“Putting Ethics back in Education”

By Shanda Wordman / October 27, 2017;

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and representatives from 9 schools releasing the Universal Ethics Curriculum
Photo: OHHDL

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been teaching around India this month, speaking on the theme of modern education and how he sees it to be a key cause of disharmony in people’s minds across the world. He said that this lack of spiritual nurturing in schools can be seen in the world having its effect on discrimination, terrorism, competition and global warming. His Holiness spoke about the need for ethics to be taught in school saying, “I believe India is the only nation that can combine this ancient knowledge with modern education and so make a significant contribution to world peace”. He said that in order for there to be peace, there needs to be a change in the modern education system.

During a three day trip starting on October 16, His Holiness the Dalai Lama traveled to CJ DAV Public School in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh for the opening ceremony of the Universal Ethics Curriculum that will be adopted by nine schools in order to promote moral development in their students. Prof Avinash C Pandey, Director of the Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Allahabad, and former Vice Chancellor of Bundhelkhand University, Jhansi said, “With this curriculum, we hope to bring about a positive transformation in the minds of children who are the future of the world”.

His Holiness on his arrival at Manipur
Photo : OHHDL

The sentiments expressed at this ceremony were repeated at the global conference Peace and Harmony hosted by the Manipur state government three days later. At the opening ceremony, His Holiness said that the current education systems fill people’s heads with the wish for money and power while sacrificing the development of one’s mind. This lack of spiritual development leads to mindsets which include being unaccepting of other religions, or in extreme cases, people using religion as an excuse for violence. “There are no Muslim or Christian terrorists”, said His Holiness, “Because terrorists are no more religious once they embrace terror. People cease to be Muslim, Christian or any group the moment they became terrorists”.

There needs to be a better education based on ethics to promote harmony among races, he said, and continued, “Together, we should combat issues such as global warming and other issues that affect us all. It is not one nation’s benefit that the fight should be for, but for all interdependent nations to have peace of mind which will create a better world”.