Ps: before I start on the second part I must add that God was extra kind the weather was just the kind I love..Dark clouds, cool breeze and rain. A walk in the rain and all your cobwebs disappear I mean how long can I keep the grudges? We went for this long walk trying to discover the school, the institution and I must say it’s a city which never sleeps. Everyone is working; there is selfless commitment, no one to supervise them.
Date with God at 12:00 am’
To scorn disbelief and to stop your shaking of your head and to cease the smile which lurks on your face where you are certifying me that I have gone over the bend..well you need to be there to sense the pulse. The atmosphere is electric. It is pitch dark and in the darbar hall the nitnem recited/done/sung by the students is electrifying, I can’t explain the sweetness, the intensity the fervor in their voices. It was nt forced, it wasn’t a fanatic’s call, it was more like a supplication to HIM ….
My cynical friends, do not label it is a madrassa or as a rigid institution where all you do is path path…The beauty and the vibration of the words which can move or still the world are same, it’s we who divide them .Places like BS make humanity tick and exist and it’s not us loud gasbags who try to be all – knowing. IT is these institutions /trusts which in spite of all that is wrong in this world are an oasis of purity and spirituality. You have to visit to believe that it is comprised of ordinary people like you and me but who are doing selfless seva quietly, unobtrusively, who will pitch in all that they can. And on emore thing they do not wake up at the witching hour to do path and even if they do it is out of choice no stern matron tells them to do so. my atheist, agnostic, cynical, disbelievers band of motley of friends who will laugh smile , scorn question give theories proving that He does not exist need to open their hearts (I hope you all agree that you have one ?) so embrace the miracle…
Umm, yes JDS the stars did twinkle brighter and they did show the path.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Journey to the centre of the Earth- Slice of Heaven
It seemed strange that my dream would come true in such a wonderful way; of visiting Baru Sahib aka a’ kabab mein haddi” and did I stick to it. But I loved it with both of them! Crossing the plains of Punjab after a scrumptious lunch at Café Nomad where I suffered the but obvious wisecracks…we started off for our journey to Baru Sahib (BS) the journey was normal , just a load of Radhasaomi satsangis paving the way because there was a huge satsang at Solan and did they take their job seriously. It was wonderful to see them directing, controlling traffic, I wish we could just hand over our traffic policemen to them for a 101 course.
We stopped at Barog, the ancient hotel which brought back fond memories of summer stays and the times spent. There were amazing flowers, lilies, deep red poppies blood red, gushing with color. And then around the corner saw a shop called “criston dior “!! There was one shop which had written on its board cloth house specialist in ladies; so did that he mean specializes in ladies? Would love to know about that one.
First sign of BS was 53 kms from Nauni and this little town was dotted with pink white blossoms like a maiden’s blush and all over the mountain side was something so contrary to the sleepy town. It was dotted with the modern intrusions of net houses which reminded me of atypical space/alien invasions; the silver grey balloon shaped net houses all over. The River Giri meandering along the road like a snake sliver invitingly cold deep, gushing away and then we passed giripul at gaura . Yashwnat nagar , is a small village typical post card pretty himachali ,loads of hair dressers, the mnadir, the sabzi wallah on the road selling his veggies along with dust and the chips packets strewed all over the mountainside . That was one thing which is a sore sight the bright silver packets in neon colors dotting the mountains, a reminder of man’s folly.
Its 6pm, dusk is setting and the clouds are just about tinged with the sun, amazing sight, and the quietness broken only by the traffic, which was getting sporadic. Gaura had a small golf course, in the middle of nowhere, the water reservoirs amongst the beautiful beach. Now, it was just about 23.C and the different green dotted landscape made me feel as if I was transported to an artist’s easel.
India with its beauty and all its magnificence was showing its color, cows, straw huts mud houses women tending to their fields and smoke rising in the fore with net houses, and the customary Tata sky dish TV dotting the roofs. Mountains as old as Father Time, golden dry, barren locked with mystery. After travelling on this stretch I saw something which made me smile, three men walking on the road old, one with white hair, one with black hair and one with mehendi colored hair ..Aka the three stooges, minding their business in the twilight zone.
