Gurukul system vs. Modern Education system

 

My family and I visited the Sandeepani Ashram in Ujjain a few months ago. Sandeepani ashram was the place where Lord Krishna and Balram were educated. On the bank of the Shipra river, the place was so beautiful. It was full of old green trees which made it very shady and peaceful. There was also a well there which has been in existence since olden times. As per the belief, we put a coin into the well and asked for a wish. Secretly in my heart, I hoped that Corona should go away. Inside the ashram, there were many different pictures of Krishna, Balram and their friend Sudama. It felt so nice to see the place where the three had studied as I remembered my friends too.

 

When I think of the Gurukul system, I keep thinking about how hard it would have been to stay in the ashram for months until you learn everything. There you can’t keep meeting your parents in the middle of learning. You can only learn from your Guru. On the other hand, while in school we meet our parents every day after school and don’t have to wait until our full learning is over. I also learn many different things from my parents.

 

Another difference is-In the gurukul system, they had to obey everything their Guru said and there were no games and fun in the ashram. So, it would have been very hard to stay like that for so much time. When I also think of our school compared to the Gurukul system, it’s so different. In school we play games, we have fun and it is not as strict as the Gurukul system. Also, we don’t stay in school like they used to do. We learn for a few hours and then go back home. We get holidays from school on Saturdays and Sundays and on some festivals but they wouldn’t get any holidays. They would have to study every day whether it’s a Saturday or a Sunday.

On the positive side, when Lord Krishna and Balram went to the ashram, they didn’t have a lot of time to learn and normally it would take 7 years to learn all the 64 Vidyas. But with their hard work, they learned all the 64 Vidyas in only 64 days. Here it is not possible to get a double promotion like this. We have to seriously complete 1st to 10th even if we study fast at home. I don't think I could study as fast as Lord Krishna either. But I am trying hard to learn my piano and flute faster.

After thinking of all these points, I feel that I am happier being at home and going to a school rather than being in the Gurukul system. But now because of Covid 19 we can’t go to our schools even though we feel like going. Hoping my wish gets fulfilled soon!