Jeevan Vidya - A Study in Coexistence (जीवन विद्या - सह-अस्तित्व में अध्ययन)

JEEVAN VIDYA STUDY CENTER, SOMAIYA VIDYAVIHAR

Inception of Jeevan Vidya Study Center at Somaiya Vidyavihar

Dr. S. K. Somaiya, Chairman, Somaiya Trust formally inaugurated the Jeevan Vidya Study Center at Somaiya Vidyavihar on August 13, 2007 in the auspicious presence of Pujya A. Nagraj Ji, Amarkantak (MP), the propounder of ‘Madhyastha Darshan’. The other dignitaries who graced the occasion were Mrs. Leelaben Kotak, (Late) Shri P. M. Kavadia Ji, Shri V. Ranganathan Ji and Prof. P.V. Narasimham. The inauguration ceremony was held at K J Somaiya College of Engineering, Vidyavihar auditorium.

The Jeevan Vidya activities had already started amongst faculty of various colleges of the campus in early 2006 by Shri Mahendra Singh. Two groups of faculty were sent to IIIT Hyderabad and Abhyuday Sansthan (Achhoti) Raipur during the year. At Achhoti more than 30 participants attended, out of which 5 were heads of the institution. Dr. S. K. Somaiya himself attended the concluding session. He discussed at length with Shri Nagraj Ji, the modalities of implementation of JV at the Vidyavihar campus. He visited Amarkantak and Achhoti twice to interact and take guidance from Pujya Shri A Nagraj

Shri Mahendra Singh migrated to Canada in March 2007. The JV activities in the campus were taken up by Dr. (Mrs.) Niruben Maskai, one of the daughters of Pujya (late) Shri K J Somaiya, who with her persistent efforts made JV a regular and consistent feature. This was natural to her as she had always seen education as a carrier of values just in tune with the noble legacy of her illustrious father.

Dr. (Mrs.) Niruben also visited Amarkantak to meet Shri Nagraj Ji. Her incessant pursuit fructified in Dec-2007. Dr. Surendra Pathak and Mrs. Sunita Pathak from Bhopal joined Jeevan Vidya Study Center, Somaiya Vidyavihar as Director and Research Officer respectively. The task at hand was to spread the message of JV amongst faculty and the students of the campus. To begin with, a group of 17 faculty members from the campus was sent to IIIT Hyderabad for a seven days workshop. Prof. P. V. Narasimham, Mrs. Nikhila Vasavada and Dr. Surendra Pathak also were part of the group.

Objectives of Jeevan Vidya Study Center

1.Enhancement of humanness, human values and human consciousness.
2.To implant ‘consciousness developing value education’ in the content of education.
3.To disseminate the humanness based code of conduct.
4.To promote synergetic (universal) world order, human constitution and human mindset by means of workshops, seminars and research projects.
5.To inculcate in the people a concern for environment, ecological balance and
co-existence.
6.To develop an environment conducive to human consciousness and human values at different centers of knowledge, institutions and educational set-ups.

Jeevan Vidya Activities in the Campus

The mission of value education through Jeevan Vidya started with a multitude of activities. For faculty the orientation was planned in two ways viz Jeevan Vidya workshops and formation of study circles at different institutes. For students, classroom lectures were introduced in the timetable of some of the institutes.

All the daughters of Pujya (late) Shri K. J. Somaiya viz Mrs. Leelaben Kotak, Mrs. Savitriben Dayya, Mrs. Pratimaben Thakkar, Dr. (Mrs.) Niruben Maskai, Mrs. Janakiben Thakkar, Mrs. Divya Mirani, Mrs. Bharatiben Thakkar and the Somaiya family members also attended many a session during the workshops.

Orientation of Faculty

It was Management’s desire that every faculty and non-teaching staff of Vidyavihar should be introduced to the philosophy of Jeevan Vidya. In accordance with this a series of seven days’ (30-35 hours) Jeevan Vidya workshops were organized at different institutions at the campus.

The first in-house workshop was held at KJSCE Vidyavihar, which was inaugurated by Honorable Dr. S. K. Somaiya on January 15, 2008. In his inspiring address Dr Somaiya emphasized the indispensability of values in the present day education system. He said that Pujya Karamshibhai took up the issue with utmost concern and all through his life he remained committed for this noble cause. He remembered Pujya Nagraj Ji quite fondly and with a deep sense of gratitude.

