Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s instructions on Education

This article is written by His Grace Harivilas Prabhu of the Vedic Cultural Center, Sammamish, WA.

Definition of Education:

Education is a learning process by which one acquires spiritual and material knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and lifestyle habits. These should facilitate the gradual development of self-realization.

Three steps to self-realization – the goal of life

Understanding the self proceeds through different stages. First, one must differentiate between the self and the temporary and continually changing body. The eternal soul referred to as the self is encaged in an ephemeral body. The duality between the temporary body and the eternal soul can be understood when one analyzes the incessant flow of desires in the mind. From birth to death every person is inundated with desires. In general, the desires increase as one acquires more experience of life. This is because a person is different than the body. The body deteriorates, but the soul is eternal. The more the soul is conscious, the more it has desires.

There is real example of an Afghan man who is 105 years old living in the Panjshir Valley named Abdul Satar. He is still working everyday from dawn to dusk collecting firewood and cutting stones that are used to build houses. He has been married twice. He had two sons and a daughter with his first wife. When he was 75, he married again. He had six boys and two girls with his second wife who was a teenager when she married him.

Satar has stated he wants to have more children, but his wife who is now fifty years old has refused to have more children. “I still worship her,” Satar insists. “Every day I look at her and want to marry her all over again.” He appears to have the mental and physical aptitude of men half his age (Exerpted from an article on Fox News May 8, 2017)

Contrary to what one may think, the intensity of material desires do not necessarily decrease as evinced by Satar. On the contrary, the material yearnings for passionate relationships of youth persist in the mind along with constant reminesences of past experiences of sense gratification. The mental picture of past, nostalgic relationships linger in the mind.

The original spiritual nature of the living being is eternity, knowledge and bliss. Therefore, the limitations of a temporary material body do not dampen the incessant flow of desires for happiness, the quest for knowledge and ultimately the desire for eternal life. An intelligent person can undertand the difference between the body and the soul by such analysis of increasing desires with old age. A human being naturally yearns for an eternal life full of happiness without the constraints of old age, disease and death. One can detect the presence of an eternal soul within the temporary material body by the awareness of increasing and persistent yearnings and desires that increase with age.

Another way to discern the difference between the body and the soul is to observe a person about to die. Before death the body is still animated by consciousness. But as soon as the person dies, the consciousness is absent. The body is still present, but the symptom of a dead body is the total lack of consciousness.

Consciousness is not a product of the combination of material elements or chemicals. If it was, the scientists would be able to bring a dead person back to life by the simple injection of chemicals into the dead body. This is not possible because the person is not the temporary body, but an eternal non-material soul.

One is enlightened when he identifies with the eternal soul that animates the temporary material body with consciousness. The soul is the conscious seer and the body is the seen.The soul is differentiated from the body by consciousness. As soon as the soul leaves the body, consciousness in the body disappears. The lack of consciousness in a dead body is in stark contrast to the consciousness of a living body. Even a mother monkey laments when her baby monkey lies without consciousness in her arms. (See picture - Heartbreaking: The mother clutches at her baby, refusing to let go after the infant's death on June 28

Saddening images show a mother monkey's heartbreak after her baby died

The pair were foraging for food in north-west China when tragedy occurred

The mother was heard screaming after her infant fell 65 feet. The young monkey had been gathering food in north-west China with its mother when it plummeted more than 20 metres (65 feet) on June 28, reports the People's Daily Online.

Human beings similarly lament when death occurs to their loved ones. Death, old age and disease are unwanted and lamentable. Yet, all living entities are subjected to these miseries due to ignorance.

Only the human being has a chance to end this vicious cycle of birth and death due to having highly evolved senses, mind and intelligence to be able to differentiate between matter and spirit. Animals do not have such an opportunity to transcend bodily attachment which limits them to the animal propensities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending. The human being can regulate the animal propensities by following the Vedic path of renunciation through knowledge guided by bona fide instructor gurus and the initiator guru.

