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Gurukula
A truly Holistic Learning Journey – Concept and Benefits at Vedika
In recent decades, the living, healing science of Ayurveda finds itself being taught in most colleges in a factory production environment, ticking off a checklist, detached from the individuals seekers. The foundation of character building, lived practices and spiritual evolution that develops great Vaidyas, has been set aside.
Emphasis is placed on number of hours spent in class, achievement of high grades through testing of memorized knowledge, and the dissemination of a "fix it" curriculum.
Education is an internal journey
By contrast, the Vedika Gurukula model of education places the highest priority on internal transformation of the students' consciousness, for the purpose of activating their own inner teacher, their own inner healer.
A focus on the inner life of the student at Vedika
The evolution of consciousness is a robust project and we should not underestimate the magnitude of this task.
The Gurukula method of education makes it possible by recognizing each student as an individual, with innate potential. The Gurukula is a product of the same tradition as the Vidyas and the original mode of schooling of Sadhus or sages. It is a more organic fit because it empowers the student. It is suggested that no student is being taught anything “new”; rather, the student is merely being helped to remember what he or she already knows, deep within the recesses of the Self, as their own Truth.
The effort and time invested by both Guru and Shishya are immense, but there is complete conviction that the evolution in consciousness is well worth it.
Leisurely, detailed education
The teaching process has been designed in such a way that the curriculum is mindfully and thoroughly covered, no rushing to cover a "forced to fit" curriculum which must be accomplished in a "set number of hours."
A vibrationally charged education
Further, the curriculum design and scope demonstrates that Vedika Gurukula offers Ayurvedic education as it was taught by the early sages to the incumbents, both in ancient times and even until a century ago.
It is powerfully charged with the vibrations of the original sages recorded in ancient scriptures. A spiritually supported journey of studentship is created through Vedika’s culture which is rooted in Dharma. The culture affirms the value of Sadhana - dedicated self-effort for personal healing by the student, Satsangha – spending time with the teacher learning about the truth and reality of abiding health, and Seva – performing selfless service for all beings.
Education relevant to contemporary times
The teaching is grounded and relevant in terms of present day life situations, including a wide spectrum of health and well being challenges. Graduates can actually help their community and address its unique needs, instead of being pedantic and removed from reality.
A dynamic teaching effort
Effort is made by teachers in the Gurukula to make this knowledge personally relevant. It should be dynamic in content, scientifically convincing and passionate in its transmission. It should not appear as a mere study of another “alternative system of medicine”. Ayurveda is much more, with full potential in the corporeal, mental and spiritual planes to deliver multi dimensional health and well being.
Knowledge should be internalized not memorized
The Vidyas taught at Vedika are not to be mindlessly noted down on paper, memorized and then mechanically applied in “fixing disease”. Where is the authentic and life-altering benefit in that? Instead, our course of study begins with, and is firmly based on living the body healing Ayurvedic principles, mind purifying Yoga injunctions, and soul liberating truths of Vedanta. Accumulation of intellectual data for the purpose of passing tests and scoring grades is a wasted effort.
The nurturing and perfecting of knowledge
Students are encouraged to practice deep listening, profound contemplation and on-going reflection. They should internalize and integrate the knowledge. There are at-home practices and sessions with the teacher. In this living of the knowledge, the real tests are passed, the highest scores are achieved, the results are there for everyone to see. Homework assignments reflect the effort made by the student to assimilate the knowledge.
