Education with a spiritual foundation—one of Sri Gurudev's gifts to the world for the next generation of leaders in the world's largest democracy.

In 1997, Sri Gurudev established a residential school, Satchidananda Jothi Niketan, near Coimbatore, South India. Sri Gurudev's vision of education has always been based on the traditional gurukulam model where students and teachers live and learn together following the ancient yogic practices and disciplines and where children can receive proper education with high moral values.

The school goes from 4th to 12th standards. All the academic subjects are taught as well as computer science, South Indian classical music and dance, Western classical music, and drawing. In accordance with the yogic teachings, all meals served are completely vegetarian.

The school is founded on the teachings of Sri Gurudev as reflected in his motto, "Truth is One, Paths are Many." The children are taught to appreciate all the great faiths, and their scriptures. They also learn of the noble lives of self-sacrifice which are found in the biographies of saints and sages of all traditions. The motto given to the SJN students by Sri Gurudev was: "Live and Learn to Love and Serve." This is the guiding principle behind all that the children of the SJN are being taught.

Sri Gurudev's Founder's Day Message

Education is an important part of building human character and ensuring the proper growth and development of our future world citizens. Our ancient scriptures tell us that there are four ways to help people to improve their lives. The first way is anna dhanam, which is charity of food. This is certainly a good service to the poor, but is it enough simply to feed people? A second way to help is swarna dhanam, to give monetary help. Then, people can feed themselves and take care of other necessities for a short time. But these two charities are only temporary. They don't help people to help themselves throughout their lives.

The third type of help is one that is an integral part of what Satchidananda Jothi Nikethan embodies. And that is, vidya dhanam, the gift of knowledge. Through education and knowledge, students are equipped with lifelong skills and abilities that will enable them to build bright futures for themselves and their families. That is certainly very important. But there is still one more dhanam that will ensure peace, happiness, and prosperity in this life and beyond. That is jnana dhanam, the gift of wisdom.

The culmination of education is the knowledge of the Self and the dawning of wisdom. Satchidananda Jothi Nikethan is committed to the highest quality of education and moral development of each and every student. As such, each child is personally guided and inspired to reach his or her potential. This is the greatest gift that education has to offer. I am glad to see that Satchidananda Jothi Nikethan is fulfilling this commitment to quality education.

God bless you all. Om Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi.

Top