Once a person clearly differentiates between the material body and the eternal soul that animates the body with life, one takes the first big step toward self-realisation.

The second step toward self-realization is to discern between the individual, minute souls of the living entities and the infinitely great Supersoul of Lord Krishna expanded into the heart of all living entities and even into every atom of the universe. The all-pervading presence of Lord Krishna through His expanded form of Paramatma, the Supersoul, is different than the tiny soul of the living entity. Both are individuals, but Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the living entity is the eternal servant of the Lord. The living entity can never be equal to or greater than the Lord. The constitutional position of the living entity is to serve Lord Krishna eternally with love and devotion. If the living entity decides with determination to remain always strictly engaged in the transcendental devotional service of Lord Krishna, his success in spiritual life is guaranteed.

The third step of self-realization is to understand that the material creation, all living entities, the entire spiritual world, and all expansions of Krishna such as the Narayana forms in the spiritual world, the Vishnu expansions and all the incarnation forms of the Lord in the material world are expansions of Lord Krishna. Everything material and spiritual emanates from Lord Krishna, and yet, He is never diminished or less than perfect and complete and infinitely powerful.

Once these three steps of self-realization are attained, the devotee, following the guidance of his spiritual perceptors gradually develops pure love for the Lord and discards all illusory thoughts of material sense gratification. With his mind completely focused on pleasing Lord Krishna, he enters into the fourth dimension of reality, wherein he experiences the unlimited spiritual nature and glimpses unbounded love and ecstasy in the company of Lord Krishna and His eternally liberated devotees. The fifth dimension of reality is to experience ever fresh and exciting love and ecstasy in myriad situations of loving devotion for the Lord that continually increases with unlimited variety and unending joy.

The unalloyed contemplation of Lord Krishna by the devotee and his complete engagement in service to the Lord is the sign that he is already liberated in this world and will undoubtedly return to the spiritual world. Krishna confirms this by His statement:

tasmāt sarve?u kāle?u

mām anusmara yudhya ca

mayy arpita-mano-buddhir

mām evai?yasy asa??aya?

 

“Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of K???a and at the same time carry out your prescribed duty of ?ghting. With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence ?xed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt.” (Bg 8.7)

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Srila Prabhupada) comments: “This instruction to Arjuna is very important for all men engaged in material activities. The Lord does not say that one should give up his prescribed duties or engagements. One can continue them and at the same time think of K???a by chanting Hare K???a. This will free one from material contamination and engage the mind and intelligence in K???a. By chanting K???a’s names, one will be transferred to the supreme planet, K???aloka, without a doubt.” (Purport Bg 8.7)

Krishna Consciousness is the real goal of education

Srilas Prabhupada has elaborately explained the difference real and false

education. He has referred on numerous occasions to a poem by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura that follows:

1) With great enthusiasm I spent my time in the pleasures of mundane learning, and never worshiped Your lotus feet, O Lord. Now You are my only shelter.

2) Reading on and on, my hopes grew and grew, for I considered the acquisition of material knowledge to be life's true goal. How fruitless those hopes turned out to be, for all my knowledge proved feeble. Now I know that all such erudition is actually pure ignorance.

 3) All the so-called knowledge of this world is born of the flickering potency of Your illusory energy (maya). It is an impediment to the execution of devotional service to You. Indulgence in mundane knowledge verily makes an ass of the eternal soul by encouraging his infatuation with this temporary world.

 4) Here is one person who has been turned into such an ass, who for so long has carried on his back the useless burden of material existence. Now in my old age, for want of the power to enjoy, I find that nothing at all pleases me.

 5) Life has now become agony, for my so-called erudite knowledge has proven itself to be worthless ignorance. Material knowledge has now become a pointed shaft and has pierced my heart with the intolerable, burning pain of ignorance.

 6) O Lord, there is no treasure worth seeking in this world other than Your lotus feet. Bhaktivinoda abandons all his mundane knowledge and makes Your lotus feet the sum and substance of his life.

