When Skipping School is Intelligent

On a "Need to Know" Basis
excerpt from conversation, Toronto, June 17, 1976

Education

Enough School Already - I'm Ready to Learn Something Useful Hansadutta das

The ultimate education is to know myself. This is the aim of education. We may know other things, but if we do not know ourselves then what do we know? I may know other things, like 2+2, and how the sky is blue, but I have to know what is my self, and how did I come to this place, and what am I supposed to do, and when my life is finished, where do I have to go, and why, and who made these arrangements? more

Prabhupada: You see these two things especially, that they.... English is their mother tongue, mother language. They can easily become English scholar very easily. And Sanskrit language is no difficulty. Read and write, read and write, then he will learn. Our education in Sanskrit was in college. Of course, I was the best student in my class of Sanskrit. I was standing first. But we are not like the so-called Sanskrit scholars. But for our purpose we can read and write, that's all. Similarly, we don't want any very learned scholars, Sanskrit grammarian to manufacture jugglery of words, meanings. No, we don't want that. Simply we can conduct our business, that's all. Just like Marwaris, they, their education is up to their business understanding, that's all. They don't want to be scholars or technologists. You won't find in big, big Marwari family they have become a doctor, engineer or technologist, no. But in business dealings they are first class. [laughs] That they train. I had one Marwari friend in Calcutta. He was a very rich businessman and has got several businesses. So sometimes I went to his house. I saw that he had engaged a Sanskrit pandit and an English teacher. That's all. So I asked him, "You don't send your children to school?" "No, no, no, no. I... If we require some technologist, we can purchase. You pay some money; so many technologists you will get, M.A., Ph.D., D.H.C., C.H.C. All right, take payment and do business." They employ very, very, very large salary. But on the head, management, their own sons, grandsons.

Higher education vs technical training
excerpt from Science of Self Realization "Finding Spiritual Solutions to Material Problems"

...The standard of happiness should be prescribed according to the qualities of the person. You must divide the whole society into four groups: those with brahmana qualities, those with kshatriya qualities, those with vaishya qualities, and those with shudra qualities. Everyone should have good facility to work according to his natural qualities.

You cannot engage a bull in the business of a horse, nor can you engage a horse in the business of a bull. Today practically everyone is getting a college education. But what is taught at these colleges? Mostly technical knowledge, which is shudra education. Real higher education means learning Vedic wisdom. This is meant for the brahmanas alone. Shudra education leads to a chaotic condition. Everyone should be tested to find out which education he is suited for. Some shudras may be given technical education, but most shudras should work on the farms. Because everyone is coming to the cities to get an education, thinking, "We can get more money," the agriculture is being neglected. Now there is scarcity because no one is engaged in producing nice foodstuffs. All these anomalies have been caused by bad government. It is the duty of the government to see that everyone is engaged according to his natural qualities. Then people will be happy.