NEOHUMANIST EDUCATION Gurukula Network Universal Love and Values Holistic Development Newsletter and Journal of Astaunga Yoga Neohumanist Schools and Institutes Ecological and Social Consciousness Gurukula Network is published by the Academic, Practical and Personal Skills Global Liaison Office of the Knowledge of Self and World Applied for Universal Global Neohumanist Education Network Welfare Joyful Learning through the Arts Two yearly issues, January and July, serve as a Culturally Sensitive and Inclusive Approach means of communication for Neohumanist Integrated Curriculum projects around the world. Exemplary Role of the Educators It is the spirit of Gurukula Network to encourage a free sharing of ideas and to Shrii Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar inspired the establishment of the stimulate discussion on educational and global global network of Neohumanist schools and institutions. In 1990 issues facing our world. All articles express the he founded Ananda Marga Gurukula (AMGK) as the Board of views of the author. Education for Neohumanist schools and institutes around the world. Gurukula Network is open to any and all NHE related projects and faculties. Please send submissions to: VISION Gurukula Network The Sanskrit word "Gurukula" (pronounced gurukul) has <[email protected]> the following etymology: Gu: darkness; ru: dispeller; kula: an institution. Gurukula is an institution which helps Editor students dispel the darkness of the mind and leads to total Arete Brim emancipation of the individual and society at large. The international network of Neohumanist Schools and Institutes Copy Editor strives to hasten the advent of a society in which there is love, Lee Hamilton peace, understanding, inspiration, justice and health for all beings. Cover Design Avtk. Ananda Advaeta Ac. OBJECTIVES To serve humanity with neohumanist spirit and to acquire Electronic Version knowledge for that purpose. Michele Montenegro To provide a sound and conducive environment for students http://gurukul.edu/newsletter/issue46 for their physical, social, intellectual, creative and spiritual well-being. Printing and Mailing To promote ethical values in individuals and implement these Yun Chin Ko values in the management of projects, schools and institutions. Tseui-Jiuan Li To establish and maintain schools and special academic I-hua Chiu institutions around the world as well as a cyber-university. To initiate teacher education programs to improve and Websites upgrade the quality of education on all academic levels. To promote Tantra, Neohumanism and PROUT (Progressive Ananda Marga Gurukula Utilization Theory) as the foundation for building a universal <www.gurukul.edu> society. To initiate intellectual dialogues and research for all-round Neohumanist Education renaissance of society. <www.nhe.gurukul.edu> To facilitate the placement of volunteers across cultures to help build meaningful relationships and to support community and Global Association of Neohumanist Educators social change projects. <www.gane-educators.org> To support the building of a global eco-village network (Master All NHE educators and projects Units) are encouraged to join To encourage the development of micro-enterprises for sustainability of social service projects. Donations are welcome. Please write to Chancellor Ac. Shambhushivananda Avt., Kulapati <[email protected]> [email protected] or PayPal to: <[email protected]> Sa’ vidya’ ya’ vimuktaye Education is that which liberates 2 Issue 46 Gurukula Network July 2018 Topics in Neohumanism 4 Role of Humans in a Digital World: A Neohumanist Narrative - by Dr. Shambhushivananda 5 Inequality and Technological Progress - by Dr. Edward McKenna 7 Semal (Red Silk Cotton) Tree Conservation: A Neohumanist approach - by Dr. Vartika Jain Conferences and Events – Recent and Upcoming 8 Gurukula represented at the Golden Jubilee Celebrations in the Philippines 9 Neohumanist Convention: The Era of Neohumanism - Florence, Italy 10 An Alternate World is Possible: Ushering in the Neohumanist Era – Upcoming Conference July 2019 10 Shrii P.R. Sarkar Centenary Celebration: Upcoming May 2021 – May 2022 11 Leadership Matters - Upcoming Workshop November 2018 - Lotus Centre, the Netherlands 12 Empowering Youth for a Neohumanist Society - Upcoming Global Gurukula Conference, July 2018 Empowering Youth for a Neohumanist Society 13 STUVOL: Student Volunteers Programs 14 Youth Leadership Training Events, Philippines - by Dada Jiitendra and 15 Youth Leadership Training, Taiwan – by Tang Tamminga 16 Sustainability Solutions - Grade 6, River School, Australia - by Didi Ananda Tapomaya 17 Council of All Creatures - Grades 2-3, River School, Australia - by Didi Ananda Tapomaya Neohumanist Academies, Schools and Projects in