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Sunday, March 22, 2015

विद्या ददाति विनयम



Education makes one humble, which gives one " The Qualification". Being qualified, one attains "wealth" for Duty (swa-Dharma) , which lead to happiness.

Importance of Education and Character Development


1)The child is taken to school, and the first thing he learns is that his father is a fool, the second thing that his grandfather is a lunatic, the third thing that all his teachers are hypocrites, the fourth, that all the sacred books are lies! By the time he is sixteen he is a mass of negation, lifeless and boneless. And the result is that fifty years of such education has not produced one original man in the three presidencies.... We have learned only weakness.

Out of the past is built the future. Look back, therefore as far as you can drink deep of the eternal fountains that are behind and after that look forward, march forward and make India brighter, greater, much higher than she ever was. Our ancestors were great. We must first recall that. We must learn the elements of our being, the blood, that courses in our veins; we must build an India yet greater than what she has been.

Nowadays everybody blames those who constantly look back to their past. It is said that so much looking back to the past is the cause of all India's woes. To me, on the contrary, it seems that the opposite is true. So long as they forgot the past, the Hindu nation remained in a state of stupor and as soon as they have begun to look into their past, there is on every side a fresh manifestation of life. It is out of this past that the future has to be molded, this past will become the future.
The more, therefore, the Hindus study the past, the more glorious will be their future and whoever tries to bring the past to the door of everyone, is a great benefactor to his nation. The degeneration of India came not because of the laws and customs of the ancients were bad but because they were not allowed to be carried to their legitimate conclusions...... by Swami Vivekananda



2) He who is possessed of supreme knowledge by concentration of mind, must have his senses under control, like spirited steeds controlled by a charioteer." says the Katha Upanishad . From the ancient  age downwards the central conception of education of the Indians has been that it is a source of illumination giving us a correct lead in the various spheres of life. Knowledge, says one thinker, is the third eye of man, which gives him insight into all affairs and teaches him how to act.  As per classical Indian tradition “Sa vidya ya vimuktaye”, (that which liberates us is education).... (source) सा विद्या या विमुक्तये।


Modesty is the fruit of a good education. In fact, one cannot receive knowledge from a bon fide guru unless he submits himself  humbly with genuine questions and submissive service. There should be intrinsic (वास्तविक ) faith. It is said that learning in the breast of a bad man is like a sword in the hand of a mad man. some times learner shows fake respect of surrender and inside he is full of pride and perceptions, thus there is defiance (आज्ञा का उलंघन करना ) on the part of learner, which , unless dealt with, will deprive him of the actual fruit of knowledge. Those who neglect to render service to their Teacher  or those who study without proper guidance  will become proud and will use their knowledge only to argue with others. Quality of surrender is mandatory for learning.



In ancient Sanskrit literature, education and character building are not two different things. In fact education means character development. They are inter-related. Without education and character, human beings are like animals with the same basic needs of hunger, sleep, shelter and sex.



येषां न विद्या न तपो न दानं ,
ज्ञानं न शीलं न गुणों न धर्मः ;
ते मर्त्य लोके भुवि भारः भूतः ,
मनुष्य रूपेण मृगाचरन्तिः। 

जिस मनुष्य के पास विद्या नहीं 
, श्रम करने की तैयारी नहीं है ,
जो दानी भी  नहीं है, 
जिसके पास ज्ञान भी  नहीं है ,
जिसका चरित्र  भी अच्छा नहीं है ,
 जिसके पास अच्छे गुण  भी न हो 
और जो धर्म पालन  भी न करता हो ,

वह मनुष्य इस धरा पर मनुष्य रूप में एक मृग (जानवर ) के सामान विचरता है।

 A person who is not educated, who is not ready to work hard, who does not donate , who does not have knowledge, who does not have a good character, good qualities and one who does not obey Righteousness , such a person on this earth is just a useless person, he is as good as any other animal.



Furthermore, the system of education was unique. This too has been highlighted in various Sanskrit texts. The offspring of the kings were not educated in the palaces. Rather, they were sent to Gurukula only so that the education that was imparted to them helped them in character development. At Gurukula along with acquiring the bookish knowledge the students imbibed moral values and led a disciplined life which then helped build their character and helped them develop into good human beings. They weathered the elements and roughed it out with their gurus in the ashrams. There were no worldly distractions, no family interference, a peaceful and healthy atmosphere with simple living and high thinking. They learn to care and share with fellow colleagues and above all, it was practical knowledge. All these attributes contributed to character building.
 
In a Gurukula, shishya live together as equals, irrespective of their social standing , learn from the guru and help the guru in his day-to-day life, including the carrying out of mundane chores such as washing clothes, cooking, etc. Typically, a guru does not receive any fees from the shishya studying with him. At the end of his studies, a shishya offers the guru dakshina before leaving the gurukula or ashram. The gurudakshina is a traditional gesture of acknowledgment, respect and thanks to the guru, which may be monetary, but may also be a special task the teacher wants the student to accomplish. While living in a gurukula the students had to be away from his house and family completely. The guru didn't take any fees and so they had to serve the guru.

Gurukula have existed in the Vedic age. Upanishads mention many gurukula.Vedic school of thought prescribes an initiation (Upanayana, a compulsory Sanskara or activity for a Hindu living) to all individuals, including women, before the age of 8 or latest by 12. From initiation until the age of 25 all individuals are prescribed to be students and to remain unmarried.
The gurukula were supported by public donation. This was followed by the many following Ancient thoughts making gurukula one of the earliest forms of public school offices.