I feel as I’m entering a different world, a peaceful explosion of serenity n divinity, the mountain dotted with twinkling light just like fireflies with the back drop of the stark mountains. The temp. was down to 18.c and the pines in line standing guard like soldiers of God. Water cuts deep in to the road; it was narrow, scary, broken and one drive’s on the edge.
We reached Kheri crossing the bridge to BS, a gravel road , 800mts 20.c and I listen o BHaji and BHabhiji about the seva, the wonder that BS is. They assure me that it’s not something which cannot be imagined, nor can it be explained. I wonder about the selfless seva, the commitment to the cause, hope sustains life, what drives Him? What force, what reward drives him, I have an explosion of ideas, want to write like crazy. The road is all gone the side cliff is barren dotted with caves, mysterious inviting forbidding at the same time. Were they carved by nature, by the forces of wind, by sadhus or my overactive fertile imagination? Then we come across Nepali workers hidden from view, one could only see their legs, all covered with firewood, just his short stocky legs were visible.
It’s 7:34pm and we turn to BS, what awaits me? Science or miracle or will of man aided by Him. It’s a city bathed in white light. Huge buildings, all of them with an average of 10 floors! It’s amazing, there is no other word, and the sight leaves me speechless. My cynical friends just visit the place and then remark. We are taken to our room and the first thing I see is the pug marks preserved on the cement floor.
We come to his room where students want one glance of his and if not him his shoes are touched in reverence. My first meeting with Babaji is electric, there is no other word. He lies on the floor propped up by cushions discussing the syllabus and he was dictating to him. The eyes are alive, full of life and we get down to discussing the economies of life and Punjab. A word of caution, he is a man of intellect not a Baba who preaches blind faith, religiosity or asks you to convert. His approach is,” let my work speak for me”. Why waste money on gold and marble to adorn the gurudwar ?Darbar hall which is an engineering marvel. HI slines stay with me’Kaccha gurudwara pakka sikh OR pakka gurudwar kacchha sikh.
His next point is to save Punjab from drugs, the rot of alcoholism, to find alternative methods of revenue and most importantly to impart education which is value based. He wants to inculcate spirituality with education. Yes, there is discipline but there are no conversions in the middle of the night, no path which is forced down your throat and no secret society!At the darbar hall w the shabad "jis ke upar tu swami...."
If he is there why am I afraid? amongst thousands of sparrows who tweeted along .. the unisex dress , the blending o fsouls... 70 akhand paths, simulataneously. The next one is Aavo Sajana , nanak ke sajan ko balhari....Ardas time is 6:57pm and in walk in two nepali brother sister duo in front of us covered in saffron :) When they recvd their prasad tey went out and started cartwheeling right in front of Bhabhiji and me....
It seemed strange that my dream would come true in such a wonderful way; of visiting Baru Sahib aka a’ kabab mein haddi” and did I stick to it. But I loved it with both of them! Crossing the plains of Punjab after a scrumptious lunch at Café Nomad where I suffered the but obvious wisecracks…we started off for our journey to Baru Sahib (BS) the journey was normal , just a load of Radhasaomi satsangis paving the way because there was a huge satsang at Solan and did they take their job seriously. It was wonderful to see them directing, controlling traffic, I wish we could just hand over our traffic policemen to them for a 101 course.
We stopped at Barog, the ancient hotel which brought back fond memories of summer stays and the times spent. There were amazing flowers, lilies, deep red poppies blood red, gushing with color. And then around the corner saw a shop called “criston dior “!! There was one shop which had written on its board cloth house specialist in ladies; so did that he mean specializes in ladies? Would love to know about that one.
First sign of BS was 53 kms from Nauni and this little town was dotted with pink white blossoms like a maiden’s blush and all over the mountain side was something so contrary to the sleepy town. It was dotted with the modern intrusions of net houses which reminded me of atypical space/alien invasions; the silver grey balloon shaped net houses all over. The River Giri meandering along the road like a snake sliver invitingly cold deep, gushing away and then we passed giripul at gaura . Yashwnat nagar , is a small village typical post card pretty himachali ,loads of hair dressers, the mnadir, the sabzi wallah on the road selling his veggies along with dust and the chips packets strewed all over the mountainside . That was one thing which is a sore sight the bright silver packets in neon colors dotting the mountains, a reminder of man’s folly.
