Gurukula Network VISION OF ANANDA MARGA GURUKULA The Sanskrit word "Gurukula" (pronounced gurukul) has Newsletter and Journal of the following etymology: Gu: darkness; ru: dispeller; kula: Neohumanist Schools and Institutes an institution. Gurukula is an institution which helps Gurukula Network is published by the students dispel the darkness of the mind and leads to total Ananda Marga Gurukula emancipation of the individual and society at large. Global Liaison Office Ananda Marga Gurukula is engaged in creating an international network of Neohumanist Schools and Institutes to hasten the Two yearly issues, January and May, serve as a advent of a society in which there is love, peace, understanding, means of communication for Neohumanist inspiration, justice and health for all beings. projects around the world. OBJECTIVES OF ANANDA MARGA GURUKULA It is the spirit of Gurukula Network to encourage a free sharing of ideas and to To serve humanity with neohumanist spirit and to acquire stimulate discussion on educational and global knowledge for that purpose. issues facing our world. All articles express the To establish a strong base in Anandanagar and around the world in order to carry on the legacy of its founder for the views of the author, and not necessarily those benefit of future generations. of AMGK. To provide a sound and conducive environment for students for their physical, social, intellectual, creative and spiritual Gurukula Network is open to any and all NHE well-being. related projects and faculties of AMGK. To promote ethical values in individuals and implement these Please send submissions to: values in the management of projects, schools and institutions. Gurukula Network To establish and maintain schools and special academic AM Gurukula Global Liaison Office institutions around the world as well as a cyber-university. <[email protected]> To initiate teacher education programs to improve and upgrade the quality of education on all academic levels. Editor To promote Tantra, Neohumanism and PROUT (Progressive Arete Brim Utilization Theory) as the foundation for building a universal society. Editorial Assistance To initiate intellectual dialogues and research for all-round Scott Brim renaissance of society. To facilitate the placement of volunteers across cultures to help Cover Design build meaningful relationships and to support community and Avtk Ananda Advaeta Ac social change projects. To support the building of a global eco-village network (Master Electronic Version Units) Michele Montenegro To encourage the development of micro-enterprises for http://gurukul.edu/newsletter/issue40 sustainability of social service projects. Printing and Mailing Chancellor of Ananda Marga Gurukula Ko Yun Chin, I-hua Chiu, Lin.li-ping Ac. Shambhushivananda Avt., Kulapati <[email protected]> Websites Shrii Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar inspired the establishment of Ananda Marga Schools in 1963 out of which grew an Ananda Marga Gurukula international network of schools and the Neohumanist Education <www.gurukul.edu> system. In 1990 he founded the Ananda Marga Gurukula Neohumanist Education University. Ananda Marga Gurukula also serves as the Board of <www.nhe.gurukul.edu> Education for Neohumanist Schools and Institutes around the world. These Neohumanist Schools and projects, some of which Global Association of Neohumanist Educators are featured in Gurukula Network, are managed by the <www.gane-educators.org> Education Relief and Welfare Section and Women's Welfare All NHE educators and projects Department of Ananda Marga. are encouraged to join NEOHUMANIST EDUCATION Headquarters of Ananda Marga Gurukula Universal Love and Values Anandanagar, Dist Purulia, West Bengal, India Holistic Development Astaunga Yoga Donations are welcome. Ecological and Social Consciousness Please make checks payable to Academic, Practical and Personal Skills Ananda Marga Gurukula Knowledge of Self and World Applied for Universal Welfare and send to AMGK Liaison Office Joyful Learning through the Arts c/o Brim, 146 Honness Lane, Ithaca, NY 14850 USA Culturally Sensitive and Inclusive Approach or by PayPal to: <[email protected]> Integrated Curriculum Exemplary Role of the Educators 2 Issue 40 Gurukula Network May 2015 Ananda Marga Gurukula 4 Moving Forward – Dada Shambhushivananda 5 PR Sarkar Institute (PRSI) th AMGK 25 Anniversary Conference Reports 6 Challenges for the Future of Education - Taiwan 9 Seminar on Asanas, Vritti and Glands - Italy 10 Education for Human Emancipation - Brazil 13 Educational Activism: Building a Compassionate and Sustainable Future – Lebanon Studies in Applying Neohumanism and PROUT 14 Education Based on Neohumanism and PROUT- by Dr. Jareeporn Naksamrit 16 Making Finance Fit for a Spiritual Economy - by Prof. Ed McKenna Yoga and Other Seminars 18 Programs at Center of Neohumanist Studies - Sweden 20 AYAM Yoga Academy Intensive Teachers Training – Argentina NHE Teacher Training 21 Cooperating with Others - Zonnelicht Teacher Training - Den Bosch, Holland 22 Neohumanist Education Training - Child Friendly Spaces – Lebanon 24 Center for Innovative Continuing Education – Haiti 27 Ananda Marga Gurukula Teacher Training College – Anandanagar, India 27 Education Training Camp (ETC) - Anandanagar, India Topics in Neohumanist Education 28 Friendship: The Key to Overcoming Prejudices (Part 2) - By Didi Ananda Devapriya 31 Helping Children to Manage their Feelings Constructively - By Magda Zambet 31 Using Persona Dolls to foster Pro-Diversity 32 Gender Equity in Education - By Dada Maheshvarananda and Mirra Price 34 Neohumanist Education for the Personality Development of Children -By Sunandita Bhowmik Neohumanist Schools and Projects in Focus 35 Center for Neohumanist Creativity (CNHC) – Caracas, Venezuela 36 NHE presented at International Education Conference by Melbourne School, Australia 37 New Music CD from Vistara School, Australia Global News 38 New York Sector - USA, Nicaragua 38 Manila Sector – Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand 39 Qahira Sector – Egypt 39 Georgetown Sector - Venezuela 40 Suva Sector – New Zealand 41 Berlin Sector – Sweden, Denmark, Iceland 41 Hong Kong Sector – Taiwan 42 Delhi Sector – India 42 Nairobi Sector - Togo NH College and GANE 43 Neohumanist College for Distance Learning 43 GANE – Global Association of Neohumanist Educators 3 Moving Forward By Ac. Shambhushivananda Avadhuta Time and again, great prophets and sages have come on this earth with a universal message, and mortal humans have polluted that universal teaching with their ego-centered tinge and relegated the message to a mere sectarian call. Human beings tend to be obsessed with lust for power and the élan vital of universal spirit gets clouded by the use of moral and spiritual authority for narrow ends. Still today, the world is steeped in disparities, diseased bodies, misuse of precious treasures of the earth, underutilization of human potentials for greater welfare and we are still far from being connected with the blissful realm of divine consciousness that pervades the entire creation and gives it the power to exist, evolve and reach its fullest manifestation. Today, we stand at the cross roads. On the one hand lie narrow sentiments protecting the interests of the 'few' and on the other hand, lie the hidden aspirations of the multitudes to create a pathway that will be firmly imbued with universalism, discipline, harmony and magnanimity. Ananda Marga Gurukula has consciously chosen the latter path. We wish that all moral and spiritual aspirants imbued with divine love may join together to build an ideological institution that is rooted in the cosmic spirit and uphold the flaming torch of “one indivisible human society”. The global neohumanist network sets aside all flimsy differences among all people working to create a universal human society. On the 25th anniversary of the founding of AMGK, we reaffirm our essential purpose: to serve humanity with neohumanist spirit and to acquire knowledge for that purpose. In this endeavour, we are forging alliances with one and all who are inspired with this vision and who are tuned to the vision of its founder Shrii P. R. Sarkar, who devoted his entire life to the formation of a blissful universal family (Ananda Parivar) on this earth. On this auspicious moment, we have announced several steps forward: 1. Creation of a PR Sarkar Institute in order to support educational communities with information and educational materials that will help raise the consciousness of the world. 2. Formation of an on-line Neohumanist College in order to facilitate the meeting of teachers and the taught who are spread across continents and are keen to learn from one another. 3. Strengthening of the “Global Association of Neohumanist Educators” who are working in over a hundred countries on different continents. Currently, representatives from 54 countries have already signed up as active members and we hope that in the coming year, the rest of the educators will also get actively linked to this global network. 4. We are also pleased to announce the alliance with wellness centers, bio-psychology research group, microvita research institutes and yoga-teacher training programs including kids’ yoga initiatives being offered on different continents. Ananda Marga Association of Yoga Educators (AMAYE ) is spearheading the integration of all yoga & intuitional science education and alternative therapy programs and we hope to hold a joint event in 2016 to further develop and standardize these trainings. 5.