As the saying goes, ‘knowledge is wealth’. I feel this quotation has very relevant meanings for bridging secularism and spirituality. Education in this context means to educate people in the union of secularism and spirituality. The word ‘secular’ literally describes the things that do not have any connection with religion or spirituality. But if we take secularism and spirituality to be like fire and water—opposite in their nature—then we are looking at them with a wrong understanding, as both of them have a common role in bringing happiness and stopping suffering. Without their union, the ‘gross national happiness’ (as coined in Bhutan)—material wealth as well as spiritual progress—is still incomplete and imbalanced.
How and why? A secular or political system works in accord with social ideas and matters, which are meant for worldly purposes. If systems like socialism, republicanism, democracy or communism, etc., are not connected to spiritual knowledge, then there is a great threat to the purpose of every nation. This is because our inner values such as universal love, ethics, morality, equanimity, loving-kindness, altruistic mind, philanthropy and genuine concern for all are brought into awareness only through the means of spiritual education. Hence, it would be impossible to promote any inner development without spirituality.
Since the very beginning of humanity, there has been a great possibility for the evolution of secularism and spirituality pertaining to people’s requirements, no matter how powerful or weak a nation is. There are records in history revealing to us that both secularism and spirituality have had a great influence on the civilizations that were created in every country in the past. In the present technological world, both of them are vibrantly awakening people to the realization of their interdependent nature. For instance, due to advanced education in secular fields, there have been incredible developments on the gross level of worldly comforts and material wealth. At the same time, the spiritual academics have come to the fore to assume a position to confront the challenges of the hazardous impacts from atomic weapons and so forth. In this way, the unification of secularism and spirituality will determine the balanced growth if we are to create a perfect world.
For this reason, it is very important to take comprehensive steps to educate the people of every nation regardless of their sex or age. They should have the freedom to study in whichever secular field suits their interests and future dreams. At the same time, we should make sure to reach out with basic spiritual knowledge without any restriction as to creed or status.
Life without spirituality is the basic cause for falling victim to immorality even if one has acquired outstanding knowledge in worldly matters. In this regard, it is rightly quoted, “The foundation of every nation is the education of its youth” and “Youth are the nation builders.”
Applying this concept, I conclude here with a universal message: let everybody have a golden opportunity to receive a proper education in both secular and spiritual fields—through conducive circumstances planting good saplings of education to ripen productive fruits—to make this precious life a happy and successful one!
By Sonam Rinchen
Final Year NNI