Workshops for faculty

Following workshops were held in the campus for the faculty of various institutions from January to July 2008. The resource persons for these workshops were from IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, IIIT Hyderabad, Abhyuday Sansthan (Achhoti) Raipur, Divya Path Sansthan, Amarkantak and other institutions of repute.

Organizing Institution Period Participant Resource Persons
Year - 2008
K J S College of Engineering Jan.15 to 21, 2008 45 Shri Kumar Sambhav Prof. (Dr.) Pradeep Shri Shriram Narasimhan
K J S College of Science and Commerce March 31 to April 5, 2008 42 Shri Sadhan Bhattacharya
K J Somaiya Comp.College of Education,Training & Research April 7 to 12, 2008 28 Shri Pravin Singh & Ms. Atishi Marlena
K J Somaiya Polytechnic April 14 to19, 2008 48 Shri Yogesh Shastri &Mrs. Suvarna Shastri
Smt. S. K. Somaiya Junior College of Edu. April 21 to 27, 2008 38 Shri Somdev Tyagi
K J S Institute of Engineering & IT May 12 to 16, 2008 32 Prof. Dr.) R. R. GaurMrs. Sunita Pathak
Shri S K SomaiyaVinay Mandir June 17 to 21, 2008 48 Dr. Surendra PathakMrs. Sunita Pathak
Shri S K Somaiya Vinay Mandir (Primary) June 27 toJuly 1, 2008 12 Dr. Surendra PathakMrs. Sunita Pathak
K J S College of Engineering July 14 to 19, 2008 40 Prof. (Dr.) R. R. GaurDr. Surendra Pathak &Mrs. Sunita Pathak
Rastriya Sanskrit Sansthan Deemed University, GOI August 8 to 12, 2008 35 Dr. Surendra Pathak &Mrs. Sunita Pathak
K J S Medical College August 20 to 23, 2008 30 Dr. Surendra Pathak &Mrs. Sunita Pathak
K J S College of Science and Commerce Sept 29 to Oct 06, 2008 30 Dr. Surendra Pathak &Mrs. Sunita Pathak
Year – 2009
K J S Institute of Engineering & IT Jan 15 to 17, 2009 32 Dr. Surendra Pathak &Mrs. Sunita Pathak
KJS College of Art and Commerce Jan 27 to Feb 03, 2009 28 Dr. Surendra Pathak &Mrs. Sunita Pathak
Shri S K SomaiyaVinay Mandir (Secondary) April 20 to 24, 2009 20 Dr. Surendra PathakMrs. Sunita Pathak
K J S College of Science and Commerce April 23 to 27, 2009 15 Dr. Surendra PathakMrs. Sunita Pathak
K J Somaiya College of Engineering, Vidyavihar June 22 to 29, 2009 22 Dr. Surendra PathakMrs. Sunita Pathak
K J S Medical College August 20 to 22, 2009 28 Dr. Surendra Pathak &Mrs. Sunita Pathak
Project Office Somaiya Vidya Vihar September 10 –13, 2009 12 Dr. Surendra Pathak &Mrs. Sunita Pathak

TOTAL PARTICIPANTS Teacher – 442 and Students – 95 = 537

Classroom Lectures for Students

The lectures held for students during the said period were as follows:

Name of theInstitution Sem/ Numberof Divisions No. of lectures per Division Year No. of Students
SIMSR, Vidyavihar FY/ 05 06 to 08 2008 and 2009 180
KJSCE, Vidyavihar FY/ 10 08 to 10 2008 and 2009 600
KJS IE&IT, Sion FY/ 05 06 to 08 2008 and 2009 300
KJS Polytechnic FY/ 04 15 to 18 2008 300
KJ Somaiya College of Science and Commerce & Arts and Commerce SY/03 + 05 2008 300

Special Session
Special session were organized in the following institutes. Conducted 30 days continuous lectures of one hour daily. The result and feedback was good.

