His Holiness Swami Paramananda was invited to participate in a one-hour live discussion on “Education” by the Mauritian National Radio Station Kool FM. Mrs Shakuntala Hawaldar a renowned pedagogue and author was also invited to be part of the panel. Several questions were raised by listeners who called to express their concerns to which Swamiji and Mrs Hawaldar answered with diligence. Some of the issues tackled were the bad behaviour of youngsters, stress of parents due to long working hours and the resulting little time spent with their kids, competition at school and drunk students in school uniforms
Swamiji pointed out that nowadays parents do not have time for their children. Getting married and nurturing a family are instinctive for people, but educating a child is a totally different matter. His Holiness emphasised on the necessity for a parent to give the right education to a child right from childhood, for the parent is the first educator of the child. The actual situation is critical because most people become parents without knowing about their responsibilities. Swamiji explained that there should be a preparation before the conception of a child.
Swami Paramananda then highlighted the need for a revolution in our education system, which should cater for individual transformation. This should have been the crux of education, yet it is not taught in schools. A human being is endowed with great potential, but his life revolves around eating, drinking, making merry and just creating problems. The result is a very sick society. Swamiji explained that each person should undergo an inner transformation and canalise all efforts towards ‘knowing oneself’. In this context, he added that he has already submitted a proposal of Self-Education to the Ministry of Education to be included in the school curriculum.
Swamiji underlined that each child has the potential to blossom and become virtuous. However, virtue cannot be taught to the child, it has to flow spontaneously. And that can happen only through meditation. Meditation leads to an expansion of our consciousness. Only meditation can change the world. Imposition will not work. For instance, if a child is playing with his sex organ, one should not restrict him but talk to him about it later.
Mrs Hawaldar talked on striving for equilibrium in life. She stressed on the holistic approach of the syllabus and curriculum towards an education of the body, mind and soul to ensure the proper development of the child. She also elaborated on the importance of parents in shaping their children. If today we are talking about problems in families and the society, the parents themselves are responsible. How much time and love does a person devote to his child? A parent should be like a gardener who waters his plant properly. She added that people should reflect deeply before conceiving a child.
On a conclusive note, Swami Paramananda said that if a person plants a guava tree, he should not expect to get mangoes, meaning that offspring inherit the parents’ traits. Therefore, parents should prepare themselves with both mental and spiritual education.
