Gurukula Style of Study

The Gurukula is an invitation to study the wisdom of the sages in a deep, reflective and authentic manner from source texts and ancient scriptures, in a rarefied environment and intimate setting,  with a teacher from the unbroken tradition who lives and embodies the knowledge. Vedika Gurukula provides the ultimate education for true seekers of wisdom contained in the ancient traditions of Ayurveda, Yoga and Vedanta. 

Education Model from India
The Gurukula model of learning began in India along time ago. The Gurukula model still exists in pockets of India today and it becoming popular again in recent days where hungry students are becoming disillusioned with the sterile classroom situations of today.  Traditionally Ayurveda, Yoga and Vedanta were always taught in Gurukula setting. Gurukula education is in depth study and assimilation and cannot be packaged in terms of hours spent in class or credits earned. Gurukula's accomplishment lies  in transforming an eager student into a full spectrum healer and teacher with deep accomplishments, skills, confidence, pride and roots.

Relationship Oriented Teaching Style
A characteristic feature of Gurukula model of education is that it is a relationship oriented teaching style with an emphasis on teacher-student one on one relationship  as the vehicle of consciousness transformation. Hence, Gurukula facilitates an intimate style of open,  honest and heart felt communication between students and teachers.A Gurukula often has a head teacher with some assistant and specially invited visiting teachers, teaching a hand picked group of students whose intent and minds have been matched.  Often times, the word Gurukula indicates the  dwelling of the teacher and students together in many ways  - physically, socially, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. 

Study from Source Scriptures and Texts
Gurukula education is based on teaching from original texts and scriptures that have come down from the sages and not from commentaries or other books and tutorials. This way the student is connected to the direct and original source of the knowledge.  The  sages received much wisdom from their own Self in their deep intuitive meditative states of consciousness. The sage insights were captured in the form of mantras, shlokas and sutras. The ancient compendiums that contain  transcendental truths are venerated as vessels of timeless wisdom in India. It is these texts and scriptures and none other that will be taught to the students by the teachers in Vedika Gurukula. In addition to studying the translations of these texts, the students will learn to recite them in their original Sanskrit as a means to tap deeper into their meaning and to assimilate their depth.

Goal of Consciousness Transformation
In the Gurukula, teaching of principles, skills and applications is taught with extreme patience rather than  rushing to cover a curriculum. It is important that each and every  student of the Gurukula has imbibed the knowledge deeply and internalized it permanently. The curriculum exists only as a rough guideline and not as some rigid program. The guidelines are utilized to map evolution of consciousness for the individual student, as well as the entire group of students as one collective.

In the teaching of the highest knowledge, the student's consciousness is transformed forever and the teacher too is  embraced with guidance and love from non physical teachers as embodied by the sages who gave the world these sacred scriptures.

The Process of Learning
The Gurukula tradition embodies three essential steps for the student:

Shravana - is mindful or deep listening to the teachers words relating to the wisdom contained in ancient texts.
Manana - is mindful or deep deliberation or contemplation of this life changing wisdom.
Nididhyaasana - Mindful practice or meditation on the teachings, whereby,  the essence of the teaching or wordless truth can be known, intimately and personally from within.

With the first step of the process - trustworthy tuition is invoked. With the final step intuition from  within is invoked. With the middle step of reflection and introspective deliberation, the path is mindfully crafted so that that externally received  information can  invoke information form within. In the Gurukula model, truth is remembered not learned; and teachers words stimulate the process of remembering.

Hence, according to the Gurukula model of education, a mere intellectual apprehension of truth is not enough. The "reasoned conviction" has to transform into an inner realization of the truth. And this realization or perception of truth by the Self within is called Darshan.

Teacher - Student Relationship
The Gurukula offers a special relationship between the student and the teacher as it is an expression of the Self teaching the Self. The teacher and student are bound eternally by a thread that is tied on the students wrist by the teacher at the initiation of the Gurukula education or upanayana ceremony. In this fire ritual, the ignorance and suffering from past is burnt away and a new chapter in the student's life begins.

The upanayana is the traditional process of admission to a Gurukula and it is distinguished by its spiritual qualities as compared to the more mechanical version of modern day admissions secured through merits and payment of fees. The upanayana ceremony for the batch of students starting in 2008 is going to be held on January 31st.

In the fire rituals where sacred mantras and choice fruits and grains are offered, the teacher and the students are united by a common aim of preserving and propagating the sacred learning and showing its worth in their life and  conduct.

The teacher teaches the whole truth as any concealment or holding back is deceiving the teacher's own Self. The student too receives with appreciation, what is to be received in the way of wisdom sprouting from the teacher's mouth.  However, the teacher may impart only that knowledge that the student is ready for and reserve that for which the student is not ready, for later. The teacher teaches with his or her heart and soul and create through the teaching an unbroken continuity of culture known as parampara.

The student in turn offers his or her zeal and passion for knowledge. Students demonstrate self-concentration and self-sacrifice in the pursuit of knowledge. The students efforts and sincerity compel the teacher to give and give and give some more; and the teachers feel pleased and honored  in gifting wisdom to one who deserves.

The need for contemplation, self study, practice and dedication on the students part is key to the success of the Gurukula model of education. Spoon feeding, rote method  and tests scores do not play a role in the Gurukula. Any assessment of the student is done orally through real time dialog and teacher closely watches the mind of the student and assesses it to confirm that the student is not only "hearing " the wisdom, but also "thinking" accordingly and finally "living" the wisdom. Student is not punished if the students does not do his or her part and instead counseled to increase self effort by seeking inner clarity and touching the sage Self within.