Smt S K Somaiya Jr.College of Education FY/03 One month 2008 and 09 180
K J Somaiya VTI FY/01 20-30 2008 and 09 70

Jeevan Vidya at Mumbai University

After the visit of Pujya Baba A. Nagraj Ji at Somaiya Vidyavihar Mumbai during May 19 to 25, 2009, Mumbai University has implemented partially Jeevan Vidya as a compulsory curriculum for all the branches of engineering from July 2009. It is a part of the syllabus of environmental Studies that is compulsory paper in Vth semester of all BE programmes.

Three days orientation programme for the faculty members of Environmental studies of all 52 Engineering Colleges of Mumbai University was held with joint collaboration of Faculty of Technology, Mumbai and Jeevan Vidya study Centre, Somaiya Vidyvihar from August 6 to 8, 2009 at KJSCE, Vidyavihar. Total Number of participants were 102 in numbers.

The inaugural function presided by Dr. Vijay Khole, VC, University of Mumbai and chief guest Shri Nand Kumar, IAS, Education Secretary, CG, auspicious presence of Dr. S. K. Somaiya, Chairman Somaiya Trust, Guest of honors Dr. Arun D Sawant, Pro VC, University of Mumbai, Smt. Leelaben Kotak, honorable trustee of Somaiya Trust were graced the function. Organizer Prof. S. S. Sahare Dean FOT, Mumbai University and Director JeevanVidya Study Centre Dr. Surendra Pathak were on the dais. Dr. Jyoti Prabha, (Pune), Dr. Jyoit Prabha, (Pune), Ms. Ruby Ardeshir (Pune), Shri Ajay Jain (Surat), Shri Praveen Singh (Bhopal), Shri Rakesh Gupat (Bangalore), Mrs. Sunita Pathak had oriented the participating faculty members during different sessions.

Certificate course in ‘Human Consciousness and Value Education -Jeevan Vidya’
Another add on Certificate course in ‘Human Consciousness and Value Education -Jeevan Vidya’ (part time –three months duration) has been summated to Mumbai University for approval. For the mean time K J Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce, Vidyavihar will conduct this course. The course was inaugurated at K J Somaiya College of Arts & Commerce in which Dr. Nirupma Maskai daughter of Pujya Shri K J Somaiya (Founder) was the Chief Guest. She encouraged the participants with her warm speech and best wishes. The inaugural function other guest was Mrs. Nalini Kumthekar, Principal Dr. Sudha Vyas, Dr. Surendra Pathak, Mrs. Sunita Pathak and Vice Principal and Coordinator Dr. Suguna Rao, Head Department of Sociology. A total of 35 students from Degree College have enrolled for the course.

Study Circles

In order that the faculty get an opportunity for enriching their knowledge and developing an insight into the philosophy of Madhyastha Darshan, ‘study circles’ have been formed at both the Engineering Colleges viz KJSCE, KJSIE&IT and KJS College of Science and Commerce. From the current session the activity of study circle has also been started at Shri S K Somaiya Vinay Mandir and Smt S K Somaiya Junior College of Education.

National Seminar

1. Organized One-day seminar “How to Introduce Values in Higher Education” on September 8, 2008 Prof. Rajeev Sangal, Director, IIIT Hyderabad, Shri Achyutanand Mishra Vice Chancellor, Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Mass Communication, Bhopal and Dr. D.S. Bal, Director, Technical Education Raipur, Chhitisgarh and others were the main distinguish speakers.

2. Conducted a UGC sponsored national seminar on Human Consciousness & Values in Global Society organized by Department of Sociology, K.J. Somaiya College of Arts & Commerce, Jeevan Vidya Study Centre and Population First (an NGO) along with the institute co-ordinator from 11-12 Feb 2009.

Special Lectures by invitees in the campus

A number of special lectures were organized wherein the resource persons shared their experiences regarding implementation of Jeevan Vidya amongst faculty, students and the community at large.

