The ultimate aim of all education and all training, according to Swami Vivekananda, is man- making. Every child as it comes to this world is not man, in the real senses of the term. He is only an individual. It is only through education and training that his individuality is transformed into the personality of a man, fit for civilized social life of the time. Gradual transition from ego-centricity to sociability brings a person nearer to human goals.
Vivekananda recommends the following aims of education:
1. Creation of Self-Confidence and Self-Realization:
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Education must make a man conscious of his hidden powers. Man must know that he is neither the perishable bodily frame nor the changing mind. He is the immortal soul which is the treasure-house of infinite power. All knowledge he discovers within himself.
With this knowledge or divine light, he can work wonders. Man should, therefore, have full confidence in himself and strive to reach the highest goal of his life; Self-confidence leads to self- realization. In Swamiji’s own words, “Faith in our self and faith in God — this is the secret of greatness.”A person, who possesses self confidence, can do much, individually as well as socially.
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We fail only when do not strive sufficiently to manifest the infinite power, within over selves. Education of the right type should aim at removing the veil of ignorance from our mind and make us understand what we actually are and what we should ultimately be. It is only through self-reliance and self-realization that a person can attain perfection and achieve the glory of life.
2. Formation of Character:
Character is the aggregate of a Man’s tendencies, the sum-total of the bent of his mind. We are what our thoughts have made us. Good and evil thoughts have an equal share in moulding character. It is, therefore, that education should aim at sublimating the evil tendencies of our mind.
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It should give us life-building and character making assimilation of ideas. Swamiji said, “We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, intellect is expanded and by which one can stand on one’s own feet.” Education must build up character and manifest our real nature.
3. Development of Personality:
Personality is the influence, the impression, one creates on the others. It is the personality of a man that counts. “According to Vivekananda, personality is two-third and his intellect and words are only one-third in making the real man.” The ideal of all education and all trainings should be this man-making. The man who influences, who throws his magic upon his fellow beings, is a dynamo of power. When that man is ready he can do anything and everything that he likes. That personality, put upon anything, will make it work.
4. Service of Mankind:
Another important aim of education is serving the God in man. It is not the God in symbols and images that we generally find in temples. It is the God in the sick, the poor, the miserable, the ignorant and the down-trodden what we should worship.
In Swamiji’s own words, “If you want to find God, serve man.” He was pained to see the wretched poverty of his countrymen. He, therefore, wanted that education must enable everyone to stand on his own feet and satisfy his own primary needs, at least. Here he suggested a system of education through work experiences and workshops.
5. Promotion of Universal Brotherhood:
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While Swami Vivekananda was a patriot and a nationalist to the core of his heart, he was also a great internationalist. His love for mankind knew no geographical boundaries. He always pleaded for the harmony and good relationship of all nations. He said, “Through education, we should gradually reach the idea of universal brotherhood by flinging down the walls of separation and inequality. In every man, in every animal, however weak or miserable, great or small, resides the same omnipresent and omniscient soul. The difference is not in the soul, but in manifestation.
“Thus his internationalism was spiritual, based on the Vadantic principle of universality of self. He insisted that education must call forth this power in every person and broaden it to such an extent that it may cover the whole world. Such a programme will annihilate all misery’ and discomfort from this earth. He said. “I am thoroughly convinced that no individual or nation can live by holding itself apart from the community of others.
Wherever such an attempt will be made, under the false ideas of greatness or policy or holiness, the result will always be disastrous. Our isolation from all the other nation of the world has been the cause of our degradation and its only remedy is getting back into the current of the rest of the world.” Thus Swami Vivekananda advocated internationalism of world society into a compact union of hearts and souls.