Behaviour in schools – a spiritual analysis of a student seeker

1 Introduction

I am in my last year of high school. I live in Europe and my name is Ana Kolar. I have also been a seeker of SSRF for the past 4  years and am doing regular spiritual practice of chanting, attending and conducting satsangs (company of the Absolute Truth) and performing other types of service unto the Absolute Truth (satsēvā). I am 18 years old.

(Editor’s note: Early in 2014, His Holiness Dr Athavale announced that Ana had reached the spiritual level of 61%.)

The examples I will be sharing in this article will be about the school I am attending. The aim of this article is for our readers to ponder over the negative behaviour in schools today and whether they are fulfilling the needs of the young people who will be our future leaders. It also questions whether our educational institutions are fulfilling their purpose. What are today’s students and teachers like? Is the institution of primary and secondary education honoured and attended to as it should be? This article is my view on these aspects. If any of our readers share this view or would like to contribute their experience to it, please write through our Login facility with your observations.

2 About the school in general from a spiritual perspective

2.1 Headaches in school

Over the past four years, I observed that while in school, I often suffered from a headache. Usually I do not get headaches at all, as I am young and healthy. I noticed that my headaches would occur only when I was in some environment which is high in Raja-Tama vibrations (negative energy). When the headaches in school started occurring often it became really annoying, and so I started experimenting to see how I could get rid of them. At the first signs of a headache, I would sometimes quickly try to leave the school premises during the first possible break and I would chant while I walked. My headaches would then go away without taking any medication. This made me realise the extent of Raja-Tama vibrations that are prevalent on the school grounds. Also, the moment I would come back to school the headache would restart. This would happen to me almost on a daily basis.

2.2 Chanting is very difficult in school

Chanting in school is very difficult due to the spiritual pollution (Raja-Tama) and the negative behaviour in schools by students and teachers prevalent there, the noise and the overall hustle and bustle of the school. In order to find some quiet place to chant, when I am not in class, I often go to the school library and try to chant the Name of God there, while pretending to study. This is the only way for me to chant in school without interruption and it helps me a lot.

When in school, it often happens that I lose focus and clarity about what I did or am about to do. I get easily confused, which does not happen to me at home. Another thing that happens is that sometimes all of a sudden I get angry at some teacher or a student, while in my life outside school this is almost never the case.

(Editor’s note: High Raja-Tama can result in people getting a black energy covering can cause such confusion or anger and can only be eliminated with chanting and spiritual healing remedies like the salt water remedy.)

2.3 Students drinking alcohol and coming to school intoxicated

One of the negative behaviour in schools is that sometimes students would come after drinking alcohol or they skip some class and buy alcoholic drinks in a small shop nearby. It is against the law to sell alcohol to minors and to sell it near the school. Despite the complaints from the school authorities, this shop continues to sell alcohol to students. Once, a student who was strongly intoxicated from drinking alcohol had fallen down the school stairs and injured himself. Everyone came to help at that time, but no one was preventing him from drinking or coming to school in such a state.

2.4 Each new generation of students seems to be worse than the previous ones

I have just completed the third year of high school. Since the school operates in shifts, the third year of high school students were in the same shift with the first year students. One of the common behaviour in schools I noticed is that, in general, this new lot of students are slightly worse than what our class was. From day one, most of them were aggressively demanding from teachers to let them go home earlier and they would skip some classes on some days. Many students slam the school walls with their fists without any particular reason. They kick the doors of classrooms and their faces look somehow empty. On the outside, they may have some nice clothes and a good mobile phone, but from within, they seem very empty. They are unaware of the need to respect teachers in school or other students, and are ignorant of their culture, let alone Spirituality in general. I can just imagine how much worse our generation is compared to the generation which went to school when my mother was young, for example.

(Editor’s note: This behaviour in schools is happening due to an overall decline in the spiritual level of people because of the lack of spiritual practice in society. Humanity is in a spiritual ‘free-fall’ presently which causes the feeling that each new generation is more morally and spiritually bankrupt when compared to the previous one.)

2.5 Not walking the talk

Our school is a geological, hydro-meteorological and ecological school which prepares students to be professional technicians in these fields. Ecology takes a very important place in the school curriculum. Despite this, the behaviour in schools is such that many students do not maintain the ecological balance that they should have for a student of such a school. They throw litter around, in the school yard, on the street, etc. In fact, they go one step further and mock those students who follow the rules and throw trash in the dustbin. Those who throw trash in the schoolyard are considered “cool.” Luckily there are also students who do the right thing even if they are made fun of. Their actions speak of the level of ecological awareness they have developed in their lives.