1. Prof. (Dr.) Rajeev Sangal, Director IIIT Hyderabad on Jan 19, 2008

1. At SIMSR for MCA and IT students on ‘Jeevan Vidya’
2. At KJSCE on ‘Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness’
3. In HOI’s Meeting at SIMSR on ‘Value Education through Jeevan Vidya’
2. Shri R. K. Agnihotri (IPS, Retired DG, Madhya Pradesh)
At K J Somaiya College of Science & Commerce on Feb 26, 2008 on ‘Importance of Human Values in Administration’.
3. Prof. (Dr.) R. R. Gaur, Head, National Resource Center for Value Education in Engineering, IIT Delhi

1. At Times Foundation, TOI Building, CST Mumbai on May 17, 2008 on ‘Madhyastha Darshan - The Holistic Alternative’
2. At KJS Polytechnic on May 17, 2008 on ‘Appropriate Technology and Jeevan Vidya’
3. At KJS College of Science & Commerce on July 15, 2008 ‘Relevance of Value Education in Science and Technology’
4. At KJS College of Engineering on July 17, 2008 on ‘Value Education in Engineering’

4. Shri Sachidanand Joshi, Vice Chancellor, Kushabhau Thakare University of Mass Communication and Journalism, Raipur

At K J Somaiya College of Science and commerce on “Environment and Media” on 27 September, 2008 and same day at Smt. Sakarben Somaiya Jr. College of Education.

5. Aacharya Prem Bhatiya, Founder, Vishya Bhartiya Yoga Santhan, New Delhi

At K J Somaiya Rastirya Sanskirit Samnthan on Jan 19, 2009 at 3.30pm to 5.30pm.

6. Dr. Sandeep Pandey Magsaysay awardee, Lucknow and Shri Pawan Gupta, Smt. Anuradha Joshi (Society for Integrated Development of Himalayas, Mussoorie)

At Smt. Sakarben Somaiya Jr. College of Education on Feb11, 2009 on “Value Education and present education system.”

7. Shri Kanakmal Dugar Ji chairman, Gandhi Vidya Mandir, Sardarshahr, Rajasthan delivered lecture and interact with the faculty members on Thursday 15th October, 2009 between 11.00 am to 12.00 noon.

8. Shri Chandrabhushan Tiwari (A renowned environmentalist from Lucknow):

The lectures were organized at the following institutes:
Nov 20, 2009
· At Shantikunj for the students of JV Certificate Course from Arts & Commerce College from 11:00 to 12:00 am
· KJS VTI Vidyavihar from 12:00 to 1:00 pm organized by the Principal Shri Karkhanis.
· At Smt. S. K. Somaiya Junior College of Education from 3:45 to 4:30 pm. This was attended by all faculty and students of the institute.
Nov 23. 2009
· At S. K. Somaiya (Jr. College) Vinay Mandir from 11.30 am. to 12.00 noon. Faculty members of the institute attended the lecture.

Jeevan Vidya activities outside the campus

1. Dr. Surendra Pathak, Director, Jeevan Vidya Study Center, Somaiya Vidyavihar

v A three-hour introductory lecture was delivered on Jeevan Vidya at the residence of Dr. Chhotalal Shah, Ghatkopar on July 22, 2008. Around a dozen members from six families attended this lecture.
v Ghatkopar Bramins Samaj arranged JV Lecture. The lecture were delivered by Dr. Surendra Pathak at 6.00 pm to 7.45 pm at their institute on Nov 03, 2008.
v A guest lecture was delivered at SQAE (EE) DGQA Complex (Army Office), LBS Marg, Vikhroli on August, 2009.
v Attended 14th National Convention of Jeevan Vidya in Hyderabad (at Abhyasa School, Toopran, Medak), Andhra Pradesh from 1st to 4th October 2009 and made a presentation.
v Dr. Surendra Pathak delivered the keynote address on “Communalism, Terrorism and Human right” in the inaugural session of two days national seminar at Govt. P.G. Collage Morena, Madhya Pradesh on Oct 24, 2009.
v Two 7 days (Oct 27- Nov 3) Jeevan Vidya Shivirs were conducted at IASE University Sardarshahar, Rajasthan one each for the select 40 faculty members of the University and 53 students of the Bal-Gruh. In these shivirs Dr. Surendra Pathak was one of the resource persons. Apart from this 3 lectures on JV were delivered in the ongoing Gyanoday Shivir in the campus by Dr. Pathak.
v Dr. Surendra Pathak delivered a lecture on “Madhyastha Darshan Based Alternative Education” in Akhil Bharatiya Shodh Goshthi organized by Bharatiya Pragya Parishad, Ahemadabad at Tirupati Tantra Niketan Parisar, Keshav Nagar, Akola on Nov 7-8, 2009.
v On Nov 14-16, 2009 Dr. Surendra Pathak participated in the 3 day “Mitra Milan” organized on the death anniversary of Acharya Vinoba Bhave at Pawnar Ashram, Wardha.
v Delivered a lecture as Resource Person at STTP program on “Sunrising Technologies in Environmental and Energy sciences and soft skill” workshop (FROM 2nd
Dec TO 18th Dec 2009) on 15.12.09 session I (10.30 am to 12.30 noon) which was conducted by The Department of Engineering Sciences and Humanities, Saraswati College of Engineering, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai.

