Education is a sacred word
which initiates the process of learning and educating one’s mind. It develops
the power of reasoning, empowers a person to be articulate by channelizing and
dressing up thoughts. It provides tools and techniques to choose words for oral
presentations. A person acquires a body of knowledge in the process of being
educated. It postulates an enlightening experience and in the process dispels the
darkness of mind. It has the divine touch which changes ones perspective of
life the way one thinks and acts in their daily lives. It activates the sense of inquisitiveness to
satisfy reasons behind happenings around us. The process of education creates a
library system in the brain for retrieving the information as and when
required. Education provides ability to analyze logical ways and finding
methods of rationalizing illogical thoughts. It also enhances the analytical capacity
of the brain.
Modern
Computer and our Brain:
If we define the process of
education in modern computer language then it means that the fields or areas of
study are software which we programme in a hard disk that is our brain. Therefore, responses of the brain depends upon the software loaded in our brain. This software’s
keep running into the file systems made of neurons and axons. The way a
computer cannot respond to our request if the particular file is not present in
the system; the same way we are ignorant of the knowledge of a particular area
which we have not studied. The sharing
of knowledge between different file system provides us the power of logical
reasoning and in order to do so, related files must be present in our library
system made of neurons. A file or information stored in our brain cannot be
retrieved in time, if the registry or the information’s stored in the neurones are corrupt
and needs recovery or defragmentation by way of channelizing thoughts and upgrading
the process of thinking.
Now the process of programming our
brain and creating different file system, depends upon the schools and universities
we attend to acquire the knowledge. Every school or group of schools or universities
are different in the world. Subjects may be the same but the methods of
teaching and imparting knowledge may vary. It also depends on which educational
system puts emphasis on which part of the knowledge. In turn, our nature and behaviour is also programmed according to the purpose and programmes of school. If it has the purpose to promote social or moral values or scientific
advancements or vocational training's or religious teachings then the entire
curriculum is influenced to suit the knowledge. If the purpose is to promote
hatred or universal brotherhood then the mind gets programmed accordingly. By
the time one reaches high school, their brain is already programmed as per the
standard, or curriculum or purpose of the school. Environment in which we
live, also makes substantial impact in the programming of our brain.
Education
System:
Once a person goes to the university then the areas of specialization starts and the person gets the
certification in those areas of education. In turn the person becomes an expert
in that particular subject. Upon further pursuing of higher study or specialization by
doing research, a person becomes an expert in the specific area of research
and is awarded a doctoral degree. A doctoral degree or any other professional degrees, emphasize specialization in
that particular field for the purpose of getting a job or earning a livelihood
depending upon the demand and supply. Therefore, it may be presumed that the person is void
of other areas of knowledge in sciences, arts, commerce, history, geography, economics, politics, religion or spiritualism, which may be important for knowing and understanding the society, political and inner world.
I believe, the process of educating mind must develop the process of reasoning and some wisdom to understand the broader aspect of life. Even after acquiring the knowledge of highest degree, if one is not able to acquire the reasoning capacity and wisdom then the person may be considered as book-smart only, which otherwise limits his or her capacity to understand the unknown or they subjects they have not studied. Furthermore, if the effects of knowledge gained through schools and colleges and resulting wisdom is not visible in a person’s personality, action and behaviour, then the person may be knowledgeable book-wise, but may be considered uneducated otherwise. The purpose of education is to change one’s nature,
behaviour and perspective of life. It must change radically and broadly the way a person
think, act or behave. After acquiring masters or doctoral degrees, if people at large remain
conservative, prejudiced, chauvinist, radical, hypocritical, fundamentalist, fanatics,
unfair, unjust, unreasonable, opinionated, judgmental and intolerant and are unable to control their flaws in personality such as anger, ego, jealousy, hatred and behavioural issues, then I think
they are still mentally and behaviourally illiterate. In reality, they have studied books of a particular subject to
obtain degrees, only for the purpose of name, fame or money.
The
purpose of education:
The purpose of education is not
only to earn a livelihood but to educate the mind to the extent that it should help in understanding complexities of the world and analyze its own true nature for
further improvements. Real education should provide the brain for a sensible reasoning capabilities. It must lift the level of brain from basics to advance stages. Education is a process to format a person's brain from the animal instincts to humanly instincts and in the process, it should take the person to higher levels and stir the ocean of conciseness to make the person more humane, compassionate,
affectionate, tolerant, understanding, open minded, supportive, adjustable,
unselfish, unbiased, giving, caring and benevolent. A presumably developed mind from the process of real and substantial education should develop the capacity to control human emotions. Hence, truly educated people, should develop the ability to control their ego, anger,
hatred and jealousy. Educated people should also have the ability to understand reasons of their being in this
world and their relationships with their family, society, world, environment and their true selves; and in the process they should be humble, down to earth and their nature should become mellow. They should never brag or showcase themselves. If these qualities are not visible even
after acquiring a master or doctoral degree, then the person may have been educated
from the worldly point of view but remain uneducated from the personification
point of view.
Education should change people's outlook and how they perceive the world. Their perspicacity of the world and fellow
human beings should set them apart between an educated and non educated being.