Focus 19 AMIA Ananda Marga International Academy – Singapore - by Dada Premamayananda 19 Yoga Academy, Philippines and Neohumanist College, USA 20 New P m y Sc d Te c e ’s T g Ce te , Um v s, I d - by Didi Anandarama 21 Annual Naturopathy Training in Cebu, Maharlika Growing and Growing - by Vasudeva Menorias 23 Neohumanist Education: a small seed for everyone - Verona, Italy - by Alexia Martinelli 24 The Art Shed with Alieta Belle - River School, Australia – by Didi Ananda Tapomaya 26 Sharing the Traditions of a Country at MorningStar Preschool, USA - by MJ Glassman 27 Village School for a Rural Community, Nepal - by Dada Kamalakantananda Neohumanist Education Teacher Training 27 NHE Teacher Training, Kathmandu, Nepal - Given by GANE Taiwan 28 Education Training Camp at Astiknagar (Varddhaman), India - by Didi Anandarama 29 Leadership Based on Spirituality - Lotus Centre, the Netherlands - by Timotheus Rammelt 32 Sentiment and Intuition in Neohumanism: Teacher Training Workshop - by Didi Ananda Devapriya Neohumanist Education Methods 34 Storytelling: Interview in Indonesia with Storyteller Rutger Tamminga - by Didi Kiirti 37 Body Space Boundaries: Early Childhood Education 3-5 Year Olds – by MahaJyoti Glassman Service Communities – Master Units 39 Ananda Kuvalaya Master Unit in Paraguay - by Dada Paradevananda 39 Master Units in Vietnam, Philippines and USA 40 Á d N y ń - Master Unit in Córdoba, Argentina - by Kuntur Deva Global News 42 New York, Berlin, Hong Kong, Manila, Delhi and Georgetown Sectors New Publications 47 Compendium of Indian Folk Medicine and Ethnobotany 47 Remember the Sun Will Shine - Neohumanist Song CD 3 Role of Humans in a Digital World: A Neohumanist Narrative by Dr. Shambhushivananda At one stage in our evolution, humans were just one of the many dominant creatures on this planet earth. Today, the earth is under the command of humans (homo-sapiens) while all other creatures are almost at their mercy. Even invisible viruses do not escape human wrath, and as soon as they interfere in human survival, they attract a collective global attack to cause their annihilation. Some scholars have predicted that humans will evolve into super humans where ordinary humans will become mere slaves to a new breed of humans who will be masters of genetic engineering, control biometric data, utilize artificial intelligence, machine learning and augmented virtual reality and will relegate ordinary humans to the category of subhuman ‘irrelevant’ species. This science fiction scenario posited by some is still speculation. Not all projections are likely to actualize but this is definitely a scenario worth addressing. Human interface with machines is not new on the planet, and humans have integrated nature’s powers in their lives for their advantage from very early days, with the discovery of fire. Nature, both inorganic and organic, holds immense power. As humans begin to tap the potential of nature and begin to harness it by intelligent design, the question of the future of human society and the survival of its norms comes into a sharper focus. Will the institution of family still exist? Will humans still exercise compassion in all their dealings? Will robotic society cause the disappearance of human emotions? Will human-designed algorithms replace natural evolution of different species completely? What will happen to the consciousness of humans and other beings? Will the theory of reincarnation still hold? Will religious, political, and economic institutions still play a dominant role in human affairs? Will the distinction between mind and consciousness become clearer? Will humans become sort of immortal, with an indefinite shelf life? Would laboratory babies be as intelligent as the naturally born babies of today? Would designer babies have any independent thinking or would they display only programmed ‘smart thinking’? How will our sense of the meaning and purpose of life evolve over time? Will the society of the future have any moral dilemmas? Would there be any role for ‘revolutions’ in the future society of AI-dominated scenarios? Could coordinated cooperation and competition create a benevolent future for all species? Before we can address such questions, we must understand the role of humans in the cosmological order. Humans did not just emerge out of matter, whether organic or inorganic, nor out of nowhere. Matter and humans both have originated from primordial Transcendental Consciousness and carry the potential of that highest consciousness. The Supreme Consciousness is far subtler than Cosmic Mind and all manifestations of Cosmic Mind are merely the cruder manifestations of the greater powers embodied within Cosmic Mind. Thus, what the Cosmic Mind has been doing until the present continues to be taken