Real Meaning of Education of Human Beings

Real education begins when a human being inquires into the purpose of life and the nature of the self. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that education is not meant for polishing animal tendencies but for awakening spiritual knowledge and elevating human society toward its highest goal.

Education Distinguishes Humans from Animals

Human life is unique because it allows conscious inquiry into existence, purpose, and truth. Without education that develops this capacity, a human being simply imitates animal life in a more sophisticated form.

• A human being must be educated to understand his past life and how he can endeavor for a better life in the future.
• All the books, laws, everything - education, culture, philosophy, science - it is all meant for the human being, not for the cats and dogs.
• Cats and dogs cannot be elevated to the platform of jnana and vairagya. That is not possible. A human being can be elevated by education, by culture, to the platform of jnana and vairagya. That is the ultimate goal.

Education Must Awaken Knowledge of the Soul

The essence of education is to understand one’s identity beyond the temporary body. Without spiritual knowledge, education fails to fulfill its most essential function.

• If there is no education to teach a human being what he is and whether or not he is this body, he remains no better than an ass.
• The difference between animal society & human society is that a human being, whoever he may be, he can, if he is taught, trained and educated, he can understand his real position, that he is not this body, but he is pure consciousness; he is spirit soul.
• There is no educational system throughout the whole world how to understand the existence of soul, which is the prime necessity of understanding for the human being.

Education as a Purifying Process

True education purifies animal propensities and cultivates higher qualities such as truthfulness, mercy, and self-control. This purification elevates human life toward its real perfection.

• The beginning of this social institution is based on education meant for purifying the animal propensities of the human being. The highest purificatory process is knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the purest of the pure.
• In order that human beings be distinct from the animals, the great saint Narada recommends that every human being be educated in terms of the above-mentioned (in SB 7.11.8-12) thirty qualifications - truthfulness, mercy, austerity, tolerance, etc.

The Ultimate Aim of Education

Education must guide human beings toward liberation from repeated birth and death and prepare them for life beyond the material world. Without this aim, education remains incomplete.

• Actually we want happiness, blissful life. That is not possible in the material world. That is in the spiritual world. That is the aim. So every human being should be given chance. That is real education. That is called samskara.
• Our aim should be to go there (spiritual world), and every human being should be given the chance. That is real education. That is called samskara, the process of purification.
• If you do not give proper education, then next body may be lower than human being.

Conclusion

Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the real meaning of education is to awaken human beings to their spiritual identity and ultimate destination. Education that neglects the soul and Absolute Truth keeps society bound to animal life, whereas spiritual education elevates humanity toward knowledge, purification, and eternal happiness.

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Education of Human Beings. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.