Purpose of education

Expressions researched:
"purpose of education"

SB Canto 4

The purpose of education is to understand Kṛṣṇa and His devotional service.

SB 4.29.50, Purport: "Conquering the world by means of material education is not desirable. If one engages himself in devotional service, his education is perfected." (Ādi 13.173)

paḍe kene loka—kṛṣṇa-bhakti jānibāre

se yadi nahila, tabe vidyāya ki kare

"The purpose of education is to understand Kṛṣṇa and His devotional service. If one does not do so, then education is false." (Ādi 12.49)

SB Canto 7

To understand the science of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the real purpose of education.

SB 7.10.45, Purport: Through the principles of religion, one can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Brahman (the impersonal feature of the Supreme Lord) and Paramātmā (the localized aspect of the Lord). When one is well conversant with all these principles, he becomes a devotee and performs bhāgavata-dharma. Prahlāda Mahārāja, the spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession, advised that this bhāgavata-dharma be instructed to students from the very beginning of their education (kaumāra ācaret prājño dharmān bhāgavatān iha [SB 7.6.1]). To understand the science of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the real purpose of education. Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ [SB 7.5.23]. One must simply hear about and describe Lord Viṣṇu and His various incarnations. This narration concerning Prahlāda Mahārāja and Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, therefore, has properly described spiritual, transcendental subjects.

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

The demons have universities, educational institution and advancement of knowledge, what is the aim of life, why education is being imparted, what is the purpose. These they do not know. The asura-jana, they do not know what is the purpose of education.

Lecture on BG 16.7 -- Hyderabad, December 14, 1976:

Prabhupāda: These are the first qualification of the demons, that they do not know which way one has to make progress. That they do not know. This is the defect of the modern civilization. They have universities, educational institution and advancement of knowledge, so on, so on. But ask them what is the aim of life, why education is being imparted, what is the purpose. These are... They do not know. Do they know?

Haṁsadūta: No.

Prabhupāda: They simply know how to eat, how to sleep, how to have sex, and how to defend. For this purpose they are giving education. That is... Does it require any education, how to eat? Everyone, even a child, he knows. You give him something eatable. Immediately takes and he knows it is to be put here, not there, not there. Natural. You don't require any education for these things, primary, I mean to say, wants of the body, eating, sleeping, sex. It doesn't require any high education, how to enjoy sex life. Everyone knows. Even the cats and dogs, they know. Similarly eating, everyone knows. Sleeping, it doesn't require that "You have to sleep in this way." Whenever you feel tired, there is sleep. But the asura-jana, they do not know what is the purpose of education. That they do not know.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

The purpose of education means to know God, to know Kṛṣṇa. That is the ultimate purpose.

Lecture on SB 1.8.45 -- Los Angeles, May 7, 1973: So the purpose of education means to know God, to know Kṛṣṇa. That is the ultimate purpose. But they do not know. These rascals, they do not know. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum [SB 7.5.31]. They do not know the ultimate goal of life is Viṣṇu. They are trying to be learned scholar simply by material acquisition. Therefore it is called durāśayā. What is the purpose of education? Purpose of education to know the supreme cause, sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam [Bs. 5.1], and become happy. Everyone is inquisitive, jijñāsu. Everyone is jijñāsu. So that jijñāsu, that propensity, for the lower animals, they are anxious to inquire "Where is food? Where is food?" Āhāra-nidrā. "Where is shelter, where is sex, and where is defense?" The jijñāsu. Everyone is inquiring. The whole world is inquiring. Those businessmen going into the market, they immediately inquires. The answers are, nowadays there is what is called telex.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures

The purpose of education is to make man the highest of the mankind, but modern education is teaching lowest of the mankind.

Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.124-125 -- New York, November 26, 1966: Mankind. Mankind is meant for recognizing. This is the life. In animal life, one cannot recognize that there is God and everything is coming from God. They cannot read Vedas, or scriptures. They cannot take any instruction. So these Vedas and scriptures are there for human beings. Therefore, a human being, so-called human being with two hands and two legs, but they're animals who do not accept the authority of scripture and do not accept the existence of God, so Bhagavad-gītā very nicely describes them, narādhamāḥ. Naradhāmāḥ means lowest of the mankind. So our civilization is going to the lowest of the mankind. And we are, we are trying to advertise ourself that we are advancing, but the... Yesterday some boy came: "Who is God? I am God." He was speaking like that. You see. And he appears to be educated student. From his appearance it appears that he, he's educated. So this is education is going on, that they're going to be the lowest of the mankind. The purpose of education is to make man the highest of the mankind, but modern education is teaching lowest of the mankind.

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

What is the purpose of education? What is the best part of education? So far my school, college education is concerned, that is not being used here.

Garden Conversation with Mahadeva's Mother and Jesuit Priest -- July 25, 1973, London:

Prabhupāda: Because your son has come here, you may not be happier. But he happier.

Mother: Oh, you're saying this. I'm not saying this. I'm very disappointed that he is not continuing with education. I'm not sorry that... I'm happy for his happiness, wherever he is.

Prabhupāda: But what is the... What is the purpose of education?

Mother: You are a cultured man. You're educated.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Mother: Did you not learn...? Who gave you the talent to translate your Vedic scriptures?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Mother: Who gave you the talent, father?

Prabhupāda: No, I'm asking that what is the best part of education? So far my school, college education is concerned, that is not being used here.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

If this line of activity is taken seriously, sometimes I may come and teach them. And they should be helped. That is the purpose of education.

Room Conversation with Professor Olivier -- October 10, 1975, Durban:

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Some of the girls are very, very proficient and they're doing this now, and we hope that within a year or so's time we'll have a polished copy to print. We're working in this direction.

Prof. Olivier: I see.

Prabhupāda: If this line of activity is taken seriously, sometimes I may come and teach them. Yes.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: It is a very nice opportunity because you have all Indian students and they are eager, eager to know. They want to know. And they want to...

Prabhupāda: And they should be helped to...

Prof. Olivier: They should be helped, yes. They should be helped.

Prabhupāda: Yes. That is the purpose of education.