The gift of learning

February 16, 2008

Famed scientist and inventor Art-Ong Jumsai na Ayudhya explains why he chose to dedicate the rest of his life to educationSAMILA SUTTISILTUM Groups of teenagers had surrounded the man and were bombarding him with questions.

"You should not think that you can't do it!" responded Dr Art-Ong Jumsai na Ayudhya. "Do not tell yourself you are too tired. Do not compare yourself to others." The youngsters gathered took in the doctor's words of wisdom, knowing his talent for providing moral support and useful study tips. Art-Ong's audience with the teenagers was part of the British Council's Thai-UK Education Festival 2008. Entitled "Teen Voice Talk on Global Citizens by Dr Art-Ong Jumsai na Ayudhya", the free event drew a full house. The two-hour session had Art-Ong giving an inspirational talk on why and how we can be quality citizens of the world, followed by a group discussion and presentation. "Did you listen to what they were saying? Don't you think it's brilliant?" asked Art-Ong during our interview, which began nearly 30 minutes late due to the teenagers' demands to talk with him. One didn't need to ask what Art-Ong thought of the youngsters' response to his talk: You could read it in the glow of his eyes. Although Art-Ong's face is much less recognisable than those of his high-profile siblings - National Artist big brother Dr Sumet and omnipresent socialite younger sister Dr Parichart - his professional achievements are no less distinguished. Art-Ong's career has ranged from university lecturer, researcher and business adviser to MP and education pioneer and has also been complimented with a cameo role in the film Khang Lang Phap (Behind the Painting).

"When I do something, it comes from a will and nothing in the world can ever turn me away from that will." — ART-ONG JUMSAI NA AYUDHYA

He began to attract more public attention following an advertising spot that cited his success in developing the landing device that allowed Nasa to successfully land the Viking I and Viking II spacecraft on Mars - an achievement not widely acknowledged by his fellow countrymen until the release of this ad over 30 years later. As Art-Ong recalled his fascinating past, the 67-year-old revealed that his life initially took a dramatic turn following three nights of spiritual awakening during his teenage years. In a previous interview, Art-Ong described himself, particularly during the period he spent in a

boarding

school in the UK, as "a troubled boy" who "fought back with those racist bullies with fists". At the age of 15, however, he said he was awoken over three consecutive nights by a voice calling his name three times and asking "Art-Ong, why did you do that?I began to realise what went wrong with me. Since then, I have taken an interest in Buddhism and meditated every day. My life has changed. Back then, I mediated for an hour every day and I became a calm person. My study improved and I got the highest marks in all my exams [up to my] PhD." Art-Ong credits his daily one-hour meditation sessions as the source of his wisdom. He said the subject of his PhD, the theories he used and the research methodology he employed all appeared before his eyes while he was meditating. "Meditation leads to wisdom on whatever subject you are taking an interest in," he said. Little did the then PhD student know that the strategy that helped him earn him his doctorate would be useful again later when he was tasked with aiding mankind's exploration of space by devising the landing system that enabled US spacecraft to land on Mars. When he was 30 years old and working as a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Engineering, Art-Ong was contracted by Nasa to develop the landing device. He spent the first year tackling the mission scientifically - gathering information, developing a theory, creating a prototype and, when he failed, revising the theory and resuming the process. After failing four times, Art-Ong decided that as the Western scientific method was not proving successful he would do it the Eastern way. "I climbed to the top of a mountain in California and spent five days and four nights meditating. On the fifth day, everything just came to me. I just knew how I had to do it. I made three machines for them to install on Viking I, Viking II and Viking III. The first two were launched and they landed on Mars successfully." As the man behind a huge stepping stone in

space

exploration, Art-Ong was enticed by many means to remain in the US and develop more projects. He was offered US citizenship, a 20-fold salary increase (which he described as "capable of buying 20 cars a month") and even a project of his own to develop an aircraft that could not be shot down. Art-Ong turned down all offers, insisting that he wanted to return to his homeland. "I told them I was Thai and had no intention of changing my nationality and that I did not come to America for money. As for the final offer, I knew deep in my heart that I would never want to help any country become so invincible that it could do whatever it wants to the rest of the world. I decided to return to Thailand and continue my teaching at Chulalongkorn University." After seven years at Chula, Art-Ong decided to explore some other challenges. He became a successful businessman and subsequently a much-admired politician for the now-defunct Palang Dharma party, serving in several posts including secretary to the foreign affairs minister. It was during his five years in politics that, despite his disappointment with that time, Art-Ong developed his life's mission: To develop and improve the local education system. "As an engineer I had created many significant inventions. I then thought, 'perhaps it's time I created quality people,"' he explained. Art-Ong's role in pioneering a new direction for Thailand's education system is noteworthy. Through numerous stints on the Standing Committee of Education he was charged with drafting a new education bill, eventually presenting a scheme to parliament that emphasized ethics and morality alongside academic achievement. It was passed almost without debate. "It was approved easily because nobody really cared. It had no impact on business or the economy. Most people just sat listening with a smile and let it pass," Art-Ong recalled, his smile revealing understanding and humour rather than bitterness. Fed up with politics and the change in the Palang Dharma party that came with the arrival of its new leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, Art-Ong quit politics to devote himself fully to education, which has been his life mission ever since. "I met [revered Indian spiritual leader] Sathya Sai Baba during a trip to India. He looked into my eyes and said the only thing he would ask of me was to devote myself to developing

education for the rest of my life," said Art-Ong.

"I came back and did so. I travelled the entire country to give lectures for thousands and thousands of teachers on how to make students both academically and morally excellent. After one workshop, the participating teachers told me that they wanted to see a school that really put those theories into practice, hence the establishment of Sathyasai School."

A "virtue-oriented" institution that aims to equip students with as much moral integrity as academic capability, Sathyasai boarding school opened in Lop Buri in 1991. Located in a sublime area near the Pasak river with views of nearby mountain, the 300-rai plot housing over 300 students is an inspiring educational environment.

"The school uses the principle of 'educare', which aims to bring the positive side out of children by interacting with them in a positive way," said Art-Ong.

"The most crucial factor in realising this goal is the teachers. You need to have a good mould in order to shape a good person. Teachers here do not punish students with force. They lead students through daily recreational routines and lead students on short meditation sessions prior to the beginning of each class."

Sathyasai School has students from grade one to 12, with its first generation of graduates now on the verge of completing their bachelor's degrees.

So has a man with honours degrees in engineering and strong faith in Buddhism ever looked back and questioned his life's path? Has he ever regretted turning down all those lucrative offers? Has he, as one who underwent such an early spiritual awakening in life, ever thought he should have ended up in a monastery instead of a school?

"When I do something, it comes from a will and nothing in the world can ever turn me away from that will. I went to America to seek new knowledge for the students and no matter what offer I received I would never take it up because it wasn't the reason I went there," Art-Ong explained.

"As for monkhood, it's not that I had never thought of it," he admitted. "However, I knew from the age of 15 when I had my awakening that I could do much more as layman. Also, there's something telling me deep down that, in the age of science and technology, who would listen to what I said unless I had high degrees, particularly a degree in science or engineering? I knew since then that I needed to have a PhD in engineering to make people interested in listening when I talked about dharma."

Nowadays, people are interested in listening to what Art-Ong says. Just ask those teenagers!

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Regards

Deepak

http://www.ssso.net/