Proper education for our younger generation should be the single most important element in their lives. Education can be defined in several ways, but keeping in mind that the purpose of a human being is to realize God during this very life, it becomes extremely important that education is based on morality and building pure character in every single individual. Molding the life of a person for the ultimate good includes worldly good as well as spiritual good.

Worldly well-being does not necessarily include morality or spiritual well-being. But spiritual well-being necessarily includes morality and character building as a foundation and thus, is good for worldly objectives as well. Education of a child begins from the moment its parents conceive or desire it. Sanatana Dharma states that a baby begins to acquire many characteristics of its mother even while in the mother's womb. The first teacher of a child, therefore, is its mother since her samskars inevitably affect the child still unborn.

The early period of a baby is the most important from the point of view of education. It is said that in the first three-year period a baby acquires most of the education in the form of a seed which develops into a tree later. During this period, it is extremely important that it receives mother's love unconditionally. A child that has not received the love and care of its parents during the early period of its life may turn out to be a good student and a successful person, but will lack the joy of life. We must not expect children to become computerized robots with a preprogrammed life that will make them mechanical instruments. We should not expect our children to be born just to eat, sleep, procreate, sustain and die for we see all these phenomena even in trees, fish, birds and animals. Man must rise above mere survival instincts to a Spiritual level for we are in Reality Spirit and not merely a psycho-physical entity of body, senses, mind, intellect and ego.

Education depends upon values we assign to things, events, and life itself. Where money, lust and desire for name and fame are prime objectives, naturally the education system will lean towards these goals. Such an education system exists today, and it is a sad commentary on the modern education system.

Brahmacharyashram, in the Sanatana Dharma, stresses that the first quarter of a person's life, before entering a householder's life for the next quarter, should be spent in total dedication to education. Education means dedication on the part of the teacher and the student -- a system where love, care and concern for the overall life of the student are very important. Students need not have any anxieties of financial insecurity, competitive pressure, and superiority complex over others. Each student should be allowed to develop according to his individual samskars.

Today we see excessive competitiveness, social and parental pressure for getting better grades, even at the cost of the development of the student according to his or her wishes. They are more or less railroaded into tracks that society has arbitrarily set up; judging the success of a person on his income or social status or name and fame, not to speak of the underlying lust that governs the important years of the student's development.

Education doesn't mean merely preparing a student to earn lots of money at the cost of real happiness. Acquiring worldly riches doesn't make a man great. All religions worship their prophets, who were never rich in wealth, but were rich in morality, character, and led a life of dedication to Truth and awareness of the existence our Creator. It would be hypocritical for us to worship or idealize a spiritual leader and yet, have our goals of lust, greed, and fame which are the cause of most of the ills in our world today.

We must remember that becoming a doctor, an engineer, a businessman, a politician, an artist, a singer, a dancer, or musician or any other professional to make a living, is not the goal of life in itself, but merely, a means to the ultimate end of God-Realization. Whether we are a farmer, a banker, a carpenter, a tailor or any other artisan, we must respect every profession as long as it is dedicated to serve others and our Creator. Thus, in the eyes of Truth, every one, being equal, should be treated equally. That a person is superior because of greater income or fame is our own standard based on ignorance, arrogance and vanity. It is certainly not based on the Truth as taught by Gitaji or any other holy scripture.

If we keep the above views in mind, then we will remove deficiencies in our education systems and institutions to properly shape the lives of our children as they develop. Pressure for better grades has caused the younger generation to miss out on many of the innocent joys of youth. Even in the learning of any art or sport, the pressure to become superior than others eliminates the joy of the activity. "Showing off" has acquired a greater significance, whether this is obvious or not. Even top students are found cheating in examinations or using other immoral means to keep up with our arbitrary "high" standards. Such a student will later regret and pay heavily in life. If only we encouraged everyone to be his best rather than to always try to be number one. I onlyf we encouraged everyone to be his/her best rather than judge him/her by how much money she/he makes, whether in politics, sports, arts or any other profession! Materialism in itself is such a degrading standard!

Saints and prophets were of a different breed. Their lives were based on humility, service, dedication and sacrifice. We must honestly harmonize with our ideals so we can have more joy and fulfillment in life which has more to offer than just materialistic, computerized, prejudged beings.

As we have stated before, true education begins at birth and should end only at death. Schooling and learning ata  young age only is a very limited view of education. The complete development of a person is a lifelong process. If a person feels that she or he has no further need to improve or learn, he/she is as good as dead. Learning is an infinite process, considering Creation, our Creator, and our real potential to know it all. We can enjoy this life only if we realize that this temporary life has a great potential for Self Realization.

True education never despises anyone at any time. It makes us more humble and makes us realize how insignificant we are, not from a materialistic point of view, but how infinitely significant we are from the spiritual point of view. Man does not live on bread alone. Man needs love, compassion, care, appreciation and dignity as well as respect. These can be ours only if we live and educate ourselves according to real education.

Gitaji is our true Guru, Mother, Father, and friend, only if we care to learn and obey Her teachings. She takes into Her bosom only those who have faith, humility, and love for life. May we reevaluate our entire idea of education, restraining ourselves and properly educating our young ones so that true joy may be ours forever.