Spiritual leaders embrace new technology and techniques while drawing on ancient wisdom in order to impart value education that begins with training the trainer

Ancient wisdom has much to offer but can be utilised more effectively in today’s hi-tech world by adopting the new media to connect with youth,” says Swami Naypadmsagar Maharaj, spiritual leader and mentor of the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO). He stressed on the need to spread the message of peace, nonviolence and harmony by training the trainer on value education to enhance knowledge given to B Ed students. Trainers need to impart positive values to teachers who in turn would transmit these inputs to future teachers who are preparing themselves to become good role models to youth, who are our future.

Reinventing Sainthood

The Maharaj was speaking at a recently held Jain community summit at Sahibabad, UP. He urged the community to “come forward and rise above community lines for global evolution.” The spiritual master used state-of-the-art info techniques in an impressive laser presentation that was projected on a simple screen, essaying the philosophy of Mahavira, making an instant connection with the youth present. Brief and focused interaction rather than long-winded preaching is what makes spiritual masters like the Maharaj connect instantly with youth.

The Youth Connect
Active on social networking sites, the youthful Maharaj regularly updates the Jain community and others on seva or selfless service, leaving a lasting impact on tomorrow’s leaders. And service is not just for those who devote themselves exclusively to seva but to everyone including entrepreneurs and students, householders and politicians. Aptly, he has chosen to focus on education and that too on training the trainer who will carry forward the message to young students, for the mission cannot be left only to masters like himself who are strapped for time.

Training The Trainer
Smt Indu Jain, Chairman, Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd endorsed the Maharaj’s views and spoke of creating awareness among children about the merits of nonviolence and creating ways to help them realise the value of peace. The message should first reach schools and spread through moral science classes, she added, saying that the best way to do so is by first training the trainer. For, it is education imparted in childhood that plays a vital role in shaping our future behaviour as adults.   

This can be achieved by creating a large community of qualified teachers who are equipped not only with traditional knowledge but also with ways to synergise old methods with new techniques. “Value education should be an integral part of teacher training,” she said. As head of the Times Foundation, Smt Indu Jain is engaged in planning special teacher training initiatives that will help upgrade and improve the content for B Ed courses to train teachers who will give direction to youth, who will play a major role in the future. 

Nonviolent Lifestyle
The summit was a platform for the community to discuss peace and harmony and ways to achieve it in a world torn by strife. Ratna Jain, mayor of Kota, Raghavji, Madhya Pradesh finance minister and Praveen Jain, director of Country Inn & Suites spoke of the need to promote vegetarianism in keeping with the principle of ahimsa, the main tenet of Jainism. Several young bureaucrats and judges also participated in the summit.

However, lasting results could be achieved in promoting a conflict-free world when we make ‘training the trainer’ in value education as an important part of the entire learning process so that young students are guided on the right path, whether they become business persons, professionals or entertainers, said Smt Indu Jain.

The Times Foundation is leading an initiative to “transform the education system for teachers.” Those who wish to contribute may write to timesfoundationATtimesgroup.com