Education in Values-

Strategies and Challenges

for Value Education

Prof. Prasad Krishna

Department of Mechanical Engineering
National Institute of Technology Calicut
 OUTLINE
• Introduction
• Values
• Value Based Spiritual Education (VBSE)
• Strategies to Implement VBSE
• Meditation for Regulation of Mind
• Challenges
• Conclusions
INTRODUCTION
 Past Education Scenario
• Education imparted by Rishis/Maharishis
• Gurukulavasam
• Rishis were trikalajnanis-knowing everything from the
past, present and future as well as knowing everything that is to be known
from the past, present and future. In a sense, therefore, they imparted
knowledge coming from the past, they imparted knowledge from the
present based on their own spiritual experiences and in a sense, imparted
knowledge of the future from their own vision of the distant future in
which they alone had access.

• Joint Family System-great deal of care, love and well

being. The old received as much care and attention as the very young and
the children were shared by all as a sort of common wealth, and a source
of joy and happiness . Story Telling have always been an effective way of
presenting values, concepts and ideas to children and adults alike.
Present Education Scenario
• There is supposedly more ‘Education’ now,
but there is also more Corruption
– more Greed
– more Selfishness
– more Poverty
– Lack of sincerity and integrity.
• Why?
 Because, now Education is
- synonymous with
a) Examination
b) Employment &
c) Empowerment
Unfortunately it no more stands for
a) Emancipation
b) Ennoblement and
c) Evolution
 Education Today
• Non-existence of gurukulasampradaya as well as joint
family system has adversely affected the present education
scenario.
• Absence of a holistic approach and an imbalanced growth
of knowledge –dealing only with external world around us
and not related to the inner-self of an individual.
• Misdirected educational system --- instead of developing a
person as a humane human being it is only directed
towards superficial, surface level achievements.
• Designed purely for money-making and not for man-
making and only promotes negative qualities like jealousy,
hatred and rivalry instead of virtues like kindness,
compassion and honesty .
Then, what exactly is the true
meaning of
“Education”
Does Education
Make one wiser? Happier? Contented?
Make one a better human being?
Or is there something more to Education?
Yes, of course, education is not just this.

Then what is Real education?

What should be its role?
 Education
Is not mere stuffing of facts.

Education is for the actualization of the

potential already in children.
Education is really the process of removing the
ignorance that is covering our inner knowledge,
which is absolute, which is perfect, which is
eternal, which is supreme. (Chariji)

Education is for a Holistic LIFE and not for a

mere living.

‘Education’ needs to be enriched with VALUES.

Now, to understand the concept of

Value based
Spiritual Education,
We must first see what “Values” really
mean.
 What are Values ?

Values are Standards

or Principles Considered important in life

Values
coming from Being
within Practiced

? ?
Values From within

1.Love
2.Kindness
3.Compassion
4.Mercy
5.Sympathy
6.Empathy
Values to be Practised

1.Punctuality
2.Discipline
3.Obedience
4.Behaviour
5.Conduct
6.Character
 Why Values?
• Values bring quality and meaning to life
• Values give a person his identity and character
• Values act as guidelines—they tell him what he
should and should not do.

They make us realize that

WHAT WE ARE
Is more important than

What We Have
 Education in Values or
Value education helps in developing
• Character • Compassion
• Good conduct • Love for all living beings
• Moral Integrity • Responsibility
• Self Discipline

and many other positive qualities in the students.

And above all…

It makes them feel better about themselves!

 And … as time goes on,

It becomes a second nature to them to be

disciplined, punctual etc.
Their academic performance goes up.
And they are able to spend
more time on learning.
 Role of Value Education
• In spite of all this, Value education is not
given enough prominence in the curriculum.
• Is it because it is not a course which can be
tested and graded?
• Is it because the result of the teaching
cannot be seen immediately?
• Or is it because we think students will learn
the values somehow or the other and it is not
our responsibility?
Whose responsibility is it anyway?
Isn’t imparting values the responsibility of parents?
Yes, it is. But teachers and schools play a BIG
role too.

