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Education in Jainism
important. In order to see how the ideas of a true education system are reflected in a Jaina way of life, let us first briefly glance at Education as it is and as it should be in future. Avoiding a big discussion on the system of Education that was in ancient India, let us know, about education from seventeenth century with the notion of progress and development till it prevails now and the education of future. To know this it becomes very important that we know the Indian approach to education. The Vedas, Upanishads and Jain canonical literature say: "Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man." Knowledge is inherent in man, no knowledge come from outside, it is all inside. According to Jainism also, the soul has all infinite powers-infinite knowledge, infinite power, infinite faith and infinite bliss. The knowledge and all these infinites are veiled and education is simply unveiling. Education means to lead, to bring forth, to educe to educe the inner, hidden, dormant potential within every human being. Sri Aurobindo writing on education says, "The first principle of the true teaching is that nothing can be taught."15
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Taking note of the current education system that has undergone notable changes, the change is mainly because of the change in the concept, approaches and values that have changed also. Instead of knowledge for liberation we have technology for physical pleasures and comforts; instead of happiness and divinity within, we have cravings to succeed in a globalized material world outside. The growth of advanced technology, though required is certainly not enough. We need to know that information is not Knowledge, and intellect is not vision. Veda says, "The intellectual understanding is only the lower knowledge (Buddhi); there is another and higher knowledge (Buddhi) which is not intelligence but vision, is not understanding but over standing in knowledge." In nut shell, we find the improvement of the current system of education or the removal of the misleading, materialistic worldly approaches in education is an immediate need. For this we will have to adopt and implement Jaina concept of education.
Conclusion:
Education in Jainism is integral and intrinsic to Jaina way of life. We know that mere learning facts & figures or information is not knowledge and mere knowledge is not education. Education includes knowledge, vision and sound character. This education is means to attain the highest goal of life i.e. liberation. Jainism as religion and a system of Indian Philosophy is a way of life. To live a Jaina way of life is to educate one's own self and develop the higher quality of soul leading towards perfection, and attaining liberation from pain and suffering. Jaina way of life is a controlled, disciplined life where one observes the five great vows: Non-killing (ahimsa), Truth (Satya), Non stealing (Asteya) (Asteya) Non possessing (aparigraha) and virtuous life (Brahmacharya). These vows and the other vows for the householder
