The right education we need

Question from the Internet:

How has the lack of moral education contributed to the destruction of society?

My answer:

In truth, I am uncertain about what “moral education” exactly means. Human societies are incredibly diverse, with different cultures, belief systems, and legal frameworks — many of which directly contradict one another. Given this diversity, it is difficult to imagine how we could agree on a universal approach to moral education that applies to all people.

Moreover, we are currently living in a time when society seems intent on challenging, altering, or even dismantling many of the values and principles we once considered sacred. The younger generation is questioning long-held beliefs and even rejecting some of the basic laws of nature. We are at a unique turning point in human development, a kind of “end-stage” for our previous phase of growth. This earlier phase was largely driven by individualism — our egos, which are self-serving and self-justifying, dominated how we interacted with the world.

However, as our world has become fully globally integrated and mutually interdependent, we can no longer operate under the same individualistic principles that once guided us. A new phase of human development is necessary, one that takes into account the collective reality of our interconnected existence.

This new phase will also be different because, for the first time in history, we will consciously take our development into our own hands. Up until now, everything we did — whether inventing, acquiring, or advancing — was instinctive, driven by our egos. But now, we need an education that is fundamentally different from anything we have tried before.

This new education must teach us how to exist and behave beyond the limitations of our egocentric, individualistic, and subjective nature. It is no longer sufficient to focus solely on individual success or self-preservation. We must develop the ability to tolerate, sustain, and foster a unique “Human duality.” On one side of this duality is our inherent ego, the driving force behind much of human action. On the other hand, nature’s selfless, unconditionally serving, and nurturing qualities are necessary for sustaining life.

Through this duality, by consciously comparing and balancing these two opposing forces, we can begin to harness the immense motivational power of the ego for collective, mutually beneficial goals. By doing so, we can channel our inherent drive in a way that contributes to the greater good while simultaneously limiting the ego’s destructive, self-serving tendencies. This balance allows us to become conscious, integrated participants in the natural system — both independent observers and benevolent partners.

Achieving this delicate balance requires a special, practical, and purposeful method of education — one that differs from traditional moral education. It should focus not only on imparting values but also on cultivating a deeper understanding of our interconnectedness and the need to harmonize individual desires with the well-being of the whole. Only through such a transformative educational approach can we hope to change society in a meaningful way.