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Gurukula
Educational Lineage at Gurukula - an Invaluable Heritage of Learning
A Gurukula is characterized by a living lineage of teachers, embodying an uninterrupted flow of knowledge and practices. They are rarely written down but handed over with great responsibility and mindfulness from one generation to the next almost always in the form of the spoken word.
Traditionally, in ancient India, almost the entire gamut of Vedic sciences including the Vedas and a significant part of Ayurveda was primarily transmitted orally (and not written down). Hence, at that time, education could not even be conceived without a living lineage that holds it and passes it on.
Typically, the head teacher of the Gurukula belongs to a lineage or a family of wisdom bearers. At Vedika, Founder Shunya Pratichi Mathur carries forward the oral knowledge and wisdom teachings from her lineage. This invaluable input adds significantly to the student’s repertoire of skills along with the systematic curriculum.
Rare Oral Knowledge, Spiritual Practices, Herbs and Healing Recipes
A teacher born into a family dedicated to the Vidyas (ancient sciences and bodies of knowledge), has grown up immersed in the knowledge. There is genuine motivation in putting it to good use by inducting new seekers on the noble path of self healing, self awareness and self realization through these sciences.
Vedika’s Acharya teaches many Ayurvedic, Yogic as well as adhyatmik (spiritual) concepts and practices to students. They are utilized for self healing and internalized to help others, when students are ready. These practices, recipes, uses of herbs as well as esoteric teachings may not be found in books, as this information is the heritage of one family and line of teachers and students. They come alive and become potent only when transmitted from teacher to student, as the teacher can gauge the receptivity and proclivity of a student.
Students at Vedika have come to treasure this valuable information from the lineage and preserve it for transmission to future students, when they become teachers themselves.
Who is an Acharya - Root word and its symbolism
The lineage based teacher at Vedika is the current Acharya or head teacher. The word Acharya comes from the root Sanskrit word achar which literally means behavior.
An Acharya is a teacher who teaches not only from text to facilitate necessary intellectual learning, but also via modeled behavior and actions, through the entire personality and depth of character so that students may learn and grow in all aspects. Such an Acharya can evoke greater attention for deeper learning.
An ethical foundation to education: Culture of Sadhana, Sangha and Seva
The Acharya is a giver of the ethical culture of the Gurukula. Certain rules and values of conduct held important by the lineage are defined and upheld in the Gurukula. These values are inherently rooted in the Vedic tradition of India and are the anchor and foundation of education. Without them, it can become purposeless, powerless and directionless. These ethics have proven time and again to be catalysts for the alchemy of self transformation.
Sadharan Dharma- Grooming the inner life of students
At Vedika, the precise cultural context of education is based upon Sadharan Dharma, a subset of Sanatan Dharma - as enunciated by the founder, Shunya Pratichi Mathur’s great grandfather Paramatma Shanti Prakash ji who established the Sadharan Dharma Sabha forum for community upliftment in 1932. This effort was furthered by the Acharya's immediate teacher, her grandfather, Baba Ayodhyanath Sinha ji.
Dharma is of two types, Sadharan and Vishishta. Sadharan dharma applies to every human being. Everyone must carry them out for the sake of humanity’s spiritual evolution. Vishishta dharma is not the same for everyone; it is role specific. These duties can be done only by those who have undergone samskar or special initiatory rites, since samskar gives adhikar (right). For example, a Vivah (marriage) is a samskar.
Laws of Manu (10.63) describes Sadharan or Samanya dharma as the universally applicable dharma for all people and in all stages of life.
This obligation towards righteousness, to always do that which is ethically right is always upon us, whether initiated or not, regardless of our position or role in life. Thus, Sadharana dharma, is a pledge to live by universally applicable ethical principles. They are often defined according to Yama (vows to the self) and Niyama (recommended code of conduct).
It is the universal foundation upon which specific dharmas that differentiate people in their duties, are erected. For example, a soldier, a priest, a farmer or a householder, all follow their specific dharma, but they are human beings first. Sadharan dharma is the common denominator by which society, with all its variety of races, sexes, castes, roles, religions and traditions, maintains an ethical, spiritually elevated and humanitarian consensus.
Thus, following the recommendations of Sadharan dharma, a significant emphasis is placed on personal responsibility. This contrasts with the current world trend towards entitlements and expectations, which creates a culture of blame, compensation and irresponsibility. The Vedic view extols that execution of one's Dharmic duties automatically fulfills the rights of others. Emphasizing Dharma fosters a climate of social and spiritual responsibility, which is necessary, especially in the medical and healing profession.
The acknowledgement of inter-dependence by the Vedic sages differs from the individualistic, self-centered approach to life in modern times. Thus, Vedika’s education endorses the need for rights commensurate with responsibilities. Placing the emphasis on Dharma tends to promote responsibility. And this begins from the top, with the leaders. At Vedika, students are groomed to become leaders of change in health care, with the understanding that true leadership is based on character, not merely position.
Sadhana, Satsangha, Seva
Following the Sadharan Dharma guidelines, studentship at Vedika includes:
Sadhana
Sadhana is a discipline undertaken in the pursuit of a goal. Abhyasa is repeated practice, performed with observation and reflection. Kriya or action, also implies perfect execution with study and investigation. Therefore, sadhana, abhyasa, and kriya all mean one and the same thing. A sadhaka, or practitioner, is one who skillfully applies mind and intelligence in practice towards a spiritual goal. Students at Vedika are guided to put sincere effort into the process of transformational education. They are asked to live the learning honestly. They are exhorted to internalize the knowledge through daily svadhyaya (study of the scriptures recommended by the teacher). They practice personal tapas or self discipline through indriyanigraha and manonigraha (training of senses and mind, respectively) with brahmacharya and vinay (following ethical guidelines in a polite and respectful way).
Satsangha
A commitment to Satsangha is to always seek the Sangha (company) of Sat (that which is real, true, enlightened). Students learn to differentiate between sat - real and asat- unreal. They share the fruits of learning with the community and recognize the importance of illumined company. They begin to realize that they are a social being with responsibilities to fulfill (including those of a healer in the community).
Seva
Finally, they imbibe and live the highest spiritual value of Seva, which is dedication of knowledge and skills in selfless service to all beings. They cultivate an attitude of giving, humanitarian care and compassion towards all creatures. Seva is especially important in the practice of Ayurvedic medicine, as that is the explicit goal of Ayurveda elucidated by Rishi Charaka.
