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Kulwinder Pal, Lovely Professional University Unit 1: Education in India During Ancient Period : Vedic and Buddhist Education

Unit 1: Education in India During Ancient Period: Notes

Vedic and Buddhist Education

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
1.1 About Vedic Education
1.2 Education In India During Buddhist Period
1.3 Basic Principles of the Philosophy of Education As Based on the Philosophy of Buddhism
1.4 Main Features of Buddhist Education
1.5 Educational Implications of Buddhist Philosophy
1.6 Methods of Teaching
1.7 Summary
1.8 Keywords
1.9 Review Questions
1.10 Further Readings

Objectives
The objectives of this unit can be summarized as below:
• to discuss about vedic education.
• to explain about Education in India during Buddhist Period.
• to describe about basic principles of the philosophy of Education as based on the philosophy
of Buddhism.
• to learn about main features of Buddhist Education.
• to explain about educational implications of Buddhist philosophy.
• to discuss about methods of teaching.

Introduction
The most important contribution of ancient India not only for India but also for the world is in
the field of education. It may also be remembered that education is not an abstract term. It is
manifested in the cultural economic, individual, philosophical, scientific, social and spiritual
advancement. In other words, education is the means for developing the mind for the betterment
of the individual and society.
Ancient education emerged form the Vedas. They are supposed to be the source of Indian
philosophy of life, Vedas means ‘to know.’ They are four in number, namely (1) Rig Veda, (2)
Sama veda, (3) Yajur Veda, and (4) Atharva Veda. Among vedas Rig Veda is treated to be the
origin. In interprets the knowledge aspect and deals with the four stage of life, viz, celibacy,
family life, forest life, and renunciation. Buddhism came into being when several ills had crept
into Vedic/Brahmanical thought or Hinduism. Mahatma Buddha’s was a great charismatic
personality, Perhaps in the world, there are only two instances of Mahatma Buddha and Swami
Mahavira—the two princes who renounced their princely and worldly life and devoted themselves
to ;preach Buddhism and Jainism respectively.
Mahatma Buddha’s philosophy of Buddhism is very simple. He laid greater emphasis on leading
a pure life. He avoided reference to meta physics which he considered to be superfluous.

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