2. Smt. Sunita Pathak, Jeevan Vidya Study Center, Somaiya Vidyavihar

· A guest lecture was delivered at Gujari Bramin Samaj, Ghatkopar on
· Seven lectures on JV were delivered by Dr. Surendra Pathak and Sunita Pathak at Vrindavan Society, Sion from August 28 to September 3, 2008 daily from 8.30 pm to 10 pm.
· Ghatkopar Bramins Samaj arranged JV Lectures. The lectures were delivered by Dr. Surendra Pathak and Mrs. Sunita Pathak at 5.00 pm to 7.45 pm at their institute on Nov 03, 2008.
· A guest lecture was delivered at V G Vaze and Kelkar College, Mulund on Feb 21, 2009 at 12:00 noon. On the same day another lecture was delivered at Nagar Vachanalaya, Thane at 8:00 pm
· A guest lecture was delivered at Senior Citizen Forum, Sion on Jeevan Vidya on March 21, 2009 at 5.30pm.
· On July 7, 2009 Mrs. Sunita Pathak delivered a lecture on ‘Personality Development and Values’ for tenth standard students of Gurukul School Ghatkopar.
· A guest lecture was delivered at SQAE (EE) DGQA Complex (Army Office), LBS Marg, Vikhroli on 22 September 2009 for their officers and staff on the occasion of Hindi Pakhwara. About 40 persons were attended the lecture.
· Two days (05 hours per day) lectures was delivered at a small Muslim woman group at Penvel September 16 and 24, 2009.
· Smt. Sunita Pathak was felicitated by Lions’ Club, Ghatkopar for her excellence in teaching at Jolly Jimkhana, Ghatkopar West on Sept 25, 2009.
· Attended 14th National Convention of Jeevan Vidya in Hyderabad (at Abhyasa School, Toopran, Medak), Andhra Pradesh from 1st to 4th October, 2009.
· Delivered a lecture On JV for the third year Computer Engg students at Terna Engineering College, Nerul Navi Mumbai from 1.45 to 2.45 pm on Oct. 10, 2009.
· Mrs. Sunita Pathak delivered a lecture on “Communalism, Terrorism and Human right” in the Valedictory session of two days national seminar at Govt. P.G. Collage Morena, Madhya Pradesh on Oct 25, 2009.
· Mrs. Sunita Pathak delivered a lecture On JV for the faculty members of SIES Engineering College, Nerul on Nov 12, 2009 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm. The Principal and the Vice Principal of the college also attended the session along with a total of 30 faculty members.
· A guest lecture was delivered on “Important of woman in Indian society and their role in development of national building ” SQAE (EE) DGQA Complex (Army Office), LBS Marg, Vikhroli on 24 Nov 2009 for their officers and staff
· Delivered a lecture as Resource Person at STTP program on “Sunrising Technologies in Environmental and Energy sciences and soft skill” workshop (FROM 2nd
Dec TO 18th Dec 2009) on 15.12.09 session II (2.00 pm to 4.30 pm) which was conducted by The Department of Engineering Sciences and Humanities, Saraswati College of Engineering, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai.

Response of the participants

A feedback/ evaluation session is held at the end of every JV workshop wherein the participants express their views on the concept and content of Jeevan Vidya. Authorities from Somaiya Trust along with college Principal attend the feedback sessions.

Almost all participants expressed that the workshop helped them have clarity about their own self and an increased level of self-confidence. This will ultimately result in better harmony in their relationships in family, society, nature and the overall existence.

