Inner Education and Outer Education

One problem is the education system, not only in America, but everywhere. Inner education has to come first. If inner education comes first, then the outer education can grow. Inner education is a seed. If there is no proper seed, then what kind of tree do you get? Prayer has to be brought back.

My only hope is that inner education will come first. Outer education we need, but inner education must come first. If the inner education does not come before the outer education, it is not only that we will be dissatisfied with the world, but the world as such will not be satisfied with itself. It will not be truly fulfilled.

We definitely need earthly education, but we have to start with Heavenly education – prayers. Whether it is in pre-school or kindergarten or university, everywhere prayer has to start – first the heart needs be nourished, then the mind prepared. Prayer is for the heart. It has to start with pre-school or kindergarten, and up to the end, at university. Inner education must come first – then outer education can grow properly. The inner education should come first all over the world, not only in America.

Each individual prays in their own way. We say Bhagaban, you say God, somebody else says Allah or another name, but it is the same Person. One person is called Father by his son, and then Chief Justice when he goes to the court, and then another name by his friends. I call water ‘jal’; when you touch it, you call it ‘water’; and somebody else calls it ‘agua’, but it is the same water.

Everywhere, prayer has to come first. Unless and until prayer-life comes back into American soil, I do not see that there will be any way for America to bring back Jefferson’s vision. Right now, there is only fighting. Why do we fight? Because we stay in the mind. If children start praying in school for a minute or two, then they will have a different life.

Mothers and fathers send their children to school, saying they have to study; otherwise, they will be idiots. But what do they learn at home? Education starts at home. Basic knowledge we need, but we have to give more importance to illumination than to information.

We are not discarding outer education, but the seed comes first. If there is no proper seed, then how can there be a tree? The seed is inner education. If you do not have inner education, then how can you have fulfilling outer education? The outer education will remain lacking.