Course Summary:
This Course focuses on imparting transformation techniques that were part of International Knowledge System, (now identified with Indian Knowledge System - IKS) rather than sharing information regarding it. It begins with the search for wisdom, using the approach of the ancient Sahana Vavatu Mantra: seeking, searching, finding and applying it, together. This Course is neither text-based nor does it share the ‘end’ of all knowledge. Instead, it shares the context in which wisdom can be applied.
This context is investigated in six stages here; just as IKS has Shad Darshan or 6 ways of reaching the Truth!
Stage 1: What is a knowledge system? How can one agree to the efficacy of IKS?
Stage 2: Why is the current knowledge system seeking change?
Stage 3: What is the solution the current Global Knowledge system is seeking?
Stage 4: Human transformation: What has prevented Current Knowledge System from creating Well Being, despite its focus on ethics? How do IKS’s ‘Ways of Knowing’ awaken the inner voice of conscience? How does it lead to application of knowledge that creates Well Being? What practices lead to human transformation?
Stage 5: Validity of IKS: Evidence of Well Being created and sustained by over 4 decades of application of IKS in a microcosm of society is shared.
Stage 6: Likely impact of IKS on Academics: With an awakened conscience how can IKS help apply current ideas that enable progress (Mathematics and Sciences) and ideas that plan for progress (Economics and Management)? A speculation…
This Course shares its Mission Statement with a Course on Research Ethics using Research Methodology. Together they offer a global Well Being curriculum, the new goal of education
After the 2008 recession The OECD (Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development) changed the goal of education from Prosperity to Well Being. Its Directorate of Education and Skills is working to create a Well Being Curriculum by 2030. However, the 2020 recession and Mental Health issues, that academic journals call a ‘crisis’ require that this curriculum is needed earlier. These two courses fulfill the goal, using the approach of ancient wisdom that worked in Universities of Nalanda and Taxila thousands of years ago. They outline a curriculum that focuses on individual transformation, not information dissemination.
The course is based on inculcating “Eternal ideas of Righteous Conduct” as revealed in 5000-year-old texts of ancient wisdom. These global ideas are identified by geography instead of by the universality of their content as Indian Knowledge Systems. Their spirit is global and their universality is explored to enable exploration and development of individual potential.
Mission Statement:
Well Being and Mental Health are global concerns. Education is expected to impact the behaviour of graduating students to enable these. Well Being is negatively impacted when there is cognitive dissonance, for example. This includes individual actions, feelings, ideas, beliefs and values. It also includes things in the environment. Two broad sources of dissonance exist:
(a) There is cognitive dissonance within the individual. Psychological stress occurs when action and ideas are not psychologically consistent. Resolving them causes stress.
(b) There is dissonance with practices followed by others in society. This may happen when ideas and actions in the environment are not resolved with the individual's ideas, ethics, values etc.
Education is now expected to create a framework for resolving both. Material Sciences are taught and tested using a 'practical'. Ancient wisdom's science of creating Well Being (with prosperity) encourages students to experiment with and experience the power of voluntary practices. These actualize each individual's human potential, too. They work in the following way:
(a) Wisdom seeks to remove cognitive dissonance by seeking unity and harmony between the three human outputs of thought, word and deed.
How to make students actualize their potential and self-actualize?
(b) Ancient wisdom asks students to travel through three routes: Self Observation, Self Discovery and Self Discipline. When many members of society voluntarily practice self discipline, dissonance with behaviour of others in society is likely to diminish.
Thus the Course begins with a practice of daily self observation. The discipline of self observation leads to self analysis and self discovery. This, finally, leads to self discipline, as a natural choice. When graduating students develop self discipline it leads to righteous conduct (called Dharma in ancient wisdom). When decision makers in society follow righteous conduct, it prevents social problems (disorder, chaos, unethical and immoral behavior, falsehood, crime, corruption etc.) and economic problems (economic recessions). The appropriate use of the human mind actualizes human potential. Education must help students use the full potential of the human mind.
Proposed Course Outline
Goal of the Course:
1. Finding the right Knowledge System to address global problems: Is the Current Knowledge System (CKS) able to create Well Being in society? The OECD (Organization of Economic co-operation and Development) found that prosperity, despite spread of technology and education, led to social pain. Why are mental health problems and social pain resulting? Transforming humans to comprehend the spirit of living in society and voluntarily acting with self-discipline is a Goal for a Knowledge System.
2. Fulfilling individuals and society’s potential to create Well Being in society is the goal. We use this criterion to evaluate Indian Knowledge system (IKS); using methodologies of both CKS and IKS.
3. A focus on application and practice: Ethics have existed in curriculum theory - always. Yet social pain results. Why? How to apply concepts to predict or prevent social pain? To achieve this objective a practitioner shares a viewpoint that helped him apply IKS concepts at work and in life.
Course Structure: Ideas that create such a curriculum are explored in this course: Using International Knowledge System for creating a global Well Being Curriculum. Their validation is found in evidence of four decades. The human transformation that resulted in a microcosm of society has resulted in creation and sustained offering of services here. In a hamlet in South India, 4 decades ago a school was set up where modern education was taught with ancient wisdom. Today, from primary to PhD all education is given free of cost. Its students and those who have imbibed the ideas of ancient wisdom serve in a couple of super specialty hospitals where all treatment including surgeries are given free of cost. Over 5 million free services of the highest global standards have been given till date (including free cardiac surgeries, neurosurgeries, pacemakers, 3,26, 000 free surgeries, 26 million free diagnostic tests). The mobile hospital covers 440 villages. Free drinking water facilities have been provided to 1600 neighboring villages giving relief to 3 million people including those in 4 cities.
Course Hypothesis: Social Pain is not a natural calamity. It must have been caused by human actions. What guides them? The use of the mind guides actions. Can we analyze how its use caused social pain? Ideas that lead to transformation and create Well Being can be replicated.
Course Methodology: Uses Methodologies of current Knowledge System and IKS to make a choice
Methodology 1/ Step 1: USE EVIDENCE (Pratyaksha)
(a) Impact of Current Knowledge System on Society: OECD
(b) Impact of Indian Knowledge System on Society. THE EVIDENCE SHOULD BE VERIFIABLE BY ALL.
Methodology 2/ Step 2: USE COMPARISON (Upamana)
(a) Compare the evidence and decide which Knowledge System is better.
(b) Compare the difference in approach of current and Indian knowledge systems.
Methodology 3/ Step 3: USE INFERENCE (Anumana)
(a) Infer what led to CURRICULUM of Current Knowledge System; Will new approach of CKS succeed?
(b) Infer what will be the likely impact of concepts of IKS on subjects that plan for progress (Economics, Management) and those that enable it (Mathematics, Sciences)
Methodology 4/ Step 4 leads to Goal: AWAKEN THE INNER VOICE OF CONSCIENCE that leads to Righteous Conduct as a natural choice (Shabd Pramana): Comprehend/apply the Methodology of IKS to AWAKEN THE HUMAN CONSCIENCE; The Inner Voice raises Consciousness of individual and society so that ethics becomes a voluntary choice for individual and social behavior. This fulfills the idea of ‘Eternal Ideas of Righteous Conduct’.
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