Its 6pm, dusk is setting and the clouds are just about tinged with the sun, amazing sight, and the quietness broken only by the traffic, which was getting sporadic. Gaura had a small golf course, in the middle of nowhere, the water reservoirs amongst the beautiful beach. Now, it was just about 23.C and the different green dotted landscape made me feel as if I was transported to an artist’s easel.
India with its beauty and all its magnificence was showing its color, cows, straw huts mud houses women tending to their fields and smoke rising in the fore with net houses, and the customary Tata sky dish TV dotting the roofs. Mountains as old as Father Time, golden dry, barren locked with mystery. After travelling on this stretch I saw something which made me smile, three men walking on the road old, one with white hair, one with black hair and one with mehendi colored hair ..Aka the three stooges, minding their business in the twilight zone.
I feel as I’m entering a different world, a peaceful explosion of serenity n divinity, the mountain dotted with twinkling light just like fireflies with the back drop of the stark mountains. The temp. was down to 18.c and the pines in line standing guard like soldiers of God. Water cuts deep in to the road; it was narrow, scary, broken and one drive’s on the edge.
We reached Kheri crossing the bridge to BS, a gravel road , 800mts 20.c and I listen o BHaji and BHabhiji about the seva, the wonder that BS is. They assure me that it’s not something which cannot be imagined, nor can it be explained. I wonder about the selfless seva, the commitment to the cause, hope sustains life, what drives Him? What force, what reward drives him, I have an explosion of ideas, want to write like crazy. The road is all gone the side cliff is barren dotted with caves, mysterious inviting forbidding at the same time. Were they carved by nature, by the forces of wind, by sadhus or my overactive fertile imagination? Then we come across Nepali workers hidden from view, one could only see their legs, all covered with firewood, just his short stocky legs were visible.
It’s 7:34pm and we turn to BS, what awaits me? Science or miracle or will of man aided by Him. It’s a city bathed in white light. Huge buildings, all of them with an average of 10 floors! It’s amazing, there is no other word, and the sight leaves me speechless. My cynical friends just visit the place and then remark. We are taken to our room and the first thing I see is the pug marks preserved on the cement floor.
We come to his room where students want one glance of his and if not him his shoes are touched in reverence. My first meeting with Babaji is electric, there is no other word. He lies on the floor propped up by cushions discussing the syllabus and he was dictating to him. The eyes are alive, full of life and we get down to discussing the economies of life and Punjab. A word of caution, he is a man of intellect not a Baba who preaches blind faith, religiosity or asks you to convert. His approach is,” let my work speak for me”. Why waste money on gold and marble to adorn the gurudwar ?Darbar hall which is an engineering marvel. HI slines stay with me’Kaccha gurudwara pakka sikh OR pakka gurudwar kacchha sikh.
His next point is to save Punjab from drugs, the rot of alcoholism, to find alternative methods of revenue and most importantly to impart education which is value based. He wants to inculcate spirituality with education. Yes, there is discipline but there are no conversions in the middle of the night, no path which is forced down your throat and no secret society!At the darbar hall w the shabad "jis ke upar tu swami...."
If he is there why am I afraid? amongst thousands of sparrows who tweeted along .. the unisex dress , the blending o fsouls... 70 akhand paths, simulataneously. The next one is Aavo Sajana , nanak ke sajan ko balhari....Ardas time is 6:57pm and in walk in two nepali brother sister duo in front of us covered in saffron :) When they recvd their prasad tey went out and started cartwheeling right in front of Bhabhiji and me....
Thursday, April 7, 2011
value based education
Value Education –clarion call of the day
The Indian education system is a legacy of the British system; increasingly it has become more and more commercialized in the hands of private and corporate sector. It is run under the lines of profit rather than imparting an education! The Indian society in the whole needs to move back from the emphasis on education to a secular and spirituality based education where values are taught. Post liberalization and commercialization education has become a profit making venture where education has been reduced to a rote system driven in producing robots where success is a measure of academic percentage of a child. It is the desire of the present society where the child excels in academia caught in the whirlpool of results, coaching aiming to better jobs translating into money. There are numerous incidents starting from nursery onwards where the right kind of school from the right kind of background are studying and its imperative that one gets admission there . In fact the Supreme Court had to intervene in Delhi to put an end to the psychological pressure which is exerted on the child.
