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HUMILITY AND CHARACTER ARE THE HALLMARK OF EDUCATION |
The
creation emerges from truth and merges into truth, |
(Telugu Poem) |
Embodiments
of Love! Students!
You have joined this institution to pursue your education. Firstly, make efforts
to understand the true meaning of education. Humility and character are the
hallmark of education. But, today students do not develop humility. They are
interested only in acquiring degrees. However, our educational institution is an
exception in this regard. Few students come here with the sole objective of
acquiring degrees. Most of them come here with the single aim of pleasing Swami
by striving to follow Swami’s ideals and attain exalted position in life. They
give happiness to their parents by their good conduct.
Students!
Education
does not mean mere acquisition of degrees. Oh man! Examine and enquire for yourself what great happiness you have achieved by spending all the time from dawn to dusk in acquiring knowledge and earning wealth unmindful of God. |
(Telugu poem) |
One
may acquire a high academic qualification such as M.A. and B.A. and attain
exalted position, One may amass wealth, perform acts of charity and attain name and fame, One may have physical strength and enjoy a long and healthy life, One may be a great scholar studying and preaching the Vedas, But none can equal a true devotee of the Lord. |
(Telugu poem) |
Having entered the portals of this educational institution, you should try to
understand the value and true meaning of education. Only when you understand
these aspects, can you be called truly educated. There is a lot of knowledge in pustakas
(books), but what is the use if the mastaka (head)
is filled with ‘mud’? Once you fill your mastaka
with knowledge, you need not refer to pustakas any
more.
Elders should evince interest in the education of their children. They
should enquire as to what the children are learning in the educational
institution and constantly monitor their progress. Modern students react to the
queries of elders in a discourteous manner. They indulge in mere verbosity and
confuse the elders.
Students should earn a good name in society and uphold the reputation and
prestige of the institution in which they study. An educational institution is
like a gigantic tree. Different subjects are like its branches and sub-branches.
Virtues are like the fragrant flowers that you find on the tree. Faith is like
the roots. When you water the roots of faith, you get the fruit of Ananda.
At present, all educational institutions have begun to feel that character is
very important for a student. The end of education is character. Character does
not mean good conduct alone. One should consider the fellow human beings as
one’s own brothers and sisters. One should develop Bhava
Shuddhi (purity in feelings), which will ultimately lead to Jnana
Siddhi (attainment of wisdom).
Our students are highly virtuous. I repeatedly say that they are My property.
When I have such a property with Me, why should I worry about anything? I asked
the boys who appeared for the GATE examination, “My dear ones! How did you
write the exam?” They said, “Swami, with Your grace and blessings we have
done well. You say that students are Your property. Having been blessed with the
opportunity of being Your students, our only aim is to live up to Your ideals
and bring a good name to the Institute.” I was very pleased and deeply touched
by their answer. It is heartening to note that there are such ideal students in
our Institute. It is because of such noble students that the country has
progressed and prospered. If there are no men and women of virtues, how can the
world shine with all its brilliance?
Our students do not indulge in empty rhetoric, they are men of action. Their
sincerity makes Me happy. I have come to impart such ideal education to the
students and inculcate virtues in them.
In spite of his education and intelligence, a foolish man will not know his true Self and a mean-minded person will not give up his evil qualities. |
(Telugu poem) |
Modern education leads only to argumentation, not to total wisdom. What is the use of acquiring education which cannot lead you to immortality? Acquire the knowledge that will make you immortal. |
(Telugu poem) |
Once you acquire the knowledge of the Self, you would have
acquired everything else. These words of wisdom are imprinted in the hearts of
our students.
Embodiments of Love! Students!
You have proved your worth among lakhs of students and secured high ranks in the
GATE examination (loud applause). The examiners
were highly impressed with the intelligence and behaviour of our students. They
wanted to know whether our students came from East or West, North or South. Our
students replied, “Sir, we are neither from East nor from West, neither from
South nor from North, we are the students of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher
Learning.”
They are not satisfied with what they have achieved. They are striving hard to
bring more and more laurels to our Institute. Wherever you go, you find our
students leading exemplary lives propagating the ideals of our educational
institutions.
Once someone asked our students what type of food they like to take, vegetarian
or non-vegetarian. They replied in one voice, “Non-vegetarian food gives rise
to evil thoughts and feelings; hence we would never touch non-vegetarian
food.” They are 100% vegetarians. Even the students who used to eat
non-vegetarian food earlier become vegetarians once they join our Institute.
Once someone tried to persuade one of our students to take non-vegetarian food,
saying it contained a lot of good nutrients. But, he not budge from his stand.
He said, “I don’t want such vitamins and proteins. Even vegetarian food has
all the vitamins and proteins that I need. I want to tread the path of truth and
non-vegetarian food is not at all conducive for spiritual progress. Along with
secular education, I want to acquire spiritual education and propagate it to the
world.” There are many such students who are firm in their resolve to spread
the Sai ideals. It is because of such noble students that our institution has
attained worldwide fame.
Students should develop good habits right from their childhood to enjoy good
health and happiness. In this context, there is a poem which reads as follows:
Get
up early in the morning at the crowing of the cock, Have a bath after your morning ablutions, Wear a proper dress. Eat properly and moderately. Go to school and study diligently. Earn a good name. Don’t move out when it is raining, And never go near the murky pools. Take part in games, Run and play. If you abide by all these rules, You will have both health and wealth. |
(Telugu poem) |
Students should exercise restraint over
their food habits. Even birds, beasts and animals observe certain regulations in
this regard. Born as human beings and having acquired education, is it not
expected of you to follow proper discipline with regard to food? Students who
eat non-vegetarian food right from their childhood give up that habit when they
join our institution. Even their parents are surprised at their transformation.
