The ultimate objective of education in Jnana Prabodhini
We at Jnana Prabodhini ((JP) say that JP is the concrete form of the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda. Vivekananda defined education as ‘the manifestation of perfection already in Man’. Efforts made by members of the society for the manifestation or expression of perfection in each and every individual can be considered as education. Education helps one to unravel the hidden potential in every human being to become a perfect person. The expression of perfection is made possible by the physical, vital, emotional, intellectual and spiritual development of an individual. This multi-faceted development has to be helpful in the expression of perfection in the individual and at
the same time in the welfare, progress and stability of the society and the world community.These twin goals were defined by Swami Vivekananda as ‘आत्मनो मोक्षार्थं जगद्धिताय च ’ (for perfection in individual life and for welfare of the world community.) Thus the ultimate objective of education is ‘total development of the individual in relation to society and mankind’, which is in short stated by JP as man-making.
Spirituality is the basis
Man-making as a concept may be considered as the synthesis of 1) training of body, mind and intellect and 2) attitude formation. An individual should not only think and care about the world without but should also think about the source of thoughts and inspiration within oneself. To discover and experience that the source of thoughts and inspiration within and the cosmic energy behind the world without are one and the same is called as spirituality in the Indian tradition. The discovery is facilitated by constantly reminding oneself and trying to be aware of this unity by meditation and prayer which is called as Upasana in JP. Upasana consists of auto-suggestion for self improvement, prayer arising out of a feeling of gratitude towards all, and unselfish desire for the good of all. Jnana Prabodhini has put its faith in this spirituality and believes that when all education is directed towards this discovery and experiencing of spirituality, education becomes man-making.
Intermediate and immediate objectives of education
The ultimate objective acts like a light-house to many generations. The intermediate objective channels the efforts of one or two generations. While Divinity is being manifested in exceptional individuals, the welfare of the society and humanity cannot be neglected. So one of the important objectives of education has to be to create in an individual a sense of connectedness with the society, nation and Humanity. Connectedness with the nation is created first by study of academic subjects with a view to understand the nation’s problems and secondly, by building motivation to shoulder the responsbility to confront one or more of these problems. Hence Jnana Prabodhini has chosen as its intermediate objective the goal of creating a sense of belongingness to the Nation, awareness of national problems and motivation to confront these problems.
All other objectives like learning skills for earning livelihood; acquiring knowledge of arts and sciences; utilizing leisure-time; forming socially acceptable habits; are immediate objectives which are to be achieved in the light of the ultimate and intermediate objectives. Educating a generation with such skills, knowledge and habits is the immediate social objective. Acquiring all these qualities is the immediate individual objective.