not enough. It is not enough to preach to a person that he should not be selfish without giving him a deeper insight as to what happens if he does not follow that rule.

Human beings are considered the roof and crown of all creation, even though they are physically weaker than many of the lower creation and are not provided with nature's natural protection, which the lower beings have. Human beings hold this position because of the level of their psychic evolution. Though their physical bodies have as many demands as those of the lower beings, they can detach themselves from those demands when they are emotionally moved or intellectually inspired. This detachment from the physical body is our glory. It is this trait that has to be cultivated and developed through education.

The body should be given whatever is necessary to keep it healthy; no luxuries or undue comforts need to pamper it. Plain living and high thinking are the signs of true education.

To be continued

About the article

This article is written by Swamini Saradapriyananda for the magazine, 'Vedanta Vani' of Chinmaya Mission.