Education That Helps Uncover Hidden Potential

Sri Aurobindo was very critical about the nature of education imparted in schools and universities all over the world. The prevalent educational system, according to him, is largely reductionist, materialistic, ego enforcing and devoid of the joys of the spirit.

- Ashok Vohra

An ideal scheme of education, according to him, 'is to bring forth the inner, hidden, latent, dormant, potential secret within every human being'. Its aim is not to promote competition but harmonious learning 'in cooperation with, and from one another for personal growth, and welfare of others'. He terms this kind of education 'integral education'.

Integral education, according to Aurobindo, involves the integration of teaching and learning of the theory and praxis of physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of human life.

It reconciles Western scientific rationalism with Eastern transcendent metaphysics into a holistic narrative of reality. The philosophy underlying integral education is a harmonious combination of the principles of idealism, realism, naturalism and pragmatism and a collaboration between the mind, heart and body'.