Essentially, it does not make them emotionally intelligent. Integral yoga is all about self-awareness and self-regulation. What is your opinion on this? And how do you think one can introduce this in schools and colleges at middle and high school levels, and among college graduates?
This is a vast and complex subject which I have dealt with in a number of talks and writings on auromaa. But just a few quick things.
There is no doubt that there is much to change in our existing education system. But it is not just the education system but the society and humanity that must change. Governments, institutions, systems are a reflection of the state in which human beings live. And so long as man lives by ambition, ego and desire there will be no real change except on the surfaces. Education can at best prepare a child but the child spends only few hours in the school. The rest of the time he is at home and interacting with his social milieu. Most parents do not send their child to school for an integral progress but for worldly success. This is the real issue.
What is needed is a shift in the human consciousness. This shift needed is not just a greater self awareness or self regulation or emotional intelligence. All these are good and desirable things but by themselves they are not sufficient to lift us out of the pitiable state in which we are in. First the sense of self must change from the ego-identification with the mind and body to an identification with the true self, the soul, the psychic being within us. Then the human nature itself must change under the pressure of higher and higher states of consciousness. Without this basic shift and change nothing substantial and enduring will happen. This is what the integral yoga is primarily about, not self awareness but Divine awareness, not self regulation but transformation.
Yet there is still a lot we can and must do within our human limits for it is these little baby steps that prepare us to climb the mountain. But it must be known that a lot more is needed for which only a few are ready and want it. It is these few who must put their all into it. It is only as these pioneers change that they will act as catalysts for the rest to change. The change in systems and institutions comes later, as a consequence. The Mother reminds us and the urgency for it.
‘After all, the whole problem is to know whether humanity has reached the state of pure gold or whether it still needs to be tested in the crucible.
One thing is evident, humanity has not become pure gold; that is visible and certain.
But something has happened in the world’s history which allows us to hope that a selected few in humanity, a small number of beings, perhaps, are ready to be transformed into pure gold and that they will be able to manifest strength without violence, heroism without destruction and courage without catastrophe.
But in the very next paragraph Sri Aurobindo gives the answer: “If man could once consent to be spiritualised.” If only the individual could consent to be spiritualised… could consent.1
Something in him asks for it, aspires, and all the rest refuses, wants to continue to be what it is: the mixed ore which needs to be cast into the furnace.
At the moment we are at a decisive turning-point in the history of the earth, once again. From every side I am asked, “What is going to happen?” Everywhere there is anguish, expectation, fear. “What is going to happen?…” There is only one reply: “If only man could consent to be spiritualised.”
And perhaps it would be enough if some individuals became pure gold, for this would be enough to change the course of events…. We are faced with this necessity in a very urgent way.
This courage, this heroism which the Divine wants of us, why not use it to fight against one’s own difficulties, one’s own imperfections, one’s own obscurities? Why not heroically face the furnace of inner purification so that it does not become necessary to pass once more through one of those terrible, gigantic destructions which plunge an entire civilisation into darkness?
This is the problem before us. It is for each one to solve it in his own way.
This evening I am answering the questions I have been asked, and my reply is that of Sri Aurobindo: If man could once consent to be spiritualised….
And I add: Time presses… from the human point of view.
- “All would change if man could once consent to be spiritualised; but his nature, mental and vital and physical, is rebellious to the higher law. He loves his imperfection.”
Affectionately,
Alok Da
Follow-up question:
But as you say – “ Yet there is still a lot we can and must do within our human limits for it is these little baby steps that prepare us to climb the mountain.” How should one take those baby steps ?? What steps should we take? … apart from fighting our own battles.
The first fundamental step is that the teacher must be a sadhak first and teaching should come to him as a natural expression of his soul need or soul urge, swadharma. The very idea of opening a school for money and becoming a teacher for lack of options or to make a career goes against the idea of integral education. Children imbibe so much more from example and influence of the consciousness of the teacher.
The teacher should be a psychologist who understands the difference between children rather than hastily judge them.
The teacher should have a complete control over himself and be open to questioning.
He should know that his knowledge, all knowledge, is relative and keep progressing towards true knowledge. He should be an explorer leading other explorers, a seeker helping other seekers.
The atmosphere of the teacher and the place where the teaching is taking place should be quiet and full of love and beauty. Knowledge, true knowledge in all aspects, should be the goal of teaching and shaping children into true, honest and genuine beings, of nobility and integrity, rather than the almost exclusive importance given to material success, job, career, etc.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
