The Whole Child Every
human being is essentially a spiritual being, or soul, who
is born with a mind, life-energy (vital), and body. These
parts of human nature must be integrated in healthy ways so
that we can realize our highest and truest potentialities.
Integral Education, focusing on developing these four aspects
of being with an emphasis on balance and harmonious growth,
therefore aims for the following goals:
1. For the Mind: a proper training of the
mental faculties in the fields of the various Humanities and
Sciences;
2. For the Emotions: an effective channeling
of the life-energy into pursuits that contribute to the healthy
and creative growth of the personality;
3. For the Body: the fullest possible development
of the physical being;
4. For the Soul: the bringing forth of spiritual
qualities that allow the soul to come forward and gradually
begin to govern the rest of the being.
The aim of Integral Education is, therefore, to prepare our
students to not only "succeed" in life and to function
in society to the best of their abilities, but to embrace
and exceed this purpose by increasing their perfectibility
in all areas of human life and existence.
Education for the Mental Being
To develop mental skills focused on concentration, observation,
precise
recording, and faithful memory.
To develop the expansive, wide, complex, rich, and diverse
facets of the mind.
To organize ideas around a central idea or a higher ideal
that will serve
as a guide in life.
To control ones thoughts, and reject undesirable thoughts.
To develop silent, calm, mental receptivity to inspirations
coming from
higher regions of the being.
Education for the Vital (Emotional) Being
To develop and utilize the sense organs:
so that they are far more accurate and sensitive than what
is normally
expected of them;
in order to cultivate discrimination and aesthetic sense,
the capacity to choose
and take up what is beautiful and harmonious,
simple, healthy, and pure.
To become conscious and master of one's own
character:
by cultivating positive moral qualities (i.e., honesty,
unselfishness, generosity, tolerance,
etc.), healthy desires, and noble ambitions;
by realizing a strong, noble, and dynamic vital nature that
serves the
enlightened demands of the mind and the
body;
by eliminating despair, depressions, and all other negative
and base
emotions and impulses.
Education for the Physical Being
To realize grace, beauty, and harmony in the body.
To lengthen the life-span of the body as much as possible.
To develop self-discipline, positive morale, and a strong
character.
To develop courage, hardiness, steadiness of will, rapid
decision-making,
cooperation, sportsmanship, and leadership.
Education for the Psychic Being (Soul)
To develop the mental, vital, and physical consciousness
for integration
with the individual's inner most psychic
being.
To create in the outer personality complete receptivity
to the higher
spiritual consciousness and open it safely
to that consciousness.
To feel oneness with all beings and things.
To know and execute the divine will behind one's life in
order to become
the master of one's destiny.
Spiritual Development
The aims for Spiritual Education are not specifically geared
towards children but instead provide guidelines for adults
who choose to take up spiritual disciplines in the midst of
their worldly existence.
To spiritualize and universalize the lower triple consciousness
of mind,
life, and body.
To develop the power of intuition.
To be receptive to the inspiration, integral power and spiritual
vitality of
the mind and body.
To achieve complete union with the transcendental Divine
Consciousness in
order to transform the individuals human nature
into an integral Divine Nature.
NOTE: A key goal of Integral Education is to enable an adult
human being to choose to follow and create a conscious, consecrated
spiritual life. From this standpoint, Integral Education is
a life-long learning process that makes it possible for anyone
to manifest the full potential from their inner-most being
and to create opportunities for living a better life.
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