• Students spend more time in the campus .

• Campus forms the bridge between home and
the society.
• It is in schools and later in the colleges that
students learn how to behave in the society.
• It is in schools & colleges that a good value
system can be nurtured.
 Role of Government
National Education Policy of our
government insist on establishing a
Centre for Value Education in all
universities and institutes of higher
education with the sole purpose of
imbibing human values in their
campuses
 But, Activities of CVE ?
Limited to mere conduct of expert
lectures/discourses on values, ethics,
morality education etc. and/or indulging in
community/social service.
There is no conscious effort made anywhere to
bring about internal change in an individual.
Anything good must sprout from inside so
that the external body can reflect the beauty
of it in all its glory.
This harmony between inner and external
process is termed as ‘Spiritual Civilisation’
 So, what is needed?
• There is an urgent need for change – changing from
what we are to what we have to become;
• Change from ambitions to aspirations. The
importance and urgency of change must be brought
forth through our education system.
• We need education to understand the value of
education and the value of further education.
• Since values are caught rather than taught, it is
imperative to devise other meaningful and
pragmatic strategies to help in personal evolution,
embracing all aspects of existence.
 Education in Values
• Now that the holistic vision of life-oriented
education was found to be insufficient for the
upliftment of mankind, ‘Values in education”
peeped its existence in the educational
scenario.
• But this has proved to be a futile attempt and
a shift has been made to "Education in
Values".
• This, in other words means, the imparting of
‘Value Based Spiritual Education’, abbreviated
as VBSE
 Where does Value education fit
into the curriculum?
Everywhere
• Students are not born with a set of values.

• Students unconsciously imbibe all kinds of values from their

parents, teachers and peers, all the time. So, in a sense,
values are more ‘Caught’ than ‘Taught’.
• Still, they do need guidance to help them learn the right values.

• This guidance goes on all through the curriculum, all through

the day, by all those who come in contact with them.

• It is not a one man’s job.

 Why Value Based
Spiritual Education?
Spirituality is the “art and science of Divine remembrance.”

i.e., doing everything in the remembrance of God so

that anything we do has a thought of divinity attached
to it. This motivates us to keep the highest goals in all
aspects of living and prevents us at all times from
doing anything wrong.

Therefore it is necessary that our students are educated in

spiritual values.
 Basics of

Value Based
Spiritual
Education
 Catch Them Young
Parents,
teachers,
family, school,
environment,
friends, society,
religion - all
these wield a
great influence
on the child.
 Catch Them Young

Physical deviations –
games, yoga, dance,
gymnastics etc.

All these help to teach

them the values for life.
 Catch Them Young

Academics and Co-curricular

activities, both help in
teaching values.
 Catch Them Young
Meditation, Value Based
Education,Music, Self
analysis, Positive
affirmations and
Resolutions help in
improving our character.
 Catch Them Young
The suggestions and words
spoken by the parents and
others affect the character
and good conduct of a child
and even babies.
- Babuji
 Experience, appreciate and
understand
The learned have only read
the books.

The practical man has tasted

the spirit of the books.
 Experience, appreciate and
understand
The “learned teachers”
are like sign posts by
the road, to tell you
where the road leads to.
Experience, appreciate and
understand
One who can express
has not experienced
and one who has
experienced cannot
express.
- Babuji
 Thoughts and Destiny
Watch your -
Thoughts : they become Words.
Words : they become Action.
Actions : they become Habits.
Habits : they become Character.
Character : it becomes your Destiny.
- Frank Outlaw
Present Situation
Only Materiality

M
M
S
M
M
The Saints
Only Spirituality

M
S
S
S
S
Equilibrium

M
M
S
S
Progress
M SS
M
 Union (Yoga)
MS

M- materiality S- spirituality
"There is nothing in a caterpillar that
tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
Think about the incredible change that
occurs during metamorphosis ...
From crawling to Flying ..
From dull to Spectacular ...
From fat & sluggish to Light and Airy.
What metamorphosis can YOU go
through?
Nothing is too great a change for you ...
light & airy ....
spectacular beauty ...
shedding one "persona" and
BECOMING totally new!