When one of our students went home during vacation, his mother tried to serve
him non-vegetarian food. He refused to touch it and requested his mother not to
prepare non-vegetarian items in future. He explained to his parents the ill
effects of consuming non-vegetarian food.
Non-vegetarian food is the cause of several diseases like cancer. You might have
read in journals and newspapers that most of the people in Singapore eat fish.
Consequently, they are infected by several harmful micro-organisms. Similar
instances were reported from various parts of Bharat. It is because of unhealthy
food that people suffer from diseases. Many are under the mistaken notion that
non-vegetarian food gives them strength, but in reality it makes them weak. Once
you spoil your health by partaking of non-vegetarian food, you will never be
able to regain your health even if you spend the rest of your life in forests
eating fruits and tubers.
These were the answers given by our students when they were asked questions
about their food habits. The explanation given by our students made such an
impact on the audience that many of them became total vegetarians. As is the
food so is the mind. As is the mind so is the man. Hence, one must necessarily
partake of sacred and sattwic food to lead a happy and healthy life. Of late,
there is a growing awareness among the Bharatiyas about the influence of food on
one’s mind. Consequently, people are changing their food habits for the
better. Our body is made up of flesh. Why should you feed it again with flesh?
Such unsacred food gives rise to unsacred thoughts.
Students!
It is not enough if you observe regulations with regard to food alone; you
should cultivate good habits also. You should participate in sports and games
regularly. Take part in such games which will help in the blossoming of your
physical and mental faculties. Healthy food and good habits will take you to
exalted position in life.
Dear Bangaru Students!
Truly, you are like gold. It is not possible to describe your sacred
feelings. You speak from the depths of your hearts. The language you speak is
not ordinary. It is Atma Bhasha (language of the
spirit). You are leading your lives with sacred feelings. However, keep away
from bad company. It is said, “Tell me your company, I
shall tell you what you are.” “As is your company, so you become.”
Hence, always keep good company. Be in the company of those who speak good
words. Never utter harsh and unsacred words. If you use unkind words, people
will treat you like an enemy. If you speak softly and sweetly, people would
enjoy your company and talk to you for any length of time. When you are in the
company of others, make sure that your body is clean and your mouth does not
emit bad smell. You should take proper care of your health in every possible
way. When your body is clean and healthy and when your thoughts, words and deeds
are pure, you will be loved by one and all.
Students!
Wherever you may go, ensure that you are presentable and acceptable in every
way. Only then will you earn the respect of others. Always keep your mouth
clean. Bad breath leads to various diseases. Not merely that, it will cause
inconvenience to others. If your mouth emits foul smell, people try to avoid
you. Hence, the moment you get up from bed in the morning, you should brush your
teeth and clean your tongue thoroughly. When you keep your mouth fresh and
clean, you will enjoy good health. Though I don’t sleep in the night, I brush
My teeth before going to bed. I brush My teeth at regular intervals so as to
keep My mouth fresh and clean. That is why I don’t have any health problem. I
don’t have any pain whatsoever.
You should take care that no food particle sticks between your teeth. Some
people use a hard brush to clean their teeth. As a result, their gums start
bleeding. But I use a very soft brush. Even now My teeth are so strong that I
can crack a betel nut. My students are struck with awe and wonder when they
witness My physical power.
Students!
It will be a matter of shame that you spoil your health and submit yourself to
the hands of a doctor. Hence, each one has to take care of one’s own health.
One should never be dependent on others. This is what I teach to My students
quite often. Get up early in the morning, do some jogging and exercise so as to
keep your body fit. During examination time, students try to keep themselves
awake in the night for late hours to study. They keep dozing with books in front
of them. Such studies will take you nowhere. Do not force yourself to study when
you feel sleepy. Keep the books aside and go to bed peacefully. You should study
only when your mind is fresh and attentive.
Oh man! Do not feel proud of your education and scholarship. If you do not offer your salutations to God and not contemplate on Him with devotion, of what use is all your education? |
(Telugu poem) |
Students!
First and foremost, take care of your health. Your education will prove as mere
waste if you do not maintain proper health. Do not rest content with secular
education. You should also acquire Educare. Education is related to gathering
outside information, whereas Educare relates to inward transformation. Educare
is that which makes the human values blossom from within. Whether you have
acquired educare or mere education will become evident in your speech. A word of
caution in this regard - you should not talk loosely. Especially when you speak
to elders, you should carefully frame your sentences and speak with all humility
and respect. True education is not limited to textual knowledge. You should
manifest the human values of truth, righteousness, love, peace and non-violence.
Truth should not be confined to mere words. It should be translated into deeds.
Students!
Having come here and acquired education of the highest standard,
lead a life of virtues. Share your knowledge with others.
Let
us all move together, let us all grow together, Let us all stay united and share our knowledge, Let us live together with friendship and harmony. |
(Telugu poem) |
This is what you have to learn today.
Always have a smiling countenance and be a good friend to others. A good friend
is one who always has good thoughts, speaks good words and performs good deeds.
When you lead your life in such a manner, you will be an ideal person and a
source of inspiration to others.
Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan, “Hari
Bhajan Bina Sukha Santhi Nahin …”