Mahatama Gandhi, one of the foremost thinkers and advocate on education considers values an inseparable part in the full development of human personality. In his view, every value is a typical way that distinguishes one human from another. Values are determinants of human behavior. The gurukul system of the old provided this type of education where teachers were treated as Gods ; now we hold them in contempt knowing fully well that a parallel system of tuitions and coaching exists where it is available again for monetary value.
In our present education system morals, values, ethics, integrity need to be integrated, inculcated with the curriculum to balance out both. Moral values plus material knowledge need to go hand in hand. IF all we need to do is parroting what our grandparents/parents learnt; why are we mass producing kid’s choc-a block who mirror their parents? There is a slight deviant to the norm but 99.9% parents mold their students to score high, secure admissions ultimately translating to Mammon. The modern education system is yes more scientific, realistic practical and it teaches us to be strong, independent dealing with the vagaries of today’s world and how to cope with the ever changing scenario. It arms us to deal with the advancement in technology and the rapid scientific development.
However, the education today lays more stress on mugging up and does not encourage “out of the box “thinking .More emphasis is laid down in reproducing the book and the mind is conditioned to work in narrow and stringent lines.
Vivekananda said,” Education is all about building good character oneself”. Education is taught but character building lacks. There is no emphasis and even if there is one lesson taught in school that is always skipped or given the least emphasis. Dr. Kalkat says, they were taught a lecture every week for three years consecutive called QUANEEN WA HIFZANE SEHAT/ Public health and Rules of Citizenship in the year 1939 onwards. The first chapter highlighted that cleanliness is next to godliness or safai ibadaat ke doosra darza pe” and the main theme was the rules how to conduct oneself in the society. He says they were taught that one fights for their rights but falls to the ground for one’s duties!
If our grandparents, parents could be taught these ideals why are they missing now?
Education is more than teaching. It is the sum total of all parts and of which teaching is one part. Teaching is concerned with instruction and it influences pupils regarding the existing value system. Education ultimately means to modify the educated one with not only knowledge but with a value system.A parent, Gurbinder Singh Anand,says that education basically depends upon the teachers and not the learners. If a teacher is satisfied with what he/she is delivering I think we are not left with any other options. Values generally comes from what we learn from our parents, brothers, sisters…the society at large but that again comes from the teachers we have..dont change the subject we learn change the way our teachers teach us so that more value can be added to our learnings.
John Ruskin says,’ education does not mean teaching people to know what they do not know it means teaching them to behave as they do not behave.”
From time immemorial even the Upanishads are testament to this- they state in the chapters 6th and 7th of Chandoyga Upanishad which deals with education primarily; states that to raise knowledge to wisdom is real education. Sadly, what we get/impart is mere knowledge minus the wisdom. It is compulsory mis-education where values as basic as compassion, kindness, integrity are forgotten. The framework of education should inspire give vent to imagination be a support system to encourage to explore and not to limit one to a strict syllabi.
Value education starts with teachers first. First the teacher has to be taught values then only he/she can be a medium. Theoretical education works only a fraction a minuscule part / it is the inner development of the child which is integral to the development or self actualization of the person. It is the complete breakdown of the value system which has given rise to the rampant breakdown in the moral fiber of the society and has led to an increase in crimes and degradation in humanity where crimes against women are the highest in Delhi. Swami Vivekananda is the manifestation of perfection already in man”.
Broad spectrum spiritual education should be given from all religions and not only one so that we get rid of fanaticism /communalisim. This helps in reducing intolerance in later life and the stresses of modern day living. The first step always starts at home. There should be no state religion but a partiality to all.Secularisim should be where we all are deeply religious rather than narrowly religious. Do not change the beautiful, innocent, pure souls to be the fanatics, jihadis of tomorrow.
