BUDDHIST RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN ANCIENT INDIA AND ITS RELEVANCE TO EDUCATION IN MODERN TIMES

Abstract

Though Buddhism is often regarded as a religion, it represents a vast and rich intellectual tradition that contributed much to the ancient Indian educational system and continues to contribute to modern education across the globe. Relying on a historical-comparative and conceptual approach, the study explores the nature of Buddhist religious education and demonstrates its relevance to contemporary educational thought and practice. It examines how Buddhist monastic institutions functioned as pioneer learning centers combining spiritual training with intellectual inquiry. By analyzing the historical role and pedagogical methods of Buddhist education, the study searches for principles applicable to modern educational needs. This article argues that revisiting or re-discussing Buddhist educational systems can still offer meaningful insights for addressing present-day educational challenges. The findings suggest that though rooted in religious contexts, ancient Buddhist educational thoughts and ideas have much relevance to modern educational systems, which are trying hard to balance cognitive development and upliftment of morality, personality and social responsibility or accountability.