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Unit 1
1. Explain the need for value education.
Ans: Need for Value Education
Correct identification of our aspirations : All human beings have aspirations. You may aspire to become a doctor or engineer or a lawyer, or a film star or something else. You must have made various plans for your future, be it immediate or long term. But before you invest your energies to actualize your plans, find out what you basically aspire for. Thus you need to identify your basic aspiration. Based on the correct identification of this basic aspiration, frame your goals and sub-goals appropriately and working for these, you fulfil basic aspiration. Understanding universal human values to fulfil our aspirations in continuity: Just identifying one’s aspiration is not enough. We need to know how to fulfil our aspirations, how to go about actualizing our goals. Generally, we tend to pursue our goals in variety of ways as per our appraisal and beliefs. We keep on making experiments, learning from these and accordingly improving our understanding. Basically all of us are aspiring to be happy and whatever appears conducive to our happiness becomes valuable to us. Values form the basis for all our thoughts, behaviour and actions. Values become the source for our happiness, our success, our fulfilment. Value Education is the input necessary to fulfil this need. When we live with the correct understanding of values, we are happy in continuity, otherwise we feel deprived, frustrated and unhappy.
Complementarity of values and skills: In the endeavour to fulfil our aspirations, two things are essential: (a) First and foremost, one has to know what really is conducive to human happiness - i.e. happiness for one and for all, and happiness at all times. This is what becomes universally valuable to human beings. This is the ‘ value’ domain , the domain of wisdom. This helps us to identify and set the right goals and to proceed in the right direction. (b) Secondly , it becomes essential to learn methods and practices to actualize this goal, to develop the techniques to make this happen in real life, in various dimensions of human endeavour. This is the domain of ‘skills’. Thus values and skills have to go hand in hand. There is an essential complementarity between values and skills for the success of any human endeavour. For example, I want to lead a healthy life. Only wishing for good health will not help me keep my body fit and healthy and without having understood the meaning of health, I will not be able to choose things correctly to keep my body fit and healthy. Both (values and skills) are important and these are complementary
Evaluation of our beliefs : In absence of a correct understanding of universal human values , weare driven by our ‘ ad-hoc’ values and beliefs. If we look deep into ourselves, we find that each one of us believes in certain things and we base our ‘values’ on these beliefs, be they false or true which may or may not be true in reality. o For example , someone may believe that “ A corporate job is the best kind of job ”, “ IIT is the best college to go to ”, “ Metro cities are the best places to live in ” and so on. etc. All of us live with such beliefs. o Beliefs change with time .We might have thought we get into a good job, doing well in that job and earning a lot of money may be important. Once we have the money, getting into a
good position may become important – i.e. what we believe is to be important, may keep changing with time. Many times, we may even find ourselves trapped in conflicting beliefs.
o Another thing about beliefs is that they are usually not the same for everybody. You may think being environmentally - friendly is important, your friend may think that it is okay to pollute the environment. The beliefs keep changing from person to person.
Technology and Human Values : With the understanding of values we can decide on the appropriateness of technology and its application. Both the structure and use of technology are decided by values.
- For example: if we value the relationship with the environment, we will work to create environment-friendly technologies (the structure of technology) and also put it to right use ( use of technology), say, for the enrichment of environment, replenishment of natural resources etc. Conversely, if the relationship with the environment is something we do not value, things could be the other way round.
It is essential that we understand how technology relates to us as individuals and to human society and nature.
2. List out the basic guidelines of value education and content of it. Ans:
Basic Guidelines for Value Education Broad guidelines to decide on what would qualify as an appropriate input in value education: Universal Whatever we study as value education has to be universally applicable to all human beings and be true at all times and all places. In addition, it need not restrict itself to a certain sect, creed, gender or nationality etc. So it has to deal with universal human values. Rational It has to be amenable to reasoning and not based on dogmas or blind beliefs. It cannot be a set of sermons or Do’s and Don’ts. Natural and Verifiable We want to study something that is natural to us. Being natural means, it is acceptable in a natural manner to all human beings. When we live on the basis of such values that are natural to us, it leads to fulfilment, leads to our happiness and also is conducive to other people we interact with, as well as with nature. We also would like to verify these values ourselves, i.e. we don’t want to assume something just because it is being stated here or written in a book , rather, each one of us will want to verify these to find out whether they are true for us. This has to be done by both checking for validity within ourselves, as being naturally acceptable as well as something which we can implement in our living and observe its outcome to be fulfilling. All Encompassing Value education is not merely an academic exercise. It is aimed at transforming our consciousness and living. Hence, it has to permeate into all dimensions of our living, namely, thought, behaviour, work and understanding/realization; as well as all levels, namely, individual, family, society and nature.
