BENGALURU: Several Eastern traditions endorse the belief that a person should strive for the wholesome development of all the three aspects of their personality – physical, mental, and spiritual. We have indeed progressed immensely in the physical and mental arenas, but on the flip side, we have entirely neglected the spiritual facet of our life.
In ancient cultures, the inculcation of ethical virtues served as an integral part of the education process. The physical, mental, and spiritual growth of students was encouraged through myriad means, which included ethical instruction.
The last century saw an unfortunate decline in the teaching of ethics in educational institutions all over the world, as only physical and material advancement was deemed necessary and was consequently emphasised. The regrettable result is that we are now faced with a generation utterly devoid of ethical virtues.
Crimes in the streets, children exhibiting violent behaviours, use of alcohol and intoxicating drugs in a misguided attempt to experience happiness, and unreasonable aggression, these are all glaring results of the failure to inculcate ethical virtues in the younger generations.
In order to attain personal and world peace, it is imperative that we provide the right kind of education to our children right from the start.
If we can successfully teach them to distinguish between right and wrong, then they will certainly grow up to be virtuous human beings, better able to make righteous decisions for their own selves as well as for the society at large.
To attain this end, we have to provide a balanced education to children. Educational systems all over the world concentrate only on promoting the physical and mental aspects of the students. Schools offer classes concerning various health, safety, and nutrition issues. Students are provided instruction on diverse subjects such as the sciences, mathematics, social studies, languages, and literature. They also have a choice to learn about different kinds of art and music. But most schools fail to provide any kind of moral or spiritual education to their wards. It then becomes absolutely essential for the bright future of our children that we incorporate the teaching of ethical and spiritual values into our educational systems.
Moral or spiritual development implies that we grow into human beings that are full of love, compassion, truthfulness, and humility. We should lead an exemplary life full of these noble virtues before the children, so that they can learn from us and are encouraged to adopt the same in their lives too. There should be a daily period allocated for moral and spiritual education. The students must be taught about people of other countries and cultures, as well comparative study of different religions and their tenets. They are thus instructed in the adage of unity in diversity. Moreover, the students should be encouraged to sit in silence and focus their attention within, so that they can experience inner peace.
Meditation is not religion-specific. Each students can learn how they can all sit together and meditate irrespective of the nation or religion they belong to. In this peaceful meditation period, the students are only concerned with finding the spiritual wealth inside them, and with becoming fully conscious of their body and mind. Meditation helps the students get acquainted with their true spiritual self. Moreover, they get a chance to learn about the virtues of non-violence, truthfulness, purity, humility, love and compassion, and selfless service, and are encouraged to inculcate these in their lives.
Learning about their real spiritual self automatically paves the way for the higher understanding that the same Light and Love of God is enlivening all other beings too. This experience teaches the children to be loving and kind to all. Then the realisation sets in that in spite of varying skin colours and outer appearances, we are actually constituted of the same Light of God. This realisation helps them love one and all. Once we learn to love and respect others, we instinctively become peaceful and non-violent ourselves.
When we would start considering everybody as member of one big family of God, then we would naturally feel compassionate toward all, because we would never dream of hurting our family members in any way. Thus students with sound ethical foundation would never find reason to cause harm to any member of their large human-family.
Apart from experiencing our true spiritual self and connecting with the God-power within, the benefits of meditating on the inner Light and Sound of God are manifold for all, and can be enjoyed by students and teachers and everyone else alike. During meditation when we close our eyes and gaze within, we are required to concentrate fully.
Once we become proficient in this technique of focusing our attention completely, we can successfully employ it to our other daily chores too. This results in our understanding and learning faster anything we study, as well as in concluding all our tasks in a timely and competent manner.
Meditation also helps in promoting our health as we start leading a stress-free life. We cease raging irrationally, and are better able to face all the challenges and tensions that life throws our way.
It then logically follows that if students are taught the useful skill of meditation and concentration since childhood they will be better enhanced and equipped physically, mentally, and spiritually. They will witness the Light of God inherent in every human being and living creature. Their hearts will be brimming with love and empathy for the entire human-folk.
If all the teaching establishments of the world integrate meditation and spiritual education into their curriculum, then 15, 20, or 25 years later we will certainly yield human beings awash with love and compassion. This will herald the commencement of an era where people will not hoard for themselves but would be willing to share their riches with the less fortunate ones. It will be a golden age in which we will innately care about our neighbours, our society, and all the living beings in the Creation. If children are imparted moral and spiritual education along with physical and mental instruction, then this world will undoubtedly become a haven of peace and bliss.