Buddhist Philosophy and Modern Indian Education: A Conceptual Study

Abstract

Examining the ways in which ancient ethical and philosophical concepts might inform modern educational theory and practice, this article delves into the conceptual link between Buddhist philosophy and modern Indian education. While contemporary Indian education has shifted its focus to developing students’ skills for the job market, the article contends that this trend has led many schools to lose sight of their students’ need for character formation, emotional stability, and individual growth. Wisdom, compassion, and mindfulness are all integral parts of the Buddhist framework for learning, which is based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha. The study delves into fundamental Buddhist concepts including mindfulness, the Middle Path, ethical behaviour, and experiential learning, and evaluates how these apply to the educational issues of today. It also emphasizes the similarity between these beliefs and those of prominent Indian educators who stressed value-based and holistic education, such as Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, and Rabindranath Tagore. In addition, the article discusses modern policy frameworks like the National Education Policy 2020 and demonstrates how Buddhist principles are in harmony with its emphasis on learning by doing, critical thinking, and personal growth. The article analyses stress, a lack of ethical awareness, and mechanical learning from both a philosophical and an educational standpoint, and it suggests that these problems can be solved by incorporating Buddhist concepts into contemporary education. The article comes to the conclusion that Buddhist philosophy can greatly improve Indian education in the modern era by bringing forth greater compassion, harmony, and purpose in the classroom.