What is the plan of action for reviving the education system?

 

Recognizing the significance of spiritual training alongside secular education, the question arises: how can we effectively integrate this ethos into our society? What actionable steps did Swamiji envision and publicly disclose in Madras? Let's delve into his proposed plan and explore its implications.

"Of course this is a very big scheme, a very big plan. I do not know whether it will ever work out. But we must begin the work. But how? 

Take Madras, for instance. We must have a temple, for with Hindus religion must come first. Then, you may say, all sects will quarrel about it. But we will make it a non-sectarian temple, having only “Om” as the symbol, the greatest symbol of any sect. If there is any sect here which believes that “Om” ought not to be the symbol, it has no right to call itself Hindu. All will have the right to interpret Hinduism, each one according to his own sect ideas, but we must have a common temple. You can have your own images and symbols in other places, but do not quarrel here with those who differ from you. Here should be taught the common grounds of our different sects, and at the same time the different sects should have perfect liberty to come and teach their doctrines, with only one restriction, that is, not to quarrel with other sects. Say what you have to say, the world wants it; but the world has no time to hear what you think about other people; you can keep that to yourselves. 

Secondly, in connection with this temple there should be an institution to train teachers who must go about preaching religion and giving secular education to our people; they must carry both. As we have been already carrying religion from door to door, let us along with it carry secular education also. That can be easily done. Then the work will extend through these bands of teachers and preachers, and gradually we shall have similar temples in other places, until we have covered the whole of India. That is my plan.It may appear gigantic, but it is much needed."

- Swami Vivekananda (Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda - Lecture given at Madras)