Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

What exactly is education? What have we to learn through the process of education? What is the aim which educators must have in view? What are we gaining through education as devised today? Students have to pay attention to these four aspects first. One's standard of living depends on the way the mind is cultured. Culture does not imply any special transformation. It involves only the sublimation of one's habits and attitudes and their dedication to the Divine path. Education does not end with mastery of the meanings of words. It means opening wide the doors of the mind; it means cleansing the inner tools of the consciousness, the mind, the ego, the senses, the reason. Unfortunately, education is subserving the restricted purpose of making one fit for securing jobs which earn for him the wherewithal to live! True education must purge one of all traces of selfishness. But, today, what really happens is the elimination of love (prema) and joy (anandha) from the educated mind! Instead, the flames of jealousy are fed and fostered. The Divine spark in man is smothered. Modern education negates the virtues of discipline and humility. Science without a sense of values, activity dictated by whim, scholarship without experiential satisfaction, humanity with no involvement with humans, music devoid of sweet melody - these are all dull and dreary. They cannot inspire men to appreciation and observance. Therefore, you should give' up selfish desires and welcome the Truth beyond the reach of the mind operating through senses and manifest the Divinity that is your Reality.

Education must award self-confidence, the courage to depend on one's own strength. To-day, one emerges from the process of education with a hardened heart. Education has as its goal the fostering of sympathy with the less fortunate, but the knowledge and skill earned by one are diverted to selfish ends. Einstein explained to a friend why he spent sleepless nights and Gandhi too once gave the same reason to a questioner: "The hardness which the heart gains through education"! The friend told Einstein, "But you are a product of the same educational system." Einstein retorted, "I am what I am, not because of it but in spite of it!" Education has become a means to gain self-importance and boost one's conceit.

It is considered wrong to talk in the mother's tongue; It is considered foolish to tread the ancient path; It is considered cheap to honour the Guru now. We have to be warned of these dangerous developments and prepare a generation of youth which can restore the glory of India in the coming years by enthusiastic and intelligent projects of loving service.

Bharath had unique goals for education in the past. You must relearn them and revive them. Vidhya, it was understood, caused splendour to emerge from the heart. Vidhya implied dedication for mutual service. Today, education does not impart the virtues of renunciation, selfless love and sympathy. Monetary return should not be the aim. Dependence on others should be avoided. Self- reliance is the most desirable virtue. One should always have the future of one's country in view and mould oneself into an ideal for others. The pity is, as soon as one secures a degree, he registers his name in the Employment Exchange and thereafter year in and year out, walks up and down that place, wasting his life in despair and distress. Narrow loyalties and limited visions inhibit student minds at the present time. Wherever students are, silence, serenity and security should prevail, for such an atmosphere alone promotes study. But, what do we find now? What prevails is fear, anxiety and restlessness! Those who come out of our colleges are not at all educated in the real sense of the term. Many behave even worse than their uneducated brethren. Students should be clear about their life-values, their true Reality and the ideals which should shape their lives. Now they are engaged more in judging and blaming others. When one has no knowledge of himself and what is good for him, how can one claim the right to correct or condemn others?

Who is the friend, who the foe? Who is the guru, who the pupil? Who is the poet, who the cast? Have you the head to surely know? If you haven't, do not resent the blame.

Unless, one is aware of one's powers and possibilities, principles and processes, one has no right to point his finger at the evils and excellences of others, or at the condition of his country or of the society in which he is born and bred. The end of education is CHARACTER. And, character consists of eagerness to renounce one's selfish greed. Persons without a good character cannot claim to be educated ones. At present, men of character are most needed. Our Organisation has decided to establish such colleges in order to promote the development of character through the educational process. You must know that this is no commercial venture nor is it designed to foster personal reputation. We had to venture on this plan in order to realise and reveal the validity of the ancient ideal,

The chief goal of human existence is the realisation of anandha (bliss) for mankind and the unity of all men in a world of Love. This is the higher learning which this Institute will teach. Service rendered to society is the sure road to prosperity. This is the lesson which it will teach, with the brotherhood of man, as its inspiration. When this Institute succeeds in this effort, it will be an example for other centres too and they too will strive towards the ideal. It will encourage transformations in moral, material, ethical, spiritual and political spheres too. Students who have to resuscitate the glory of the country, who have to protect and develop the country have to recognise and value these high ideals, for, the welfare and wealth of the country are based on their talents and virtues.

A Telugu proverb declares, "When the daughter-in-law is dark-skinned, the entire clan is dark." When students are good, the country will be good. As is the student, so are the people. Just consider all persons whom we revere to-day as elders and leaders have been, at one time, students like you. And, you too will replace them later. Make yourself ready therefore by utilising best the chances you have. Your education must make you self-reliant and selfconfident.

On one occasion, a follower told Gandhi, "Independent India is your crown." Gandhi commented: "Independence is my crown; but, separation is my Cross." We have to grasp the sadness of that confession. Divisiveness has become the bane of the nation in all fields. The evil of separatism is infecting the entire country and passions are rising sky high. True humanness yearns for unity. Man seeks the one in the many, unity in diversity. He should not break the unity into diversity. All limbs and organs have to work in unison in order to ensure health. The nation too is a body and the same rule applies to its various limbs and parts. The welfare of the nation depends on the welfare of the societies comprising it and the nation's welfare is proportionate to the welfare of its component States. So, we must promote human values at every stage. What is happening today is just birth, growth and death. Bharath has, through countless centuries, not only treasured the Vedas, the Puranas and other priceless spiritual teachings, but put them into practice, derived supreme delight in the process and, what is more, shared them with all mankind. Students of today must take a vow to continue the observance of those teachings and to drive the bliss they can confer.

At first, our Shri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning had only the Vidhyagiri Campus College at Puttaparthi and the Anantapur College for Women. Gundu Rao, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, resolutely overcame the obstacles that had to be met and helped in adding the College at Brindavan, Bangalore, to this Institute. This day, the Institute has become the holy Thriveni - Anantapur, the Ganga; Bangalore, the Yamuna; and Puttaparthi, the Saraswathi. Ganga is the pure heart, the source of good works (karma). The Anantapur College has initiated service activities saturated with holy love. The women students visit villages and render various forms of rural service. The Bangalore College students cooperate lovingly in service in order to realise the Divine Athmic reality that is evident in all. The flower (the Anantapur College) emerged first; later, the fruit (the Bangalore College) developed; the fruit has become ripe and sweet at Prasanthi Nilayam. As a result, degrees which enshrine the sweetness are to be awarded here itself today.

This Trinity (Thrimurthi), the Three Eyes in the one face (Thrinethra), the Three Ages of Time (Thrikala), the Three Worlds in one Cosmos (Thriloka), the three Prongs of one Shula (Thrishula), the Three Modes of One Nature (Thriguna), the Three Leaves in one Bilva (Thridala) are to be adored and symbolically offered today by the students. The Chief Minister of Karnataka has added to our anandha. He has ordered the incorporation of our Bangalore College into this Institute and given us such high anandha today. And, he has come personally to share the celebration and the joy he has himself ensured.