You can change into ANYTHING!

But what does the caterpillar do before it
becomes a butterfly?
It takes some time to "cocoon". Time to
isolate itself.
Perhaps if each of us would take some
"cocooning" time, we would begin our
own metamorphosis !
Living life as an adventure is FUN
living life in boredom is NO FUN.
Finding a way or making a way when
others do not see one is FUN.
Accepting that there is just no way is
NO FUN
Turning your dreams into reality
is FUN ...
Living in a dream world is NO FUN.
Grabbing an opportunity when it
presents itself is FUN ...
Letting an opportunity go by is
NO FUN.

Which choice are you going to

make?
“A person starts to live when he can
live outside himself." -- Albert
Einstein

“To solve a problem get out of the

problem” - Chariji

“Be a guest at your home” - Chariji

"It is not enough to be busy, so
are the ants. The question is:
what are we busy about?"
A goal,
a love and
a dream
give you total control
over your life.
 Value Education will help

1. The Need to Understand Oneself

2. Management of Self
3. Decision Making
4. Personality Development
 1. The Need to Understand
Oneself

a) Who Am I ?
b) What is my goal ?
c) How should I proceed towards
my goal ?
 2. Management of Self

a) Time Management
b) Stress Management
c) Life Management
 3. Decision Making

a) What is good for me ?

b) How to make decisions ?
c) Co-operation and Co-
ordination
 4. Personality Development

a) What is Personality ?
b) How should one develop
personality ?
c) How should I mould myself ?
d) Facing situations
 Strategies to Implement VBSE

Value Education could and should take place all the

time at schools and the following approaches can
help to focus on it.
• Independent approach – teaching core values
• Integrated approach – teaching values with the curricular
subjects
• Subtle approach – Being a good role model and teaching
with love
Approach to VBSE
Independent Approach
- Prayer
- Meditation
- Positive Resolutions
- Bhajans / Songs
- Value Education classes
- Stories
- Self Introspection
- Yogasana
Approach to Value Education
Integrated Approach
• Curricular Subjects Co-curricular
• English Dance
• Language Music
• Maths Drawing
• Sciences Craft
• Humanities Games
Approach to Value Education
Subtle Approach

• Role of Teacher
• Role of School
• Role of Parents/Family
• Role of Society
 Independent Approach
• Teacher directed activities
• Individual activities by students
• Group activities like games, exhibitions, discussions, role-play, debates,
dramatization, making collages etc.

And more effectively through specific, special time slots allotted in the time
table

The ‘Independent approach’

uses this special time to inculcate values in a
deliberate manner.
How to make VBSE classes interesting?
• Many think Value education classes can only be preachy
and boring--it is so full of Do’s and Don’ts!
• Yet it need not be so.
• How about making the classes fun filled and interesting?
Even more interesting than the regular classes?

Try out some of the ways-

• Story telling.
• Songs and poems—use folk songs and action songs
• Comprehension exercises—using the media, picture
comprehension
 Let the students use their Head,
Heart and Hands!
• Activities using their Head –
Solving riddles and puzzles, Dramatization,
Role play, Discussions and debates etc.

• Activities using their Heart –

Music, Games, etc.

• Activities using their hands –

Drawing illustrations and colouring, poster making,
making models and collages, craft work etc

• And many more!

 Integrated Approach
• This is a recent development, where the common spiritual and
behavioural values are taught, while a course is being taught. This
means that each and every teacher who teaches a course must
incorporate values in each of the topic
• Integration is possible in both curricular and co-curricular
courses.
• In this integrated approach, the student will neither forget the
course nor the value. For example, while teaching about
pendulum and motion, it can be correlated to mind, desires
and contentment.
• In chemistry, cause and effect value can be taught while
teaching balancing of reactions.
• Teaching of science should get humanized, eg; In the lessons
of human physiology/biology, heart and brain should be
studied not simply as pumping stations and memory control
towers but as seats of love, feelings, emotions, conscience –
the qualities that mankind is characterised by.
 Subtle Approach
• The most effective, though difficult to
comprehend or integrate.
• Based on the fact that “ Values are caught
and not taught”.
• Parents, teachers, peers, family and
society influence the student and his
behaviour. Parents and teachers must
regulate their minds.
• Parents have to be wise enough to know
that “ My child is mine; nevertheless it has
its own existence. It has a tendency of
growth and let me allow it grow”.
 Subtle approach
We teach who we are!

