автор: Прананатха Дас
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Академия Бхактиведанты
Шри Рупануга Парамартика Видьяпитха
ВЕДИЧЕСКОЕ ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ
Изучение концепции и науки ведического образования в соответствии с
учением Шрилы Прабхупады и предыдущих ачарьев
Вступление
«Тренируясь под руководством истинного духовного учителя, шастр, и тогда вы автоматически, чем больше вы становитесь искренним, я хочу сказать, слугой духовного учителя, тем больше вы становитесь квалифицированными, чтобы стать учителем в будущем».
– Шрила Прабхупада, вопросы и ответы, 17 января 1974 года, Гавайи
Как мы понимаем из наставлений Шрилы Прабхупады, процесс становления учителем включает в себя более важные аспекты, чем просто академические знания, сертификат и способность передавать простую информацию и знания на занятиях.
Это не ограничивается только этим.
Передача знаний на слух - это начальная стадия (шраванам), созерцание и практика услышанного - это вторая стадия (мананам) и осознание и ценности, которые вы получаете от этих первых двух этапов, ведут вас к третьей стадии (нидидхьясанам). Естественным образом внедряя эти ценности в свою жизнь, вы достигаете четвертой стадии, на которой можете передавать их другим.
Слушая, мы получаем знания, практикуя - понимание и навыки, применяя знания и навыки, мы обретаем реализацию, мудрость и ценности, а по мере взросления растет и компетентность в обучении других. В высшем смысле образования, слушая о Господе, мы получаем знания и одновременно очищаем свои сердца, умы и чувства; действуя телом, умом и словами на благо Господа, мы также очищаем свое существование; а действуя со знанием ради удовольствия Господа, мы совершаем преданное служение, высшее занятие для живого существа. Поэтому курс ведического образования Академии Бхактиведанты выходит за рамки объективной дидактики класса, как это преподается на современных образовательных курсах.
В обществе, где применяются ценности Вед, учитель, зная ценности, методы и цели священных писаний, передает их ученикам. Проходя через этот процесс, ученик, твердо веря в учителя и систему, способен внедрить эти ценности в свою жизнь и воспроизвести то, в чем он научился. Постепенно, принимая на себя ответственность и полное руководство со стороны учителя, он продвигается по вышеупомянутым этапам. Он сам автоматически становится учителем. В такой обстановке подготовка учителя происходит естественным образом.
Это создает двуусловную логику в системе, где хороший ученик должен учить, а хороший учитель - учиться. Другими словами, в ведической системе образования вы можете быть учителем, только если вы ученик, и как только вы думаете, что вы больше не ученик, вы естественным образом теряете свою квалификацию учителя.
Although contemporary education has achieved advancements in terms of structure, management and informatization, there are still many pitfalls in areas like human values, reasoning, spirituality, etc. In this sense we can state that education advanced in its formalization and bureaucratization, but not necessarily in terms of developing the consciousness of the individuals to higher stages. Many conscious individuals in the course of contemporary history tried to improve the standard of the educational paradigm creating new methods. However, most succumbed to the dogmatized principles of education, and even those that persevere, although more complete in terms of developing the individual, are not as complete as the Vedic system. After scrutinized study of Vedic education, one can realize its depth and amplitude, observing the balance and structured design of its curriculum combining spiritual, personal, intellectual, emotional, physical and vocational development, and by adding the element of bhakti – understanding and serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead – the curriculum achieves its completeness.
Some individuals, due to a lack of deeper understanding, might think that Vedic education is obsolete, but mostly educators who come in contact with its principles, really appreciate and demonstrate interest for going deeper into the subject, seeing not only the practical application of it but a need of its principles in order to balance and upgrade the society. Therefore Śrīla Prabhupāda said:
“The old system of gurukula should be revived. It is the perfect system, designed to produce great men, sober and responsible leaders, who know the real welfare of the citizens.”
– Letter to Satsvarūpa – Delhi, 21 November, 1971
The attempt to reestablish this system, through understanding and practice, is the purpose of this course. Since education covers vast fields of knowledge, such as philosophy, psychology, sociology, history, anthropology, science, and more specific fields like curriculum, didactics and pedagogy, there are many misconceptions to be clarified, practices to be learnt and values to be established.