The Panchtantra by Vishnu Sharma is all about character development through interesting stories of animals and birds and was used to educate the highly spoil children of a rich king

The educational thesis in Sanskrit maintains that education and character development, in fact, are two sides of the same coin. One cannot really separate them. That is why, it is said about the ancient Sanskrit literature and the old education system in India, that - It been said  that those 'learned people who have been born in this country ancient, they have taught the people of the entire world, through their character and education.

  सह नाववतु |
                                    सह नौ भुनक्तु |
सह वीर्यं करवावहै |
तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै॥
शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Self discipline is Essential Ingredient to reach Goal



Self discipline is Essential Ingredient to reach Goal



(All video credits goes to the  original owner of the video, 
there is no commercial Interest here except the information sharing)
 
 A disciplined mind leads to happiness,
and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.

Dalai Lama XIV 

 If you do not conquer self,
you will be conquered by self.

Napoleon Hill   

 Nothing is more harmful to the service
, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline,
 more than numbers, gives one army superiority over another.
George Washington

 Practice yourself,
for heaven’s sake in little things,
and then proceed to greater.

Epictetus

 To read a newspaper
is to refrain from reading something worth while.
The first discipline of education
must therefore be to refuse resolutely
to feed the mind with canned chatter.

Aleister Crowley

Circumstances are beyond human control,
but our conduct is in our own power.

Benjamin Disraeli

 It was character that got us out of bed,
commitment that moved us into action
and
discipline that enabled us to follow through.
Zig Ziglar

Beware of endeavoring to become a great man in a hurry. One such attempt in ten thousand may succeed. These are fearful odds.
  Benjamin Disraeli



Would you agree with the Title of this article? I think everyone of us Experienced this in our life that it is very much Essential ingredient, Few people has mastered that art, and others like me are still under process,  Well more or less every one know this fact that self discipline is must, but few people are aware that the seeds of self discipline must be sown Very early in the life, and make them repeatedly understand the principle of success is in self regulation, self restraint and self discipline to reach heights of life.



 Gurukulam used to be incubation of great minds in ancient India, where there were students of different communities study under one roof, according to their personal abilities and samskaras , the field of knowledge is allotted by the Guru himself. Interesting thing of Gurukuls was that whether they are sons and daughters of king or ordinary peasant  they used to undergo similar treatment, and the same facilities, training would be given to the mind. Many a parents Repeatedly tell their kids to do hard work that would give them success but true thing is Hard work should be applied with Methodology (विधि  पूर्वक ) or else
what is the use of doing hard work अविधि पूर्वक for several years, and stay aloof? would it bring results? , so therefore Discipline the whole body-mind system, that condition of Mind would actually bring results,
Those guys who are trained their mind to अविधि पूर्वक (wildly/without methodology) will never get success in their respective field. They never even know that some thing can be achieved in their life, they drift and play all the life, they can just spend their lives into non productive works without purpose and never listen to any Vidhi as their faith is towards that condition which is wild, it is  like a Boulder been kept under the sea water for million of years still it will not  recede water inside.

 

Can we train the mind? irrespective of age, geography , culture or gender, the answer is Yes, we can if the candidate is ready to listen, willing to surrender his wild thoughts. More than that; Does he have faith on the Guru? (the master or mentor), if yes than he can learn the Vidhi or methodology to discipline it to a PURPOSE like a Gardner does to his orchard. A Potter does to the soil, A sculptor does to the hard Rock, we can shape the life and give a Direction and purpose. If this the conclusion, than what are we waiting for? Why not protect our kids for being Avidhi porvak (wild methods) mind and Mold them to a Required shape, mend them to a purpose?

Shouldn't we start  it Early? 
Expertise is from Ancient Indian Methods  from Patanjali Yoga  , their method would bring Indiryas ( congitive senses) to standstill along with the mind. Finally Ego is tamed, and molded to invest the their energies in such a manner which we can all it as Productive.



Sanskrit
English
1)  Yama                   यम
 Moral codes
2)  Niyama               नियम
Self-purification and study
3)  Asana                  आसन
Posture
4)  Pranayama         प्राणायाम
Breath control
5)  Pratyahara          प्रत्याहार
Withdrawing of the mind from senses
6)  Dharana              धारणा
Concentration
7)  Dhyana                ध्यान
Deep meditation
8)  Samadhi              समाधि
Union with the object of meditation.








Except the 7, and 8 all others can be started to 7 year old child and onwards, early is the best,and that was the common practice for every one in those days , by the age 12-16  they reach the age of adolescent they become master of their senses and mind and ready to  get enter into marital knot, that's the reason every one was self depend in their views and liberal to choose not only the field of work, but Swayamvara practice (girl used to choose the boy ,on her own based on her likings) every one tried to do their work by giving best training to their own mind respective to their abilities.

Note : If some one find it difficult to practice these, All 6 points can be mastered with one act Singing Bhajan to Lord., other two also with Bhakti yoga. our ancient saints did this like Tyagaraja , Tukaram etc

Now in the contemporary world, is it possible or not parents has to decide themselves , but one thing is sure that without discipline the mind, No one can become Master of himself.

These things will destroy the Human Race:
 Politics without principle,
 Progress without compassion
Wealth without work, 
Learning without silence, 
Religion without fearlessness
 and Worship without awareness.
 Anthony de mello



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