Education During Buddhist Period
Education
During Buddhist Period
The sixth century B.C forms an important Epoch
in the history of the Indian religion and thought. The period saw the rice of
two new religions – Jainism founded by Vardhamana Mahaveera and Buddhism
founded by Gautama Buddha. These two religions were the out come of a revolt
against the cast system prevailed in the Brahmanical period.
Sree Buddha gave great importance to
education. The monasteries was the centers of education during the Buddhist
Period. Besides monasteries , there were no other organizations for imparting
education. Only the Buddhist could receive religious and other type of
education . Other person were deprived of this facility .Biddhist period in
Indian education roughly starts from 600 B.C and last for about 1200 years till
600 A.D, during Vedic period education was mostly individualistic effort , were
as Buddhist period institutional organizations is one of the chief
characteristics of education.
Buddhist education was based on the teaching
of Gautama Buddha. These teaching were so important they remained a source of
inspiration for individual as well as social development in India. The
influence of Buddhist teaching cannot be undermined even during later periods.
Aims of Education
The
chief aims Buddhist education are the following;
•
Development of Education : The chief
aim of Buddhist education was all round development of child’s personality.
This included his physical, mental , moral and intellectual development.
•
Formation of Character : During this
period in the organization of education specially emphasis was laid down on the
formation of character of the students. Student life was hard and rigorous.
They observed celibacy laid stress on a life of moral purity.
•
Religious Education : In the
Buddhist era , religion was given top priority and education was imparted
through it. The chief aim of education was the propagation of religion and the
inculcation of religious feelings and education served as a mean to achieve
‘salvation or nirvana’
•
Preparation for Life : In this
system of education there was a provision for imparting wordily and practically
knowledge along with religious education .o that when the students entered
normal life they may be able to earn their livelihood.
•
Teaching of Four Noble Truths :
Buddha was primarily an ethical teacher and reformer and not a metaphysician.
The message of his enlightment points to man the way of life that leads beyond
suffering. The four noble truths are the following ; All
earthly life is misery.
F Desire
is the cause of misery.
F Removal
of the desire alone can end unhappiness.
F The
noble Eight-fold path is the means to suppress desires and get freedom from
birth and rebirth. The eight fold path consist of the following ; Right belief,
Right aim, Right speech, Right act, Right Living, Right effort, Right attention
& Right meditation.
Feature of Buddhist Education
Following points indicates the chief features
of Buddhist Education ;
Pabhaja Ceremony
Pabhaja was an accepted ceremony of the
Buddhist monasteries. Pabhaja means going out. According to this ceremony the
students being admitted to an monastery had to renounce all his worldly and
family relation. An individual belonging to any cast could be admitted to a
monastery and after being admitted, he did not belong to any caste, for Pabhaja
ceremony the individual had to get his head fully shaved and put on yellow in
this shape. He was presented before the presiding Bhikshu on presentation this
individual would pray for admission to the monastery. On his prayer the head
bhikshu would administer three basic advices
;
I
refuge with Buddha
I
take refuge with Religion
I
take refuge with the order.
The aspirant for admission used to pronounce
these advise very distinctly. Then his admission was permitted on being
admitted, the individual was called a ‘Sharman’.
Upasampada Ceremony
After Pabhaja the Buddhist monk had to undergo
the Upasampada ceremony. This ceremony was different from Pabhaja ceremony. It
was after receiving education for 12 years, that it is at the age of 20 years
Upasampada ceremony was performed. The Sharman has to present himself in front
before on the other monks of the monastery. One could be admitted for this
ceremony only when the majority of the monks voted in favour of the same. After
this ceremony the Sharman was regarded as full-fledge member of the monastery.
On this occasion or all his worldly and family relationships ended.
Responsibility of the Teacher
Both the teacher and the student were
responsible to the monastery or the Buddhist order. But regarding education,
cloths, food & residence of the
student monk, the teacher was wholly responsible. The teacher was also
responsible for any treatment of the student, whenever he fulfill. The teacher
used to bestow all the affection to his student and used to educate his through
lecture and question answer method.
