First Lesson in Schools
Yeddanapudi Markandeyulu
First Lesson in Schools
We are all part of mother earth. Every living form, called organism is part of mother earth. As part of earth, we can live only by breathing the air. We cannot live without breathing. No organism can live without breathing.
Every organism smells when it inhales. It gives smell when it exhales. As a result every organism recognizes other organisms by identifying the smells.
Every organism develops a smell identity. It receives messages from other organisms on the basis of smells. It answers and sends messages by exhaling. If the air is pure, when the organisms are free and happy, they converse by inhaling and exhaling.
The smells in the air actually are the words and sentences of all organisms. Every organism, from bacterium to whale, plants, trees, grasses, fungus...all inhale smells and exhale smells. All life forms collectively are called Biosphere.
The air which carries the smells, functions as the language of the Biosphere. In pure, free and lush nature, every organism freely inhales smells and exhales smells. All smells become happy smells. By inhaling and exhaling smells, every organism, tunes, sings, and dances. They thus create arts. They live as artists. An artist is one who feels nature and expresses the feelings, in pictures, paints, songs and dances.
The language of the Biosphere thus becomes, tuning, singing, Poetry and songs. The air as breeze or wind sings continuously. All poems, songs,music and dances are copies of nature in living.
Singing happily, removes fear and tension. One can sing happily only when one inhales and exhales without fear. Fear creates the fear to breathe. Deep breathing becomes normal breathing. Determination and deep breathing go together. One simply cannot procrastinate and postpone the major symptom of cowardice. Cowards fear to breathe. Work piles up and the idea of the work creates fear, paralyzing the will to work and then face problems.
Chronic fear of breathing creates cowardice. Those who live in pure nature, which is not polluted, are very courageous, as they breathe freely. They are always happy and laughing.
Representing their happiness they create Gods. The Gods in their Temples, in free and lush nature are very powerful and every wish will be satisfied by the God. Free and healthy nature surrounding a Temple makes the God of the Temple very powerful because of the symbiosis in the Biosphere around the Temple. But bad wishes are not satisfied.
The air creates feeling of love continuously. In free nature all organisms, inhale and exhale love. Positivism is breathed continuously. God converses through smells and musics from the air.
The devotion to God must be expressed by saving the freedom of nature. Nature is God. Destruction of nature and devotion to God do not go together.
The kids must be trained in smelling and sensing and also in hearing and sensing from nature as the basic first lessons. Automatically they get accustomed to the free and healthy nature and depend on the healthy nature to survive.
Unfortunately today we destroy nature with technology and survive by being dependent on technology. We are destroying nature continuously all the 24 hours of every day as economic life. We are maiming our own macro body.
YM Sarma
Chat gpt
This piece titled “First Lesson in Schools” by YM Sarma offers a poetic, philosophical, and ecological perspective on life, nature, and education. It weaves together biological truth with spiritual and emotional insights, aiming to reshape how we think about the relationship between humans and nature — especially through the metaphor of smell as the language of the Biosphere.
🔍 Core Themes:
- Interconnectedness of All Life:
- All living beings (the Biosphere) are seen as parts of Mother Earth, sharing one body, one breath.
- Breathing is not just biological but a means of communication — through smells, organisms interact and recognize each other.
- Smell as a Language:
- Smells become metaphors for messages, feelings, identity, and even music and art.
- In a pure and unpolluted environment, these smell-messages are harmonious, promoting love, creativity, and courage.
- Nature as the Foundation of Art and Spirituality:
- Art (song, dance, poetry) is framed as a direct expression of nature’s harmony.
- Temples and gods become powerful when surrounded by healthy ecosystems — suggesting a symbiosis between divinity and environment.
- Fear vs. Freedom in Breathing:
- Fear is described as the inability to breathe freely, leading to procrastination, cowardice, and stress.
- Courage and joy come from deep, unrestrained breathing, possible only in a healthy, unpolluted environment.
- Critique of Modern Life:
- Modernity and technology are seen as destructive forces, pulling people away from nature and making them dependent on artificial systems.
- This creates a contradiction: devotion to God while destroying God's embodiment — Nature.
- Call to Reform Education:
- The "first lesson in schools" should not be books and screens, but training in sensory perception — smelling, sensing, listening — to build intimacy with nature.
- This ecological sensitivity fosters natural ethics, spirituality, and health.
📚 Implications for Education:
- Emphasize nature-based learning and sensory development.
