The world is recognising the critical importance of values-based education as is evident by the inclusion of value-based elements in the curriculum of academic institutions at all levels, executive training and organisational development. Sanaatan Dharma has been the first and continues to be the greatest advocate for values-based development, demonstrated by the very definition of Sanaatan Dharma as an eternal code of principles and values.
These principles and values are necessary to avoid disorder and chaos in the world since man must be guided by a system that lends to his spiritual development. Values of love, respect, appreciation, understanding and tolerance are all required for a society to coexist and so Sanaatan Dharma facilitates the development of these ideal values. In a postmodern world, with its great diversity, this becomes even more critical.
How are these values transferred to mankind, i.e., how does socialisation take place? There are many ways including lectures, modelling appropriate behaviour and documenting these principles in various forms. The structure of Sanaatan Dharma and its rituals allows for all three to be used in teaching values and principles. The structure of ‘yagya’ and ‘satsang’ demonstrates ideal behaviour and expounds lessons from our scriptures.
The scriptures are a very powerful tool for the transferring of these values as they are embedded within the various ‘katha’ for the pundits, saints and sages to interpret and expound to us. Of the entire collection of ‘Maha Grantha’, the epics are the most appealing: the ‘katha’ of Prabhu Shri Ram, Shri Krishna, the Mahabharath – all appeal to man’s sense of imagination and in so doing become etched in the memory. They then allow for love and adoration for the Lord to be built. Eventually, as faith, love and adoration for Bhagwan grows, we then begin to see beyond the ‘katha’ and principles begin to emerge. The realisation of principles and values through this process is most impactful on our personal philosophy and our behaviour becomes aligned with that which is recommended by Sanaatan Dharma. The movement of explicit knowledge to tacit knowledge is an indication of growth and development and so the epics, with their embedded value-based lessons, are a perfect tool for developing our value system.
The advice, therefore, is that we learn about our epics and we teach them to the young Hindu. It is the first step in socialisation and will ensure our survival as a community. The value of ‘mandir’ and ‘satsang’ can never be overemphasised and so, by exposing the children to our divine icons, we create a sense of adoration for the Lord in the minds and hearts of our children and this love and adoration will eventually evolve into a sense of inquiry. When they begin to connect their life experience to the epics, the values and principles will emerge and their faith will grow. We would therefore be securing our future and fulfilling our mandate as Hindus to ensure that we keep our way of life alive.
By Pt. Jaidath Maharaj