Daily routine of Student (Diuchariya)
The student was excepted to serve his teacher
with all devotion on rising in the morning. The student will arrange every
thing for the daily routine of the teacher. He will cook his food and clean his
cloths and utensils. Whatever he acquired through begging alms, he would place
before teacher. The student had to prepare himself to recive education at any
time, whenever the teacher required him.
Curriculum
The curriculum was chiefly spiritual in
nature. It was because the chief aim of education was to attain salvation. So
the study of the religious books was most important . This type of curriculum
was meant only for the monks. Besides this spinning, weaving, printing of the
cloths , tailoring, sketching , accountancy, medicine, surgery, and coinage
were the other the subject of Buddhist education.
Method of Teaching
Buddhist education aimed at purity of
character like vedic education. It was training for moral character rather than
psychological developments of the students, one has to attain the stage of
bodhisattva. Mental and moral development was emphasized. Following are the
methods ;
F Verbal
education
F Discussion
F Prominence
of logic
F Tours
F Conference
F Meditation
in solitude
Assembly of learned People
On the beginning and class of every
month learned peoples used to assemble together . This type of assembly
together was a very important part of
Buddhist education. The purpose of this assembly was to maintain the moral
standards of all the monks , because the total education was based on morality.
It was compulsory for all the monks to be present. If due to illness, it was
not possible monk to come, then assembly was held near his residence. This
assembly was quite democratic it has immense moral impact on all concurrent.
Women Education
Women education during the Buddhist period was
out its lowest ebb as the women folk were dispersed in the sense that lord
Buddha had regarded them as the source of all events. Because regarded them as
the source of all the evils. So he had advised during his life time not to
admit women in monasteries. But after some time due to the instance of his dear
pupils and Buddha had permitted about 500 womens along with his stepmother
admission in Viharas with many restrictions and reservations.
Vocation Education
Vocation education was not ignored during the
Buddhist system of education. The monks of vihar were taught spinning, weaving,
sewing in order that they meet their clothing requirements. They were taught
architecture as well Education in architecture will enable them to build up new
Viharas or repair the old once. Similarly the house holders following Buddhism
but living outside Viharas were given training in different types of and also
earn their livelihood.
Role of Teacher
During Buddhist period the place of
teacher in the scheme of education was very important. According to sutras
literature Acharya may admit according to his unfettered discretion, a number
of pupils , who would have to live with him at this house for a minimum period
of 12 years . He would not accept any fees from the pupil under this
institution. The progress shown by pupils was the only factor that determined
the continence of his apprenticeship.
Student in Buddhist System of Education
The Buddhist system like the Brahmanical ,
enjoys upon the pupil the duty of serving the preceptor as a part of education.
The pupil is to rise in the morning from the bed and give his teacher teeth
cleaner and water to rinse his mouth, then preparing a seat for him, serve him
rise milk in rinsed jug, after his drinking wash the vessel and sweep the
place. Afterwards he is to be equip him for his begging mount. He wants to
accompany but must not walk to far from or near. He is not interrupt his teacher
in speaking even if he makes a mistake. There were also rules for the expulsion
of pupil by the teacher.
To conclude the main feature of
ancient Indian education are
;
1. Ancient
education from the Vedic. They are supposed to be the course of Indian philosophy
of life Vedas means ‘to know’.
2. The
basis of Indian culture lies in the Vedas which are four in number – Rig veda,
Sama veda, Yajur veda and Adarva veda.
3. Womens
were given full status with man during the vedic age .
4. Buddhist
education was based on the teaching of Gautama Buddha.
5. The
chief aim of education was spread of Buddhist religion and attainment of
Nirvana through it.
6. Pabhaja
was an accepted ceremony of the Buddhist monasteries.
The present education experiment
like Basic education , Viswa
Bharathi, Aurobindo Ashram, Gurucul
Kangri , And Banasthali Vidypeeth, etc.
Can you give the
ReplyDeleteThanks for this blog....I was looking for a precise explanation of Buddhist education system and it helped me a lot.
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