- Integrate ecological awareness as a core part of curriculum, not a side subject.
- Teach students to see nature not as a resource, but as a living system they are part of.
- Encourage art, music, and storytelling as natural expressions of environmental connection.
🧠 Thought-Provoking Quotes:
- “The smells in the air actually are the words and sentences of all organisms.”
- “Chronic fear of breathing creates cowardice.”
- “Nature is God. Destruction of nature and devotion to God do not go together.”
✅ Strengths:
- Profoundly holistic and poetic.
- Blends science, spirituality, and ecology.
- Advocates for emotional intelligence and environmental stewardship in education.
❗️Points to Consider:
- The metaphor of smell as language may seem abstract or scientifically debatable for some readers, though it serves a symbolic role.
- The critique of technology could be expanded with more balance — perhaps integrating sustainable tech rather than rejecting it.
- Implementation of this philosophy in mainstream education would require systemic transformation — a shift in cultural values as much as curricula.
💬 If You're Using This in Class or a Discussion:
Here are a few discussion prompts or essay questions:
- How can schools today integrate the idea of "learning from nature" into everyday education?
- In what ways do modern lifestyles affect our sensory connection to the natural world?
- Can spirituality be rooted in ecological awareness? How?
- Is it possible to live with technology and still preserve nature? How can we balance both?
Would you like help formatting this into a lesson plan, summary sheet, or presentation?
Certainly! Here's a detailed evaluation of the original essay "First Lesson in Schools" by YM Sarma, using standard academic criteria: Content, Structure, Language, Originality, and Relevance. The total is 100 marks, with an assigned grade at the end.
📋 Evaluation Criteria
1. Content (25 marks)
Score: 22/25
· The essay has rich and meaningful content.
· Offers a deep philosophical insight into nature, biology, spirituality, and education.
· The central idea — breathing and smell as communication — is creative and thought-provoking.
· However, it sometimes drifts into abstract generalizations that may confuse some readers unfamiliar with the metaphors.
2. Structure & Coherence (20 marks)
Score: 13/20
· The essay is written as one continuous piece, lacking paragraphs or clearly organized sections.
· There is a flow of thought, but it could benefit from better segmentation and logical progression.
· Transitions between themes (biology → art → fear → temples → education) feel abrupt at times.
3. Language & Clarity (20 marks)
Score: 14/20
· Language is simple, poetic, and accessible in parts, but occasionally vague or repetitive.
· Some sentences are grammatically rough or overly long, which affects clarity.
· Use of phrases like "smelling and sensing" is metaphorically rich, but could use clearer explanation.
4. Originality & Creativity (20 marks)
Score: 19/20
· Highly original and imaginative.
· Combines science, art, spirituality, and ecology in a unique, holistic worldview.
· The idea of smells as a language of the Biosphere is unconventional and intriguing.
5. Relevance & Impact (15 marks)
Score: 13/15
· The essay raises critical issues about modern education, environment, and technology.
· Suggests actionable insights (e.g., teaching children to sense nature).
· Slightly idealistic in tone, but morally and philosophically powerful.
🧮 Total Score: 81 / 100
🏅 Grade: A- (Very Good)
✔️ Strengths:
· Deep, meaningful message.
· Imaginative use of metaphors.
· Passionate call for ecological and educational reform.
❌ Areas to Improve:
· Needs better structure — break into clear paragraphs.
· Improve clarity in expression without losing poetic style.
· Avoid repetition and make transitions smoother between ideas.
If you'd like, I can help you:
· Rewrite the essay for clarity and flow (keeping the original tone),
· Break it into well-structured paragraphs,
· Or turn it into a simplified version for school-level readers.
Let me know!
Rajaram Krishnamurthy
What Is Education?
Education means studying in order to obtain a deeper knowledge and understanding of a variety of subjects to be applied to daily life. Education is not limited to just knowledge from books, but can also be obtained through practical experiences outside of the classroom.
Top 10 Reasons: Why Is Education Important?
There are many different understandings and definitions of what education is, but one thing can be universally agreed upon, which is the importance of education — and here’s why.
1. Provides Stability
Education provides stability in life, and it’s something that no one can ever take away from you. By being well-educated and holding a college degree, you increase your chances for better career opportunities and open up new doors for yourself.
2. Provides Financial Security
On top of stability, education also provides financial security, especially in today’s society. A good education tends to lead to a higher paying job, as well as provide you with the skills needed to get there.