Man is a social animal with values governing his action to maintain order to live in a community. Moral consciousness leads an individual towards spirituality and which in turn leads to inner realization of spirit. Morality helps realize the difference between good and evil. It helps to respect the dignity of other people, to respect the human behind the casteism tag. The human child is devoid of all tags when once he/ she is born it is the society which labels or categorizes him. This is the blot which we need to erase out of the psyche to progress. The history of India is ancient and has great traditions like ahimsa, satya .Unfortunately our children do not study except via the customary Hollywood movie.
The recent fast unto death by Anna Hazare which has been started to weed out corruption is a testimony to the times or the present conditions the Indian society has sunk to. The New York times in a scathing remark says, “Billions came out to support the cricket team but only thousands came out to support Anna Hazare, wonder what patriotism is.”
If Indians don’t come out in masses now, probably they will never.”USA Today.
Why has the situation become so deplorable that we need a Tahir Square demonstration to reform the country? It is never late to overhaul the system to inculcate values in our children, in the defunct education system. Jugraj Dhillon Sohi, a partner in the upcoming Infoplus media says that “Value based education is never out of fashion, apparently, the current one needs an overhaul as we are producing rattu-totaas, mainly. She says at school we had a moral/spiritual education class, twice every week, not to be confused with reciting religious prayers and hymns but infusing ethics.
Another valid point raised by Chief Information Commissioner Ramesh Inder Singh is that ,’Education has three components-knowledge of the domain area, acquisition of the required skills to put that knowledge to practice and last but not least values. Education would be incomplete without anyone of the three. He further says, ‘Ethics/values are the very basis of realized existence –however these need not necessarily be spiritual. Many civilizations are highly value based, without being spiritual. Nations which have adopted ethics as an imperative of value based existence, without linking it to spirituality have more effectively internalized these in the society than those who ‘preach’ these as a part of spirituality.
Values are imbibed just as a child learns to speak, without formal teaching in class rooms. Formal curriculum may help marginally –unless a child sees and feels value based living, as he grows in life, he may not turn out to be ethical.
The Indian education system is a legacy of the British system; increasingly it has become more and more commercialized in the hands of private and corporate sector. It is run under the lines of profit rather than imparting an education! The Indian society in the whole needs to move back from the emphasis on education to a secular and spirituality based education where values are taught. Post liberalization and commercialization education has become a profit making venture where education has been reduced to a rote system driven in producing robots where success is a measure of academic percentage of a child. It is the desire of the present society where the child excels in academia caught in the whirlpool of results, coaching aiming to better jobs translating into money. There are numerous incidents starting from nursery onwards where the right kind of school from the right kind of background are studying and its imperative that one gets admission there . In fact the Supreme Court had to intervene in Delhi to put an end to the psychological pressure which is exerted on the child.
Mahatama Gandhi, one of the foremost thinkers and advocate on education considers values an inseparable part in the full development of human personality. In his view, every value is a typical way that distinguishes one human from another. Values are determinants of human behavior. The gurukul system of the old provided this type of education where teachers were treated as Gods ; now we hold them in contempt knowing fully well that a parallel system of tuitions and coaching exists where it is available again for monetary value.
In our present education system morals, values, ethics, integrity need to be integrated, inculcated with the curriculum to balance out both. Moral values plus material knowledge need to go hand in hand. IF all we need to do is parroting what our grandparents/parents learnt; why are we mass producing kid’s choc-a block who mirror their parents? There is a slight deviant to the norm but 99.9% parents mold their students to score high, secure admissions ultimately translating to Mammon. The modern education system is yes more scientific, realistic practical and it teaches us to be strong, independent dealing with the vagaries of today’s world and how to cope with the ever changing scenario. It arms us to deal with the advancement in technology and the rapid scientific development.
However, the education today lays more stress on mugging up and does not encourage “out of the box “thinking .More emphasis is laid down in reproducing the book and the mind is conditioned to work in narrow and stringent lines.
Vivekananda said,” Education is all about building good character oneself”. Education is taught but character building lacks. There is no emphasis and even if there is one lesson taught in school that is always skipped or given the least emphasis. Dr. Kalkat says, they were taught a lecture every week for three years consecutive called QUANEEN WA HIFZANE SEHAT/ Public health and Rules of Citizenship in the year 1939 onwards. The first chapter highlighted that cleanliness is next to godliness or safai ibadaat ke doosra darza pe” and the main theme was the rules how to conduct oneself in the society. He says they were taught that one fights for their rights but falls to the ground for one’s duties!
