In plain words
That Which Teaches Jñāna, That Alone Is Education
Can studies that are of no use to society or to the country be studies at all? Every year these educational institutions turn out lakhs of graduates and let them loose on the world. What is their future? This system of education: what is its goal? What is the essence of study? When we put questions of this kind to ourselves. Today's system of education runs merely mechanically. In today's studies there is no sign at all of courtesy, of good character or of tradition. They enjoy education merely for selfishness and self-interest, but put it to no use at all for the welfare of society. In Bhārata there are 200 universities. There are 90,000 colleges. One crore students are studying in degree classes. What their method is, what their purpose is, what their result is: this no one is able to determine. If every year they make so many students graduates and let them loose into the world, what will the state of this world be? No one inquires into that either. These look merely like workshops that hand out degrees. No one gives the least thought to the students' future. Today's government too goes on increasing the number of educational institutions, but it does not shape the system of education on the proper path. Wherever you look, educational institutions keep springing up like mushrooms. Many institutions run without the government's permission. Everyone looks educated; but no one knows what study is. Vi-da-ya. That which teaches Jñāna, that alone is education. What kind of Jñāna? Worldly knowledge, or physical knowledge? Knowledge of nature? Knowledge of matter? Brahmajñāna? Ātmajñāna? Here only bookish knowledge is to be seen. We do not see any other knowledge. In such a situation, how can we determine the value of this education?