Swami Vivekananda’s Philosophy of Education
Dr. Md Najibur Rahman,
SACT-1
Sagardighi KKS Mahavidyalaya,
Murshidabad, India.
Abstract: Swami Vivekananda is one of the renowned
Indian legend and he also a mystic, philosopher, advocate of education and
yogic saint. Although India is a country with varied and rich cultural-heritage,
numerous great philosophical educationists come with their individual ideas to
place Indian education system in a perfect frame in the 19th century. Among of
all Swami Vivekananda (12th January 1863-4th July 1902) was the most
influential, which is efflorescence of moral and
spiritual culture. According to Swami Vivekananda education does not mean the
mass of information, which is inserted by force into the mind of a child. In
his own words "Education is the manifestation of perfection already in
man." Indian nationalism and spiritualism were basic foundation for his
philosophy of education and the philosophy of Vedanta and Upanishads. He
emphasized that true learning uncovers the inherent potential wisdom, and
strength within a person. It suggests education should nature inner growth
rather than just cramming the mind with external facts. He also emphasized that
the aim of education to be life-building, man-making and character-making. He
supported a variety of education goals, running from personal to societal to
global. His ideology, which directly links self -development, capacity building
and global growth, is reflected in curriculum he promoted. He only uses
teaching strategies that are based on Western and Indian concepts. He has
placed in lot of emphasis on moral and value education, education for peace,
and education for women in his educational philosophy.
Keywords: philosophy of education, spiritual,
man-making, growth, teaching, global.
Swami Vivekananda is one of the renowned Indian legend
and he also a mystic, philosopher, advocate of education and yogic saint.
Although India is a country with varied and rich cultural-heritage, numerous great philosophical educationists come
with their individual ideas to place Indian education system in a perfect frame
in the 19th century. Among of all Swami Vivekananda (12th January 1863-4th July
1902) was the most influential, which is efflorescence of
moral and spiritual culture. According to Swami Vivekananda education does not
mean the mass of information, which is inserted by force into the mind of a
child. In his own words "Education is the manifestation of perfection
already in man." Indian nationalism and spiritualism were basic foundation
for his philosophy of education and the philosophy of Vedanta and Upanishads.
He emphasized that true learning uncovers the inherent potential wisdom, and
strength within a person. It suggests education should nature inner growth
rather than just cramming the mind with external facts. He also emphasized that
the aim of education to be life-building, man-making and character-making. He
supported a variety of education goals, running from personal to societal to
global. His ideology, which directly links self -development, capacity building
and global growth, is reflected in curriculum he promoted. He only uses
teaching strategies that are based on Western and Indian concepts. He has
placed in lot of emphasis on moral and value education, education for peace,
and education for women in his educational philosophy.
According to Swami Vivekananda the real education that
which is prepare the individual for struggle for existence. Education prepares
a man for social service, to develop his character and finally iambuses him
with the spirit and courage of a lion. For getting degree is not an education,
the proper education must be viewed on the basis of character, mental powers,
intelligence and inculcates. Self-confidence and self-reliance in the
individuals. Swamiji has emphasized that all the knowledge which we gets from
worldly or spiritual lies embedded in the human mind. It was covered with a
veil of darkness and ignorance. Education is a tool to open from the darkness
and ignorance, after getting of education, the knowledge will shines out
dazzlingly. The teaching and learning are the one way of process. The teacher
only guides, suggests, points out and helps the student. Self-learning and
self-getting knowledge is the real education. The teacher only motivates and
encourages the students to find out the hidden treasure of knowledge that lies
dormant within him. He condemned and refused the bookish learning and rote
memory education. Condemning the theoretical and academic education, he spoke
emphatically for practical and experimental education. He warned his countrymen
saying "you will have to be practical in all spheres of work. The whole
country has been ruined by mass theories."
Vivekananda's
Principles of Education
Like
Rabindranath Tagore, Vivekananda also prescribed the same ancient spiritual
methods of teaching, where Guru and his disciples lived in close association as
in a family. The following are the basic principles of education.
(1) Education
is not only for getting information; rather it should develop character, mental
powers, intelligence and inculcate self-confidence together with self-reliance
(ii)
Education should develop the child physically, mentally and spiritually.
(iii) While
giving educational qualification, the technical education was necessary for the
industrial growth which would lead to the economic prosperity of the nation
(iv)Practicing
of Brahmacharya is very essential for getting knowledge. The concentration is the
key to all the knowledge.
(v)
Religious education should be imparted through sweet impressions and fine
conduct in preference to books
(vi)
Education should be foster spiritual faith, devotion and self-surrender in the
individual and should foster full development through service and sacrifice.
(vii)
Education should develop character, mental powers, intelligence and inculcate
self-confidence together with self-reliance.
(viii)
All the subjects must be included in the curriculum which promotes the material
and spiritual advancement of a child.
Purpose
of Education:
The
problem with modern education, according to Vivekananda, is that it lacks a
clear objective. Similar to how a painter knows what he is going to paint, a
sculptor has a clear notion of what he intends to carve out of the marble
block. But a teacher, he claims, is unable to define the purpose of his
instruction. Swamiji makes an effort to demonstrate that all education is
created byHumans through his words and activities. He develops the plan for
this man-making instruction in accordance with his overall Vedanta worldview.
