Understanding the Meaning of Education and its Purpose in Life

“तत्कर्म यन्न बन्धाय सा विद्या या विमुक्तये”

Above lines are cited from sacred text of Shri Vishnu Purana and these words simply defines the meaning of education.

What makes you “free” is the Education, if it doesn’t “free” you, it is not Education.

Here, the word “Free” is of utmost importance. What does being-free stands for?

Is it Salvation, Moksha or Mukti?

Are we going to achieve salvation in some other world or would it be triggered only after the death?

Numerous questions with ambiguous answers, then, what’s the therapy?

Well the answer is – understanding the meaning of Education and its purpose in life.

Basic purpose of Education of an individual should be making him/her free of all “bondages”.

Some people think that to be free of “Bondages” is to be free from relationships, to be free from daily chores, broadly to be free from responsibilities. That’s where we are mistaken or misled.

“Bondages” when understood as a wider term are those barriers which degrades the growth of individual/organisation effecting the growth and harmony of the individual & the society. The purpose of education is to develop a sense of brotherhood amongst us, to rise above the prejudice and discrimination based on thoughts, ideologies etc., to respect opinion of others, to lend an ear, to be a non-judgmental Human and the list goes on & on & on.

And this would be possible only if we could develop a sight of oneness amongst us i.e. treating others the way we treat ourselves and this is what we termed as SALVATION or better if we call it EDUCATION.

~ Ashish Punj