A unique system of
education has been evolved by Her Holiness Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi in
Her Divine and all encompassing vision of collective human ascent. It
particularly aims at the balanced development of the child amidst the
chaos of modern times. Her vision envisages the eternal principle of
love embellished in the ancient guru-disciple tradition where learning
was a preparation for abiding by the Divine will, respecting its laws
and perpetuating God's wisdom.
In the
literal sense of the word, knowledge in earlier times used to be
communicated spontaneously. The guru imparted it with love and the
disciple received it with gratitude and gathered the pearls of
knowledge to internalize them. It was not merely the transfer of wisdom
but a ladder for ascent to reach the Creator. Without this, education
would have no meaning.
Since this vital element is missing in modern education, it has become
dry and hollow. Schools and Universities may confer high-sounding
degrees, but where the spirit is ignored, the personality remains
incomplete and imbalanced. Fortunately, with the advent of Her Holiness
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, enlightenment has dawned on our education
through the light of Her precious gift of Sahaja Yoga.
Sahaja
Yoga not only nurtures the latent spirit within us but also resurrects
us into entities capable of lighting other lamps with the joy and love
which She gives.
Sahaja Education
naturally embraces the academic spirit of the International Education
policies but endeavors to move ahead of it to offer an opportunity for
each child to enjoy the precious magic of the days of innocence and
purity. It is learning with a difference where the child is nurtured
with loving care and prepared to appreciate and face the realities of
the outside world with confidence and success. Thus, wisdom is born.
Classroom lessons then become an integral part of the total learning
process. Each lesson learnt is a joyful experience, enriching the
child's awareness and ascent. The ascent integrates the development of
the aesthetic sense through various expressions of spiritual joy
reflected by Sahaja Yoga through an experience of "Self Realisation".
A compatible staff
which is highly qualified, talented, compassionate, with an experience
of the science of Sahaja Yoga, guides the academic activities of the
School. The teachers are models for the students to follow. Sahaja
Education is a wholehearted effort to inculcate love for nature, care
for the environment, gentleness, nobility, honesty, wisdom and a lure
for experimentation and adventure. The child is surrounded with an
enriching ethos.
The Vision
According to Shri
Mataji, the primary concern of education is the awakening of the
Spirit, through love, sharing and self-discipline.
Sahaja schools, foster a unique concept of inter-personal relations
among student which generate purity, innocence and awareness of
chastity. The emphasis is on dignity, decency and decorum of good
manners, which enable the students to imbibe a sense of morality and
sacredness of the body, which is a temple of God.
The seeds of our
future benevolent and compassionate leaders, statesmen, and virtuous
heroes are sown in childhood. Hence, utmost care is taken to sow and
nurture the seeds. All policies and programmes are so designed as to
enable children to realise the optimum development of his or her
potential through the actualization of their spiritual evolution as per
the tenets of Sahaja Yoga. The more we help children to have lofty
ideas and feel good about themselves for having them, the more likely
it is that they are going to happen.
One of the main
goals is to undertake a comparative study of all the religions to show
that the essence of all the religions is the same. This focuses the
attention of students to the spiritual life of sharing, tolerance,
peaceful co-existence and co-operation with the joy of sacrifice for
others. The atmosphere of Sahaja schools is peaceful and serene and as
such an atmosphere allows for greater absorption with less distraction
of attention.
The aim of Sahaja education is to establish a firm foundation for the learning process which:
1.
Provides
basic knowledge in all subjects in a happy, homely, friendly and
vitalizing environment as visualized by Mahatma Gandhi.
2.
Encourage and stimulate the pupil's natural curiosity, creativity and imagination in the peaceful environment.
3.
Paves the way for the pupils to understand spiritual and moral principles.
4.
Allows each child to develop the diverse facets of his or her personality.
5.
An ability to relate studies with life in a spirit of co-operation rather than competition.
6.
Brings out
the innate human quality through respect, love kindness, courage,
propriety, sensitivity, dignity, compassion, consideration and
spontaneity. By this system, the child becomes strongly grounded in
himself. He easily recognizes false-hood, deceit and superficially
projected values. A common sense understanding will also get evoked
through awakening to the inner and outer phenomenon.
The Difference
Difference between traditional and Sahaja method of education:
Traditional Method
Sahaja Method
Who could get most ‘A' in the class
How can we help each other in class
Emphasis on teaching
Emphasis on learning
Emphasis on parts
Emphasis on whole
Isolated knowledge and skills
Integrated knowledge, skills, multicultural global experience
Tests that test
Tests that teach
Building Collectivity benefits in greater productivity, Academic achievement and individual personality development