Actions speak louder than words.

Students learn values from What we are than
from What we say.
They also pick up hidden and unintended
values from
what is said and not said
what is done and not done!
 What is the role of the
Teacher?
As a substitute mother and a role model,

• should have a positive, healthy attitude and

the right values

• a balanced emotional outlook

• a regulated mind which is able to think

clearly and answer without any ambiguity
 What is the role of the Teacher?
should
• help the students achieve their full potential
and bring out the best in them.
• be able to lead them towards a better
tomorrow.
• Most important of all---MUST BE LOVING
AND SINCERE!
• Yes, it is a tall order but it is BIG
responsibility too!
Subtle approach – teaching with
LOVE
• Love is of paramount importance.
• Love is the core value. It leads to
understanding, sympathy, empathy,
consideration, care, sacrifice etc.
• A teacher who approaches any subject with
love, wins over the hearts of his/her wards.
• Love is the catalyst which grooms them into a
complete human being
 A TEACHER IS AND CAN BE THE
PIVOT OF THE SCHOOL

It is said that

• An excellent teacher inspires

• A good teacher explains
• An average teacher teaches &
• A bad teacher complains!
Which category do I belong?
 Need of the hour
Based on life oriented value based spiritual
curriculum and love based approach the
process of education in this millennium should
consist of the following four stages—
“Knowledge which is taught
Knowledge gained through intuition
Knowledge gained through revelation
Ultimate knowledge that comes from within
ourselves through meditation- yogic practice”.
 Meditation for
regulation of mind
 What is
Meditation and
what is the
purpose of
Meditation?
 Meditation may be defined as the
continuous thinking of something,
or about something. In a sense,
therefore, anybody who is thinking
continuously of something may be
said to be involved in meditation.
 Meditation is a process. It is a
process which we undertake to
reach a destined goal, a
predetermined goal. Meditation
is a training to apply the mind
for the purpose of regulating
the mind by our efforts.
 The whole purpose of
meditation is to make a
reversal in this fact of life that
the mind is our Master. We
have to become the Master of
our mind. It is only this much,
just reverse it.
 As one meditates so one
becomes. It therefore follows
that what we meditate upon we
get or become and inversing this
formula, if we want to become
something we must meditate
upon that and nothing else.
Therefore if our aim is
Realisation or the attainment
of one-ness with the
Ultimate, the object of
meditation must be that
Ultimate and nothing else.
We can learn to meditate only
by meditating. Meditate every
day. Because by doing it
again and again, we
progressively increase our
ability to take command of
the situation.
Challenges to VBSE
implementation
 Challenges-1
Religion vs. Spirituality
• First and foremost challenge in imparting spiritual education is that even
educated, intelligent people often confuse religion with spirituality.
• Spirituality is no way related to religion and in fact spirituality begins
where religion ends.
• Spirituality aims at integrating the entire humanity under the umbrella of
universal brotherhood irrespective of one’s religious background, beliefs,
caste, creed, sex, language, race, country etc.,
• Religions have caused several wars and resulted in division of mankind.
• Whereas religions survive on the weapons of fear and temptation,
spirituality thrives on love alone.
• Thus there cannot be any resistance from any corners to implement a
spiritual education programme.
 Challenges-2
The five levels of education
Information should not be confused with
knowledge, knowledge should not be confused with
wisdom, wisdom should not be confused with
intuition, and intuition should not be confused with
revelation. There are so many levels in this world
today. Information, knowledge, wisdom, intuition, and
revelation are the five levels of education.
Unfortunately in today’s schools only the lowest of
these five levels is taught. The higher levels seem to
have no meaning, and they are not even referred to.
 Challenges-3
The myth about Yoga
Many mistake yoga for yogasanas, which is only Hatha Yoga for
nourishment of body and to some extent mind.
The purpose of any yogic practice should be nourishment of the soul
and the sole aim of such practice being complete oneness with
the Ultimate and nothing short of it.