Srila Prabhupada has elaborated on this poem in a morning walk conversation entitled "Modern Education Makes Asses," Durban, October 18, 1975. He emphasizes the degrading effect of material knowledge that dominates Western cultures and reveals the saving grace of spiritual knowledge as practiced traditionally in the East. In answer to a question, Srila Prabhupada reveals the secret of success attained by cultivation of spiritual knowledge. In contrast, he lampoons the misleading and devastating effect material knowledge.

Prabhupada: Yes. Without sex life one cannot be materially enthusiastic. And if you stop sex life, then you become spiritually advanced. This is the secret. If you stop sex life, then you become spiritually advanced, and if you indulge in sex life, then you will be materially enthusiastic. That is the difference between Western and Eastern culture. The whole Eastern culture is based on how to stop sex life, and here in the Western countries, how to increase sex life. They are eating meat, eggs, drinking wine. These things will enthuse sex life. And as soon as you get very satisfactory sex life, you become enthused to work hard. Therefore karmis, marriage is necessary, because without sex life they cannot work. And for jnanis, yogis, bhaktas, sex life prohibited. Actually they do not know the science of life, this Western civilization. Their life means this body. Their life means this body. That means they do not know what is life. And as soon as the life is gone, the body is there -- they cannot explain. This is their ignorance. Why the life is stopped? And they are very proud of advancement. And bring in life again. That they cannot do. That means the whole basic principle is ignorance. Mudha nabhijanati. Moghasa mogha-karmano mogha-jnana vicetasah [Bg. 9.12]

All the plans and so-called great achievements of the atheistic materialists are defeated by the overpowering force of material nature, which is controlled by Lord Krishna. Their flawed, speculative theories are the reason the atheists fail in their attempts to control nature. Ultimately, they are confused and bewildered when they see a dead body because they have no knowledge of the existence of the eternal soul that animates a body with consciousness and life. Because of their preoccupation with the material body and their quest for sense gratification, they are clueless about the goal of life. Their hopes for liberation, their materialistic activities and their culture of knowledge are utterly defeated.

The pursuit of material knowledge is a formidable obstacle for achieving Krishna Consciousness. It increases attachment to the material world and mundane activities. One acts like a beast of burden working day and night to gain more money for sense gratification and completely ignore the quest for spiritual enlightenment. Srila Prabhupada drives this point home.

“People will forget God. With the advancement of so-called material science or material knowledge, the result will be that people will forget God. And then next, next is anitya samsare moha janamiya. "This material world, which is temporary, where we cannot stay, we are already captivated, but this advancement of material knowledge will make me more captive, and I shall work just like an ass." That's all. Now, whether he is right or wrong, tell me. His charge is that advancement of material education is advancement of the influence of material energy, and if you say that "What is the wrong there?" the wrong is that we are already rascals, and this education will make me more rascal. Anitya samsare moha janamiya. "I am already captivated in this temporary material world, and these things will make me more advanced to be captivated in this material world." Now this is the version of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Now, if you don't like, tell what is the reason. Tell me. Material education... We are already captive under the laws of material nature, and the more we advance in material education, we'll be more and more rigidly captive. So this is the version of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. What is your answer? Can anyone refute Bhaktivinoda Thakura, that he is wrong?”

He challenges the devotees listening to raise an objection that modern materialistic education entangles people more in the cycle of birth and death. One devotee remonstrated that without education one cannot even read the books Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written. Srila Prabhupada replied that reading the books written by bona fide acaryas is the real education.

