Guest guest Posted June 27, 2001 Report Share Posted June 27, 2001 Ramakrishna Mission Institute Of Culture Calcutta vivekananda Wednesday, June 27, 2001 06:45 Date : 26 June 2001To : Jay, Vivekananda Centre LondonFrom : Swami PrabhanandaDear Jay, Your email dated 16 June 2001 brought some very interesting news. But to appreciate the contentsof your letter fully I need to know what do you meanby GCSE examination on `Hinduism' and what is A/S level examination for Hinduism ? What do you really mean by the advance supplement of Hinduism ? I shallbe happy to get a complete picture of your scheme. I am happy to learn that Swami Shardananda of South Africa have taken interest in your project. Bythe way I am also interested to know if your differentexamination on Hinduism are affiliated to LondonUniversity. With love to you and Ram, Yours affectionately, Swami Prabhananda ================================= Revered Maharaj To give your more information about the GCSE and A/S level Hinduism. The London University (and Oxford / Cambridge boards too) has set up a course allowing a student (mainly in the UK) to study Hinduism in a systematic and focused manner. The syllabus is basic but incorporates many subtle philosophic ideas. The course is equivalent to the old 'matriculation examinations' students had to sit for at the age of about 16. Students study the set syllabus which incorporates things like: Concept of God (with form) - Trimurti - Mother Goddesses Parvati, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Durga, Kali. Avatars - Rama & Krishna. Roles of Sita, Radha, Ganesh and Hanuman. Concept of God (without form) invoking teachings of Arya Samaj Concept of God (beyond form/formless) definitions of Atman and Brahman Definitions: Sanatan Dharma / Samsar / Moksha / Three Gunas Scriptures: Distinction between Shruti and Smriti. Basics of what kind of teachings are contained in the Gita and Upanishads. What may be involved in Puranic teachings and Law books like Manu smriti. Pathways to Moksha: Jnana/Karma/Bhakti/Yoga Philosophy: Basics of Dvaita and Advaita (How Atman=Brahman?) Rituals:Role of daily worship / worship in the temples / pilgrimage Some of the Samskars like: Upanayana / Vivah / Antim Kriya The Teachings of the Ashram System: Role of the four ashrams in the ideal situation - the relevance of some of the teachings today! Religious tolerance: Role of religious education and how Hinduism can contribute to the British way of life as well as what aspects come into conflict with British way of life. Caste system. Respect for Life: Definition of Ahimsa - how and why respect life? Resolving conflict - when to stand up and fight? Vegetarianism, Cow protection, How this ideals have effected non Hindus? This is the basic syllabus for the GCSE course which is short for: General Certificate for School Education. Course and exams meant to be done by the age of 16. ==================== Between the ages of 17 and 18 the candidates in English schools study for Advanced level. Again the examinations and course is set by the Universities in the UK. (Advanced/ Supplementary course is half way house to the full Advanced level). The syllabus for Advanced level includes: Contribution made to Hinduism by contemporary figures like: Sri Ramakrishna, Mahatma Gandhi, Dayananda Saraswati, And Dr Radhakrishna. Yoga: Patanjali's yoga sutra The set texts are: Kathopanishad and part of the Gita. More detailed elaboration: Brahman, Atman, Pathways to Moksha, Law of Karma, Wider definition of Dharma. ============================= As you can see the syllabus covers many of the interesting aspects of Hinduism. What I learnt from Revered Swami Gautamanandaji is that Hinduism is not taught in Indian schools but can easily be taught in schools in England. Our website http://www.hinduism.fsnet.co.uk which covers most of the GCSE syllabus is visited daily by about 200 children (mainly English children) learning Hinduism!! If what we are doing in UK can be used as a basic format to encourage teaching/learning/sitting for examinations on Hinduism in other parts of the world -- specially in India then it will be a great boon for our youngsters. The fact that the examinations are set by London University and the qualification certificate comes from London - may be an important ploy in getting this scheme off the ground. This year we have come across many Hindu bodies in other parts of the world like British Guyana and Trinidad keen to take up this idea and proceed. The course can be taught over one year. (one class of one hour per week is enough). The course starts in September and the examinations are held in June of each year. The London Board is quite happy for overseas candidates to sit for this examinations at centres approved locally in those countries. I am aware of people in Hong Kong as well as in Dubai studying for and sitting for these examinations. We can ask the London Board to send you full syllabus details, past papers and marking schemes. We at the Vivekananda Centre will be happy to share with you the notes we are using in teaching this course. At the moment we have 8 classes throughout the UK teaching this course - the number of classes continue to expand. Please contact me if you need any more information. I am hoping that many more of the Ramakrishna Mission Centres will take up this idea. It will certainly encourage a larger number of youngsters to study spirituality in a focused manner. Hinduism today has done a good article about our activities in the March/April issue of this year. jay Vivekananda Centre London http://www.vivekananda.btinternet.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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