We need Root and Branch Reforms in Governance, Teaching & Preaching to produce Selfless Mentors as Karma Yogi
Why do we work? We see that every being and the whole universe is continuously, incessantly 'working'. For what? Modern global society with all their pride in their sciences etc. have absolutely no clue on this fundamental question of why we work from birth to death!
While the West sought to 'Know Thyself' but never knew; the Vedic Rishis of ancient India discovered and boldly declared to the world, be a karma yogi to know thy own 'Self', the Consciousness that enlivens us and makes us conscious-living-beings. Our Rishis discovered the nature of our Inner instrument, our Mind, and how every 'work' can become our 'highest Worship'; and in recent times, it is Vivekananda, who has explained in simple words that selfless 'work' when does as 'worship of God in man' leads to our highest good. It is good to know that instructions have now been issued, that all government servants must be trained to be 'Karma Yogi'.
Making Right Choices is wisdom: Every moment two choices present themselves to us, we may choose either to Work only to earn and enjoy the short-term pleasures or strive to Work as Karma Yogi for our long-term good. Obviously, the latter are the Mentors of society committed to kartavya-plan and fit to be in academia and governance.
The purpose of Education, Parenting, Preaching, facilitated by Governance, must be to Teach, Preach, and Inspire us to learn how to choose the 'Long-term Good' over the 'Short-term Pleasant'. This ability to think, plan and act based on long-term good not just for 'me and mine' but for the whole society, must be practiced and developed.
So, the challenge is, how do we as Governance ensure that we educate, train and recruit those as Permanent Government servants who have developed the ability to know and choose the long-term good? And ensure that Preachers of all religions must teach us to be Karma Yogi and treat our duties as the highest religion.
Necessity of Inner Governance practices to 'Know Thyself': When we strive for the higher & better, all lower goals are also included. So, our ancient wisdom suggests, strive first to know the highest goal and purpose of work and life! When we strive to understand our real Self, we are led from a worldview of 'Separateness' to 'Oneness' and our focus of attention shifts from 'Objective to 'Subjective'.
The Big Question: It is obvious that the 'self-less', righteous, men of 'Wisdom', fit to be Mentors, will always be very few. In modern idea of Democratic governance and schooling that is limited merely to learning to earn a living, neither the Permanent Governance Bureaucracy nor the elected temporary Political leadership are accountable to be and make Mentors. And, surprisingly no one, not even Teachers, Professionals, Academia or even Preachers of Religions, are accountable or responsible to inspire and guide 'society as a whole' towards treating work and fulfilment of duties as the highest religion.
While Teachers teach, Preachers preach and democratic governance divides and rules, who is responsible and accountable today, to Mentor the 'Society as a whole' towards our 'long-term good universal Goals' and then inspiring us to learn to strive towards their attainment thru' Self-development practices?
We must not lose sight of our traditional ideas and ideal that the leaders at the top of the pyramid must be the few men of simple living and high thinking – we must be led by Mentors; by 'Quality of mind' not 'Quantity of power, money, number of votes'!
Questions for Reflection as Preachers, Parents, Teachers: Whatever the leaders do, that the people follow; we the educated and the teachers are the leaders of society today: Are we good role models? What is our role as Teachers?
Is it simply teaching of some subjects or is it building of Character? If it is both then which is of greater importance?
People tend to do what they are evaluated upon: So, how do we evaluate character? What syllabus and action plan are we following to build character?
What is our method to make the youth aware of and committed to the fundamental duties, to their duties to their family, organization, society?
What is our method to inculcate in the students the spirit of striving for quality and excellence? What is our method to develop in the youth spontaneous feelings of love, care and concern for others? How do we inspire the students to struggle against their lower tendencies?
How do we help develop strength and fearlessness in the students to walk the critical path to the higher and better; and unless we define the highest and best how can we determine the higher? How do we help students to develop their powers of discrimination, viveka'?
Education tips from ancient India: During the Round-Table Conference in the UK in 1931, Mahatma Gandhi, speaking to the Press, had said that when the British came to India, instead of building up on the existing systems, they uprooted the Beautiful Tree of Indian systems of education and health, Vidya and Vaidya, and allowed the roots to decay and die. These were offered by men of wisdom, Mentors, Karma Yogi, men of 'tyaga and seva', the twin ideals of India. The total commercialization of both education and health today shows the wisdom of the Mahatma.
Our challenge is to produce Teachers and select as Permanent govt. servants those who not only 'Teach, Preach, Govern' but can inspire and guide society towards becoming and making Mentors, Karma Yogi, striving to 'Know Thyself'.
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