If our grandparents, parents could be taught these ideals why are they missing now?
Education is more than teaching. It is the sum total of all parts and of which teaching is one part. Teaching is concerned with instruction and it influences pupils regarding the existing value system. Education ultimately means to modify the educated one with not only knowledge but with a value system.A parent, Gurbinder Singh Anand,says that education basically depends upon the teachers and not the learners. If a teacher is satisfied with what he/she is delivering I think we are not left with any other options. Values generally comes from what we learn from our parents, brothers, sisters…the society at large but that again comes from the teachers we have..dont change the subject we learn change the way our teachers teach us so that more value can be added to our learnings.
John Ruskin says,’ education does not mean teaching people to know what they do not know it means teaching them to behave as they do not behave.”
From time immemorial even the Upanishads are testament to this- they state in the chapters 6th and 7th of Chandoyga Upanishad which deals with education primarily; states that to raise knowledge to wisdom is real education. Sadly, what we get/impart is mere knowledge minus the wisdom. It is compulsory mis-education where values as basic as compassion, kindness, integrity are forgotten. The framework of education should inspire give vent to imagination be a support system to encourage to explore and not to limit one to a strict syllabi.
Value education starts with teachers first. First the teacher has to be taught values then only he/she can be a medium. Theoretical education works only a fraction a minuscule part / it is the inner development of the child which is integral to the development or self actualization of the person. It is the complete breakdown of the value system which has given rise to the rampant breakdown in the moral fiber of the society and has led to an increase in crimes and degradation in humanity where crimes against women are the highest in Delhi. Swami Vivekananda is the manifestation of perfection already in man”.
Broad spectrum spiritual education should be given from all religions and not only one so that we get rid of fanaticism /communalisim. This helps in reducing intolerance in later life and the stresses of modern day living. The first step always starts at home. There should be no state religion but a partiality to all.Secularisim should be where we all are deeply religious rather than narrowly religious. Do not change the beautiful, innocent, pure souls to be the fanatics, jihadis of tomorrow.
Man is a social animal with values governing his action to maintain order to live in a community. Moral consciousness leads an individual towards spirituality and which in turn leads to inner realization of spirit. Morality helps realize the difference between good and evil. It helps to respect the dignity of other people, to respect the human behind the casteism tag. The human child is devoid of all tags when once he/ she is born it is the society which labels or categorizes him. This is the blot which we need to erase out of the psyche to progress. The history of India is ancient and has great traditions like ahimsa, satya .Unfortunately our children do not study except via the customary Hollywood movie.
The recent fast unto death by Anna Hazare which has been started to weed out corruption is a testimony to the times or the present conditions the Indian society has sunk to. The New York times in a scathing remark says, “Billions came out to support the cricket team but only thousands came out to support Anna Hazare, wonder what patriotism is.”
If Indians don’t come out in masses now, probably they will never.”USA Today.
Why has the situation become so deplorable that we need a Tahir Square demonstration to reform the country? It is never late to overhaul the system to inculcate values in our children, in the defunct education system. Jugraj Dhillon Sohi, a partner in the upcoming Infoplus media says that “Value based education is never out of fashion, apparently, the current one needs an overhaul as we are producing rattu-totaas, mainly. She says at school we had a moral/spiritual education class, twice every week, not to be confused with reciting religious prayers and hymns but infusing ethics.
Another valid point raised by Chief Information Commissioner Ramesh Inder Singh is that ,’Education has three components-knowledge of the domain area, acquisition of the required skills to put that knowledge to practice and last but not least values. Education would be incomplete without anyone of the three. He further says, ‘Ethics/values are the very basis of realized existence –however these need not necessarily be spiritual. Many civilizations are highly value based, without being spiritual. Nations which have adopted ethics as an imperative of value based existence, without linking it to spirituality have more effectively internalized these in the society than those who ‘preach’ these as a part of spirituality.
Values are imbibed just as a child learns to speak, without formal teaching in class rooms. Formal curriculum may help marginally –unless a child sees and feels value based living, as he grows in life, he may not turn out to be ethical.
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