Vedanta asserts that a person's soul, which they also have a body and mind, is
what makes them who they are. Swamiji defines education as "The
manifestation of the perfection already in man, in accordance with his
philosophical outlook. Education's main goal is to help us become more
flawless, which is what our inner selves are made of. This perfection
represents the understanding of the inescapable power present in all things and
all places, including existence, consciousness, and happiness.
Curriculum:
Spiritual
development and growth are the main goals of education, according to Swami
Vivekananda. This does not imply, however, that he did not support material
success and physical health. He passionately argued for the inclusion of all
disciplines and extracurricular activities that promote both material welfare
and spiritual development in the curriculum Swami Vivakananda recommended
religions, philosophical, Upanishad, company of saints, and their teachings for
spiritual perfection, and be advised studying languages, geography, science,
political science, economics, psychology, art, agriculture, industrial and
technical subjects, along with sports, games, and other physical activities,
for material advancement and prosperity.
Method
of Teaching:
The
ancient spiritual teaching methods that Swami Vivekananda advocated involved
the guru and his followers living together closely as a family. These were the
key traits of these spiritual and religious practices.
1. To
use yoga as a means of controlling temporary mental faculties.
2. To
cultivate the mind is intense meditation and focus.
3. To
learn through lectures, conversations, first-hand knowledge, and creative activities
4. To
imitate the traits and personality of a knowledgeable, well-informed instructor
5. To
guide the youngster in the appropriate direction with personalised guidance
from the teacher
Role
of a Teacher:
Vivekananda
said, "The only true teacher is he who can immediately come down to the
level of the student, and transfer his soul to the student's soul and see
through the student's eyes and her through His cars and understand through his
mind. Such a teacher can really teach none else.
According
to Swami Vivekananda, a good teacher is someone who has an attitude of
abandonment, influences children through his ideal example, loves his students,
empathises with their struggles, adapts his instruction to their needs,
abilities, and interests, and helps them develop spiritually. The teacher must
not only have the knowledge he will be imparting to the pupil, but also
understand how to impart it. And in order for what the instructor imparts or
transmits to be fully successful, it must also include a few other components. For instance, the instructor
should still in the pupil a sense of dignity and respect for themselves while
also sharing with them the idea that they are actually one in spirit.
In
India, the previous educational system was extremely dissimilar from the
current one. Students were not required to pay It was once believed that since
information is so sacred, no man should trade it. Knowledge ought to be
distributed without restriction or charge. To assist these teachers, the
wealthy families offered gifts to them, and they in turn had to help their
pupils, the teachers used to take students without charging them, and not only
that, but the majority of them gave their students food and clothing. So the
masters always lived in their disciples.
None of
the teacher's lessons should be delivered with the intention of gaining fame,
fortune, or money. His actions must simply be motivated by love, by a
pure-affection for all of humanity; Love is the sole man through whom spiritual
force may be communicated any self-serving motivation, such as the desire for
money or fame, can instantly rain this medium of communication. Modern-day
teachers ought to think carefully about their responsibilities.
Role
of a Student:
"Let's
be human, Swami Vivekananda had written to the nation's youth from Osaka,
Japan. He also focused on the youth's potential and urged them to develop
themselves so they might benefit humanity. Muscles of iron' and 'nerves of
steel were what he desired from the young person. A student should be motivated
and interested in learning. He ought to be able to manage his senses. He ought
to pay attention to the standards set by his teacher, but his is very
unfortunate that today's youth is too preoccupied with the 2GB of data allotted
on his cell phone, disregarding his obligations to the country and to humanity.
According
to Swami Vivekananda, "Whatever you think, that is what you will be. If
you believe you are weak, you will actually be weak, if you believe you are
strong, you will actually be strong." "Seek the highest, aim for the
highest, and you shall find the highest," he added. His message was clear
and effective for each and every student of this country to realise him/her
duties towards the society and nation.
Conclusion:
The exposition
and analysis of Vivekananda's scheme of education brings to light its
constructive, practical and comprehensive character. He realizes that it is
only through education that the uplift of masses is possible. To refer to his
own words Traveling through many cities of Europe and observing in them the
comforts and education of even the poor people, there was brought to my mind
the state of our own poor people and I used to shed tears. When made the
difference? "Education" was the answer I got.
He states
it emphatically that if society is to be reformed, education has to reach
everyone highs and low, because individuals are the very constituents of
society. The sense of dignity rises in man when he becomes conscious of his
inner spirit, and that is the very purpose of education. He strives to
harmonize the traditional values of India with the new values brought through
the progress of science and technology.
It is
in the transformation of man through moral and spiritual education that he
finds the solution for all social evils. Founding education on the firm ground
of our own philosophy and culture, he shows the best of remedies for today's
social and global illness. Through his scheme of education, he tries to
materialize the moral and spiritual welfare and upliftment of humanity,
irrespective of caste, creed, nationality or time. However, Swami Vivekananda's
scheme of education, through which he wanted to build up a strong nation that
will lead the world towards peace and harmony, is still a far cry. It is high
time that we give serious thought to his philosophy of education and remembers
his call to every-body-Arise, awake, and shop not till the goal is reached.
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