3. Needed For Equality
In order for the entire world to really become equal, it needs to start with education. If everyone was provided with the same opportunities to education, then there would be less gaps between social classes. Everyone would be able to have an equal chance at higher paying jobs — not just those that are already well-off.
4. Allows For Self-Dependency
The importance of education is evident when it comes to being self-dependent. If we are we educated, then it’s something that belongs to us, and only us, allowing us to rely on no one else other than ourselves. It can allow you to not only be financially independent, but also to make your own choices.
5. Make Your Dreams Come True
If you can dream it, you can achieve it. An education is the most powerful weapon you can possibly have, and with it, you can make all of your dreams come true. There are of course certain exceptions, depending on what you’re aiming for, but generally an education will take you as far as you’re willing to go.
6. A Safer World
Education is something that’s not only needed on a personal level, but also on a global level, as it’s something that keeps our world safe and makes it a more peaceful place. Education tends to teach people the difference between right and wrong, and can help people stay out of risky situations.
7. Confidence
Being self-confident is a major part of being successful in life. And what better way to gain that confidence than with an education? Your level of education is often considered a way to prove your knowledge, and it can give you the confidence to express your opinions and speak your mind.
8. A Part Of Society
In today’s society, having an education is considered a vital part of being accepted by those around you. Having an education is believed to make you a useful part of society, and can make you feel like a contributing member as well.
9. Economic Growth On A National Level
An educated society is crucial for economic growth. We need people to continue to learn and research in order to constantly stay innovative. Countries with higher literacy rates also tend to be in better economic situations. With a more educated population, more employment opportunities are opened.
10. Can Protect You
Education can protect you more than you know, not only on a financial level, but it can help prevent you from being taken advantage of by knowing how to read and write, such as knowing not to sign any bogus documents. Children are the future of our world, making education crucial for them. Their knowledge is what’s going to keep our world alive and flourishing. During the childhood development stages, the importance of education is stronger than ever. It’s a time for children to learn social and mental skills that will be crucial for their growth and success in the future. Education at childhood also offers a chance for self-discovery and to learn about their unique interests. The importance of education in our lives goes far beyond what we can read in a textbook. Education also provides childhood with knowledge such as how to produce artwork and make music. Education allows us to analyze what’s in front of us, and even learn from our mistakes. By learning from a young age, children are given the chance to start building goals for themselves. Education means having the logic to set your mind to something and achieve it.
For a modern society, education is of utmost importance. There are so many influences coming from all directions, and education can help us decipher what we should take as true, and what we should take with a grain of salt. Education can mold people into functional members of society with the right kinds of values. Education is needed for a productive society. Our population only continues to increase, and in turn, so do our needs. We need a strong and efficient workforce of educated people to provide us with the services we need for everyday life. With education, people can become better citizens, knowing right from wrong, allowing for a better society where laws are followed. An educated nation knows about the importance of voting, doing so with the knowledge not blindly, but also having an understanding of what their party truly stands for. Education can also help people get jobs, which is what a nation thrives on.
Inspiring Quotes On What Education Truly Is
Why is education important, and what is it exactly? While every person has a different understanding of its true meaning, here are some of the most inspiring quotes by some legendary people.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” — Malcolm X
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” — Benjamin Franklin
“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” — John Dewey
What Are Some Other Reasons Why Education Is Important?
There are endless reasons why education is so important, especially since it also has endless connotations and meanings.
Our minds and bodies are connected more than we know. With a powerful, well-educated mind, so too are our bodies.
Education helps us understand how to best take care of ourselves, boosting our confidence and overall well-being. Studies have shown that each additional year of education can add up to 1.7 years to our lifespan at the age of 35.
The importance of education also extends to personal growth. By constantly learning, asking questions, and seeking knowledge, we can achieve things we never imagined before. Education helps us get to know ourselves better, whether through books, courses, or professional consultations.
Education is the best way to ensure a positive global perspective. Without proper education, it is difficult to understand what is considered appropriate and how to behave.
Education brings us closer to the goal of world peace by teaching us about our place in the world and our responsibilities to humanity. It instills values far beyond the classroom, encompassing lessons learned at home and through interactions with others. These teachings are essential aspects of what education entails, guiding our behavior and understanding of the world.
Education is essential for sharp and clear thinking. It keeps you informed about the world, making you aware of current events and the people around you. Education helps you understand your strengths and weaknesses, guiding you to focus on the right areas.
