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National Education
Our aim is not a national system of education for
Sublime Mother, Our aim is no exclusive national system of
education for I wonder whether this is correct and Mother would endorse it.
Yes, this is quite correct and part of what I would have said if I had had time to answer your questions. The West has the knowledge of matter but rejected the Spirit and suffers badly for it. An integral education which could, with some variations, be adapted to all the nations of the world, must bring back the legitimate authority of the Spirit over a matter fully developed and utilised. This is in short what I wanted to say. With blessings.
Page – 251 Basic Issues of Indian Education1
1. In view of the present and the future of national and
international living, what is it that
Prepare her children for the rejection of falsehood and the manifestation of Truth.
2. By what steps could the country proceed to realise this high aim? How can a beginning in that direction be made?
Make matter ready to manifest the Spirit.
3. What is
To teach to the world that matter is false and impotent unless it becomes the manifestation of the Spirit.
4. How does the Mother view the progress of Science and Technology
in
Its only use is to make the material basis stronger, completer and more effective for the manifestation of the Spirit.
5. The country feels much concerned about national unity. What is
the Mother's vision of things? How will
1In August 1965 an Education Commission of the Government of India visited the Ashram to evaluate the ideals and educational methods of the Centre of Education. At that time a group of teachers submitted this series of questions to the Mother. Page – 252 The unity of all the nations is the compelling future of the world. But for the unity of all nations to be possible, each nation must first realise its own unity.
6. The language problem harasses
Unity must be a living fact and not the imposition of an arbitrary
rule. When
7. Education has normally become literacy and a social status. Is it not an unhealthy trend But how to give education its inner worth and intrinsic enjoyability?
Get out of conventions and insist on the growth of the soul.
8. What illusions and delusions is our education today beset with? How could we possibly keep clear of them?
a) The almost exclusive importance given to success, career and money. b) Insist on the paramount importance of the contact with the Spirit and the growth and manifestation of the Truth of the being.
1. How to prepare children for the rejection of falsehood (a) when the falsehood is still within the blood and every cell of my body? (b) when attachment to falsehood is becoming stronger and stronger by the egoistic and possessive nature? Page – 253 2. How can the unity of each nation be realised (a) when there is no unity within the individual? (b) when there is no unity between two members of a family? (c) when there is no unity in one organisation or institution?
3. How to get out of conventions and insist on the growth of the soul when even an Ashramite spreads the infection of social status to satisfy personal wants?
4. How not to give an almost exclusive importance to success, career and money when everyone is running after money for the exhibition and satisfaction of one's ego and self-importance?
To each one a body has been given to do that work, because it is in realising these things in oneself that one helps humanity to realise them upon earth. The teacher must absolutely possess the qualities and the consciousness he wants his students to acquire.
I would like them (the Government) to recognise Yoga as education, not so much for ourselves, but it will be good for the country. Matter will be transformed, that will be a solid base. Life will
be divinised. Let
1These four questions, asked by a
teacher, are based upon the Mother's replies to the series of questions in the
previous letter ( Page – 254 Message for the Inauguration of a
French Institute at
In any country the best education that can be given to children
consists in teaching them what the true nature of their country is and its own
qualities, the mission their nation has to fulfil in the world and its true
place in the terrestrial concert. To that should be added a wide understanding
of the role of other nations, but without the spirit of imitation and without
ever losing sight of the genius of one's own country. An utilitarian, calculating, mercantile This is what the children of today must be made to know.
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