Lessons Through Parables An Exploration of the Spiritual Dimensions of Education Through the Parables of Swami Chinmayananda and Swami Vivekananda

Abstract

Sand#257; Vidyand#257; Yand#257; Vimuktaye (and#2360;and#2366; and#2357;and#2367;and#2342;and#2381;and#2351;and#2366; and#2351;and#2366; and#2357;and#2367;and#2350;and#2369;and#2325;and#2381;and#2340;and#2351;and#2375;)- a very popular verse in Vishnupurana, which means, that which liberates is knowledge. The rest of all is mere information that we acquire in the course of life. Knowledge is in one way that one term which is used in the most confusing of ways; where its actual definition is the aforementioned one. It is probably one of the major reasons why the education system of today s society is in this pitiable state where the only purpose of learning is to acquire wealth or material comforts of life. newlineThis proposed work intends to analyse the diminishing values in today s education system, and how it has impacted the general well-being of the society. To do this, we intend to do a deep reading of parables or moral stories told by thinkers and spiritual masters in the context of today s education system. In the erstwhile era, the need to classify education as moral and modern never arise as moral education was always incorporated in the academic one. The subject holds great importance seeing the diminishing values of contemporary society. newlineThe root cause of all problems in contemporary society is that education is imparted only to secure a livelihood. Through the study of these parables, we will construct a bridge between the old education system and the new one, studying the advantages and drawbacks of both systems. Each parable, which are chosen for this work imparts a particular value and different masters have different way of storytelling to impart the same value. We will examine these stories, by grouping them with respect to the values they propound. Through the study of these parables, we intend to analyse how moral education was given in society in such simple methods as that of a story and how moral education brings momentous change in a person s life even without the person realising it. newlineChapter one, the introductory chapter constitutes a brief comparative understanding of Oriental and Occidental education system. It maps the characteristics of traditional Indian..