“Pradeepah Sarva Vidya Naam is Aanvikshiki”

The Shloka is an excerpt from a famous book KAUTILYA’S ARTHASHASTRA by Chanakya. It means Aanvikshiki is like guiding lamp in the darkness of our mind”

You must be thinking what is this ‘Aanvikshiki’, it means “The Art of Thinking”. Chanakya Aanvikshiki is a subject that was taught to leaders for many centuries. And all those who applied Aanvikshiki in life succeeded in life and emerged as the winner.

Chanakya used to think in 5 steps, those were,

1-Logical thinking

2-Scientific thinking

3-Reasoning

4-Strategic Thinking

5-Critical thinking

Let us know each of them one by one,

LOGICAL THINKING

Logic in the ancient Indian education System was called as ‘Nyaya’. The students were not supposed to accept anything without logic. If it is not logical then it should not be accepted at all. In the beginning, one may not be able to understand the logic being taught. But, if we think deep and apply our minds, we will surely be able to get the logic, behind the subject we are learning.

For instance, when you are in an art class and the teacher is telling you to use the color black for outlining a picture, use logical thinking. Why black instead of say, yellow or red. After discussing with the teacher you will get to know that color black as outliner makes the object STAND OUT and become more prominent. So that’s the reason why girls use black kajal in their eyes.

So there is always a logic behind everything, just try to decode it.

SCIENTIFIC THINKING

Science is the systematic way in which we understand everything. Science doesn’t change with time, it may get an upgrade.

For example, why there is attraction among opposite gender, science clearly explains it that it is all game of hormones, not anyone’s weakness, Dopamine which is called the love hormones is responsible for the attraction and it starts at a certain age. So never neglect science, google things to know the science behind it.

REASONING

The reasoning is the capacity of a person to think clearly and straight-to calculate and come to one’s conclusion. The reasoning is all about common sense, but as they say, Common sense is not so common. So, as a student, if you start using reasoning capacity, a lot of things will become clear in your mind.

For example, if your teacher says, you should study this chapter again and again, as a student try and reason it out why the teacher is insisting upon it. It could be that an important question will come in the exams from that chapter or maybe it’s his favorite topic. Whatever it is, if the teacher is insisting to study that particular chapter, there is a ‘good’ reason that you should take chapter very seriously for your studies.

STRATEGIC THINKING

What is the meaning of strategy? This is a very commonly used term on the military to achieve a desired goal or objective. The method of carefully planning operation is called ‘Strategy’. Similarly, if we were to achieve our desired goals in life we need to master strategic thinking.

For example, let’s assume you have a desire to stand first in your class. Now that desire has to become a goal. And you need to work out a road map or strategy as to how you will stand first in your class. You need to first plan and study your other competitors in the class, especially those who are already ahead. What are their weak points and their strengths? What are the weak points-subject you need to improve upon, your daily study routine, etc. and once you make a plan and strategy, you also need to put the same into practice.

Remember, no strategy is successful until you get the required results or goals. Strategic thinking is about achieving your goals in spite of all the problems and hurdles that may come in your way. STRATEGY IS THE KEY TO WINNING.

CRITICAL THINKING

One has to be critical in thinking. It means that one should be able to do objective analysis and evaluation of a person or issue before forming a judgment about it.

A good student should be like a good journalist. A journalist may have an opinion about a subject, but he/she will research the subject before writing an article or report. She will look at both sides of the coin, study the good and the bad and only after forming her judgments about the subject or person will write the article, supported by facts and data.

If you understand and practice Aanvikshiki, you will never know what it means to fail.

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