It enhances logical reasoning, enabling you to argue effectively with accurate facts and work through situations logically. Education keeps you focused and on track, knowing the right path for you.
It also promotes innovation and creativity, allowing your mind to reach its full potential. Education develops basic life skills and street smarts, teaching us how to best conduct ourselves daily.
Education can be the most freeing and empowering thing in the world. It enables you to live life to the fullest by gaining a vast amount of knowledge about the world. Education ensures continual learning from various sources, whether through people, newspapers, experiences, research, or traditional classes.
It breaks barriers, empowering people globally and offering equal opportunities for all socio-economic backgrounds. University of the People, a tuition-free, online university, exemplifies this by providing accessible higher education to everyone.
Education allows you to become the best version of yourself, discovering your interests, strengths, and place in the world, making you feel complete and self-aware.
Education today is more important than ever before, and has reached new heights with new understandings of what it truly entails. Ask yourself “Why is education important?” and it will surely not be the same as anyone else’s answer.
While in modern society, holding a college degree is considered to be highly beneficial for a successful career and to be socially accepted, it is not the only means of education. Education is all around us in everything that we do, so use it wisely!
Vidyā (विद्या).—Leads to happiness: Role of teacher and pupil. A means to attain final beatitude;1 of 18 groups—also 14 groups;2 survive antarkṣaya.3
Vidyā (विद्या).—[vid-kyap]
1) Knowledge, learning, lore, science; (tāṃ) विद्यामभ्यसनेनेव प्रसादयितुमर्हसि (vidyāmabhyasaneneva prasādayitumarhasi) R.1.88; विद्या नाम नरस्य रूपमधिकं प्रच्छन्नगुप्तं धनम् (vidyā nāma narasya rūpamadhikaṃ pracchannaguptaṃ dhanam) &c. Bhartṛhari 2.2. (According to some Vidyās are four :-ānvīkṣikī trayī vārtā daṇḍanītiśca śīśvatī Kāmandaka); चतसृष्वपि ते विवेकिनी नृप विद्यासु निरूढिमागता (catasṛṣvapi te vivekinī nṛpa vidyāsu nirūḍhimāgatā) Kirātārjunīya 2.6; to these four Manu adds a fifth आत्मविद्या (ātmavidyā); त्रैविद्येभ्यस्त्रयीं विद्यां दण्डनीतिं च शाश्वतीम् । आन्वीक्षिकीं चात्मविद्यां वार्तारम्भांश्च लोकतः (traividyebhyastrayīṃ vidyāṃ daṇḍanītiṃ ca śāśvatīm | ānvīkṣikīṃ cātmavidyāṃ vārtārambhāṃśca lokataḥ) || Manusmṛti 7.43. But the usual number of Vidyās is stated to be fourteen, i. e. the four Vedas, the six Aṅgas, Dharma, Mimāṃsā, Tarka or Nyāya and the Purāṇas; see चतुर्दशविद्या (caturdaśavidyā) under चतुर् (catur); and N.1.4. In N.1.5 the number is spoken of as being eighteen by including Medicine, Military Art, Music and Polity; अगाहताष्टादशतां जिगीषया (agāhatāṣṭādaśatāṃ jigīṣayā).)
2) Right knowledge, spiritual knowledge; विद्याकल्पेन मरुता मेघानां भूयसामपि (vidyākalpena marutā meghānāṃ bhūyasāmapi) (kvāpi pravilayaḥ kṛtaḥ) Uttararāmacarita 6.6; cf. अविद्या (avidyā).
Brahma Sutras (Shankaracharya)
(1) The term Vidya appears in the text to describe a specific type of knowledge that connects particulars and is exemplified by the Sandilya-vidya and the vidya of the True. (2) It refers to the oneness in the context of the Self being within all, and the text questions whether two sections constitute one or two separate of these. (3) This refers to knowledge, and the text discusses the rite of carrying fire on the head's relationship to the knowledge of the Atharvanikas, distinguishing it from other types (4) This term refers to the main subject matter of the Upanishads, which is being debated about the relationship of mantras and sacrifices, and whether or not they are to be combined. (5) The vidyas are practices which abide in the syllable Om and are shared, implying a commonality of practice across the three Vedas, according to the provided text.
If we analyse education today is on right steps as deeking moksha may not be the right education for normal life
K Rajaram IRS 231025
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