Page 38 - NAMAH-Apr-2018

Namah Vol. 26, Issue 1, 24th April 2018

and have a feel for it. But they need freedom himself had to pay the gurudakssinnaa to complete
to explore the future that often discloses the education. The gurudakssinnaa was another
itself through experimentation and even way of granting the degree so to say. It was
error. What is error but an approximation, like a test that included life itself and how
a failed attempt, a misdirected effort. Give the student fared reflected how much he
it a direction and the freedom and the right had absorbed the teachings. In other words
environment and the same thing will become it was an education closely connected with
a means to bring out some hidden truth. But and knit into life. It is quite possible that the
this is difficult to do with parents around truth of this ancient system will be recovered,
since instinctively parents are bound by their albeit in a new form. When we have such wise
past. It is challenging for children to navigate Masters, then parents will be rather happy
between the past that the parents, barring a and feel secure in leaving their children with
few exceptions, represent and the future that them. That is what gurukula means. Once
is trying to be born within them. admitted, the child belongs to the family of
the guru. He is a member of his household
That is why it is better to sometimes separate and not merely a pupil, least of all an object
the child from the parent during the years of to be standardised and fitted into the existing
education, say for around 5 years and let him social and cultural mould for a fee. When
stay at some place of learning with a wise this happens then education will once again
teacher as its head. This was the rationale become a thing connected with life. Class
behind the gurukula system of old. However, rooms will be replaced by a universal learning
it has now lost its relevance due to the lack of through each and every experience and
such gurus and also because the commercial contact of the child as he grows through
element has become so powerful in education. the years. There is a wisdom working in
In the days when the gurukula system was at everything and it is this that the student
its peak, the guru did not charge money for needs to explore and come in contact with. If
the education he provided, since education he can learn to do so as a living reality or as
can never be priced. It is a priceless gift and a way of life then we need not worry about
no cost would be sufficient if one took it that things such as career, etc. He is sufficiently
way. However the gurus were supported by equipped to find his way and his place in
benefactors and the king and the disciple the universe.

Dr. Alok Pandey, an editor of NAMAH and a member of SAIIIHR, is a doctor practising at the
Sri Aurobindo Ashram.

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