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.

 ॐ सह नाववतु |

                                    सह नौ भुनक्तु |

सह वीर्यं करवावहै |

तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै॥

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Aum! May He protect us both [Teacher and disciple] together; 

may He nourish us both together;

May we work conjointly with great energy,

May our study be vigorous and effective;

May we not mutually dispute (or may we not hate any).

Aum! Let there be peace in me!

Let there be peace in my environment!

Let there be peace in the forces that act on me!

If some one is not filled with humility they are not educated, they are like animals in human body, What is there to be proud of modern education system ;where ;every one is  nurtured like herds, and bring into society to become slaves of big corporates, is this not a another form of slavery? where is the expression of freedom , it can only be a distant dream for most masses these days. Let us teach our kids vinayam, and let they be educated in real sense, let they not get education for sake of degree and pomp in the society.

 Let not our children become slaves of this rut system, and let they be educated to liberate themselves from the clutches of misery and suffering of this modern era and soul bondage.