Negative behaviour in schools is also exhibited by teachers. I often observe that when they arrive and step out of their cars in front of the school, they have a stressed look on their faces and they let out big sighs; as if to say that teaching us students is such a difficult task. This tends to alienate students from teachers. Some teachers though, are nicer and even crack some jokes so that we can learn easier, which happens naturally when students feel closer to them.

During the break, some teachers smoke near the school entrance as smoking is prohibited in the schoolyard. Despite this, many students smoke in the schoolyard without being reprimanded, even though we have a security guard in the schoolyard. One teacher even comes to the schoolyard and smokes along with the students.

2.6 Violence in school and drug abuse

Previously the police would come to the school maybe two or three times per year. Recently, the police started coming to the school more often due to violent behaviour in schools among students when the new lot of first year students arrived. Once, two students started a fierce fight because one student asked for marijuana from the other student and then did not pay him. I remember that I had an immense headache in school that day and that on the way home, in the public bus, I could barely stand. Some other students also felt nausea and had a headache. This showed me how much thoughts of greed and addictions, as well as violent behaviour impact others and the environment.

(Editor’s note: Those students who are more sāttvik will be more susceptible to feeling negative energy in the environment).

2.7 How students speak

Previously it was forbidden for students to use foul language or swear in school. Nowadays it is common practice. Students swear very often, even in front of teachers, who just ignore it.

(Editor’s note: Using foul words amounts to 1% sin on a scale where 100% sin is accrued if one commits murder. Teachers who allow the such behaviour in schools also incur sin or bad Karma).

Once, when I was attending our class on religion, I overheard two students talking and using a lot of foul language. At a subtle-level I felt that each foul word used by them was sharp like a knife and was affecting me negatively. I felt a subtle-attack through these bad words. The teacher who teaches religion (who is also a priest) was ignoring their talk completely. When I was in fifth grade, I heard children in the third grade swearing. Previously it was shameful for a girl to swear. Now, everyone swears, boys and girls alike. Even some students, who did not swear before, gradually started swearing.

(Editor’s note: To be in the company of the Truth is called satsang. Bad company is called kusang in Sanskrit language. Kusang affects people adversely, just like satsang affects people positively.)

Another example of inappropriate behaviour in schools is the talk is that students call each other by some very abusive nicknames and they think that it is “cool.” I felt that every such nickname spreads negative energy, which affects both the students abusing as well as others around them. Students also use a lot of slang words. Once I tried to also speak like that as I felt that this way I will blend in with the classmates more easily, but as soon as I tried, I felt fake, and was affected by negative energy. After that experience, I stopped talking like that.

(Editor’s note: Any word distortion, which is not in accordance with the original language of some country and is not used as per correct grammar can spread negative energy.)

2.8 How students and teachers dress in school

In our school it is forbidden to wear pants, dresses or skirts above the knee, revealing shirts or blouses and tops with straps. Despite this, many students and teachers wear exactly these kinds of clothes. Students also wear black clothes a lot. Their T-shirts often have very ugly tāmasik text and drawings, along with various clothes with skulls on them. It is also considered fashionable to wear torn jeans and T-shirts. Some lady teachers wear transparent revealing clothes, tight skirts and blouses with a wide and deep opening at the chest.

(Editor’s note: Such clothing emits high amount of Raja-Tama (negative) frequencies which affects the wearer and the surroundings negatively.)

3 Students behaviour

There are many other negative behaviour in schools that are exhibited by students. During the school break, students go to the toilets and smoke there. If someone has had a birthday party the previous day, then students boast about how they got drunk, vomited at the party and are still not feeling too well.

There is no respect shown towards teachers. During the class, students listen to some music, talk with each other or gossip about teachers or students.

Some students avoid attending classes. They obtain fake doctor’s certificates and lie to the teachers and even parents. Sometimes the entire class decides not to attend some class as they have not studied for the exam that was planned for that day. The majority of the students are very lazy overall. Despite being smart, their grades are low. This is against the very duty of a student. God has given us an intellect; we are not mentally challenged and we can study well. Yet, we do not use it and so it amounts to a sin in front of God. Those who think that they are smart, have a big ego about it. We students do not realize that God has given us all: life, intellect, school and teachers. Yet, are squandering it away without any feeling of respect and gratitude. This will not lead to happiness or success in life.

