Value Orientation (A Source Book on Value Education)

The need for inculcating the right values to children has been more pronounced today than before. The very foundations of our culture, values and tradition are in jeopardy with the advent of media invading the drawing room with programmes, which do not exude any worthy values for assimilation. In the absence of proper regimentation from the elders at home, the children are at a loss to understand what they should emulate. It is highly imminent that teachers and teacher-educators should equip themselves with value-oriented skills and interweave values while teaching their academic subjects. Needless to say that it should be based on the principles and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda, which is the basis of all good educational systems in India. I am extremely happy that RIMSE with its rich experience for the past 27 years in training teachers and teacher-educators in Value Oriented Education is bringing out a comprehensive manual on its course content. I hope and pray that this book will serve as a ready reference and guide to our teachers in all their future endeavours.

In Indian tradition religion is defined thus: Yato abhyudaya nishreyasa siddhih sa dharmah -that is "Dharma by which both material and spiritual progress is achieved." Here Abhyudaya refers to material prosperity, social well-being, political stability etc., and Nisreyas refers to moral and spiritual advancement. Both are essential for total development of humanity. If the latter is given paramount importance at the cost of former, the society becomes weak, and as a result we lose even the latter. If the material progress gains precedency, pushing moral and spiritual progress to the back, the former cannot be sustained for a long time, because without moral and spiritual strength society becomes unstable, life becomes meaningless and people in general experience deep vacuum within them which results in loss of mental peace and happiness, without which even material prosperity cannot be enjoyed.

At present we are giving too much of importance to material progress, making moral and spiritual values irrelevant even antagonistic to material progress. As a result, we are witnessing rampant corruption in the society, deep unrest and emptiness among the youth and unprecedented mental maladies among all sections of people. Many well-meaning individuals and institutions are trying to redress the situation, by imparting higher values to the youth and working community at various levels. Ramakrishna Institute of Moral and Spiritual Education, Mysore, a Unit of Sri Ramakrish Ashrama, Mysore, which is a branch of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrisna Mission, Belur Math, Kolkata, is doing its best under the present turbulent circumstances our society is passing through, by imparting value education to the different sections of society organizing short term orientation courses on value education, work-shops, seminars, spiritual retreats etc.

throughout the year. This book on value education and its methodology also contains articles related to religion, philosophy and psychology. We are publishing this with the hope of reaching these humanitarian values to the larger section of society. We extend our thanks to Dr C Gurumurthy, Reader in Education, RIMSE, who contributed, collected, planned, organised and compiled this book.

RIMSE is recognised as one of the Regional Resource Centre for Education in Human Values by the Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development. Its humble efforts in the field of Value Education and its rich experience for the past 27 years has inspired it to have an exhaustive resource material in Human Values in the form of a book. The book Value Orientation - A Source book on Value Education is an attempt in this direction. This book comprises discussion on values in self-instructional mode for all kinds of readers, brief information about moral and spiritual education for teachers and would-be teachers and special lecturers for those who want depth, knowledge and experiences in the field of Value Education. Therefore the book is divided into three parts : Part A, Part B and Part C.

Part A deals with values. Everyone is aware of the fact that no rigid and unique definition can be given for the term value. Hence this term is analysed from the point of view of etymology, sociology, economics, psychology, philosophy and education in the beginning. Varieties of classification of values are given. The confusion between the terms value and virtue is clarified. Value indicators are identified. The concept of professional ethics is discussed to help teachers. A few moral dilemmas are considered and discussed to help everyone to face the problems in life with more confidence and courage. 'Religion' is another most confused term in the minds of the people. It is misinterpreted by the majority of people in general. Hence a brief analysis is made by considering the views of Westerners and Indians with regard to religion. In this connection, concept of culture, the importance of values in society, values embedded in the preamble, rights and duties as given in Indian constitution and Human Rights are discussed in brief. Part B is devoted to imparting moral and spiritual education. Fifteen chapters are given in this part. Need, concept and objectives of moral education are discussed. Planning for teaching in classrooms is given.

New dimension is given for teaching values m schools. Two model plans are given for easy reference. Different methods of teaching moral education are discussed. Among the different models to value inculcation in students value clarification and jurisprudential models are discussed. Psychological aspect of moral development in children, curriculum for MSE and evaluation in MSE are also discussed. Moral problems in contemporary societies and school as a setting of moral education is also given. Objectives of MSE, prayer as the means of self-realization, the recent challenges in society and the importance of guidance is also discussed. Role of RIMSE in imparting value education and activities of RIMSE are also given. The relation between science and religion is also discussed at the end of this section. Part C is the collection of resource papers. Professors, Specialists and Swamijis are the contributors of these articles. Forty-one papers are compiled in this section. These papers deal with - values, importance of values, joyful learning, man-making education, character formation, value attainment, value development, ideal womanhood, sources of inspiration to students, fostering creativity, role of teachers and parents in imparting value education, work culture, self-realisation, psychology of violence, facets of ego, disciplining the mind, stress, mental health, meditation, spirituality, service, personality development, culture and civilization, knowledge, truth, religious traditions in china, harmony of religions, consciousness and values in Vachanas.

Acknowledgements

RIMSE is fortunate to have the dynamic President Swamiji Srimat Atmavidananda. The Swamiji is the guiding spirit of all activities of RIMSE. He has permitted to produce this book from RIMSE. I thank Swamiji wholeheartedly and render my reverential Pranams to him. This book is in your hands today because of our Correspondent Swamiji Srimat Jitakamananda. He is solely responsible for me to take up this assignment and complete it within the short duration of six months. Revered Jitakamanandaji has given all the resource papers to me for compilation and full freedom was given to me to plan and structure the book.

He was motivating me at every step and had given me a valuable suggestion in completing this task. Hence my heart felt thanks and sastanga Namaskars to him. Dr A R Seetha Ram, Principal, B Ed Section has contributed many articles to section B and an article to Section C. I am very grateful to him and render many thanks to him. I submit my humble Pranams to many Swamijis who have contributed articles to this book. Also I thank many professors for their valuable contributions. My Pranams and thanks are to the following contributors: Swami Brahmeshanandaji, Swami Atmavidanandaji, Swami Nityas-thanandaj i, Swami Abhiramanandaji, Swami Yuktatmanandaji, Swami Muktidanandaji, Swami Atmashraddhanandaji, Swami Vireshanandaji, Prof. A N Maheswari, Prof. P Venkataramaiah, Prof Y N Sridhar, Prof S Dandapani, Prof R Indira, Prof M N G Mani, Prof Gururaj Karjagi, late Prof. V Muddalinganna, Prof S Srinivasachar and Prof Prabhu Prasad. The photograph taken by Swami Jitakamanandaji Maharaj was computerized and made to fit for a cover page by Swami Medhanandaji. My special thanks to the Swamiji for giving the best out look for the book. My special regards to Swami Devanathanandaji Maharaj who was quietly supporting this work. I owe a particular debt of gratitude to Sri A Sripathy, Course Manager, Value Education Programmes, RIMSE and Sri Balasubra-manyam who took special interest in this work and computerized most of the articles. I also thank Br Janardhanan who helped me to get a computerized list of books for further study.

I fail in my duty if I do not thank the librarian Sri Ananthe Gowda and Library Assistant Sri M K Suresh who were helping me all the times to get any kind of information either from RIMSE library or from other libraries. My special thanks to them. I profusely thank all those who have helped directly or indirectly in the successful completion of this book. I am extremely grateful to Sri Mohan Murthy, proprietor of Sri Shakti Electric Press for his excellent service and cooperation in bringing out this beautiful book within a very short period of time.

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