Balanced System of Education
The Science of Living visualizes a balanced system
of education. In fact Science of Living and balanced
system of education are being used synonymously. And by the word
'balanced' is meant equal importance given to bodily and intellectual
development on the one hand and mental and emotional development on the
other. It alone can make education balanced.
What are the facts involved in a balanced education ?
The first fact is a balanced
vital force (pranadhara). The development and balance of the vital
force is essential for mental and emotional development. In modern
physiological terms they are called Parasympathetic Nervous System and
Sympathetic Nervous System respectively. Unless these two flows of the
vital energy (prana) are balanced, we cannot realize the ideal of
the type of student we cherish. If the right course of the vital breath is
hyperactive, the tendency to indulge in insolent and irresponsible
behaviour as well as in violence and vandalism is roused. If on the other
hand the left course of the vital breath is hyperactive, the individual
suffers from inferiority, fear and weakness. A balance between the two
courses is vital for a balanced development of personality.
Modern medical science has established the truth that it is
the left lobe of the human brain that is connected with all
learning activity. Logic, Mathematics and languages are all related to the
left lobe. Though scientists do not yet know everything about the human
brain, it has been proved that whereas the left lobe is responsible for
the development of the intellect and of knowledge, it is the right lobe
that determines spirituality, inner consciousness and all mental
attitudes.
The modern malady lies in a disproportionate growth of the
left lobe at the cost of its right counterpart. Over development of one
and retardation of another has created a serious imbalance.
The second fact involved in the
Science of Living is the establishment of a biological balance.
The third is creating faith in
one's own competence. Man is unaware of his potentialities. From the point
of view of philosophy infinite knowledge, power and joy inhere in man.
Modern science reiterates the same hoary truth.
Science has proved that of his infinite potentialities man
hardly uses five to seven percent. He who begins to use ten percent of
them becomes great.
Through the Science of Living students have got to
be made aware of their limitless competence and they have to be further
made to believe that it lies in their power to activate it.
The fourth fact involved in the
Science of Living is refinement, which has three forms: refinement
of outlook, behaviour and feelings. Nations have risen and fallen
according as these three refinements have been present or absent. Right
outlook, right behaviour and right feelings are basic to all progress.
Here it will not be out of place to ask : What causes our
outlook, behaviour and feelings to be vitiated ? For this it is necessary
to know who or what their controller is. Scientific investigations have
revealed that they are controlled by the hypothalamus and the endocrine
glands, specifically the pineal and the pituitary glands and the adrenal
gland as affected by these two. We have to concentrate on the hypothalamus
first, which will refine the secretions of the endocrine glands and this
in turn will refine our outlook, behaviour and feelings. While
circumstances can be regarded as the Instrumental cause, the secretions
can be regarded as the material cause. The latter is more important than
the former.
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