THIRD CHAPTER
In this chapter, swamiji mentioned the sequence in which education should be imparted. Vedaas divide lifespan of man, (assuming it to be of 100 years) into four parts-each part consisting of 25 years. In the first part of life, that is, up to 25 years of life, called as ‘brahamcharya ashram’, one should concentrate wholly on obtaining education, generally of spirituality and specifically of the field, in which one wants to go in the future. Swamiji has a given an exhaustive list of the books, studying of which should be avoided. Instead of vedaas, those books of Sanskrit were taught to the children, which were full of untruth. Considering education to be a great mean to achieve the ultimate goal, swamiji has advised that one should leave or be indifferent to the books, which contain unnecessary information.
In those times, only those children, whose parents were financially weak enough to afford English schools, were sent to Sanskrit schools with the main objective of getting free food and books. Why to expect increase of pride of Sanskrit from such students? Sanskrit was considered a dead language. It did not have any relation with the day to day life of people. Scholars of Sanskrit language were considered fools. Such sort of mentality among people helped western cultures to get established in India and Indian youth, because of absence of knowledge of vedic culture, became mental slaves of western cultures, which, soon, gripped their bodies too.
In this chapter, swamiji tried to break these shackles and showed the greatness of vedic culture. It should not be considered that swamiji was against modern inventions but, he told the people that inventions of ‘Aryas’ were really great. Today, people are proud of their learned-ness and consider ancient culture to be backward. Swamiji changed this thinking and established that ancient vedic culture was not a thing to be looked down upon. There is a mention of aeroplanes, ships et cetra in ancient Indian literature. Swamiji was of the view that individual’s mental development is the base of his all sorts of developments. As such, he laid great emphasis on education.
WORDS OF SWAMIJI
-It is the main task of the parents, teachers and relatives to make their children wear the ornaments of true education.
-As the impurities of elements like gold et cetra are destroyed by fire, in the same way, impurities of sense of ‘मन’ are destroyed by the practice of ‘praanaayaam’. Grossly, praanaayaam may be referred to breathing exercises.
-To study the books written by rishis is like finding valuable pearls in each dive.
-We should study the books written by rishis for the reason that these person were very learned, knowledgeable and soul-realisers.
-A person, who does not believe in vedaas, is called an atheist.
-If a man or a woman is learned but his or her spouse is un-knowledgeable, then there can never be happiness between them.
-It is the duty of the king to see that every boy and girl of his kingdom follows the rules of continence, that is, ब्रह्मचर्य and gets true education.
-Out of donation of the items like food, water, clothing, gold, pearls et cetra, the donation of knowledge of vedaas is supreme.
-‘Yam’ is divided into five parts, namely, ‘अहिंसा ’ (leaving ill-will), ‘सत्य ’ (to think, speak and act truthfully), ‘अस्तेय ’ (not to steal through ‘मन’ or senses), ‘ब्रह्मचर्य ’ (control of sexual senses) and ‘अपरिग्रह’ (not to pile up things)
-‘Niyam’, also, is divided into five parts, namely, शौच (physical and mental cleanliness), ‘संतोष’ (contentment), ‘तप’ (cheerfully bearing the problems coming on the path of righteousness), ‘स्वाध्याय’ (study of both spiritual and physical sciences) and ‘ईश्वर- प्रणिधान’ (surrendering every possession and every act to God).
-One, who follows ‘niyam’ leaving the practice of all the parts of ‘yam’, cannot progress.
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