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VARNASRAMA
SHIKSHALAYA
Author : Sriman Hari Kirtan Das
E-mail : [email protected]
Date Produced : February 10, 2010
Editor : Srimati Vrindavan Lila d.d.
Serial No : 15 of 54
VARNASRAMA EDUCATION
Definition:Varnasrama education is the combined social and educational system based
on the teachings of the Vedic literatures which lead individuals and society at largetowards the perfection of life, i.e. individual and social emancipation. It takes intoaccount the living entity as a whole, fulfilling his physical, emotional, intellectual,
and social needs, along with his spiritual needs.
[HH RP Bhakti Raghava Swami]
Shastric Quotes on Educationśrī-nārada uvāca
brahmacārī guru-kule
vasan dānto guror hitam
ācaran dāsavan nīco
gurau sudrdha-sauhrdah (cf. SB 7.12.1)
TRANSLATION:
Nārada Muni said: A student should practice completely
controlling his senses. He should be submissive and should
have an attitude of firm friendship for the spiritual master. With
a great vow, the brahmacārī should live at the guru-kula, onlyfor the benefit of the guru.
sve sve karmany abhiratah
samsiddhim labhate narah
sva-karma-niratah siddhim
yathā vindati tac chrnu
- (cf. Bhagavad-gita, 18.45)
TRANSLATION:By following his qualities of work, every man
can become perfect. Now please hear fromMe how this can be done.
śreyān sva-dharmo vigunah
para-dharmāt sv-anusthitāt
svabhāva-niyatam karma
kurvan nāpnoti kilbisam
- (cf. Bhagavad-gita, 18:47)TRANSLATION:It is better to engage in one's own occupation,even though one may perform it imperfectly, thanto accept another's occupation and perform itperfectly. Duties prescribed according to one'snature are never affected by sinful reactions.
Compulsory Education
So far as Gurukula is concerned, literary education is forthe Brahminical class, not for all. Others should learn byseeing, like the ksatriyas, vaisyas, and sudras. Just likedriving a bullock cart; it doesn't require education.Modern so-called education is simply a waste of timeproducing hippies. Shameless! Why compulsoryeducation? To make hippies—compulsory education todegrade. So it is very fortunate that there is nocompulsory education required by the state ofMississippi. [Letter to Nityananda, Mayapur, 16 March, 1977]
Co-Education
Therefore Vedic civilization is, from the very
beginning, to train the boys to become
brahmacäré, celibacy. Not that modern days,
the schools, boys and girls, ten years,
twelve years, they're enjoying. The brain is
spoiled. They cannot understand higher
things. The brain tissues are lost. So without
becoming brahmacäré, nobody can
understand spiritual life. [Radhastami, August
29, 1971, London]
Commercializing Education
We never say that. But these so-called
teachers who first of all bargain for a
salary—"What salary will you give me?"—
that is a dog's concern. That is not a
brähmaëa's concern. A brähmaëa will never
ask about a salary. A brähmaëa is eager to
see that people are educated. "Take free
education and be educated; be a human
being"—this is a brähmaëa's concern: You
see? I came here not to ask for any money
but to give instruction. [Journey of Self-Discovery,
6.5 Slaughterhouse Civilization]
Competitive Psyche
Giving rise to envy, pride,frustration and ultimatelybad character.
That is the general education. Itdoesn't require that you have tolearn some book immediately.No. First of all build yourcharacter. Otherwise what is theuse of taking degrees if youhave no character?
Missing the Spiritual Dimension
“The modern educational systemhas no department for teachingabout consciousness or the spiritsoul, although this knowledge isthe most important.“
- Srila Prabhupada
The Real Story
Turning into an Ass
Don't spoil your children. The modern educationalsystem without any knowledge of Bhagavan, I maytell you frankly, not only in India, everywhere, they
are practically slaughterhouse.
-Srila Prabhupada (Lecture, Delhi pandal, Nov’71)
Modern Schools = Slaughterhouses
- Srila Prabhupada
Prahlada Mahäräja recommends, kaumara
äcaret präjïo dharmän bhägavatän iha [SB
7.6.1]. This is very, very important message.
We should be careful to educate our sons,
our boys, with bhägavata-dharma from the
very beginning of life. That was the Vedic
system.
