Knowledge, Soul-Power and Selfless Service - A Kannan

Knowledge is acknowledged by a wide cross-section of people as an important means to progress and prosperity. This has found expression in a widespread endeavor towards universal literacy and making use of the information revolution, with the ultimate object of inculcating civic responsibilities, including duties to the world of plants and animals, and awareness of the value of culture and education. This endeavor can also be summed up as making the average person more ‘knowledgeable’. There are however grave flaws in these efforts, as evidenced by the destructive and violent activities which we see on a mass scale today – action which is hardly characteristic of really knowledgeable persons.

One of the reasons for this failure could be that the system of imparting knowledge consists only of transferring information, without regard for the moral and spiritual values essential for true progress and happiness. Too much attention is given to material prosperity and competition, and there is an aggressive attitude to life in general. The real purpose of education, which is the unfoldment of new qualities that build character, is overlooked.

Knowledge and evolution should be viewed holistically as closely linked in value-based education. True evolution encompasses gradual and harmonious changes in the whole nature of man – a progress of consciousness towards unity and love, for which the physical and biological aspects of evolution serve as the means.

© `The Theosophist’ (December 2001), published by The Theosophical Publishing House, Adyar, Chennai 600 020. Email: tphindia@md5.vsnl.net.in; theosophy@netkracker.com.

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