PHILOSOPHY

Educare

“The word Educare [Latin] means to bring out that which is within. Human Values are latent in every human being; one cannot acquire them from outside. They have to be elicited from within. Educare means to bring out human values. To 'bring out' means to translate them into action."

~Sathya Sai Baba, November 26, 2000

The guiding principles of the Educare philosophy are:

1. Divinity  is love, and love is the undercurrent of all human values;
2. Educare elicits the inherent human values and translates them into action in daily life;
3. The purpose of education is for living a fully human and spiritual life; and
4. The end of education is character, and character manifests itself as unity of thought, word, and deed.

Educare recognizes that both worldly knowledge and knowledge of the inner self are essential to give value to human life. Therefore, this philosophy of education places emphasis not only on educational achievement but on character development. It stresses the importance of leading a moral life and of becoming aware of one’s innate nature.

The program is based on the five human values of Love, Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, and Nonviolence:

Love in Speech is Truth

Love in Action is Right Conduct

Love in Feeling is Peace

Love in Understanding is Nonviolence

Truth
A key component of this philosophy is the assertion that there is one ultimate and universal truth, which may be expressed in a multitude of ways. The pursuit of truth requires discrimination, intuition, and introspection.  Truth is timeless and changeless, and reveals the inner character and qualities of a human being. People, who act with truth, act with integrity; they think and live with love and peace, and their lives are filled with nonviolence, self-control, self-respect, and self satisfaction.

Right Conduct
Right conduct is ethical behaviour. The injunction, “do good, see good, and be good,” captures the essence and intent of this value. Right action is the practice of love in action. It encompasses the morality that underpins all societies.  It is a set of principles that ensures stability and order in individual lives and in society as a whole.  On a personal level, right action means those duties that are incumbent upon a person as a result of his or her social obligations, professional status, and stage of life.  On a wider level, right action is based on an appreciation of the unity of mankind and the moral structure that guides societies. Ultimately, actions that are right spring from the promptings of the conscience.

Peace
Peace is best described as inner mental calm, mental equipoise or equal-mindedness. It is the ability to maintain equanimity regardless of loss or gain, success or failure, pain or pleasure. Equanimity is achieved when a person is able to switch from outward vision to inward vision. To acquire peace, it is essential to quieten the mind and open the heart in order to experience the silence within. Peace is innate in all human beings; it is within each person simply waiting to be uncovered.

Love
Love is best expressed as an energy permeating all life. It is not an emotion, but is the foundation of human nature. It is totally unselfish and unconditional.  The more it is shared, the more it grows. The happiness that can be derived from an open unselfish sharing of love is an elevating experience.

 "A human being is a part of a whole, called by us 'universe', a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest... a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." -Albert Einstein

Nonviolence
Nonviolence means not harming anything living or non-living in any way, by thought, word, or deed. Nonviolence enables one to recognize the oneness of the life force that is present in all living beings. Nonviolence may be defined as "universal love". It fosters the understanding that human beings have an obligation towards every component part of this universe and that they should try to expand this love to all. If one practices truth, right conduct, love and peace, one is nonviolent. Nonviolence is described as the zenith of human achievement and perfection and present when one recognizes the oneness and unity of all creation.

“Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.” -Martin Luther King Jr.

Some commonly recognised character attributes of the five universal human values:

TRUTH	RIGHT CONDUCT	PEACE	LOVE	NONVIOLENCE
Curiosity	Cleanliness	Calmness	Caring	Compassion
Discrimination	Courage	Concentration	Devotion	Consideration for others
Intuition	Determination	Endurance	Empathy	Harmlessness
Quest for knowledge	Duty	Purity	Forbearance	Helpfulness
Spirit of enquiry	Honesty	Self-discipline	Friendship	Justice
Truthfulness	Service to others	Self-respect	Selflessness	Responsibility for self & others

 

Education as Life Transformation

The human values educational model enables students and adults to find answers to the deep
questions of life: Who am I? Why am I here? What must I do to obtain true and lasting
happiness? How can I achieve the highest good for myself and for the world? 

