- The Role & Goal of Education
- [Some thoughts for Students, Parents &
Teachers]
Goal of Education
1. Goal of Education : The field of education is
unexplored and the goal of education (i.e. establishment of Divine Civilization) is
unattained.
2. Attain the Goal of Education:
Let us try to explore the field of education and attain
the goal of education which is none other than the "Establishment of Divine
Civilization" through proper child education.
3. Every Child is the light of the World :
Every child is potentially the light of the world and at
the same it’s darkness; wherefore must the question of education be accounted as of
primary importance. Share with teachers and parents.
4. Man is a mine rich in Gems of inestimable value :
Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value.
Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit
therefrom.
5. Bend your minds to the Education of Children :
"Bend your minds and wills to the education of the
peoples and kindred of the earth, that happily the dissensions that divide it, may,
through the power of the Most Great Name, be blotted out from its face, and all mankind
become the upholders of one Order, and the inhabitants of one City".
6. Strain every nerve to acquire perfections :
"Strain every nerve to acquire both inner and outer
perfections, for the fruit of the human tree hath ever been and will ever be perfections
both within and without. It is not desirable that a man be left without knowledge or
skills, for he is then but a barren tree. Then, so much as capacity and capability allow,
ye needs must deck the tree of being with fruits such as knowledge, wisdom, spiritual
perception and eloquent speech.
7. Education brings out the essence of a man :
"Man is even as steel, the essence of which is hidden
: through admonition and explanation, good counsel and education, that essence is brought
to light, if, however, he be allowed to remain in his original condition, the corrosion of
lusts and appetites will effectively destroy him."
8. Better dead than alive is he who produceth no fruit
:
"There are many things which will, if neglected, be
wasted, and come to nothing. How often in this world do we see a child who has lost his
parents, unless attention be devoted to his education and training, can produce no fruit.
And better off dead than alive is he who produceth no fruit."
9. Praiseworthy deeds are born out of the light of
religion :
"It is the bounden duty of parents to rear their
children to be staunch in Religion of God, the reason being that a child who removeth
himself from the religion of God will not act in such a way as to win the good pleasure of
his parents and his Lord. For every praiseworthy deed is born our of the light of
religion, and lacking this supreme bestowal the child not turn away from any evil, nor
will he draw nigh unto any good."
"The feat of God hath ever been the prime factor in
the education of His creatures. Well is it with them that have attained thereunto."
10. Teach your children oneness of God & the laws
of God :
"That which is of paramount importance for the
children, that which must precede all else, is to teach them the oneness of God and the
Laws of God. For lacking this, the fear of God cannot be inculcated, and lacking the fear
of God an infinity of odious and abominable actions will spring up, and sentiments will be
uttered that transgress all bounds.
11. Parents to make their children religious :
The parents must exert every effort to rear their
offspring to be religious, for should the children not attain this greatest of adornments,
they will not obey their parents, which in a certain sense means that they will not obey
God. Indeed, such children will show no consideration to any one, and will do exactly as
they please.
12. Schools must first train the children in the
principles of religions :
"Schools must first train the children in the
principles of religion, so that the Promise and the Threat, recorded in the Books of God,
may prevent them from the things forbidden and adorn them with the mantle of the
commandments, but this in such a measure that it may not injure the children by resulting
in ignorant fanaticism and bigotry."
13. Knowledge is as wings to man’s life :
"Arts, crafts and sciences uplift the world of being
and are conducive to its exaltation. Knowledge is as wings to man’s life, and a
ladder for his ascent. Its acquisition is incumbent upon everyone. The knowledge of such
sciences, however, should be acquired as can profit the peoples of the earth, and not
those which begin with words and end with words."
14. Knowledge is a veritable treasure from man :
"In truth, knowledge is a veritable treasure for man,
and a source of glory, of bounty, of joy, of exaltation, of cheer and gladness unto him.
Happy the man that cleaveth unto it, and woe betide the heedless."
15. Acquire those branches of knowledge which are of
use :
"The learned of the day must direct the people to
acquire those branches of knowledge which are of use, that both the learned themselves and
the generality of mankind may derive benefits therefrom. Such academic pursuits as begin
and end in words alone have never been and will never be of any worth. The majority of
Persia’s learned doctors devote all their lives to the study of a philosophy the
ultimate yield of which is nothing but words."
