And now, a bit of spirituality.

At a time when the world was groping in the dark about man's mission in life, when tyrants were creating empires for greed, when the poor and helpless were enslaved and beaten to build edifices to satisfy one's own vanity, when the world did not even evolve the concept of education, the Vedic seers realised the purpose of human life and devised the scope of education by which the man attains his mission in life. However, even today the western model of education merely appears to be stuffing with knowledge by which one can pursue power and prosperity. The present Russo-Ukraine conflict amply demonstrates that.

The Taittiriya Upanishad deals with the holistic approach to education in three chapters :-

 (a) Shiksha valli - the scope of education.

 (b) Brahmananda valli - the goal of education.

 (c) Bhrigu valli - the disciplines to achieve the goal.

The Vedas recognise that man is not a limited being and the summum bonam of life is to realisethe unity of one's Self with the all pervading Universal soul. But to reach that level, one has to perform one's duties towards his fellow human beings, gods, animals, trees and other creations of nature; for all these entities hold a part of that Universal soul as their own very Self. In the Gita, these duties are simply referred to as 'Lokasangraham', for the benefit of the worlds.

The aim of the Vedic education was to ensure the society as a whole realises and progresses towards the human goals. It was not about imparting technical skills required to make a living. For, such technical skills were handed down traditionally from father to son.

In today's world, technology has increased manifold. So there is a need to acquire technical skills from specialised institutions. But in the process, the meaning of education itself, as envisaged by our seers, appears to be lost.

Tailpiece.

Had got up at 5 to go for a rest room break with the Njaanappaana wafting through the loud speakers of the Kusappilli temple and realised that sleep wasn't forthcoming. So, I recited my prayers and on completion, had fallen off to sleep without difficulty. Got up at a half past 6, opened up the house and went about my chores. 

Mini had fetched up by 9. We'd breakfast together. The following just dropped by, as planned earlier :-

   (a) Santhosh's carpenter and guide to take measurements of the front door for replacement and

   (b) The KSEB guys to install the digital electric meter. (The green glow emitted by the meter now acts as night light for us, using the bedroom). 

Lekha and Mini had gone across to Rema's for lunch and to fetch me, mine.

The dish TV guy, Omanakkuttan, had dropped by and got the system going. Phew!

Thundershowers, for an hour, by teatime.

The three of us went to the Kottarakkara Ganapati kshetram to book the 'tila homam' for tomorrow at the Padinjaattinkara Siva kshetram as it's Lekha's dad's 6th remembrance day. Met Lekha's elder sister and family there.