Prabhupada: That is real education. We want that you learn from Bhaktivinoda Thakura, you learn from Vyasadeva, you learn from Narada. But why you are learning from Freud, from Darwin and such rascals? Education means you should learn from a person who is authorized, who is without mistake, without illusion, who does not cheat, just like we are learning from Krsna. That is education. And if you learn from rascals and fools, then what is that education? Education means to learn from the learned person. But if you are learning from a rascal and fool, then what is your education? Education required, but we require what is actually education, which is not cheating. But we are being educated, being cheated. We are working for this body, which I am not. Is that education or it is cheating? If you say, "I am taking my interest," I'll say "I am taking water; I wash daily my shirt and coat." And that, is that knowledge? And what about you? Your food? "I don't care for that. I wash my coat and shirt daily." Is that education? You keep yourself starving and you keep your coat and shirt very cleanse. Is that education? This is going on. Therefore people are restless. He is hungry. What he will do, his cars and this shirt and coat and big building? Why they are committing suicide? Because he is not happy. There is no food for the spirit soul, what he is actually. Is that education? That is not education. So Bhaktivinoda Thakura is right when he says, jiba ke karaye gadha: "This material education means making people more and more asses." That's all. He is already ass because he's in this material world, and the so-called material education means keeping him in that condition more and more.

Modern education as taught in public school in the USA is based on secular humanism philosophy. This philosophy prides itself on being “not theistic” and does not accept supernatural views of reality such as the belief that there is an all powerful God at the origin of creation. It relies entirely on the individual’s use of reason, logic and science to attain an understanding of how to live an ethical and humane life. It is man oriented rather than God-oriented. It’s ultimate goal is making life better for everyone. Anyone who is educated in such a system is indoctrinated with atheistic ideas that promote the false concept of mankind’s independent existence from God.

 

Srila Prabhupada about the curriculum for devotee children

 

Srila Prabhupada condemned public schools as slaughterhouses:

"I have seen intelligent boys, they go to school and he is spoiled. [...] Simply slaughterhouse, this so-called school is called slaughterhouse. Yes, slaughterhouse."(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, 9/7/73)

"The modern educational system without any knowledge of Bhagavan, I may tell you frankly, not only in India, everywhere, they are practically slaughterhouse."(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, 20/11/71)

Srila Prabhupada discouraged materialistic education

Jyotirmayi: "You were saying that the children should learn these three, geography and these things, and I wanted to know if they should also learn what they call biology, that is how the body is working, what are the bones and blood and..."

Prabhupada: "Simply waste of time, simply waste of time. [...] But this biology and this "logy," they are useless. There is no necessity. [...] You follow that, brahmacari gurukula, that I've already explained. That should be done. Don't bring any new thing, imported ideas. That will not be helpful. It will be encumbrance. [...] Biologists, chemists, physicists, and mathematicians there are hundreds and thousands. We are not going to waste our time that Gurukula should produce a great grammarian, a great geologist, biologist, don't want that. There are many other educational institutions."

(Room Conversation, 31/7/1976)

This was done deliberately because gurukulas were only meant to produce Krsna conscious children, rather than persons qualified to get salaried jobs:

"And this material education...Of course, we are going to open the gurukula. Our aim is not how to make the students a big grammarian. No. That is not our purpose. How to make him fully Krsna conscious. That is the aim of this gurukula. In the gurukula description there is nothing, such thing as how to make the student a big grammarian or... [...] There is no question of economic problem, that one has to become learned to get some service in some big school or college and get some big salary. This is not our aim. Our only aim is how to mold the life of the children to become Krsna conscious." (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, 31/3/1976)

 

Material education may be used in the service of Lord Krishna

 

Then following two verses and purports of the Srimad Bhagavatam summarize spiritual education.