They perceived JV as a universal solution to present day problems and opined that JV should be inevitable part of academic programme/ curricula and some assured of their active participation in this mission.

Need of Consciousness Developing Value Education

In today’s global scenario the importance of human values for individuals, institutions, organizations and legal systems is being felt intensely. Need for setting the mankind free from animal consciousness and its transformation into human consciousness also is being realized fervently.

Content of present day education directly or indirectly incites consumerism, sexuality and a blind lust for profit making. This is leading the socio-ecological life to complete instability and disaster. Protection of mankind from despair, depression and frustration; society from exploitation, injustice and crime; families from disintegration and valuelessness; nature from ecological imbalance is call of the day. Jeevan Vidya can be a panacea for all these ills. It has been put forth for human society in the form of a proposal.

A National Convention on Value Education (VE) through Jeevan Vidya (JV) was organized at IIT Delhi in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and IIIT Hyderabad from May 22 to 24, 2007. The convention was inaugurated and attended by H.E. the President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. The participants were Vice Chancellors, Directors of IITs, Professors, Heads and Scholars from over 50 leading academic institutions, delegates from industry and representatives of various social groups.

At the convention it was strongly felt that VE must be incorporated in education in general and technical education in particular. The panel discussions highlighted the need for designing of VE courses based on JV. It was recommended that a VE program must be universal (secular and non-sectarian), Rational (based on reasoning and verifiable through experience and experimentation), leading to harmony (within humanity and with nature) and conducted without preaching. It was concluded that JV satisfies the above criteria.

A national committee was formed to guide VE through JV. The responsibilities of the committee were to present the recommendations to AICTE and Ministry of HRD, work to develop the reference material, disseminate JV amongst the academic community and to help provide faculty training for this purpose.

A National Committee on VE through JV was formed which comprised of Dr. Sanjay Dhande, Director, IIT Kanpur (co-chair), Dr. Surendra Prasad, Director, IIT Delhi (co-chair), Dr. Rajeev Sangal, Director, IIIT Hyderabad (co-chair), Dr. R R Gaur, IIT Delhi (convenor), Dr. Abhijit Mitra, IIIT Hyderabad, Dr. Deepak Gupta, IIT Kanpur, Prof Ganesh Bagaria, HBTI, Kanpur, Shri Pawan Gupta, SIDH, Mussoorie, Shri Sadhan Bhattacharya, Divya Path Sansthan, Amarkantak, Shri Som Dev Tyagi, Abhyudaya Sansthan, Raipur, Dr Punjab Singh, Vice Chancellor, Banaras Hindu University, Brig. S S Pabla, Director, MIT, Manipal and Dr. D S Bal, Director, Technical Education, Chhattisgarh, Raipur.

Madhyastha Darshan : Sah-astitva-vad (Jeevan Vidya)

Madhyastha Darshan elucidates the inherent order in the Existence and has been expounded in the form of universal aphorisms. It is completely free of mysticism. For realization of human goal Madhyastha Darshan: Sah-astitvavad contemplates on co-existence in the whole existence, mutual fulfillment and cyclicity in nature, nature friendly ways and behavior in society, value based justice in family and contentment with right understanding in an individual.

A. Nagraj (Amarkantak)

Shri A. Nagraj (88) was born in a Vedmoorthi family at Agrahar village in Hasan district of Karnataka. In his quest for truth behind the Existence, quite in his early youth he migrated to Amarkantak, origin of the holy river Narmada, in 1950. After around 20 years of sadhana he attained the state of realization. He visualized the entire existence, the inherent order present in it and answer to each of his queries.

The human centric philosophy propounded by him, which he has christened as Madhyastha Darshan – Sah-astitvavad, is a universal remedy for all the ills that are marring the present day society and the nature. The philosophy, which is quite comprehensive in nature, has been presented in four parts viz: Manav Vyavahar Darshan, Karm Darshan, Abhyas Darshan and Anubhav Darshan.

Vyavaharvadi Samajshastra, Avartensheel Arthachintan, Manav Sanchetnavadi Manovigyan, Samadhanatmak Bhautikva, Vyavaratmak Janvad and Anubhavatmak Adhyaamvad, Pribhsha Samhita, Manviya Samvidhan are the treatise on universal human conduct, universal order and an integrated society by Shri A. Nagraj.

