By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSALA, July 2: On what Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejrival called a “land mark day”, Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama launched the ‘Happiness Curriculum’ described to be a supplementary education to strengthen ethics and moral based teaching for school children in the Indian capital.
The Dalai Lama who has pointed out gaps in the modern education system and advocated inclusion of secular and ethics based education in the modern education realized the building blocks for his vision with this initiative by the education board in Delhi. Emory University in the US is developing similar curricula at a higher academic discipline.
The Tibetan leader told thousands gathered at the Thyagaraj Stadium, “What we need in the world today is an education of values, not based on any religion, but based on common sense and scientific knowledge.” He also said that prayer alone will not bring about enlightenment but training the mind and examining the things through logic.
The 82-year-old Tibetan said that tackling one’s emotions and keeping a check on the negative emotions will ultimately bring about changes at individual level and that it will be a catalyst for global peace.
Delhi CM Kejrival said, “This should have been done 100-150 years ago. We forgot the real meaning of education. Our education system only generates clerks and failed in making kids better humans.” He said that the initiative introduced in his city will “completely transform the modern education system”.
The ‘happiness curriculum’ will be implemented in over 1000 schools where over 8,00,000 students from nursery to class 8 students will undergo 45 minutes daily class that will teach meditation, ethics and moral based stories and practice of mindfulness and gratitude among others. The initiative is aimed at nurturing pupils that will be inculcated with ethics and morals throughout their education.
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia who led the initiative said, “It is going to be the most important development in the education system with focus on good mental health, character and resilience. It will address the ever-growing concern levels of happiness and well being. A child’s mental well being is important. Happier children learn more, cope better and are much more likely to make the most of their potential.”
