Teaching Hinduism

[Guest guest]

We received an email from one of the Ramakrishna Missions

in India asking for more details about teaching Hinduism to

the youngsters. As the topic may be of interest to other RKM I am

taking the liberty of sending you a copy of the reply.

 

jay......

Vivekananda Centre London

 

=============copy of email received=================

Date 24.04.2001

 

Dear Shri Jay Lakhani,

 

I am glad to receive your e-mail dated 21st instant and to know of

activities in promoting Hinduism in U.K. are bearing fruits and to

know that the new syllabus for Hinduism from London University

Board has incorporated some very interesting ideas.......<snip>........

 

==============REPLY===============================

 

Revered Maharaj

 

We in the UK are lucky that the education system here allows

teaching of all religions (including Hinduism) at the school level.

At the age of about 16 the youngsters can sit for an examination.

The examinations are called GCSE (General Certificate of School

Education - equal to the old matriculation system used in India).

Learning religions is NOT available in most other countries,

(I was quite surprised to learn from Gautamanandji Maharaj

that hardly any schools in India teach Hinduism!).

 

(1) The syllabus set by the London board is very focused and

well balanced. Briefly the syllabus covers the following topics:-

 

(a) Concept of God - includes ideas of God with

form (various male and female forms),

ideas of formless God (but with qualities liketruth, love).

It also includes ideas of God as Atman and Brahman

(God beyond form and formless) and the relationship between them.

(b) Definition of Sanatan Dharma, ideas of Samsar and Moksha.

© Concept of Three gunas as the building blocks of the universe.

(d) Scriptures - the distinction between Shrutis and Smritis

(e) Basic teachings of the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita.

(f) Role of recent personalities as spiritual teachers - 'gurus or swamis'.

(g) Rituals: Worship in the home and temple - key symbolic ideas.

(h) Festivals: Key ideas behind some celebrations like Divali,

Holi,Navratri

(i) Pilgrimages: Key ideas - Yatra, Tirtha, why, where? Varanasi etc.

(j) Translation of religion into family life: The Ashrama system

- what are the key teachings and what relevance do these

have in the present day society. The role of the caste system.

(k) Some key 'sacraments' (samskars) like Upanayana, Vivah and Antim Kriya.

(l) Various pathways to the divine;

(The four yogas - Raja, Karma, Bhakti and Jnana)

(m) Role of local temples for society - the personalities who run temples.

(n) Symbolic importance of main temple features.

(o) Ideas of Ahimsa, Truthfulness, Role of MK Gandhi, Spirituality in

politics as used by other groups in the world following Gandhi's example.

 

More importantly, some of the following topics are being brought in.

This is an exciting new development. The topics include:-

 

(A) What proof is there of God? Rationality and religions.

Agnostic and Atheistic objections.

(B) Matters of Life and Death - Reincarnation,

What proofs are there and their relevance?

© How do the teachings relate to ideas of euthanasia,

abortion and contraception.

(D) Marriage and family life - ideals of extended family

(the advantages and disadvantages). What of Promiscuity!

How do these relate to Hindu teachings?

(E) Social Harmony - how can religions co-exist? Some are singular like

the Abrahemic faiths - some like Hinduism are pluralistic.

Ideas of Interfaith and how Hinduism can contribute to this theme.

 

Religious Education in the UK is tackling some serious issues head-on.

It is introducing 'rationality' and 'relevance today' as central

themes in teaching religions. This promises to be an exciting

development as Hinduism will score very highly.

 

Hinduism in the UK is not only studied by the Hindu youngsters but by

youngsters of other faiths. Our site: 'Hinduism for Schools' receives about

200 hits per day (mainly from English school children learning Hinduism).

The site is at http://www.hinduism.fsnet.co.uk

Kindly view the site.

 

One of the unexpected bonuses to come out of my work is

that now thousands of youngsters (of all faiths) have for the

first time heard the name Sri Ramakrishna. When I started

the classes less than one percent of Hindu youngsters in the

UK had heard the names Sri Ramakrishna or Swami

Vivekananda (let alone know of their teachings).

What a loss! Now things are a bit better : )

 

Let me share a few other thoughts with you. Teaching Hinduism

is not my profession. I took it on as a tool to portray the teachings

of Sri Ramakrishna to the youngsters in this country.

The fact that I was teaching this as an academic subject meant

that I could cut across sectarian boundaries and gain access to

a very large number of Hindu youngsters in the UK.

Secondly I do not portray Sri Ramakrishna as a 'cult figure'.

This is not his weakness but the very strength of his personality.

He transcends sectarian / religious boundaries!

The reason why our classes have became very successful is

simply this:- I have been teaching Hinduism as portrayed

by 'Sri Ramakrishna/Vivekananda'. Hence the teachings

come alive not as some 'Sunday school preaching' but as

'spiritual teachings' and catch the attention of the youngsters.

Our candidates score very high marks in Hinduism and 'pinch'

majority of A*star grades reserved for 'all religions' by

the London Board. : )

 

In my opinion we should encourage classes in Hinduism at

centres in India (or in other parts of the world) and teach the same

syllabus as set out by the London Board. We can ask the London

University to allow Indian centres (as well as other overseas centres)

to let the local students sit for the same examinations at overseas

centres and gain same qualifications as obtained in the UK.

This can be an interesting development as it will draw in the

youngsters. The fact that the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

and Swami Vivekananda tackle 'relevance of religion today' and

'rationality in religions' so extremely well will bring about great

enthusiasm to the whole process. Unless the basics of Hinduism

are taught in this systematic manner - the youngsters will never

get round to studying the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

in greater detail.

 

I would strongly recommend setting up such classes in Hinduism

for the youngsters. I will be happy to help out in this process.

 

I have told the youngsters here: 'The best thing they have from their

ancestors is their spiritual inheritance. It is their duty to appreciate

this fully and pass it on to the host nation as a real contribution in the

days to come.

 

I hope this information has been useful to you.

 

pranams

jay (dilip) lakhani

Vivekananda Centre London

http://www.vivekananda.btinternet.co.uk

 

p.s.

(There is also an advanced level Hinduism course. The syllabus includes

topics like: 'Sri Ramakrishna', Patajanli Yoga Sutra' & 'Kathopanishad' ).