---

 

METHODOLOGY

“The secret of teaching:  From Heart to Heart and Not Head to Head” ~ Loraine Burrows

Six components:
Pedagogy of Integral Education - The methodology/pedagogy of Sathya Sai Education in Human Values is based on the concept of Integral Education made up of the following components:

• Teacher as exemplar
• Environment and culture of love
• Direct and indirect (integrated) methods
• Five teaching techniques
• Self-transformation (self-inquiry, self-reflection, self-awareness)
• Selfless service

Teacher as Exemplar

You teach love to students only through love.

At the heart of the system of Sathya Sai Education is the teacher. Teachers are committed to living the values and to nurturing their development in the learner. The teacher teaches through love, and it is through love that transformation ultimately takes place.

Since children learn through example, teachers act as role models through their good character and their practice of the human values. The teacher creates a learning environment and culture of love. A teacher who actively practises the human values becomes an instrument through which children become aware of and manifest their own inner values, which ultimately leads to the blossoming of their character.

Environment and culture of Love

Teachers create a loving and nurturing environment in which every child feels respected and accepted. This is achieved by integrating values into all aspects of learning and instilling ideals such as trust, cooperation, and mutual respect in the students.

 

 

 

Direct and Indirect (Integrated) Methods

Direct Method: 

The Direct Method seeks to instil values in a direct systematic way. It employs five teaching techniques, articulated below, that have been used for generations by great teachers. Based on human values, these five teaching techniques, when integrated with contemporary teaching strategies, connect with the body, mind, and spirit of the learner.

Indirect (Integrated) Method: 

The Indirect Method is based on the premise that every school subject has inherent values and that if these inherent values are taken into consideration when lessons are being planned, it is possible to draw out values during the course of one’s normal teaching. The teacher looks for teachable moments to bring out values in any particular subject being taught. This can take place anywhere, such as on field trips, through sports and other extra-curricular activities.

Five Teaching Techniques

• Meditation on Light 

Meditation allows children to sit quietly and tune in to their inner resources. It improves concentration and receptivity and increases memory and understanding.  At a deeper level, it develops intuition, patience, and discipline and helps children experience the value of Peace.

Increasingly schools are turning to meditation and other compatible techniques (mind fullness, visualization, breathing/relaxation, etc.) because scientific research shows that meditation makes people healthier, kinder and happier.

Researchers have linked meditation with improved attention and concentration, reduced stress and emotional reactivity, impulse control, acts of empathy and altruistic love.

• Quotations/Thought for the Day/ Prayers

Sharing quotations with children from great people from all cultures is inspiring and uplifting.  Quotations help to develop memory, promote analytical thinking, establish truly human ideals and enable the children to relate to their highest potential and intrinsic value.

 

• Group Singing

Singing is a wonderful way for children and teachers to join together in fun and friendship while learning.  Songs express the language of the heart; they remove barriers and promote peace and love. Music and group singing are the most powerful tools to put the human system in harmony and rhythm. When the children sing together, they experience a sense of unity. Singing also improves memory.

 

• Story Telling

Stories have been used throughout history to impart important messages by making linkages to real life situations and solutions. Stories generate interest, capture attention and leave the listener with something to think about and act upon. They help to expand the children’s sensibilities and feelings of compassion and are useful for cultivating spiritual understanding.

 

• Group Activities

Group activities are considered to be an essential component of student-centred learning.  In Educare children not only work in groups but also learn how to grow as effective team members, how to use their own unique strengths and qualities for the good of the team, and to understand the notion of ‘strength in unity’. Some activities include: role-play, mime, drama, creative writing, art, games and service activities.  

The five teaching techniques engage all aspects of a child's personality and allow for holistic development. They correspond to the five domains of the human personality: physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual.

Self-transformation (self-inquiry, self-reflection, self-awareness)

Self-transformation in children and adults is achieved through self-inquiry, self-reflection, and self-awareness. Self-inquiry means to ask oneself, “Who am I?” One learns to be mindful of one’s thoughts, words, and actions.

Selfless Service Projects

A variety of service projects are undertaken to encourage students to understand selfless service to give to others without expecting anything in return.  They are encouraged to participate in community service projects where they share with other members of community, such as seniors, the homeless, and the poor. Selfless service engenders compassion and teaches children to consider themselves as part of the human family. They learn the joy of helping others. They learn to expand their hearts and experience love.

Fame is a vapor,
Popularity an accident,
Riches take wings,
And only character endures.”

~ Horace Greeley

---

Go to top