What are the Educational Implications of “Bhagavad Gita”

We may derive the true meaning of education through the virtuous knowledge (Satwika Gyan) as emphasized by Krishna (18:20). Virtuous knowledge is that through which we perceive unity in diversity and sense the Brahma (i.e., God or Parmeshwar) in all the creatures on this earth.

i. To develop virtuous knowledge.

ii. To develop and effect sublimation of personality.

iii. To co-ordinate between the individual and social aim.

iv. To develop the inner consciousness.

v. To develop intellectual and logical ability.

vi. To establish the importance of duty in life.

Now we shall understand how Gita refers to the above ideal education.

I. To develop virtuous knowledge:

Our students, like all of suffer from ignorance of virtuous knowledge. In Gita Krishna remark Arjun’s ignorance and motivates him towards performing his duty. From this position we may take up the idea that the ideal of education should be to remove ignorance and to provide the virtuous knowledge

II. To develop and effect sublimation of personality:

Everyone’s personality is equipped with evil (Asuri) and virtuous (Daivi-godly) traits. In other words, Kauravas (Asuri) and Pandavas (the virtuous) exist in each of us.

Krishna awakens in Arjun the virtuous powers inherent in him and motivates him towards the right path. This is exactly what a Guru should do for his disciple. Thus the ideal of education should be to develop and sublimate the personality of the student.

III. To co-ordinate between the individual and social aim:

In the battle-field Arjun is lost between his individual freedom and the social responsibility. His individual freedom was to fight or not to fight.

The social responsibility warranted his participation in the battle for punishing the evil-doers for establishing peace in the land. Krishna impresses upon him to sacrifice his individual freedom and take up the Gandeev for annihilating the wicked persons and their allies.

Thus we may say that according to Gita ‘one of the chief ideals of education should be to affect a co-ordination between the individual and social aspects of things.

IV. To develop the inner consciousness:

Arjun desires to keep himself away from the ghastly battlefield. Krishna does not want to force him against his will. Instead, he (Krishna) takes recourse to logical reasoning’s and tries to convince Arjun about his sacred self- duty (Swadharma).

Ultimately, on his own, Arjun decides to fight against his opponents. Thus Krishna, his Guru and Friend, succeeds in awakening the inner consciousness (Anthahakaran). This is exactly the ideal that we should follow in the field of education.

V. To develop intellectual and logical ability:

Arjun expresses his doubt regarding the utility of battle. His doubt is at the root of preaching’s of Gita. Krishna employs his intellectual and logical ability for removing Arjun’s doubt.

Thus the main purpose of the philosophy of Gita is to develop the intellectual and logical ability of Arjun (the common man) in order that he may be able to take his own decision in the face of alternatives this should be our ideal of education also.

Vi. To establish the importance of duty:

One can be happy only by establishing a balance between one’s rights and duties. Krishna tells Arjun that nothing is greater than performance of one’s duty (Swadharma-palan). It is very necessary to emphasize this viewpoint before the students of these days. If our students develop this attitude towards life, then this very earth will become a Heaven.