Cambridge International (schools) adds origin, practices and teachings of Sathya Sai Int. Org., as part of syllabus of Hinduism for 16 to 19 yr olds
Cambridge International (schools NOT University of Cambridge) adds origin, practices and teachings of Sathya Sai International Organization (and ISKCON) as part of AS & A Level syllabus for Hinduism
From https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/about-us/what-we-do/, "Cambridge programmes and qualifications set the global standard for international education. They are created by subject experts, rooted in academic rigour and reflect the latest educational research."
It states that it has a four stage Cambridge Pathway, https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/, for students aged 5 to 19. Its AS & A level syllabus is for 16 to 19 year old students.
It claims that each year a million Cambridge learners utilize this education from Cambridge International. It claims that more than 10,000 schools are part of their learning community and that they operate in 160 countries across North America, Latin America, UK & Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East & North Africa, South Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia & Pacific.
I don't think University of Cambridge, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Cambridge, is directly/closely linked with Cambridge International, even if they have some tie-ups.
Cambridge International (schools) AS & A Level syllabus for Hinduism for "examination in November 2021, 2022 and 2023" has included origin, practices and teachings of Sathya Sai International Organization (and ISKCON) as part of the syllabus.
The inclusion is for New Religious Movements part of Paper titled "Hinduism in Contemporary Society" and can be seen on Pages 22 & 23 (24 & 25 in PDF) of the document here: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/521992-2021-2023-syllabus.pdf.
I have given below the relevant extract from that document:
4.2 New Religious Movements
Content
• Two new movements within Hinduism, including origins, practices and key teachings of these new movements:
– International society for Krishna consciousness (ISKCON)
– Sathya Sai International Organisation.
• Practices of ISKCON including:
– bhakti
– living in communities
– sankirtana (chanting of holy names)
– the ‘four regulative principles’
– preaching
– Food for Life project.
• Practices of Sathya Sai International Organisation including:
– living out the recognition of the divine within
– virtues of Sathya (truth), dharma (right conduct), shanti (peace), prema (love), and ahimsa (nonviolence)
– japam (recitation of the name of God)
– dhyaanam (meditation)
– bhajan (congregational singing)
– seva (selfless service).
• Teachings of ISKCON including:
– the achievement of moksha through bhakti yoga
– the belief in Vishnu/Krishna as supreme and personal deity
– parampara (succession of authority)
– the Bhagavad Gita and Shrimad Bhagavatum as sources of scriptural authority
– the spiritual equality of women.
• Teachings of Sathya Sai International Organisation including:
– Sathya Sai Baba as the reincarnation of Shirdhi Sai Baba and as an avatar
– the Oneness of God
– the unity of all religions
– the equality of all regardless of gender, ‘caste’ or religion
– the centrality of love
– the rejection of the term ‘Hindu’
– the importance of self development and spiritual understanding.
• The concept of proselytisation in relation to these new movements.
• Reasons for the popularity of new religious movements.
• The relationship between Hindu traditions and new religious movements; the extent to which these new movements can be considered Hindu.
• The influence of new religious movements on non-Hindu perceptions of Hinduism.
• The significance of new religious movements for contemporary Hinduism.
--- end extract from cambridgeinternational.org ---
Ravi: I am so happy to see this! I need to understand the syllabus in depth (if I get it and get the time to study it) before I can make an in-depth comment on the above. I mean, I wonder what exactly the term 'Hindu' being rejected means. I would also like to know the exact meaning of ahimsa that they use in the syllabus and whether violence in self-defense against aggression is permitted in that meaning/interpretation of 'ahimsa'.
But overall, this has made my day!
I am sure this will give great happiness to Bhagavan as I think that what was really, really dear to him was the teaching of spiritual values as covered under "Teachings of Sathya Sai International Organisation".
And the teaching of SSIO of "Sathya Sai Baba as the reincarnation of Shirdhi Sai Baba and as an avatar" entering into Cambridge International Hinduism syllabus is just wonderful! Jai Sai Ram!