Designed for educators, teachers, āśrama leaders, parents and any other individual holding a position that can influence others through education, this course is a humble attempt to bring devotees closer to Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings in regard to education, hence closer to Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. Finally, and most importantly, it provides an opportunity to the children to experience education in a higher sense, to live a better life in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and become inspired to broadcast the message of Шримад-Бхагаватам so the whole world can experience the Golden Age of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Course Areas
- Conceptual
Understanding the concept of Vedic Education through Śrīla Prabhupāda’s and the ācāryas’ vision on education, the study of educational materials produced by the academy and supportive works. - Procedural
Scientific understanding and purpose of the practices and methods of Vedic Education as presented in the 14 books of Vedic knowledge and their interdisciplinary connection to the axiomatic truth of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. - Attitudinal / Experiential
Application of the above-mentioned concepts, practices and necessary attitudes in real educational environments.
Course Subjects & Objectives
A) Bhakti & Dharma in Education
Express devotional and dharmic qualities and character required for students and teachers in order to cultivate appropriate educational, personal, and spiritual values.
B) Philosophy of Education
Develop a depth of understanding about the concepts of Vedic education in connection and commitment to its didactics, showing conviction in the principles it stands for.
C) Curriculum & Didactics
Be acquainted with the standard subjects, didactics and methods of Vedic education.
D) Pedagogy
Plan, prepare, and assess students in the various systems of education.
E) Contemporary Education
Sublimate the tendency of applying the modern methods of education that condition us to lower stages of consciousness.
Course Syllabus
A) Bhakti and Dharma in Education
Qualities expressed through devotion and dharma:
Devotional (From Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu)
- Sādhu-Saṅga
Understand the dynamics of relationships between students, friends, teachers, family and community so attachment for the Lord gradually increases. - Nāma-Kīrtana
Practice hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord. - Bhāgavata Śravaṇa
Connect all knowledge, sciences, arts and culture under the perspective of Шримад-Бхагаватам, Śrīla Prabhupāda and the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava ācāryas. - Mathurā-Vāsa
Learn to serve, remember, glorify and beautify the dhāma. - Śrī Mūrtira Śraddhā Sevana
Develop attachment to the Deities through the system of pañcarātrika vidhi, sublimating a variety of unwanted activities.⁴
Dharmic (From Manu Saṁhitā)
- Studiousness and inquisitiveness
Demonstrate interest and a contemplative mood in learning. - Self-satisfaction and self-control
Sublimate the restless mind and sensual urges by the practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. - Service attitude
Demonstrate humbleness, compassion and love for Kṛṣṇa, His representatives and all living entities through menial service. - Respect
Acquire faith and conviction in the teachers, friends and scriptures. - Cleanliness
Keep the mind, body and environment clean, purified and sanctified. - Social orientation and protocol
Learn codes of conduct and protocols for balancing the environment in order to facilitate progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Catechetical (Preliminary religious course from Puraścarya Vidhi)
- Offer oblations
Discipline habits through religious practices. - Feed the brāhmaṇas
Learn the art of cooking, serving and honoring prasāda.
⁴ “This will save everyone from such unwanted activities as going to clubs, cinemas and dancing parties, and smoking, drinking, etc. All such nonsense will be forgotten if one stresses the worshiping of the Deities at home.” – Нектар преданности, Chapter 13, 3rd paragraph.
B) Philosophy of Education
The Concept of Vedic Education
- Vedic culture and Kṛṣṇa consciousness
Comprehend the importance of Vedic culture’s values and how education is organized in this system in order to facilitate self-realization (Kṛṣṇa consciousness), through the formation of highly learned persons.⁷ - Curriculum – Subjective / Personalized
Become an expert teacher in order to produce individualized curriculums in the relationship with the students. - Duties, qualification and testing of a brahmacārī
Assess the students according to the injunctions of the śāstra. - Vedic Academic Training
Understand the concept of knowledge according to the Vedas and how this knowledge is organized and transmitted. - Sandīpanī Muni’s curriculum
The educational program of the Lord.
