Guidance on Education

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

To know how to read and write, to speak at least one language correctly, to know a little general geography, have an overall view of modern science and know some rules of conduct this is indispensable for living in a group or a community.

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History and geography can only become interesting to minds that are eager to know the earth on which they live.

Before one can take an interest in these two subjects, one must widen the horizons of one's thirst for knowledge as well as one's field of consciousness.

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X was absent today and I found, after the class, that be has Your permission to stop coming to my class and take woodwork instead.

He told me he liked much better to do manual work instead of studies. I thought he was right in his instinct and his choice was the best for his nature. So I gave him the permission required.

26 March 1946

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It seems to me that psychology without yoga is lifeless. The study of psychology must necessarily lead to

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yoga, at least to practical yoga if not theoretical.

23 December 1960

How can we improve the children's spelling?

Generally, for spelling, one must take the help of the eyes. Each word should have its own form, which the eye remembers. Visual memory is more useful than mental memory. One should read a lot see, see, see, on the blackboard, in books, on pictures.

And as for style, gender, and grammar too, the best thing is to read, to read a great deal. In this way all this goes into the subconscient. It is the best way to learn.

January 1962

There are some things which are good for my progress but seem to me very uninteresting. For example, mathematics is a good subject but it does not appeal to me. Please tell me, how can I take interest in the things to which I am not drawn?

There are a lot of things that we need to know, not because we find them specially interesting but because they are useful and even indispensable; mathematics is one of them. It is only when we have a strong background of knowledge that we can face life successfully.

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How can mathematics, history or science help me to find You?

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They can help in several ways:

1. To become capable of receiving and bearing the light of the Truth, the mind must be made strong, wide and supple. These studies are a very good way to achieve this.

2. If you study science deeply enough, it will teach you the unreality of appearances and thus lead you to the spiritual reality.

3. The study of all the aspects and movements of physical Nature will bring you into contact with the universal Mother, and so you will be closer to me.

17 December 1966

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As for arithmetic, I am much more in favour of practical than of written arithmetic, with an emphasis on the development of the faculty of mental arithmetic. It is more difficult, but it greatly increases the capacity for inner visualisation and reasoning. It is a very effective way of developing true intelligence instead of memorised knowledge.

When one knows mental arithmetic and understands arithmetic, it then takes very little time to learn written arithmetic.

With the help of similar objects  you can begin with the children themselves for small numbers and then take pebbles and counters when it comes to tens and hundreds.

In this way, by taking a little trouble, you can teach them all the operations logically and so they become for the children something real and living which has a concrete meaning.

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If you want to know what is really happening in the world, you should not read newspapers of any sort, for they are full of lies.

To read a newspaper is to take part in the greatest collective falsehoods.

2 February 1970

Mother,

Your note about reading newspapers was shown to me yesterday. Now tell me personally for myself. I have been reading regularly since I was 13. If you say that I have to stop reading them, I can.

Not necessary to stop. You must have got the discrimination.

4 February 1970

Sweet Mother,

How could we know what is happening in other countries and even in our own if we did not read newspapers? At least we get some idea from them, don't we? Or would it be better not to read them at all?

I did not say that you must not read newspapers. I said that you must not blindly believe everything you read; you should know that the truth is altogether different.

Blessings.

4 February 1970

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Sweet Mother,

How can we know the truth of the facts when reading newspapers? What is the best way of knowing the truth of the world?

The best way is to find the truth in ourselves  then we shall be able to see the Truth wherever it is.

Blessings.

5 February 1970

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