DEAR TEACHERS……………..

Teachers should realise the importance of ethical, Dharmic and spiritual development. These three should be present in teachers to a greater degree. The reputation of teachers and their success depend primarily on their conduct. The future of numerous innocent children is in their hands. The good conduct of the students depends on the example set by teachers. The teaching profession is a highly responsible one. Today there are three kinds of teachers. The first type consists of teachers who revel in "complaints". They are the teachers with grouses of one kind or another. The second type consists of teachers who "explain". They "explain" what the students have to learn. To the third type belong teachers who "inspire". This category of teachers arouse the enthusiasm of students and inspire them to take deep interest in their studies. Such teachers are becoming rare these days. Once the enthusiasm of the student is aroused, learning becomes a creative process. The teacher should patiently understand the problems of students and help to solve them. Teaching today has become mechanical, with each teacher content to "teach" the prescribed portions of the syllabus. Teachers should see whether the students have properly comprehended the subjects taught to them. Any deficiency on the student's part should be ascribed to the teacher's failure to do his job well.

In the field of science today, there is great emphasis on research and discovery. But unless the results of research are applied in practice, it will be an expensive futility. If all the time is spent on research when is it to find useful application in practice? Nor is there any sense of discrimination in the promotion of research. To give an example: When I attended recently a symposium in Bombay on "Science and Spirituality", a prominent scientist said that the nuclear arsenals of the Big Powers contained enough atom bombs to destroy the world ten times over. What is the sense in building up such arsenals? If you have destroyed the world once, what is there left for the other bombs to destroy? In the process, you would have destroyed yourself.

Those engaged in research seem to be more concerned about boosting their name and fame by their research than about promoting public well?being through the results of their research. Nor do they seem to be bothered about the harmful consequences of their discoveries. There is nothing great about causing harm to others. To destroy a million persons by a single bomb is no great thing. To do good to a single individual in the world is more praise?worthy. The scientific knowledge we acquire must be used for the benefit of our fellow?men. Only that is proper education which prepares the student for disinterested action. The pursuit of the science of the Spirit (Parartha Vijnana Sastra) is more essential than involvement with the physical sciences (Padartha Vijnanamu).