⁷ “When a person is highly educated and acts strictly on moral principles, he is called highly learned.” – NOD, Chapter 21
Psychology and Epistemology of Education
- Caitanya – the consciousness and its modalizations
- Antaḥkaraṇa – the four functions of the mind
- Vṛttis – the characteristics of the mind
- Saṁskāras – the memory’s imprints
- Nirodhaḥ – controlling the mind by the strength of Kṛṣṇa consciousness
C) Curriculum and Didactics
The Fourteen Books of Vedic Knowledge and Its Divisions:
Six Areas of Knowledge:
- Scriptural mnemonics (mantras)
Memorization of important scriptural verses for use in preaching, Sanskrit, Deity worship, and saṁskāras. - Linguistic (founded on Sanskrit)
Grammar, vocabulary, phonetics, prosody – the science of communication and language. - Liturgy & Priestly (Kalpa and Pañcarātrika)
Deity worship and rituals as a means to be fully engaged in the Lord’s service. - Mathematics and Physical Sciences (Jyotiṣa)
Vedic mathematics, cosmology, astronomy and astrology. - Philosophy and Logic (Bhāgavata Vidhi and Anvīkṣikī)
Study of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings of the Vaiṣṇava/Vedic scriptures centralized on Шримад-Бхагаватам, its logical interpretation, presentation and practical application. - Civics and Social Sciences (Dharma and Purāṇa)
Proper personal/social/environmental behavior, according to the Lord’s universal rules. History, geography, natural sciences, ethics, politics, economics, health, principles of art, architecture and physical education.
Didactics According to the Vedic Scheme
By Teacher’s Prelections or Discussions:
- Story telling/reading method – Katha
Transmission of values through the recitation of stories and further commentaries (pravachan). - Oral method (phonetics⁸) – Abhyāsa
Learning through repetition. - Synthetic method – Pratyakṣa
Systematic transformation of concrete perception into abstract knowledge. - Monologic Method⁹
Lecturing method where only one person speaks. - Analogical / Analytical method – Anumāna
Connect the meaning of known things in order to understand a new. - Dialectic method
Process of thesis, antithesis and synthesis through inquiries (Q&A). - Ad hoc method¹⁰ – Tadya Upāsanam
Uplifting students’ consciousness towards the spiritual platform using all forms of connection. - Illustrative method
Learning through illustrations, analogies or examples.
By Self-Study:
- Reading/writing method – Arthavāda
Learning by reading or writing statements reiterating known truths. - Research method – Anusandhāna (āroha-panthā)
Inquiry from authority. - Concentration Method – Dhāraṇā / Svādhyāya
Self-study and focused reflection. - Meditative method – Dhyāna
Deep contemplation eliminating distractions. - Transcendental method¹¹ – Dhruva-anusmṛti
Constant remembrance of the object of meditation. - Devotional method – Samādhi
Absorbed devotional meditation. - Inductive method – Darśana (divya pratyakṣa)¹²
Using purified senses to perceive truth. - Kinesthetic method – Parikramā
Engage working senses to understand spiritual knowledge. - Submissive method¹³ – Vaiṣṇava Seva
Gain superior knowledge through humble service.
⁸ Ṛg Veda Saṁhitā 7.103.5
⁹ Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad, Yājñavalkya’s response to Janaka.
¹⁰ Story of Indra and Virocana.
¹¹ Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.7.31 purport
¹² Bhagavad-gītā lecture, Nov 21, 1966
¹³ Path of Perfection, Chapter 9
D) Contemporary Education
- Empiricism
- Rationalism
- Pragmatism
- Behaviorism
- Cognitivism
- Anthroposophy
E) Pedagogy
Preparatory System
- Multigrade education
Manage multi-age classes with proper planning, supervision and assessment. - Preparation of materials, lessons and activities
Organize suitable materials for groups and individuals according to their levels. - Technics for establishing culture and discipline
Apply discipline according to time, place, circumstance, and culture.
Gurukula System
- Tutorial education
Understand the system and its applicability. - Preparation of crystallized study guides
Transcribe the fourteen books into student-friendly formats. - Vedic curriculum and its organic application
Learn to design personalized curricula based on student nature and interest.
Higher Education System (Varṇāśrama College)
- Mentorship in education
Vedic mentorship as practiced by Śrīla Prabhupāda. - Purpose of Varṇāśrama College
Objectives, management and curriculum. - Strategies to improve ISKCON through higher education
Enhance ISKCON’s social structure and cultural integrity.