16. Teach knowledge of God :
"In the treasures of the knowledge of God there lieth
concealed a knowledge which, when applied, will largely, though not wholly, eliminate
fear. This knowledge, however, should be taught from childhood, as it will greatly aid in
its elimination.
17. Teach words of God to your students :
"Teach unto your children the words that have been
sent down from God, that they may recite them in the sweetest of tones. This standeth
revealed in a mighty Book."
18. Look at the end of every things:
"At the outset of every endeavour, it is incumbent to
look to the end of it. If all the arts and sciences, set the children to studying those
which will result in advantage to man, will ensure his progress and elevate his rank.
19. Perform deeDs that will draw you closer to the Lord
: "As to the children : We have directed that in the beginning they should be
trained in the observances and laws of religion; and thereafter, in such branches of
knowledge as are of benefit, and in commercial pursuits that are distinguished for
integrity, and in deeds that will further the victory of God’s Cause or will attract
some outcome which will draw the believer closer to his Lord."
20. Strive harder to widen the scope of your knowledge
:
The harder they strive to widen the scope of their
knowledge, the better and more gratifying will be the result. Let the loved ones of God,
whether young or old, whether male or female, each according to his capabilities, bestore
themselves and spare no efforts to acquire the various current branches of knowledge, both
spiritual and secular, and of the arts. Whensoever they gather in their meetings let their
conversation be confined to learned subjects and to information on the knowledge and
sciences of the day.
21. Man is the greatest representative of God :
Man is said to be the greatest representative of God, and
he is the Book of Creation because all the mysteries of beings exist in him. If he comes
under the shadow of the True Educator and is rightly trained, he becomes the centre of the
divine appearances, the source of spiritual qualities, the rising-place of heavenly
lights, and the receptacle of divine inspirations. If he is deprived of this education he
becomes the manifestation of satanic qualities, the sum of animal vices, and the source of
all dark conditions.
22. Lack of religious faith is the cause of all
problems of life :
"Close investigation will show that the primary cause
of oppression and injustice, of unrighteousness, irregularity and disorder, is the
people’s lack of religious faith and the fact that they are uneducated.
23. Education brings honour :
"Observe carefully how education and the arts of
civilization bring honour, prosperity, independence and freedom to a government and its
people."
24. Education brings honour :
"Education is of three kinds - material, human and
Divine :-
i) Material Education is concerned with the
progress and development of the body through gaining its sustenance, its material comfort
and ease. This, education is common to animal and man.
ii) Human Education signifies civilization and progress
: that is to say, government, administration, charitable works, trades, arts and
handicrafts, sciences, great inventions and discoveries, and elaborate institutions, which
are the activities essential to man and distinguished from the animal.
iii) Divine Education is that of the Kingdom of God :
it consists in acquiring divine perfections, and this is true education; for in this state
man becomes the focus of divine blessings, the manifestation of the words, ‘Let us
make man in our image and after our likeness." This is the goal of the world of
humanity.
25. The teacher should impart material, human and
spiritual education :
Now we need an educator who will be at the same time a
material, human and spiritual educator, and whose authority will be effective in all
conditions.
26. Man has three kinds of nature :
Question : How many kinds of character has
man and what is the cause of the differences and varieties in men.
Answer : He has the i) innate
character ii) the inherited character, and iii) the acquired character which
is gained by education.
27. Education has great influence:
"But the difference of the qualities with regard to
culture is very great; for education has great influence. Through education the ignorant
become learned, the cowardly become valiant; through cultivation the crooked branch
becomes straight, the acid, bitter fruit of the mountains and woods becomes sweet and
delicious, and the five petalled flower becomes hundred-petalled. Through education savage
nations become civilized, and even the animals become domesticated. Education must be
considered as most important; for as diseases in the world of bodies are extremely
contagious, so, in the same way, qualities of spirit and heart are extremely contagious,
education has a universal influence, and the differences caused by it are very great.
28. Individual should be trained from his infancy :
"Observe how many penal institutions, houses of detention and places of torture are
made ready to receive the sons of men, the purpose being to prevent them, by punitive,
measures, from committing terrible crimes - whereas this very torment and punishment only
increaseth depravity, and by such means the desired aim cannot be properly achieved.