3.1 Negative behaviour in schools displayed by students

• Disinterested: When some student wants to improve on his grades and speaks in front of the class when the teacher questions him, then the other students talk and do not pay any attention. This shows disrespect to the student and the teacher and shows that there is no learning attitude at all.
• Cheating: During exams it is common practice to look at the exam paper of another student and copy what he or she is writing. Some students hide some small rolled papers with potential answers to various exams questions, whisper answers to each other, etc.
• Bullying: There are problems with bullying and in each class one or two students are bullied by others verbally throughout the year.
• Disobedience: Some students start singing in the class. When they are told to stop, they stop for a while, and then start singing again. Obedience to what is guided by teachers is very low.
• Addictions: I have seen some students smoking electronic cigarettes. When we have a sports class, some students do not attend and smoke in the dressing rooms while one takes guard to warn others if a teacher comes.
• Substance Abuse: Drug abuse is also present in school at times.

4 Teachers

Here are some examples of negative behaviour in schools exhibited by  teachers where I feel they could improve.

• Belittling Students: Some teachers teach the class with the aim of helping students to learn. Yet, on the other hand, there are some teachers who teach to show off what they know. When we ask some question they laugh at us, so later students avoid asking questions even if they are unclear about something which may appear on the exam.
• Ill-prepared teachers: Some teachers do not teach us well. They forget to relate some points or they tell them incorrectly, so even students correct them sometimes. It feels like they have forgotten that without students they would not be able to be teachers, so they behave with negligence and in a superior manner.
• Negligent: Once during the class about religion, I witnessed how a group of students were verbally abusing one girl for some twenty minutes. This entire time, the teacher did not pay any attention as he was busy reading something on his laptop. He reacted only after twenty minutes to stop this abuse.
• Going back on their word: Teacher’s make false statements and let their students down. Once one girl wanted to get the highest grade in mathematics. She asked the teacher what she needs to do to achieve that. The teacher said that if she gets the highest grade in the exam, then she will have the highest grade for the term end. Later when the girl did get the highest grade in the exam the teacher then stated that she will not get the highest grade for the term end and will need to be examined verbally by the teacher. The entire class started reminding the teacher what she said but she just said she did not recall saying such a thing and that the girl could go to complain to the Headmaster if she wants.
• Hypocrisy: The Chemistry teacher was telling us in class for a long time how Cola drinks are not good for health. When the class ended, she sent one student to buy a bottle of a Cola drink for her.
• Playing Favourites: Sometimes teachers outwardly show how they like some students and dislike others. Some like the girls more while some prefer the boys and, depending on their liking, such students get better grades.
• Gossiping: Because of the above mentioned biased behaviour in schools by the teachers, they gossip about students and students gossip about teachers. Through my spiritual practice, I have learnt that gossiping is not good since it spreads negative energy amongst both parties. By gossiping we can influence the opinion of others negatively and even spread lies.

5 Summary

School exists so that we can learn something. God has created the universe and enabled human beings to explore various subjects such as geography, history, chemistry and physics. These sciences exist for us to realise how perfect God’s universe is and how God created the universe.

For example, from history we can study why some kingdoms perished, how countries developed, how people used to live before, etc. From all this we are supposed to learn from our mistakes and not repeat them so that we also do not bring our country to the point of destruction. We need to be grateful to God for making our lives easier now, but also to realize that it is possible to live without computers and modern technology. Through history we should also realize that it is important that one is spiritually inside and not just the outside.

From geography, we can study how people across the globe live and manage their daily lives and what kind of skills they have to be able to survive in their climates in order to learn which qualities various nations have and try to imbibe them for our own national development. We can also learn why some nations do not drink alcohol or respect the cow as a sacred animal. If we imbibe such qualities each of our countries will be transformed for the better.

Ever since I started pondering deeper on the importance of the institution of school, I started realizing how important it is. Yet, sadly, no one has been teaching us this. This is why many students, despite being very intelligent neglect school, have inadequate grades and do not take school seriously. I sincerely hope and pray to God that a maximum number of students read this article and that they ponder with gratitude on the importance of school so that in their daily life they respect school and study with joy.

I also pray that those who make school curricula include Spirituality in them so that people realise its essence and improve their behaviour in schools

– Miss Ana Kolar, Europe (alias name to protect the privacy of this SSRF student seeker)