EDUCATIONAL VALUES IN JAIN CANON (Apr )
By Dulichand Jain
Summary
The article "Educational Values in Jain Canon" by Dulichand Jain explores the educational principles emphasized by Bhagwan Mahavira, the 24th Jaina Tirthankara, whose teachings are preserved in the Prakrit-language agamas. These texts cover philosophy, ethics, religion, and more, offering timeless educational values relevant to modern society. Central to Jain education are the three pillars of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct, which guide individuals toward spiritual perfection. Right faith, prioritized over material wealth, forms the foundation for acquiring spiritual knowledge, while right conduct—encompassing self-control, compassion, truthfulness, non-stealing, and austerity—serves as the cornerstone of character-building. The article underscores the critical role of acharyas (spiritual teachers) in transmitting knowledge, likening them to lamps that illuminate others without diminishing their own light. To attain knowledge, a learner must avoid pride, anger, carelessness, illness, and idleness, fulfilling eight conditions: avoiding gossip, maintaining self-control, safeguarding secrets, practicing discipline, avoiding blameworthy actions, rejecting covetousness, curbing short temper, and upholding truth. Mahavira stresses humility as essential for learning, asserting that arrogance hinders enlightenment. He likens learning without humility to a plant without water, emphasizing vigilance against distractions like intoxicants, merriment, and gossip. The article warns against procrastination, urging purposeful use of time and association with virtuous company to preserve moral integrity. Jain educational values, rooted in spirituality, are seen as antidotes to modern societal issues like immorality and corruption. The author calls for integrating these principles into contemporary education to empower younger generations, aligning with Mahavira’s 2,615th birth anniversary in April 2017. By internalizing these teachings, individuals can balance modernity with ethical living, contributing to collective well-being.
Conclusion
Mahavira’s educational philosophy, rooted in non-violence, compassion, and self-discipline, offers timeless values for modern society. His emphasis on right faith, knowledge, and conduct as pathways to spiritual and moral perfection remains profoundly relevant, advocating for character-building and ethical living as foundational to true education. The principles of humility, vigilance, and purposeful action he espoused counter contemporary societal challenges like corruption and violence, underscoring the urgency of integrating these values into modern education. By prioritizing virtues such as self-control, truth, and austerity, education can transcend mere academic achievement, fostering enlightened individuals who contribute meaningfully to collective well-being. On Mahavira’s 2615th birth anniversary, his teachings serve as a powerful call to action for nurturing a generation that balances modernity with moral integrity, ensuring a harmonious and enlightened society.