Therefore must the individual be trained from his infancy in such a way that he will never
undertake to commit a crime, will rather, direct all his energies to the acquisition of
excellence, and will look upon the very commission of an evil deed as in itself the
harshest of all punishments, considering the sinful act itself to be far more grievous
than any prison sentence. For it is possible so to train the individual that, although
crime may not be completely done away with, still it will become very rare.
29. Every child requires utmost training and care :
"Otherwise, the children will turn into weeds growing wild, and become the cursed,
Infernal Tree, knowing not right from wrong, distinguishing not the highest of human
qualities from all that is mean and vile; they will be brought up in vain glory and will
be hated of the Forgiving Lord.
"Wherefore doth every child, new-risen in the garden
of Heavenly love, require the utmost training and care."
30. The root cause of wrong doing is ignorance :
"The root cause of wrong doing is ignorance and we
must therefore hold fast to the tools of perception and knowledge. Good character must be
taught. Light must be spread afar, so that, in the school of humanity, all may acquire the
heavenly characteristics of the spirit, and see for themselves beyond any doubt that there
is no fiercer Hell, no more fiery abyss, than to posses a character that is evil and
unsound; no more darksome pit nor loathsome torment than to show forth qualities which
deserve to be condemned."
31. School must be a place of utmost discipline :
"It followeth that the children’s school must be
a place of utmost discipline and order, that instruction must be thorough, and provision
must be made for the rectification and refinement of character; so that, in his earliest
years, within the very essence of the child, the divine foundation will be laid and the
structure of holiness raised up.
32. Illumined children will arise to spread light :
"Thus, if God will, out of these spiritual schools
illumined children will arise, adorned with all the fairest virtues of humankind and will
shed their light not only across India, but around the world."
33. Firm foundation must be laid in early childhood :
"It is extremely difficult to teach the individual
and refine his character once puberty is passed. By then, as experience hath shown, even
if every effort be exerted to modify some tendency of his, it all aileth nothing. He may,
perhaps, improve some what today; but let a few days pass and he forgetteth, and turneth
backward to his habitual condition and accustomed ways. Therefore it is in early childhood
that a firm foundation must be laid. While the branch is green and tender it can easily be
made straight.
34. Education is the greatest service to God :
"Among the greatest of all services that can possibly
be rendered by man to Almighty God is the education and training of children, young plants
of the Abha Paradise, so that these children, fostered by grace in the way of salvation,
growing like pearls of divine bounty in the shell of education, will one day be jewel the
crown of abiding glory.
35. Try to become an ensign of God’s grace :
"It is, however, very difficult to undertake this
service, even harder to succeed in it. I hope that you well acquit yourself will in this
most important of tasks, and successfully carry the day, and become an ensign of
God’s abounding grace; that these children, reared one and all in the Holy Teaching,
will develop natures like unto the sweet airs that blow across the gardens of the
All-Glorious, and will waft their fragrance around the world."
36. Establish heavenly school and make your children
Godly:
"O thou handmade of God; Do thou establish heavenly
school and be thou a teacher in that house of learning. Educate the children in the things
of God; and, even as pearls, rear them in the heart of the shell of divine guidance.
37. Try to embody the highest perfections of humankind
:
"Strive you with heart and soul, see to it that the
children are raised up to embody the highest perfections of humankind, to such a degree
that every one of them will be trained in the use of the mind, in acquiring knowledge, in
humility and lowliness, in dignity, in ardour and love."
38. Education is the greatest service to God :
"Among the greatest of all great services is the
education of children, and promotion of the various sciences, crafts and arts.
39. School supports the edifice of humankind :
"The school is one of the vital and essential
institutions which indeed support and bulwark the edifice of humankind.
40. Utilize every means to make this school :
"Utilize every means to make this school a garden of
the All-Merciful from which the lights of learning will cast their beams, and wherein the
children, will be educated to such a degree as to become God’s gifts to mankind, and
the pride of the human race. Let them make the greatest progress in the shortest span of
time, let them open wide their eyes and uncover the inner realities of all things, become
proficient in every art and skill, and learn to comprehend the secrets of all things even
as they are --- this faculty being one of the clearly evident effects of servitude to the
Holy Threshold.