Gurukula
Patanjali
Few year ago, Nagapratyhus told me about how he perceive the educational system from India. Back then he was a student of Chennai IIT, mean time he became an engineer, so I have to believe him
🙂.
However, he told me that today college (especially those … technical) are like a cattle farm, breading and growing animals for the slaughterhouse.
It was … scary and I considered it to be an overreaction of a student that take too much pressure from teachers, exams, etc., but … those days I found (thanks to an old friend and eFriend) an article of The Guardian, telling the story of Peter Higgs (yes, the one that told us about the boson with the same name) and he’s view on today academic system.
This scholar (Higgs) say: “I wouldn't be productive enough for today's academic system” because “now academics are expected to keep churning out papers”. And this remind me the story of devas churning the mountain
😃.
From the ancient Gurukul system (the first educational system known to humans in Kali Yug), where the aims of education where:
1. Self-control
2. Development of character
3. Generation of sociability or social awareness
4. Integral development of personality
5. Propagation of purity
6. Preservation of knowledge and culture.
We face now a system that focus on … productivity, like any other factory or manufacture, being, too much, related to cost effectiveness and … forgetting, somehow, the above mentioned objectives of a normal, natural educational system.
Pretty much, the same here (in eR) too.
This game could be played, by everyone, in a different manner. You could take it as a war game, an economic modelling game (as bad as the economical module is) or you could play it at sea level, meaning you just click once a day and did not get involved.
Sure, this way differences appear between players, and one could feel like An insect among Gods or became himself a Legend.
Still, like in today academic system, those that became “Legends” will be much more appreciated and will tend to became models, because ppl are not very attracted toward … insects.
Now, knowing that in today RL India, there are, still, schools following Gurukul system, I’m wondering if you could tell me more about them. Perhaps some of you followed such a school or know someone who did.
Also, I’m willing to know how you see the today academic / educational system, considering this global society and the small differences between countries.
Meri shubhkaamanaaye aapke saath hai !
Comments
The header of all my articles rea😛 "Get Informed, Get Inspired, Get Involved"
I've always maintained that to enjoy this 'game' isn't simply limited to becoming a warrior, however badass that might be. That also involves spending tons of RL money & honestly, having done it myself, I wouldn't recommend that.
What I always say though is that working for the communities progress, being involved in the decision making, taking charge of eIndia's affairs - that has nothing to do with strength & can make 'legends' out of people as well. Without beating my own drum, I've proved that too - before I was a soldier. Anyone can be a legend, as long as they put in the time, energy, enthusiasm & willingness to learn from those that are more experienced, that's all. We've always tried to maintain an open society that allows that.
True, Mavo, and eIndia, like any other country have a lot of "Legends" that did not became ... warrior badass 😃.
But through this I try to talk a little about the ... education and, like any activity in which we are or get involved, this game too could prove a tool for some sort of education. Some learn to steal cc or accounts, some learn how ppl live in other countries, some learn how ppl could be double faces, some learn that you could find a trustworthy persons even if you never meet her.
In this sens, I express my special interest regarding Gurukul system and he's presence in today life, because, perhaps you remember from my previous articles, I still consider Tlaxila, Nalanda, etc, as the golden age of enlightement and knowledge, not only for India, but for humankind.
Thanks
There are a few systems still remaining....on paper, it seems that Shantiniketamn is still one ofthem, although I have ot yet visited it. Pizzarayne would definitely know more about it, he keeps visiting the town pretty ofetn.
The other places where I have found such a system is in the programs setup to teach slum kids or tribal kids. These are schools conducted largely by volunteers and thus the system depends on the charisma of the volunteer to impart knowledge rather than on a set system of education 🙂
I think there are also a handful of schools that may perhaps have this system...usually in the arts, such as dance and music and literature... les sin the technical and vocational fields 🙂
Dhanyavaad ! Waiting for more opinions and details 🙂
Gurukuls were sites of Brahmanical thought and hegemony. The upper caste gurus excluded the shudras and denied them education. They were bastions of religious dogma.
You mean, even prior to moghuls invasion ?
Yes. Since the time when MAnusmriti was written. Please get to know about that atrocious piece of crap text.
Patanjali, i didn't knew about this educational system. In it's best times was it available and attended by mass of people, or it was mostly by youngs from educated families or nobles etc? You think about this as a complementary system or a substitute for current system?
🙂
Attendants where received in the house of the guru (teacher) living under the same roof, and they could be of any class (no distinction was made between them during the study).
Slowly temples became ... University and get large mass of students (at the beginning, I presume, the rules regarding non discrimination where available).
The tradition of this kind of education, oriented toward enlightement of humans, I belive, ended after the invasion of mongolic arabs, around XII century AD.
I do believe that this kind of educational system, focused on the balanced and natural development of persons are more desirable that the one focused on achieving informations.
Thanks for the mention.
Would like to add to your point, unless the 'insect' gathers up other insects and brings down the God.
I haven't come across any 'Gurukuls' in India.
And like Mastermind mentioned, even the schools that refer themselves with the idea of a 'Gurukul' are elitist and exclusive in nature (not on the lines of the caste though).
Thanks for the comment.
You say about how things are today, right ?
Yes.
But this shouldn't reflect on the country.
These elite schools present all around the world have a similar elitist and exclusive nature.