Ten Commandments for Students From Taittiriya Upanishad

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(The Vedanta Kesari, p. 588-592, December 2007)

The Vedic seers (rishis) were great educationists. They were interested not just in improving the grades and performance of their students but in their total personality-development. They treated their students with respect and affection and were keen that they turn out to be ideal citizens, ideal human beings. Their educational vision included the whole gamut of human life and the ultimate well-being of the individual and the society. They encouraged a spirit of inquiry coupled with respect and devotion. Intense love to gain knowledge and a zeal for constant self-improvement were embedded in their approach to education. The well-known Shanti mantra (peace chant), Sahana vavatu, is an example of this. The mantra says, 'May the teacher and the student help each other for their mutual benefit.'

Taittiriya Upanishad contains a section dealing with what a student should do after he completes formal education. Called Shishya-anushasanam ('rules for a student'), this section consists of timeless wisdom which the rishis had derived from their experience and a wholesome understanding of life. These rules for student hold good even now, despite changed circumstances and a different system of education. One may liken these guidelines to a convocation address given to the final year students who are about to leave the portals of an educational institution to pursue a career or get into an active life of earning and producing wealth, doing their family duties and contributing to the society. Following are the Ten Commandments drawn from that section. It may well be a source of inspiration and guidance for the present-day students and educationists.

(Bring wealth to your teacher to help him continue his educational work).

This is a total vision of education, containing enduring values for living a purposeful life. Only when one follows these values in life one gets true happiness, prosperity and peace. Mere obtaining a certificate or degree can help one get some job to earn money but life is not just doing a job or generating wealth. Life is a process of individual and collective growth. 'Man does not live by bread alone' says the Bible. Man's needs are not just physical. He has cultural and spiritual needs as well. In the light of this fact, let us try to understand these commandments.

1. Hold on to the Truth (Satya na pramaditavyam)

In order to have true stability in one's social, economic and family life, one should be truthful. Without truthfulness and honesty, life is full of fear and suspicion. Even in the economic field, honesty is a must; otherwise even the most booming economy will get ruined. Truthfulness is also required in order to cultivate love between members of the family. Satyameva Jayate, says the Mundaka Upanishad. Sri Ramakrishna said that to be truthful in one's speech and actions is true austerity and the sure way to experience God. It is even said that Chambal Valley dacoits swear by truth before they distribute their booties among themselves! They swear 'Let us be honest in dividing these booties among ourselves'. So truth is the one thing that contributes to the stability in every field of human activity. It is the very basis of true life. Truthfulness needs no 'maintenance'. A lie or falsehood, on the other hand, needs constant effort to protect it from being exposed. A truthful person naturally has more strength and opportunity to make his life strong and easy. Therefore the teacher rightly says 'Hold on to Truth'.

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