Srila Prabhupada’s Words On Higher Education

By Indira-sakhi Devi Dasi

Srila Prabhupada stressed that real knowledge is to know who we are, who God is and how can we reestablish our forgotten relationship with Him. He expressed dissatisfaction at the fact while universities were expending great efforts to teach material subjects, there was no emphasis on spiritual science.

Generally, people are not educated in this confidential knowledge; they are educated in external knowledge. As far as ordinary education is concerned, people are involved with so many departments: politics, sociology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, engineering, etc. There are so many departments of knowledge all over the world and many huge universities, but there is, unfortunately, no university or educational institution where the science of the spirit soul is instructed. Yet the soul is the most important part of the body; without the presence of the soul, the body has no value. Still people are placing great stress on the bodily necessities of life, not caring for the vital soul. (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 9.2, purport)

He encouraged his disciples to establish an academic institute, the Bhaktivedanta Institute, which would focus on teaching the science of self-realization.

The purpose of the Institute is to achieve the distinction of human life. The human being is meant for understanding his real identity. If a human being becomes entrapped with this body which may be American, Indian, brahmana, ksatriya, and so many other designations, then he remains on the platform of cats and dogs. A dog or a cat is thinking he is such and such. Similarly a human being thinks he is this and that designation, then he remains in the dog and cat category.

The Institute will be primarily for those who have not entered our temples. The subject matter will not be different from what is taught in our temples. There will be no difference between our temples and the Institute, but the Institute will be official for the general mass. It will be a formal education and they will get degree. It will be open for everyone, including those who have already entered our temples, they may also participate. But, the subject matter should not be different from what is in the temples. (Letter to Svarupa Damodara, Bombay 30 September, 1975)

Srila Prabhupada also pointed out that according to Vedic culture ‘higher education’ meant spiritual education and therefore, only those who had the brahminical qualities, such as peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, etc. (as mentioned in Bhagavad-gita 18.42), were considered qualified to pursue it.

Higher education is not meant for everyone. Only selected individuals trained in brahminical culture should be allowed to pursue a higher education. Educational institutions should not aim to teach technology, for a technologist cannot properly be called educated. A technologist is a sudra; only one who studies the Vedas may properly be called a learned man (pandita). The duty of a brahmana is to become learned in the Vedic literature and teach the Vedic knowledge to other brahmanas. (Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi-lila 17.253, purport)

Srila Prabhupada discouraged some of his disciples to go to university, particularly because of the detrimental effect of bad association, and recommended that instead they immerse themselves in studying scriptures and preaching.

Please go on preaching and improve your Krishna Consciousness. There is no necessity of attending a university. We have got enough of a university educational program in our Krishna Consciousness movement. There are so many books to study and they have to be introduced also by preaching. So engage yourself in this way. If we have to spend time learning something, then where is the time for service? So utilize what talents you have already in Krishna’s service and He will give you the intelligence to increase more and more. (Letter to Vamanadeva, Bombay 30 May, 1971)

Yet, it cannot be said that he was against going to university under all circumstances, for in other cases, he encouraged devotees to go on with their studies and subsequently engage their talents and educational qualifications in spreading Krsna consciousness.

You are an educated man and you can use your education very nicely in the service of Krishna. I like the idea of yours to continue on for PHD presenting our books and philosophy in your thesis. This will be a great service for you to perform and I shall be very grateful to you if you can do it. (Letter to Pierre Sauvageau, Honolulu, 2 February, 1975)

For the present you should continue going to school because education is important. Without education nobody has any social position and all our students in Krishna Consciousness are expected to be preachers. So preachers must have sufficient education because they have to meet with so many opposing elements. Education should be continued at the same time chanting should be continued. There will be no difficulty. (Letter to Indira, Ekayani, San Francisco 17 December, 1967)

He instructed his disciples who were attending university to continue their spiritual practice with all sincerity, which would not only protect them from sinful activities and bad association, but would also inspire others to follow their example.

You are asking what should your preaching work be now that you are attending the university. So the first preaching work is that yourself should become an ideal devotee. Lord Caitanya said that one should first make himself perfect and then attempt to instruct others. There is no point in telling another man to stop smoking if you yourself are smoking cigarettes. Even though you are mixing with all kinds of the student class at the university, you must strictly refrain from the four prohibitive sinful activities, and as an initiated student you must not let a day pass when you do not chant at least 16 rounds of Hare Krsna Mantra. If you can follow just these things nicely that in itself will be strong preaching by behavior. You should also always wear Kunti beads around the neck and wear the marking of tilak. People will inquire from you and you can tell them about Krsna Consciousness and sell them books also. (Letter to Niranjana, Hyderabad 23 April, 1974 74-04-23)

Vedic scriptures state, “Only one who can learn the process of nescience and that of transcendental knowledge, side by side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessings of immortality”. (Sri Isopanisad, Mantra 11). In the purport, Srila Prabhupada explains that even though the ultimate aim of life is to attain transcendental knowledge, “[t]his does not mean that all activities for the maintenance of the body should be stopped.” Therefore, “the great sages and saints of India” followed “a balanced program of spiritual and material knowledge.” Srila Prabhupada was not against acquiring knowledge about material subject matters, but he emphasized that one should not be under the illusion that such knowledge is complete by itself, and that only when it is complemented with spiritual knowledge and practice may a person be known as truly learned.