Revisiting Education through the Lens of Sanatana Dharma

There is a vast difference between how the Western world and Sanatana Dharma view education. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, education is defined as:

• Developing mentally, morally, or aesthetically, especially by instruction.
• Training by formal instruction and supervised practice, especially in a skill, trade, or profession.
• Persuading or conditioning to feel, believe, or act in a desired way.

In the Western perspective, education is seen as a means for mental, moral, and aesthetic development, or for developing skills necessary for earning a livelihood. It can also shape the mind to think in a specific way.

In Sanatana Dharma, every child is believed to be born with infinite knowledge and potential. Education aims to identify and awaken this inherent knowledge. Unlike the Western approach, we do not see a child as primitive who needs to be trained in manners and etiquette. We see Paramatma within each person, who is omniscient and omnipotent.

A key Vedic concept is that the child is a rebirth of the father. The father plants a seed in the field (the mother), and the child germinates from it. This process indicates continuity; there is no absolute or independent individual. Everything passes down through generations from the beginning of creation.

Qualities like love, intelligence, aggression, and kindness have always existed within man. These traits transfer across generations. Among Indians, samskaras cultivated over thousands of years are near the surface, easy to awaken. In the West, these are present but deeper within.

When planning education, we must ask: What do we want citizens to become? Should we only train them to earn a livelihood and compete internationally? Is that sufficient? Education must express the spirit of the nation. For every nation, education should align with its core values. American culture values independence, privacy, and equality. Traditional Chinese culture emphasizes harmony, benevolence, righteousness, and courtesy. While all cultures share these values, each nation must decide which ones to focus on to build its national culture.

Historically, values have come through religion. Without acknowledging a divine order, there can be no solid foundation for concepts of right and wrong. Constitutional values, laws, and rules have limitations. They are subject to interpretations that change over time. Sympathy for fellow beings cannot be imposed by law; one can protect rights, but love for nature, or feeding the hungry, cannot be enforced through legal mandates. Values can be best imparted through religion. That is what religions are meant to do.

If we already have a system that works, why replace it with a secular framework that cannot deliver the same results? Training someone to earn a livelihood can be done secularly, but is that the ultimate goal of life? What is secularism? By definition, it means indifference to, or exclusion of, religion. As a society, this leads nowhere. Secularism might work in workplaces, but in families and communities, we need values, not just rules.

We need to redefine secularism. Instead of rejecting religion, secularism can mean accepting all religions. Sanatana Dharma has always done this. Our philosophies may contradict each other, yet they coexist under the same umbrella. A dualist and a monist hold opposite views but live in harmony. There are debates for the welfare of all, without breaking the spirit of unity and collective well-being.

If a nation chooses religious neutrality, that is different. Opting not to promote any specific religion may be a national choice, but rejecting religion is not the right approach. Why should spirituality and religion be excluded from schools? What are they being replaced with? Hindu children are usually born out of marriage, a religious ceremony. Their parents pray, visit temples, and perform samskaras. This is integral to their lives, so how can we deny them their spiritual rights? Schools, where children spend most of their active learning tme, should inculcate values.

Recent initiatives, like teaching the Geeta and yoga in schools, are commendable. Giving Vedic education equal status to general education is a step in the right direction. But more is needed. Sanskrit should be a compulsory subject alongside regional languages and English. Not just because of its association with artificial intelligence, but due to its inherent power. Learning even a few Sanskrit words can expand thinking, perspective, and vision. Misunderstanding the essence of secularism, we are risking cultural loss for the sake of a select few.

The Western world categorizes nations as Islamic, Christian, or secular. We need not follow this model blindly. Sanatana Dharma itself is all-inclusive and religion-neutral. It embraces and supports every faith. When we have so many philosophical systems and 33 crore deities, we show that there is room for everyone. Why exclude anyone? Does anyone know the names of all 33 crore deities? How can we be certain that the gods of other religions are not among them?

Our methods are diverse. We have Aghoris, who live in cremation grounds and consume flesh, considered highly realized souls. We also have Agnihotris, who maintain extreme physical purity, avoiding contact even during meals. Both practices fall under Sanatana Dharma. Nothing is outside its scope. Excluding certain aspects means misunderstanding Sanatana Dharma entirely.

Let us preserve our culture and the samskaras passed down for thousands of years. Our children should be empowered to think regionally, nationally, globally, and beyond. We have no right to limit their potential. Everything is already present—embedded in our blood and Sanatana Dharma. It is the ultimate all-inclusive, all-encompassing means to broaden their vision.

Knowledge Bank

Agrasandhani

Agrasandhani (अग्रसन्धानी) is the book in which the good and bad deeds of everyone are recorded. This book is in Yamaloka. Chitragupta is in charge of this book.

Who killed Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu?

Hiranyaksha was killed by Varaha and Hiranyakashipu was killed by Narasimha. Both are avataras of Lord Vishnu.