My congratulations to all those in SSIO (Sathya Sai International Organization) who contributed to this milestone happening.
[I thank cambridgeinternational.org and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above extract from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
From https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/about-us/what-we-do/, "Cambridge programmes and qualifications set the global standard for international education. They are created by subject experts, rooted in academic rigour and reflect the latest educational research."
It states that it has a four stage Cambridge Pathway, https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/, for students aged 5 to 19. Its AS & A level syllabus is for 16 to 19 year old students.
It claims that each year a million Cambridge learners utilize this education from Cambridge International. It claims that more than 10,000 schools are part of their learning community and that they operate in 160 countries across North America, Latin America, UK & Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East & North Africa, South Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia & Pacific.
I don't think University of Cambridge, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Cambridge, is directly/closely linked with Cambridge International, even if they have some tie-ups.
Cambridge International (schools) AS & A Level syllabus for Hinduism for "examination in November 2021, 2022 and 2023" has included origin, practices and teachings of Sathya Sai International Organization (and ISKCON) as part of the syllabus.
The inclusion is for New Religious Movements part of Paper titled "Hinduism in Contemporary Society" and can be seen on Pages 22 & 23 (24 & 25 in PDF) of the document here: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/521992-2021-2023-syllabus.pdf.
I have given below the relevant extract from that document:
4.2 New Religious Movements
Content
• Two new movements within Hinduism, including origins, practices and key teachings of these new movements:
– International society for Krishna consciousness (ISKCON)
– Sathya Sai International Organisation.
• Practices of ISKCON including:
– bhakti
– living in communities
– sankirtana (chanting of holy names)
– the ‘four regulative principles’
– preaching
– Food for Life project.
• Practices of Sathya Sai International Organisation including:
– living out the recognition of the divine within
– virtues of Sathya (truth), dharma (right conduct), shanti (peace), prema (love), and ahimsa (nonviolence)
– japam (recitation of the name of God)
– dhyaanam (meditation)
– bhajan (congregational singing)
– seva (selfless service).
• Teachings of ISKCON including:
– the achievement of moksha through bhakti yoga
– the belief in Vishnu/Krishna as supreme and personal deity
– parampara (succession of authority)
– the Bhagavad Gita and Shrimad Bhagavatum as sources of scriptural authority
– the spiritual equality of women.
• Teachings of Sathya Sai International Organisation including:
– Sathya Sai Baba as the reincarnation of Shirdhi Sai Baba and as an avatar
– the Oneness of God
– the unity of all religions
– the equality of all regardless of gender, ‘caste’ or religion
– the centrality of love
– the rejection of the term ‘Hindu’
– the importance of self development and spiritual understanding.
• The concept of proselytisation in relation to these new movements.
• Reasons for the popularity of new religious movements.
• The relationship between Hindu traditions and new religious movements; the extent to which these new movements can be considered Hindu.
• The influence of new religious movements on non-Hindu perceptions of Hinduism.
• The significance of new religious movements for contemporary Hinduism.
--- end extract from cambridgeinternational.org ---
Ravi: I am so happy to see this! I need to understand the syllabus in depth (if I get it and get the time to study it) before I can make an in-depth comment on the above. I mean, I wonder what exactly the term 'Hindu' being rejected means. I would also like to know the exact meaning of ahimsa that they use in the syllabus and whether violence in self-defense against aggression is permitted in that meaning/interpretation of 'ahimsa'.
But overall, this has made my day!
I am sure this will give great happiness to Bhagavan as I think that what was really, really dear to him was the teaching of spiritual values as covered under "Teachings of Sathya Sai International Organisation".
And the teaching of SSIO of "Sathya Sai Baba as the reincarnation of Shirdhi Sai Baba and as an avatar" entering into Cambridge International Hinduism syllabus is just wonderful! Jai Sai Ram!
My congratulations to all those in SSIO (Sathya Sai International Organization) who contributed to this milestone happening.
[I thank cambridgeinternational.org and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above extract from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
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