However I have also seen enlightened people having no school or university
degrees. My premise behind the above statement is based on my belief that
generally people acquire knowledge or degrees only to earn livelihood and not
to educate and take their mind to higher levels. An educated mind must have a
control on human ills and weaknesses, otherwise the purpose of education has been for the job only. Majority of uneducated people
have less control on their emotions and behaviour and that is the reason of
hostility between the people and nations around the world. If these hostile
characteristics or radical thinking is still present even after obtaining the
doctoral degrees, then to my mind, it is a total waste of the education system and
defies the purpose of education. In Sanskrit there is a shloka - "Vidya dadati vinyam, vinyad yati patratam; patratvat dhanmapnoti, dhanat dharma tatah sukham". It means "Knowledge makes one humble, humility begets worthiness, worthiness creates wealth and enrichment, enrichment leads to conduct, and right conduct brings contentment".
Types
of knowledge:
Therefore knowledge or
education can be divided into two parts:
- Outer World Knowledge: Knowing the
outside world together with particular subject or subjects and specialize
in that subject in order to earn a livelihood.
Personal interest, demand and
supply, or market economics dictate the selection of a program or vocational
course. Generally every faculty of study is measured in terms of financial
returns. If after the graduation one cannot get a job then the education has no
value. Therefore the purpose of education revolves around the degree of
financial or social success and it may be divided into the following
categories:
- Specialization
in a particular subject in order to profess (teachers, professors,
mentors, trainers etc)
- Specialization
in a particular vocation to practice (lawyers, doctors, engineers,
business, management, experts, specialists etc)
- Specialization
in a particular area of science or arts to profess or practice
(researchers, scientists, music, dance, drama, theater, skilled persons
etc)
Hence the entire gambit of
education revolves around becoming something so that one can become socially or
financially successful or learn something so that people can understand the
ways of the world and survive. The entire focus is worldly and outward.
- Inner World Knowledge: Knowing the
self, who we are and looking deep inside ourselves in order to realize
truth of the life while having a control on our temperament, ego, emotions
and behaviour for making us a better human being.
Difference
between the outer and inner world knowledge:
The modern education system teaches us
how to survive in this world and to know and understand the outside world which
we perceive from our five senses. Whereas, the knowledge of inner world
empowers us to look within our mind, dive deep into our consciousness and look for the unexplored knowledge, and enjoy the bliss and spiritual experiences of
life. The outer world knowledge provides us the understanding of the
surrounding environment whereas the inner world knowledge provides us the
understanding of our inherent nature.
The application of outside world
knowledge is filled with stress, anxiety and loss of peace, whereas, the
application of inner world knowledge provides a state of tranquility, calmness
and peacefulness. The outcome of the outer world knowledge is temporary or
lasts until that particular knowledge or vocation is in demand whereas the
inner world knowledge is everlasting. The capacity of the outer world knowledge
is limited and it becomes obsolete with the time or becomes useless once a
person retires from the job or active social life whereas the inner world
knowledge remains with the person forever and makes the path of salvation clearer and stronger
as the time passes.
One may argue that the
knowledge of inner world cannot provide us meals or means for survival. That
is why I have emphasized the importance of true or real education so that while
getting outer world knowledge, one can also explore the inner horizon to fine tune
their nature and behaviour to make them a person of excellence. Without
this any amount of modern worldly education will not make a person kind, tolerant and
understanding.
Subject
Matter Expert vs. Educated Person:
Generally people get confused
between a subject matter expert and an educated person. A subject matter expert
is an expert in that particular area of knowledge, whereas he or she may be
absolutely blank in other areas of knowledge, vital for understanding the world
and the environment in which we live. For example, I had a chance to discuss the
subjects of Para normal activities or subjects which falls
under the purview of the meta-physics or chirology or astrological science having direct links with the astronomy; with
several educated and socially successful people. I never studied these subjects
in schools or university but my inquisitiveness in knowing the world and beyond led me to
make some research. To my dismay their answers always have been that they do not
believe in those areas of sciences.
By not having a belief does not write-off the fact that these areas of
study or faculty of science does not exists. It is their ignorance or lack of interest that they have not
studied those subjects, and out of their ego or vanity they do not want to accept their
existence. Unless people are inquisitive enough and have interests in
studying other areas of knowledge and taking their mind to higher levels, it would be difficult to presume
that people have sufficiently tried to educate themselves.
The role of educational
institutions:
My belief on the above reasoning
is further fortified due to the lack of proper education system. Majority of schools and universities including the top ones are focused on teaching basic or specialized information about outer world knowledge on selected subjects. Very few or none of
them teaches vide variety of subjects including inner science; how to improve or fine tune personal nature and
behaviour to develop humanely qualities and how to overcome greed, jealousy,
indifference, anger, hatred and selfishness. This is the reason that even after
having a master, phd or professional degrees, people working at high places including
government departments, public and private sectors, have no control on their greed and unsolicited
desires. Many of the so called educated people or degree holders on high positions around the world, are rampantly indulged
in corruption, nepotism, racism and favouritism without caring for humanly values.The Oxford dictionary defines education as the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university: a course of education, an enlightening experience, a body of knowledge while being educated.
Therefore to sum up, if the
process of education could not bring the enlightening experience and the body
of knowledge does not include knowing the self and other area of sciences
which makes a dominant impact on our lives, and if our minds do not go to
higher levels by shunning ego, anger, hatred and jealousy, and if we do not
become humble, down to earth, free of all biases, loving, compassionate and
understanding then an enlightening experience has not taken place and our body of knowledge is also incomplete. Therefore I would categorize such people as uneducated degree holders.
I look forward to your valuable
comments for further enlightenment of our minds on the subject.
Suman
Saran Sinha, CMC
A
pursuer of logical quest