Learned circles have positively concluded that the infallible purpose of the advancement of knowledge, namely austerities, study of the Vedas, sacrifice, chanting of hymns and charity, culminates in the transcendental descriptions of the Lord, who is defined in choice poetry. (SB 1.5.29)

Purport:

Human intellect is developed for advancement of learning in art, science, philosophy, physics, chemistry, psychology, economics, politics, etc. By culture of such knowledge the human society can attain perfection of life. This perfection of life culminates in the realization of the Supreme Being, Vi??u. The ?ruti therefore directs that those who are actually advanced in learning should aspire for the service of Lord Vi??u. Unfortunately persons who are enamored by the external beauty of vi??u-māyā do not understand that culmination of perfection or self-realization depends on Vi??u. Vi??u-māyā means sense enjoyment, which is transient and miserable. Those who are entrapped by vi??u-māyā utilize advancement of knowledge for sense enjoyment. ?rī Nārada Muni has explained that all paraphernalia of the cosmic universe is but an emanation from the Lord out of His different energies because the Lord has set in motion, by His inconceivable energy, the actions and reactions of the created manifestation. They have come to be out of His energy, they rest on His energy, and after annihilation they merge into Hi

When advancement of knowledge is applied in the service of the Lord, the whole process becomes absolute. The Personality of Godhead and His transcendental name, fame, glory, etc., are all nondifferent from Him. Therefore, all the sages and devotees of the Lord have recommended that the subject matter of art, science, philosophy, physics, chemistry, psychology and all other branches of knowledge should be wholly and solely applied in the service of the Lord. Art, literature, poetry, painting, etc., may be used in glorifying the Lord.

The fiction writers, poets and celebrated litterateurs are generally engaged in writing of sensuous subjects, but if they turn towards the service of the Lord they can describe the transcendental pastimes of the Lord. Vālmīki was a great poet, and similarly Vyāsadeva is a great writer, and both of them have absolutely engaged themselves in delineating the transcendental activities of the Lord and by doing so have become immortal.

Similarly, science and philosophy also should be applied in the service of the Lord. There is no use presenting dry speculative theories for sense gratification.

Philosophy and science should be engaged to establish the glory of the Lord.

Advanced people are eager to understand the Absolute Truth through the medium of science, and therefore a great scientist should endeavor to prove the existence of the Lord on a scientific basis.

Similarly, philosophical speculations should be utilized to establish the Supreme Truth as sentient and all-powerful.

Similarly, all other branches of knowledge should always be engaged in the service of the Lord. In the Bhagavad-gītā also the same is affirmed. All “knowledge” not engaged in the service of the Lord is but nescience. (Bg 13.8-12 – etaj jnanam iti proktam / ajnanam yad ato ‘nyatha)

Real utilization of advanced knowledge is to establish the glories of the Lord, and that is the real import. Scientific knowledge engaged in the service of the Lord, and all similar activities, are all factually hari-kīrtana, or glorification of the Lord. (SB 3.29.28)

Purport:

A devotee should always try to hear about spiritual matters and should always utilize his time in chanting the holy name of the Lord. His behavior should always be straightforward and simple, and although he is not envious but friendly to everyone, he should avoid the company of persons who are not spiritually advanced.

In order to advance in spiritual understanding, one has to hear from authentic sources about spiritual knowledge. One can understand the reality of spiritual life by following strict regulative principles and by controlling the senses.

To have control it is necessary that one be nonviolent and truthful, refrain from stealing, abstain from sex life and possess only that which is absolutely necessary for keeping the body and soul together.

One should not eat more than necessary, he should not collect more paraphernalia than necessary, he should not talk unnecessarily with common men, and he should not follow the rules and regulations without purpose. He should follow the rules and regulations so that he may actually make advancement.

There are eighteen qualifications mentioned in Bhagavad-gītā, among which is simplicity. One should be without pride, one should not demand unnecessary respect from others, and one should be nonviolent (amānitvam adambhitvam ahi?sā). One should be very tolerant and simple, one should accept the spiritual master, and one should control the senses. These are mentioned here and in Bhagavad-gītā as well. One should hear from authentic sources how to advance in spiritual life; such instructions should be taken from the ācārya and should be assimilated.

It is especially mentioned here, nāma-sa?kīrtanāc ca: one should chant the holy names of the Lord — Hare K???a, Hare K???a, K???a K???a, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare — either individually or with others. Lord Caitanya has given special stress to chanting of these holy names of the Lord as the basic principle of spiritual advancement.

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