Jeevan Vidya Yojna, Manav Sanchetanavadi Shiksha Sanskar Yojna and Parivar Moolak Swaraj Vyavastha Yojna are the programs based on the above philosophy designed to realize the cherished human goal.

Dr. Surendra Pathak
Director, Jeevan Vidya Study Center
Somaiya Vidyavihar

This Sunday I accompanied my daughter Gunjan to her Sitar class. I observed the process of learning through emulation getting played out in that class. Prabir Sir was playing the same notes which he wanted to teach Gunjan. He wasn't preaching those notes - though he had written down the musical-notes he was practicing himself and had given those to Gunjan for doing her practice. He was playing Sitar all the while - in the right way... And this was an inspiration to Gunjan for getting tuned in the same way... Prabir Sir was teaching her, what she had receptivity for presently, while trusting that she would one day achieve the same felicity that he has. For Gunjan to learn - she had to pay attention, and practice. If she doesn't pay attention or doesn't practice - she can't learn, however great a maestro Prabir Sir may be. Unless there is trust and affection between the two - this learning can't happen. Unless she has acceptance for Sir's ability - and a respect for his excellence, there's no learning possible. She will need that piece of paper of musical-notes till she has internalized the symphony. After she has internalized the Art of Sitar playing - she will not need the paper, the way Prabir sir doesn't need the paper. She will then be able to teach Sitar to other children.

This process of learning through emulation is distinct from blue-sky exploration, of 'looking within' for answers, of silencing oneself, or doing hit and trial experimentation. Learning or Education is an entirely humane phenomenon. It is a conscious phenomenon - where the values of trust, affection, respect, and gratitude get played out between teacher and student.

Adhyayan - or Study of Jeevan Vidya - is not a lonely pursuit. Study happens with guidance of a capable teacher. The guidance is always by example. Adhyayan is learning by emulation.

Study of Jeevan-Vidya is about learning to live harmoniously in Existence. It is about learning to live with Justice. It is about learning to live with Resolution. It is about learning to live with Truth. The teacher is a living-proof, which the student emulates (does anukaran of) - and thereby gets enabled in the same way as the teacher. It's like one lamp lighting the other. Without the light of teacher's knowledge the student can't get lightened up! Teacher doesn't preach here - he inspires the student through examples from his living. The learning happens when there's self-scrutiny in student.

Adhyayan of Madhyasth-Darshan - Study in Coexistence - is a breakthrough in human-history. Prior to emergence of Madhyasth-Darshan - "Awakening" remained something arcane, something mysterious, something other worldly, something which could not be expressed in words. So much that if one says anything about gyan - one got branded as the one who "doesn't have it!". In this way, the whole idealistic effort was towards silencing human-being. The Method of Adhyayan proposed here is at 180 degrees variance to the silencing-practices suggested by Idealism. It says that expression is natural to human-being. (व्यक्ति व्यक्त होता ही है।) Gyan is not something other-worldly, and there's nothing mysterious about it. Gyan is the only thing worth speaking for a human-being. Gyan is the only thing worth doing for a human-being. Gyan is the only thing worth thinking for a human-being. This is the very reason for qualification of humankind into knowledge-order (ज्ञान-अवस्था).

We all are playing out our jeevans in our living. We don't know the notes of harmony of existence, so we are making a cacophony! It's only when we know the notes of harmony of existence - can we play our part right, and our part is quite central!

Study of Jeevan-Vidya is learning the notes of harmony of existence - which happens by emulating the example of the one who is playing them out - perfectly... Emulating the example is about our accepting the guidance. It is about getting our imagination inspired to experience the Existence - and then realize that experience in our living.

Jeevan Vidya - A Study in Coexistence (जीवन विद्या - सह-अस्तित्व में अध्ययन)

Tuesday 22 December 2009

Wednesday 16 December 2009

ज्ञानार्जन के बाद कार्यक्रम

Tuesday 15 December 2009

Solar Tower Technology

The ancient ingenuity of water-harvesting

Teacher and Student

Monday 14 December 2009

Nature saturated in Space - Part 6

The Reference for Reconsideration

MADHYASTHA DARSHAN - मध्यस्थ दर्शन (जीवन विद्या)

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