W e have to understand our relationship with other humans, animals, plants and matter etc to know how we have to live in harmony with all these things . We live in our families – parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters. We live in society – we interact with our teachers, with various people in the society. We live with nature – with animals, birds, plants, insects, materials, etc, and We live in the larger existence – all that space, and all those planets, stars and other entities that are suspended in it.
We need to understand ourselves and the rest of existence, and also our relationship with allentities in existence and then fulfil this relationship.
5. It is a process of knowing human conduct, human character and living accordingly: We all desire for certainty and stability. This is what characterizes a human being. When we know this true human character, we start moving towards it in a natural manner.
Example: We can’t be sure of how we are going to be this very evening! We are not sure what our mood will be tomorrow morning. Or do we want definitiveness in our conduct? Explore. There is a need to understand this definite conduct in a human being and how it can be ensured.
The process of Self-exploration will enable us to identify the definitiveness of human conduct and to live accordingly.
- It is a process of being in harmony in oneself and in harmony with entire existence: Through the process of Self-exploration, I establish a dialogue with my natural acceptance. This enables me to be in harmony within myself. Through the same process, I am able to explore into the harmony in the entire existence. The process of Self-exploration helps me live in harmony within myself and in all my interactions with the world around. Would you desire to be in such a state? Well, we need to work for it. 7. It is a process of identifying our Innateness (Swatva) and moving towards Self-organization (Swatantratã) and Self-expression (Swarãjya): When I identify my innateness , I attain harmony in myself. This is Swatantratã. When I start living with this harmony, participation towards harmony in the surroundings and whole existence. This is working towards Swarãjya. Swatantratã : Being self-organised : Being in harmony in oneself Swarãjya : Self-expression, Self-extension : Living in harmony with others, and thus participation towards harmony in the whole existence Ask yourself this question: Are you self-organized right now? Are you able to be in harmony with others? If you are living in contradiction, then it means you are not self-organized. If you are living with pre-conditionings, wherein you have assumed certain things, have accumulated desires without having first evaluated them, then it means you are partantra (enslaved). Through Self-exploration I identify my innateness ( Swatva ), what I really want to be. Then, living accordingly enables me to being in harmony within myself ( Swatantratã ) and finally being in harmony with the whole existence ( Swarãjya ) 4. Discuss the process of self exploration. Ans: Following points are to be kept in mind regarding this process of Self-exploration.
“Whatever is stated is a proposal”.
Don’t start by assuming it to be true or false. It is a proposal. Don’t accept it as it is , or assume it to be true. If we don’t assume it, how will we verify it? “Verify it on your own right”
Verifying in your own right implies the following; “ Don’t just accept or reject it.
- on the basis of scriptures
- on the basis of instruments
- on the basis of others”
Let us understand these in more detail:
1) “Don’t try to verify on the basis of scriptures/ what is written”: let’s not compare what is being proposed here with what is written in some book, something that you have read or are reading. verify these proposals directly within yourself. 2) “Not on the basis of instruments”: Don’t assume these proposals as being true or false based on the conclusions somebody might have given after conducting experiments with physical instruments. Such perceptions also need to be subjected to self- verification. 3) “Not on the basis of others”: You may have heard something that some great person has said. You may believe what this person says to be true. End up comparing what is being proposal with statement given by that personality. This would not mean verifying in your own right; it would mean accepting on those great personalities’ right! “Firstly, verify the proposal on the basis of your natural acceptance” “Firstly, verify the proposal on the basis of your natural acceptance” Natural acceptance is a faculty that is present in each one of us. It is intact and invariant. We only have to start paying attention to it, to start “seeing” it. For example, ask yourself this question: ‘Is trust naturally acceptable to me in relationship, or is mistrust naturally acceptable?’ What is the answer? It turns out that trust is naturally acceptable to you in relationship.
