By Mumtaz Alam, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 14 April 2015: The Delhi government of Aam Aadmi Party has landed in a controversy by issuing a circular for meditation course of Buddhist origin for all government teachers in the state. The Vipassana and Anapana practice, akin to Yoga practices, will run for 10 days and teachers attending the training will be considered ‘On Duty’ and the government will also bear their TA/DA. A leading government teachers’ association and a Muslim teachers’ group have opposed the circular of the AAP government.
The Directorate of Education of Delhi Government, in its 13th April 2015 circular, said it has planned the meditation program for the teachers “to empower them morally in order to save children from vices.”
“Experience has taught us that the present methodology for imparting moral education has not proved to be sufficient. And it goes without saying that in order to save our children from vices like violence, rage, stealing, lying, intoxicants, sexual and other misconduct etc., we first need to empower our teachers morally & practically,” reads the two-page circular.
The Directorate said the decision for Vipassana and Anapana meditation has been taken at the ‘highest level’.
It is commonly known that Aam Aadmi Party leader and Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal regularly practises this form of mediation.
“…It has been decided, at the highest level, to get our teachers and officers trained in the age old scientific & secular practices of Vipassana and Anapana. These two concepts are already being practised successfully in different states of the country and it has been observed that their regular use results in remarkable improvement in concentration, memory, alertness, self-discipline, decision making – both among children and adults,” said the Directorate in the circular.
The meditation training will be provided by Vipassana Sadhna Sansthan that is based in Sohna, Haryana.
Sansthan’s website gives details about the 10-day meditation program “The day begins at 4 am with a wakeup bell and continues until 9 pm. There are about 10 hours of meditation, interspersed with breaks. Every evening at 7 pm there is a videotaped lecture by the teacher S N Goenka, which provides a context for meditators to understand their experience of the day.”
Delhi govt circular on Vipassana meditation for teachers
During the Vipassana and Anapana meditation, the participants sit cross-legged and remain completely silent, as one does in Yoga.
Government Teachers’ Association opposes meditation program
The Government School Teachers’ Association has termed the 10-day meditation program as a complete waste of time and resources.
“There are schools with over a hundred kids sitting in one room, where there is no water and electricity supply is uncertain. There are roughly 20,000 vacancies. If you don’t have the basics this value education won’t have any value. We are against programmes that distract from the real issues,” C P Singh, president, GSTA has been quoted as saying by Times of India.
Buddhist origin of Vipassana
Among FAQs on Sansthan’s website, there is a question: Do I have to be a Buddhist to practice Vipassana? While the Sansthan says this meditation is of “non-sectarian nature” it admits this meditation has origin in Buddhism.
The answer given just below the question on the website is this: “People from many religions and no religion have found the meditation course helpful and beneficial. Vipassana is an art of living, a way of life. While it is the essence of what the Buddha taught, it is not a religion; rather, it is the cultivation of human values leading to a life which is good for oneself and good for others.”
Muslim teachers oppose Vipassana program
Muslim teachers are not ready to accept this meditation as ‘non-sectarian’. They say it is also a form of Yoga which is loaded with Hindu rituals. A Muslim teachers’ association has also opposed the decision of the AAP government.
“It is beyond our understanding as to how a long meditation can inculcate moral values in teachers or students. Moreover, the circular does not have any details about the 10-day program,” said a government teacher on the condition of anonymity.
All India Ideal Teachers’ Association (AIITA) said moral education capsule for students or teachers should comprise common moral teachings of all religions, not just one religion.
“The Delhi government should give more attention to providing basic facilities like water, toilet etc. in schools first. We also want moral education in schools but it should not be of one religion. Students should be given moral teachings as per their belief or moral education capsule should carry common moral values of all religions,” said Inamur Rahman, National Secretary of AIITA.
He also alleged that the AAP government of Delhi “is slowly adopting the path of Hindu right wing.”
Commenting on the ‘non-sectarain’ nature of the meditation program, Rahman said: “Wazu, which a Muslim does five times a day before Namaz, has lots of medical benefits. If we recommend it to one and even if we don’t name it, it will be clearly associated with Islam. Vipassana or yoga is part of a particular culture and civilization. All know it.”
Why Vipassana not reflecting in Kejriwal’s behaviour?
Commenting on Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia’s statement that Arvind Kejriwal is regular practitioner of Vipassana meditation, a research scholar of Jamia Millia Islamia asked why this meditation is not reflecting in Kejriwal’s behaviour vis-à-vis senior party leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan.
“Manish Sisodia is reported to have said Arvind Kejriwal is a daily practitioner of Vipassana meditation. If that is the case, then it just goes to prove Vipassana is ineffective in inculcating any moral values because Arvind Kejriwal’s recent treatment of his party members Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, has been anything but moral. In fact it has been outright immoral and unethical,” said the student.
In some recent audio stings, which were aired on TV channels, Kejriwal was heard using abusive language for these leaders of AAP, exposhing his own moral depth.