Traditional System of Education
Formal - Gurukulas
Non-formal - Village technologies
Informal- Homeschooling
Why are parents
not interested in traditional education?
Dangers of Modern Schools
* Misconceptions about education* Material sense gratification as the goal of life* Wrong propaganda of compulsory education
* Not knowing self-realization as the goal of life * No information about the traditional education * Urbanization: Thinking village life as backward
Sudras or less than sudras leading the society.
Brahminical culture on the verge of extinction.
General masses neglecting Mother Cow and Father Bull.
Declined consumption of milk and milk products of the cow.
ISKCON Gurukula
Mainly Focused on Brahminical Training
What more needs to be done?
* Training of varnasbased on screening results
* Developing training programs considering other varnas’requirements
• The traditional gurukula system of schooling has to be introduced or revived every where
• Parents need to be convinced • Many unanswered questions
Meanwhile, are the children supposedto become the victims of moderneducation system (slaughter houses)?
How can this shift from moderneducation system to traditional or Vedicsystem be accomplished?
Contd-
An attempt to bring about this shift…
Varnasrama Shikshalayas
Conceived by
HH RP BHAKTI RAGHAVA SWAMI
Concept of Varnasrama Shikshalaya
It is a pre-gurukula system which is meantonly for boys (5-12 years). It exposes them tothe activities of four varnas (i.e. Vedicknowledge, planning & administration,agriculture & cow protection, and villagetechnologies). The teacher maps the gunas ornatural inclinations of the students towardsdifferent activities and accordingly impartsrelevant type of education and/ or training.
• It is for boys aged between 5-12 years(flexible in terms of age).
• It is a runner-up for Gurukula.
• Students are screened based on attitudeand aptitude-based learning, which leadsto aptitude-based occupation.
• It is established in an agrarian setting.
Proposed Syllabus for Varnasarama Shikshalaya
Vedic Educationi. Srila Prabhupada’s books /
writings
ii. Itihasas (Puranas)
iii. Nitishastras
iv. Languages
v. Vedic Mathematics & Sciences etc.
• Planning & Administrationi. Leadership development workshops
ii. Group discussions
iii. Vedic sports
iv. Martial arts
v. Skills and knowledge related to Protection/Administration/Welfare
• Agriculture & Cow Protection
i. Advantages of Vedic and traditional methods of agriculture, along with practical activities
ii. Importance of cows , along with practical activities
iii. Rudiments of Vedic Economy
• Village Technologiesi. Pottery
ii. Weaving
iii. Water lifting techniques
iv. Oil ghani etc..
What’s after Shikshalaya Training?
• Options
i. Gurukulas for brahminically inclined individuals and Varnasrama College for meeting other three varnas’ needs
ii. Varnasrama College training in four varnas
iii. Vidyalayas, Mahavidyalayas…
Screening or Guna-Mapping
• Astrology
• Family lineage
• Psychological testing
• Observation
A few considerations mentioned by Srila Prabhupada.
Advantages of Shikshalayas
• Students adapt easily to theGurukula environment as it is a fore-runner for the same.
• Students get introduced to somespiritual and agrarian setting awayfrom the current contaminatedsurroundings at a very tender age.
Varnasrama Education contd..
• In Varnasrama Vidyalaya BhaktiShastri Course will be imparted tothe students.
• In Varnasrama Vidyapeeth BhaktiVaibhava, Bhaktivedanta and BhaktiSarvabhauma will be imparted tothe students.
Attempts made in IndiaVarnasarama Shikshalayas
“Varnasarama Shikshalayas” have been introduced in:
Andhra Pradesh
1. Gundaipalem (an adopted village by the ISKCON Daiva Varnasrama Ministry) [IDVM-India], Praksham District
2. Pollasa village near Jagityal town, Karimnagar District3. Eirajapally village, Nizamabad District4. Wadlakonda village, in Warangal District
West Bengal
1. Gajankol village in Howrah District
Thank you
Hare Krishna !
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
• Name Sriman Hari Kirtan das
• Age and Gender 42, Male
• Country/State of Origin India, Andhra Pradesh
• Educational Degree and Year B. Tech (Civil), 1995
• Educational Institution Vasavi College of Engineering
• Professional Work/Experience Soil Mechanics Related Projects
• Affiliation with ISKCON 1998
• Present Service in ISKCONIDVM-India, Director for Village Development
Hari Kirtan das