Question: “Do I want to live in relationship with others or do I want to live in oppositionwith others?” The answer is - live in relationship with others. we get the answers from within ourselvesand it is spontaneous. We call this faculty the natural acceptance****. You don’t have to import this natural acceptance from outside; you don’t have to learn it from somewhere! For example, when you asked the question “whether trust is most acceptable to me in relationship”, did you ask anyone else for the answer? Did you read or learn the answer from somewhere? Did you have to refer to some instrument? The answer is NO. This answer came from within you. Similarly, about the answer to- “ Is living in relationship with others is naturally acceptable to me”. Did you have to learn this from others? Again NO! Thus, as first part of the self-verification, every proposal being put forth here, is passed through our own natural acceptance. “Secondly, live according to the proposal to validate it experientially.” To verify the proposals, I need to live accordingly in my interactions with the world around. This involves two things: behaviour and work. If the proposal is true, (a) In behaviour with other humans, (i) it will lead to mutual fulfilment (b) In work with the rest of nature, (ii) it will lead to mutual prosperity. I desire mutual fulfilment in my relations with other humans and mutual prosperity with the rest of nature. This way, I validate the truthfulness of the proposal. The whole process of self-exploration can be represented as follows:
Accordingly, the complete process of self-exploration can be depicted as below.
The answers we get on having realization & understanding are: (a) Assuring: “I am assured of the answer or understanding in myself ” (b) Satisfying: “I am satisfied that the answers are fulfilling for me. (c) Universal : “I know or realize that the answers I have got are the same for everyone. They are invariant with respect to: (i) Time : These answers are the same at all times: past, present and future (ii) Space : These answers are the same at all places or locations (iii) Individual : The answers are the same for every human being
If the answers we get do not fulfil any of the criteria of being assuring, satisfying and universal; it means the answer is most likely coming from your past beliefs/conditioning and not from your natural acceptance. Hence, you need to re-verify the answer! Let us not accept the proposals stated here because they are being repeated all the time! Far from it! Each one of us needs to start asking ourselves these questions and see what is acceptable to us! You have to start asking these questions yourself!
6. What is the true essence of happiness and prosperity? Ans:
Exploring Happiness and Prosperity:
Happiness: We can thus understand Happiness as “The state/situation in which I live, if there is harmony/synergy in it, then I like to be in that state or situation.” i.e. “To be in a state of liking is happiness.” When we are in such a state of happiness – we experience no struggle, no contradiction or conflict within and we enjoy such a state of being. And we wish to have its continuity.
When we experience feelings such as failure, disrespect, lack of confidence, being doubtful in ourselves or about others, we feel unhappy as they are states of conflict. We do not wish for a continuation of these feelings within and want to try and change them – we can call this unhappiness. We can thus state unhappiness as: “The state/situation in which I live, if there is conflict/contradiction in it, then I do not like to be in that state or situation.” i.e. “To be in a state of disliking is unhappiness” Thus, we can define happiness and unhappiness as “To be in a state of harmony is happiness.” “To be in a state of disharmony or contradiction is unhappiness” We do get an impression of happiness through our sensory interaction also such as while eating tasty food, seeing a beautiful picture, smelling a sweet fragrance, etc. Prosperity: Prosperity is related to material things or what we call as ‘physical facilities’. Egs: clothes to wear, food to eat, a pair of spectacles, a two wheeler or a four wheeler vehicle, a radio set, a mobile phone etc. So we need physical things to take care of our body and these needs to be catered to. When we are able to cater to the needs of the body adequately, we feel prosperous. Therefore, Prosperity : is the feeling of having or making available more than required physical facilities. To ascertain prosperity, two things are essential: (a) Correct assessment of need for physical facilities, and (b) The competence of making available more than required physical facilities (through production). We can quantify the need for physical facilities? Is there a limit to the need for physical facilities? We can be prosperous only if there is a limit to the need for physical facilities. If there is no limit, whatsoever be the availability with us, the feeling of prosperity cannot be assured. Physical facilities are the needs of the body and their need is limited in time and quantity. Thus we can identify a limit to these needs and evaluate whether we have enough. Secondly, just assessing the need is not enough. We need to be able to produce or make available more than the perceived need. Difference between wealth and prosperity: A person has wealth, but feels “deprived”; in other words the person does not have a feeling of being prosperous. If one felt prosperous, he/she would have shared what one has, since there is more than enough wealth anyway. On the other hand someone who does not have a lot of wealth may welcome you into his/her house and ask you to stay back for a few days and help you out. This is an indication of feeling prosperous. Thus, we can see that: Wealth is a physical thing. It means having money, or having a lot of physical facilities, or both. Prosperity is a feeling of having more than required. Prosperity is a feeling of having more than required physical facilities ; it is not just physical facilities_._ We keep working for wealth, without realizing that the basic desire is for the feeling of prosperity, to have a feeling of having enough. Let’s ask ourselves, “What is naturally acceptable to me?”: Accumulating more and more wealth while feeling deprived, OR Having requisite wealth and feeling prosperous.
