Education Means Brahma-vidyā, Not Animal Education
Education, as explained by Śrīla Prabhupāda, is not meant merely for earning a livelihood or advancing material comfort. Real education begins when one inquires into the nature of the self, the cause of suffering, and the ultimate goal of life. Without this higher purpose, education becomes misguided and degrades human society rather than elevating it.
Education Begins With Self-Knowledge
Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the foundation of education is understanding one’s real identity beyond the temporary body. This inquiry, known as brahma-jijñāsā, distinguishes human life from animal existence.
- Education means athato brahma jijnasa.
- Education means that you must know what is your position.
- Bhagavad-gita says you are not this body. That is the beginning of education.
Education Is Not Sense Gratification or Technology
Modern education often focuses on technology, employment, and sense enjoyment. Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly criticizes this approach, stating that education centered on eating, sleeping, mating, and defending is no better than animal life.
- Animal education means when we are too much interested with eating, sleeping, mating and defending, that is animal education.
- Modern education means simply a craftsmanship.
- At the present moment, education means to give facilities for sense gratification.
Education Means Solving the Real Problems of Life
The true function of education is to address the fundamental miseries of existence—birth, death, old age, and disease. Knowledge that does not aim at liberation from suffering is considered incomplete.
- Education means to solve the problem of life. And what is the real problem? Birth, death, old age and disease.
- Transcendental education means learning how to gain relief from the entanglement of material life.
Education Cultivates Character and Gentleness
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that real learning naturally produces humility and good character. A truly educated person is gentle, sober, truthful, and self-controlled.
- Education means one becomes gentle, sober, cool-headed.
- Education means everyone should be gentleman.
- Education means to do the right thing, not the wrong thing.
The Ultimate Goal of Education
The culmination of education is to know Kṛṣṇa and develop God consciousness. All branches of knowledge are meant to lead one toward understanding the Absolute Truth and engaging in devotional service.
- So the purpose of education means to know God, to know Krsna.
- Education means to lead the people gradually to Krsna consciousness.
- Education or learning means to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Conclusion
According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, education finds its true value when it awakens spiritual inquiry, purifies character, and guides one toward God realization. Without this aim, education remains incomplete and misdirected, regardless of material advancement.
Dive Deeper into Srila Prabhupada's Vani
Srila Prabhupada lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Education Means. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Srila Prabhupada's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.