Ekam Sat

Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti – There is only one God whose form is Truth; He is described severally by scholars. This is a main exhortation from Bharat.

There is sorrow when life is spent as body specific; and there is happiness in life when it is charged by Atmic principle. There is happiness in oneness and unity. Diversity gets sorrow. This is also an important aspect of the culture of India. Who am I? – When this is not sought out, what is the purpose of human birth? Quest of Atma is the foremost duty of man. Bharateeya Culture proclaims that everybody must strive to recognise the unique principle of his own being, his sacredness; and must conduct himself accordingly.

Ayam Atma Brahma – every individual soul has the aspect of unity and has the same effulgence. Even a small lamp is capable of kindling any number of lamps! No one can deny this simple fact. Through one Atmic effulgence, it is possible for other hearts to be kindled by the same effulgence. The scriptures say, ‘_Ekoham bahusyam_’. All inner forms are part and parcel of the same principle, howsoever differently they may appear outwardly!

It is common knowledge that the same wind assumes various forms like cool breeze, tornado and the like. In spite of the apparent variety of forms and names, the truth is one only.

There is happiness in unity. Ekam Sat – you will not find this exhortation anywhere except in Bharat. Only the Sanatana Dharma lays stress on this principle. If we are driven away from the principle of unity and attracted towards diversity, our own weakness is the reason; it cannot be attributed to our Culture. It is a shame that there are people from within India who impose malicious intentions on the sacred hearts that had upheld this Culture.

Follow The Path Of Light

Geeta brands such people as ‘jealous’ lot. The ninth chapter of Geeta has deeply dwelt on this aspect. Krishna taught Arjuna about the two different paths of ‘Shreyo margam (path of wellness)’ and the ‘Preyo margam (path of sorrow)’. But Arjuna could not follow its significance and hence asked Bhagawan for clarification. If a person like Arjuna, the very person who was chosen as a true representative of human race, could not understand this, then, can an ordinary person understand?

In establishing divinity, Krishna taught first the principle of ‘Non-jealousy’. The entire human race today is reeling in unrest, sorrow, hopelessness and despair due to growth of hatred, jealousy and intolerance that are born out of defective vision and defective hearing. Man has become blind, irrespective of country or creed. Man is thoroughly immersed in malice. He is acquiring malice from others, hears malice, looks at malice and talks about malice and is therefore an embodiment of malice. Because of their concentration upon malice, people who are immersed in discussion are more malicious than the malicious people. How can these people understand the unity that is shining in all.

In order to acquire the authority to be called an ‘Educational Centre’ this dirty defective vision has to be destroyed. Education is an embodiment of wisdom. Mark of wisdom is the awareness about unity. Even though names are different, essence is the same. Education has to seek out the form of truth that is prevalent in all the three times of creation, sustenance and dissolution. We are now belittling this education and are seeking little or trivial things from it. We are demeaning its status and value. All students, teachers and promoters of education must strive hard to eschew diversity and develop unity. But today, in the name of education, reckless liberty is being propagated. Because of the shameful ways of their children, parents are unable to uphold their heads high in society. Instead of spreading peace and happiness, education is causing fear and sorrow. Krishna decided that the rain of arrows was the proper medicine for the malady of Kauravas. It is up to you to take-up proper steps in this field before it is too late. The present educational system has to be revived in order to resolve agitations and agonies.

For a tree to remain safe, its roots must be strong. So also, a building needs proper foundation. Due to lack of self-confidence and self-sacrifice, the present educational institutions are unable to eradicate ignorance and establish the primacy of truth. In spite of being aware of the right path, the educated people have no power to exert themselves. What is the reason for this? These institutions are not imparting education that fosters truth. You will be able to arrest the growth of untruth, disorder and lawlessness only when you introduce a system that teaches discrimination between truth and untruth pertaining to ethical, righteous and spiritual domains.

The educational institutions are today imparting only material education; and the spiritual education is totally ignored. That is why students are devoid of strength and capabilities. This system is like a blind man leading a bunch of blind people. A weakling can do nothing. It may be said that a person having no faith has no breath.

Only an ignorant person can say, “I have faith in myself and I don’t have faith in God”. When there is no faith in God, how is it possible to have faith in oneself? Is this mundane body his real self? No! Do the form and name constitute the real self? No! He is God himself. That is his real form! Once this is realised, he will not come across any defeat. The true principle pertaining to self can be realised by constant contemplation and query, “Who am I? Whither my thoughts are?” One should keep a constant watch on his own thoughts. The present is a guide for the future. The past is that which had been established. Past, present and future are not in fact separate from each other. The past deeds are the cause for the present. Without doing good deeds in the present how can any one hope to reap good in the future? What is the point in aspiring for good results without doing good deeds? People despise bad fate, but they keep doing bad deeds. Despite knowing what is good or bad, people are spoiling themselves because of ego, ignorance and disbelief. Some even go to the extent of defending their evil deeds. But there are very few people who are really ignorant about good and bad. It is because he knows thieving is bad that a thief puts on a disguise and resorts to hiding.

Distributing Qualities, Not Degrees

Girl students!

By resorting to wrong path for the sake of momentary happiness, one has to undergo sorrow a hundred fold. Bad and silly thoughts give momentary joy, but their repercussions will be terrible.

You must set right those people who, in spite of having eyes, behave like the blind; in spite of having legs, behave like the lame and in spite of having sound mind, behave like the mad. You must teach a good lesson to those who resort to agitational method even while preaching peace. As Lord Krishna said, “Nimitta matram bhava savya-sachi;” all of you must make yourselves useful tools in this sacred mission.

These colleges are not being established for distributing degrees. It is our aim to impart qualities like sacrifice, character, benevolence, etc. through these colleges. Before administering bitter medicine to a patient, it is concealed in some eatable that is liked by that patient. In the same way these colleges are started for imparting spiritual knowledge. The present trend of establishing institutions with a view to squeeze money is deplorable indeed.

I wish that this college grows from strength to strength and that you all imbibe and expand happiness in accordance with our ideals. I am sure that in future our girls will set right the anomalies of the society. Before embarking on this mission of rejuvenation, you must first purify your thoughts and develop exemplary behaviour.

I bless that all of you will develop noble and blissful thoughts. Today is the College day. Old students will move forward and the new students will enter on this day. Specialty of this college is that there will be only entry and there is no question of leaving. You may acquire even higher degrees and then join this college as teachers, anytime. You have the right to comeback and teach noble principles.