1) “Happiness and sadness are the two sides of the same coin” or “ _Happiness and sadness are the two banks of a river and one is doomed to travel back and forth between the two”
- “I cannot be sure of happiness unless I am unhappy”_ The simple answer to this question is: the acceptance or recognition of happiness is there in me innately, I do not have to compare with something to identify it. You ask yourself, do you first hate your friend to know how to like him/her; or, do you first disrespect your parents to know what it means to respect them?
A few of us feel that it is an intellectual exercise with little relevance to our life, “Of course I want to be happy and I will be happy once I have achieved what I have set myself out to achieve”. “Do not bother me with all this” is another common dismissal.
8. What are the basic requirements to fulfil human aspirations? Indicate their correct priority. Ans:
- Underline the items are physical things.
- For example: a guitar is a physical thing , while happiness is not a physical thing.
- For animals: Animals need physical things to survive and to take care of their body. Take a cow for example. A cow will look for food when it is hungry. Once it gets the grass or fodder, it eats it, sits around to chew at leisure.
- For humans: The list is endless. physical facilities are necessary for us human beings, they are not complete by themselves to fulfil our needs.
- For animals – “Physical facilities are necessary and complete”;
- For humans – “Physical facilities are necessary but not complete”
- Here is another proposal:
- “Besides physical facilities, we want relationship”. There are two categories of our needs:
- – Relationship and
- – Physical facilities.
- In Relationship Mutual fulfilment: We want to have mutually fulfilling relationships.If there is a problem in relationship, we feel uneasy, it bothers us.
- For example, you had an argument with a friend, you feel uneasy for a long time, even after you have stopped speaking to your friend and have physically moved away from him/her. From Physical Facilities: Do I want to protect and enrich nature, or do I want to exploit it?”
- Answer - enrich nature. What is Our State Today: “Am I able to have such fulfilling relationships all the time today”? “Sometimes I have good
relationships, sometimes I don’t.
Physical facilities: “Do I feel prosperous? Do I find that I have a feeling to share what I have? Am I satisfied with my wealth today? Or do I want more? How much is this “more”?
In Relationships “Do I understand human relationships? Do I know what the other person’s expectations from me are”? The answer is, “I mostly don’t”, OR ‘I am not sure about this” etc. For example : If you had a tiff(quarrel) with your father or your brother, it can stay with you and bother you for a very long time, so much so, that till the issue is resolved, you may not be able to do anything else!
From Physical Facilities - Additional observations here:
Question 1: “ Is the unhappiness in my family today more due to lack of [3]Physical facilities, or due to lack of [2] Relationship”? If we have physical facilities but lack relationship, what will happen in the family? If we have relationship in the family but lack physical facilities, what would be the state of the family? If we have relationship, we can earn together for the family, but if the relationship is not there, we will think of taking away the share of the other. The families are breaking today due to lack of physical facilities OR due to fulfilment in relationship? When you explore on these issues you will get the answer as : [2] Relationship. Question 2 : “How much time am I spending today working to ensure [2] Relationship, and how much time do I spend working for, or preparing to get [3] Physical facilities”? Answer : We spend more time for [3] Physical facilities than for [2] Relationship! What is the Solution?- The Need for Right Understanding.Thus, the three basic requirements to ensure happiness and prosperity for human beings are:
Hence the priority is
- Right Understanding
- Relationships
- Physical Facilities
- Right Understanding
- Relationship
- Physical facilities
- Working with this order, we are able to ensure mutual fulfilment with human beings and mutual prosperity with the rest of nature.
- Right understanding + Relationship = Mutual fulfilment
- **Right understanding + Physical facilities = Mutual prosperity Our Program: Understand and Live in Harmony at All levels of Living
- What is the difference between 'animal consciousness' and 'human consciousness'?**
Explain with the help of a diagram.
- To live solely on the basis of [3] Physical facilities can also be called as living in animal
consciousness.
- We are not satisfied merely by living at this level and hence we need to work towards having the right understanding.
- Living with all three: [1] Right understanding, [2] Relationship and [3] Physical facilities is called human consciousness.
- To develop from animal consciousness to human consciousness is the transformation.
- It is a qualitative improvement in consciousness. Value education is about enabling this transformation in the human being.