Perhaps yoga is the most misused/misinterpreted term today, not
only in the west, but in our country too.
Today we have yoga for dance, yoga for sex, yoga for sports, yoga
for diabetes cure, yoga for ladies etc.
The crux of the problem lies in our poor understanding of the real
goal of human life.
Many are happy with temporary goals of peace, curing of diseases,
mukthi or just concentration. In today’s fast life, people expect
miracles to happen in their life without any self-effort.
 Challenges-4
The notion that spirituality is for the old and
weak
Many have the wrong notion that spirituality is
meant for the old and for the mentally,
physically and financially disadvantaged lot.
Ancient wisdom says any spiritual practice must
start from the conception stage and we have
the stories of Abhimanyu and Prahlada from
the puranas.
Success in any spiritual practice requires strong
will power coupled with unalloyed devotion
and obedience to the Spiritual guide and it is
truly meant for the strong only.
 Challenges-5
Is Spirituality commercialised?
• It is unfortunate that in a country like India with her glorious past,
there have been umpteen number of yogic systems/organisations
who have made a good amount of money by cheating and
exploiting the public in the disguise of so called spirituality.
• The huge gathering of people around such notorious gurus also
fascinates most of us and we often think majority opinion is
always correct.
• The need of the hour is non-religious, non-profit making spiritual
organisations whose only aim is spiritual welfare of its people and
not money-making.
• Wherever and whenever wealth, power and fame accumulates,
there can be only inflated ego, fear, insecurity, distrust and not to
talk of spirituality.
 Challenges-6
Where can I find a role model
• Since the most effective approach to VBSE is the subtle approach, both
parents and teachers have to be role models. Therefore both parents and
teachers must regulate their mind by practicing meditation and evolve
spiritually.
• A real teacher continues to learn all his life. Common understanding is the
most important because, unless we lay a ground for common understanding,
neither can the teacher understand the student nor can the student
understand the teacher. Understand in the real sense, not with the head but
with the heart.
• A good teacher must recognize and attack the unwillingness, subdue it,
entice the owner of that unwillingness out of his or her shell into which they
have wrapped themselves. And the battle is won.
• It is same with parents too. Between the teacher and the student, there must
be flow of love from the teacher to the student, reciprocated by obedience
from the student to the teacher. The teacher must become an example,
which the students can follow, not someone the students are afraid of.
 Challenges….
Once again we come back to the need for
spirituality for all, none can escape it.
It is a matter of utter shame for a country
like India to see her educated people
debating on whether one need spirituality
in their life or not.
Spirituality is essential as log as we are here
and there is no question of any choice
about it.
Conclusions
 Conclusions-1
• Right education should cater to an individual's
intellectual, physical, emotional, social and
spiritual development.
• Education should help him/her evolve into a
person with holistic vision and growth, culminating
in preparing a happy future for an integrated
mankind.
• The means to achieve these objectives are
presented in this paper, the most effective being
the subtle approach.
 Conclusions-2
• Some of the challenges in the implementation
of VBSE are presented.
• Most of these problems can be overcome,
once we educate the student community on
the need for spirituality in their life and for
that, the educators themselves must be role
models.
• It is earnestly hoped that academic
institutions interested in imparting value
based spiritual education work in
collaboration with a non-profit, purely spiritual
organisation for training their teachers who in
turn will train their students.
 Conclusions-3
With these humble beginnings, we can help in
the fulfilment of the aim of regenerated,
revitalised, spiritualised youth which alone
can lead India in the consortium of nations in
this world.
To talk of material leadership is a farce and a
travesty of the truth.
India can lead the world only in spiritual matters
and this is possible only through a value
based spiritual education.
Thank you for having
given some of your
precious time to view
my presentation.

Have a nice day!