1. Value Inculcation through Self Observation
P.L.Dhar
I.I.T.Delhi

2. Why Talk about Values ?
Value crisis is the root of all social and technogenic maladies
Aristotle “..the fate of empires depends on the education of the youth.”
Consequences of neglect of value education: “perfection of means and confusion of the ends” …….. Einstein
What is education ? …Vision of Holistic Education

3. Education today Best education Assured high paying job
No discussion on Values
Ad hoc living
Nothing beyond next few steps
Pleasant is good !
We become felicity computers!
Materialistic world view
Happiness lies solely in sensory pleasures
material acquisitions

4. Why Value Erosion ? Values emanating from materialistic world view
=> greed, selfishness, corruption,
Unhealthy competition , jealousy, strife, tension ,
Ill will, crime, violence
Erosion of Human Values like truthfulness,
straightforwardness, friendliness,compassion,
sharing, humility, forgiveness…. is a direct outcome
of this crass materialistic world view

5. Imperatives of Value Education
Change in World view from materialistic to holistic...…humanistic , more to life than wealth, health and even fame ! =>Value education
How to bring about this change ?
Analyzing life’s experiences
Should be a part of Education
Intellectual
appreciation
Science : what is the nature of reality?
Value
Inculcation
Mind control and purification

6. What is Education ?
Education is that which remains, when one has forgotten all that he learned in school
The most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not…
Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self confidence
Education is not filling a bucket but lighting a fire.
back
Quotes from A Einstein,Thomas Huxley, Robert Frost, W.B.Yeats

7. Education : Indian Perspective
Vidyaya amritam ashnute
Sa vidya ya vimuktaye
Education is the manifestation of perfection already in Man

8. Understanding the “Phenomenon of Man”
Holistic Education
Understanding the “Phenomenon of Man”
Spiritual
Ability to understand the world
Intellectual
Emotional
Increasing Emotional maturity
Physical
Ability to Keep the body fit & strong

9. Essence of Value Education
Value Education = Emotional Education Spiritual Education
How to refine the emotions ? …..How to actually purify the mind of baser tendencies, the mental defilements ?
How to develop insight, not mere intellectual knowledge, about the nature of human reality ?
Value Inculcation not mere sensitization

10. Knowing vs Imbibing Values
Duryodhana’s dilemma
janami dharamam na ca me pravritt janami adharmam na ca me nivritti.
St Paul : I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.
Chasm between conscious & unconscious mind –actions governed more by likes /dislikes than by intellect
Practical training in mental purification
Vipassana- self observation-- as taught by the Buddha

11. Why does the mind become impure ……….…...1
General perception : when we come in contact with anything unpleasant, what we dislike……anger, despair, ill will etc. arise
when we come in contact with anything pleasant, which we like…..greed, desire to have more, jealousy etc. arise
If this be the ultimate truth : change the surroundings ; escape from these states quickly

12. Why does the mind become impure ……......….2
Cognition
Evaluation
Sensation-feeling
Blind reaction
Bare observation
experience of impermanence development of insight
mind more impure

13. Why does the mind become impure…………......….3
Modern studies also agree that sensations play a crucial role in emotion but most of the time these are below the threshold of our awareness, yet the subconscious mind feels and blindly reacts to them……. We do not like/dislike things but the sensations-feelings caused by those things
Develop the ability to feel these sensations, not react to them blindly, but observe these equanimously

14. TRAINING IN SELF OBSERVATION--VIPASSANA
Five Precepts (sila): Abstaining from
killing stealing intoxicants
false speech sexual misconduct
Anapana : Non reactive observation of breath (samadhi)
why breath as an object for concentration
universal, always available, neutral
directly related to mind
concentration with equanimity
ensures progressive increase of concentration

15. TRAINING IN SELF OBSERVATION …2
Vipassana : Complete direct & immediate mindfulness of whatever happens in the body-mind complex
“bare” observation of somatic sensations
Observing sensations leads to deep equanimity through development of insight into fundamental insignia of life :
impermanence un-satisfactoriness impersonality
Equanimity is purity !quotes

16. Spiral of sila samadhi and panna
pragya
samadhi
Purification of mind
sila

17. VIPASSANA IN EDUCATION
Self control of Impulses
habit of non reactive observation permits -- look before you leap , mindfulness is like the brakes of a car
reduction in rash, aggressive & unethical behaviour, intolerance, intemperance {Emotional Education}
Equanimity in the face of vicissitudes of life
reduction in escapism i.e. drugs, smoke, alcohol
Attenuation of greed & acquisitiveness
manifestation of loving kindness, compassion, service etc. : the higher needs of Maslow

18. VIPASSANA IN EDUCATION..
Proper self appraisal - knowledge of strengths and weaknesses
increases compassion, forgiveness, humility and reduces vanity- improvement in interpersonal relationships
Insight into the basic characteristics of life
comprehending the meaning of life and its goal, the way to achieve it and the confidence that it can be done! {spiritual education}

19. VIPASSANA IN EDUCATION..
Increase in creativity
Increase in concentration
avoiding day-dreaming , improved grasping power, examination blues {mental education}
Inculcation of Scientific temper
practice of bare attention
experience of “dissolution” & quantum-physics
Improvement in student-teacher relationship

20. Inculcation of values is the prime
Concluding Remarks
Inculcation of values is the prime
purpose of education
Mere intellectual appreciation is not enough
for value inculcation, practical training in
purification of mind is necessary
Self observation at the depth- at the level of
somatic sensations- is the key.
Pure mind is naturally free from acquisitiveness, and full of love, compassion and equanimity …..herein lies the solution to the problems facing mankind today

21. Thank you!