Youth Power and the Power of Ideas

Youth is a period when a person's inherent capacities attain a peak and he can manifest his potentialities in the best way. However, youth is also the period when young people keenly feel various inner conflicts and encounter the harsh realities of the outer world. Moreover, in modern times, insecurity, competition and the fast pace of life have greatly increased the level of stress in youths. To deal with all these problems young people need inspiring, self-empowering and life-transforming ideas. By 'ideas' is meant not mere pep talk, but comprehensive guidance in the form of knowledge in depth. This is what the present book Youth Power and the Power of Ideas gives.

Three distinctive features of this book are : 1.1t combines the unique ideas of Self-knowledge, knowledge of the Atman, developed by the ancient Indian sages, with the ideas of objective knowledge, including scientific knowledge, developed by Western sages, thinkers and scientists. 2. The book situates youths properly in the complex, rapidly changing contemporary social scenario, and at the same time orientates them to the ultimate goal of human life. 3. The book is based on the enlightening, universal and practical ideas found in the messages of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. This book is mainly meant for youths, especially students. But it can also serve as an informative handbook for parents, teachers, youth counsellors and social workers in guiding young-sters. It is a book not to be read and laid aside, but to be referred to again and again and kept as a life-companion.

Education is at the root of all human progress. Modern times are characterised by the rapid transformation all over the globe due to the impact of knowledge—both objective and subjective—heralding a new wave of progress. At the same time, this development has also given rise to the tremendous challenge to overcome ever increasing 'existential problems' of individuals, strife in societies and disharmony with natural environment. An equally important challenge has been the life-long task of constantly updating one's skills and knowledge in a complex, dynamically transforming and interconnected world.

Notwithstanding the historical upheavals and stagnation over several centuries, a new awakening is dawning upon India, with a great promise for her all-round development. This prospect of development is fortified by the demographic dividends that India can reap at this juncture of her renaissance. The key to success, however, critically hinges upon our ability to make 'true education' accessible to all.

What is that true education, which can be relevant to current times and which can overcome their diverse challenges; an education which can empower an individual and reinforce the collective well being; and also an education which revitalizes the goals of seeking knowledge and guides the seeker to realise his or her highest potential? These questions have been a subject of debate over several years and engaged some of the best minds across the globe. This book attempts to throw light on these vital questions and thus could be an invaluable asset in revitalizing our educational perspectives, processes and institutions.

Most of the drawbacks of our present-day educational system,the maladies afflicting our students, teachers, and the system of education, emanate from educational objectives which are too narrowly conceived, mainly focused on examinations and jobs. There is an urgent need to correct the imbalance in our outlook and the widespread agony in our way of life, by acquisition and application of knowledge essential for broadening the scope of education and reinforcing the higher values so vital for the qualitative improvement of life.

The present book is a modest attempt to provide the student community and younger generation at large an exposure to various aspects of knowledge which are complementary to academic curriculum. Thus it can serve as a non-detailed text for the students of Higher Secondary and Degree colleges, and also as a source-book of inspiration to youths, professionals and parents in general. The time tested and values-based content of the book could in addition act as a guide to the teachers and trainers in the corporate sector. The main objective of this book is to enable the younger generation to develop a broad perspective on life and reality, and awaken their minds to the immense possibilities inherent in them all in the light of Swami Vivekananda's teachings. In fact, Swami Vivekananda's message forms the fountainhead of all the key ideas expressed in this book.

The author of the book, Swami Bhajanananda, a former editor of Prabuddha Bharata, a monthly journal of the Ramakrishna Mission, is currently an Assistant Secretary of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math. He is well known for his deep study and understanding of the spiritual dimensions of devotion, meditation, various schools of Eastern and Western philosophy, and other allied disciplines. His scholarly writings contain many new, ground-breaking, informative and inspiring ideas. His works are considered as authority in their respective domains. He is a prolific writer, who keeps himself abreast of contemporary events, and is widely acknowledged as an eminent thinker. We are beholden to Revered Bhajananandaji for according permission to bring out this valuable book for the benefit of all the readers in general and the student community in particular. His holistic insights on education based on Swami Vivekananda's ideas, writings and utterances have a universal appeal as well as contemporary relevance.

**Contents and Sample Pages**