Discipline Is Essential Duty

Swami: Do you face any compulsions here?

Students: No, Swami!

Swami: For what purpose did you join this college?

Students: For the sake of Swami.

Swami: Then is Swami important, or the college?

Students: Swami is important.

Swami: If Swami is important, then why should you attend the college? You could as well come to Prasanthi Nilayam; but, why should you come to this college and the hostel?

Students: We need Swami and we need education also.

Swami: Riding on two horses is dangerous. When you say, ‘Swami is needed as well as the studies,’ it then implies that you must resort to that support by which Swami can be obtained. What is the purpose for which these colleges are established? It is for your sake, because discipline and good conduct are dwindling in this country. It is envisaged that you imbibe spiritual thoughts to a considerable extent. It is also intended that you develop ethically, temperamentally, righteously as well as spiritually. Through this college, it is possible for you to attain high positions in life. But, in case the college discipline and hostel discipline are flouted by you, it amounts to flouting Swami’s discipline.

Follow Discipline Of The Institute

Discipline pertaining to Swami is not different from discipline of the college, or the hostel discipline. These three make a trinity, which means they are concurrent. Three fingers of a hand when separated will not be able to do any work. It is possible for man to achieve a high position only with the combined strength of physical, mental, and spiritual abilities. Aadhibhautikam, Aadhidaivikam, Aadyaatmikam are referred to in this regard. These are also known as gross, subtle and causal principles. They appear in various entities. We must unite these three aspects. Take for instance the word ‘Stree’ (Woman). Stree is a combined form of three qualities. It is the combination of ‘Sa’, ‘Ta’ and ‘Ra’. First comes ‘Sa’, then ‘Ta’ and then ‘Ra’. Together they form ‘Stree’. This unification dispels the concept of weakness and suggests the aspect of divine strength. Stree is the combined strength of Satva, Rajas and Tamas. Therefore, it is necessary first to undergo training pertaining to these aspects. In the contemporary period you may find it difficult and tiresome. But, in the future, this will bestow a divine and glorious life to you. You tend to exceed limits in some disciplines in a state of frustration.

Devotion is essential, no doubt! You all have devotion. There is a limit even to this devotion. There is a limit for everything and anything. The temperature within our body has its limit. We call 98.4 degrees as normal. When it goes up to 99, it means there is some disturbance in the health. Similarly, the heart is considered healthy when the pulse rate is 75 or 76. If this rate goes either up or down, it is an indication of some disturbance in the heart. There are some limits to the air we breathe, the food we eat, and so on. Even Bhakti (devotion) should have a limit without which it develops some sort of disease. You are all devoted no doubt; but in certain aspects, you tend to exceed limits. You have the right to pray to Swami to come. You can surely do Bhajan or prayer for any length you desire, that is outside the college and hostel timings. On the contrary, if you are engaged in Bhajan evading college, then you will be subjected to ‘remark’. Even Swami will not give you any ‘marks’. Within the hostel also, you must observe punctuality with regard to things like Bhajan and Bhojan (meals). You should not mix up these things. You should not resort to them as and when you like. Bhajan should always be conducted in a quiet and peaceful atmosphere conducive to mental tranquility. Even if you do Bhajan for a few minutes in such a condition, it will go straight to God. There is no use in doing Bhajan in a reckless manner. Then, it is like playing a gramophone. It is painful to singers as well as listeners. Therefore, the hostel discipline is a bit harsh in certain aspects. I am aware of this. Take for example the case of a violin or a veena.

Their strings require the correct amount of tightness. They produce unpleasant sounds when the tightening becomes either more or less. This optimal discipline is essential in the case of girl students, because they are going to foster children who are the future leaders of Bharat. Only when you practice good principles in the hostel you will have the authority to inspire your friends and followers on an ideal path. It is not safe for girls to roam around in the streets. It may be tolerable in case of boys. Nobody bothers when four boys move around, each resting hands on the other’s shoulders. But when even two girls move around laughing loud, they are bound to attract remarks. Our college students must observe certain regulations, even if it involves some rigor so that in the future, they can bring good name and happiness to their husbands and in-laws. You should not feel bad that your principal or warden had spoken harshly at times. They may be circumspect, but they do not bear any ill will towards anybody. They too had come for the sake of Swami. They too intend to imbibe Swami’s ideals! They too have devotion. They are also eager to have Swami’s darshan. Therefore, you should not have any difference of opinion in this regard. There are so many other things that are not being reported; but Swami knows everything. Teachers sometimes resort to punishments for the sake of discipline that Swami likes. We must observe discipline for the sake of Swami but not for anybody else. Only those who do hard work in their youth will be able to enjoy comforts in future life.

Mend Character In Tender Age

I shall narrate a small story at this juncture. Once, there was a poor woman who was a fish hawker. She was selling fish keeping the basket on her head while keeping her boy child in her lap. Another hawker woman, who had a mango basket on her head, happened to pass by. At this moment, the boy had picked up one mango from her basket and started eating. The mother saw this and started praising him for the deed. Then the boy felt thieving as a praiseworthy thing. From then onwards, he was engaged in the art of theft; and over a period of time, he became a notorious murderer. Finally, he was caught and was sent to the gallows. Before his execution, he expressed a wish to see his mother. The mother came weeping. He asked her to come close to him. When she came near, he gave her a big slap on her cheek and told the shocked mother that she was the cause behind his ruinous life because when he first stole a mango, she praised and encouraged him instead of detesting the act. The mother had encouraged in his initial stages of wrongdoing. It was like sowing bad seed in a tender heart which had grown into a big tree of destructive and deplorable practices. Therefore, you must not deviate from good discipline. You must get up early in the morning; attend Suprabhata (Morning Prayer), Dhyaana, Bhajan and other scheduled programs of the day. Also, you must observe principles of cleanliness like regular baths etc.

This will ensure good health along with a happy disposition. You must have observed in the villages the practice of tying a stone at the bottom of a tender snake-gourd. This is to ensure its straight growth. As it grows, the weight of the stone is increased, with the result the snake-gourd matures into a wholesome product. In a similar way, your level of discipline must increase as you keep acquiring higher degrees. In fact, discipline is a great protective factor in life. Therefore, you should not take the aspect of discipline lightly or slightly. This is the stage wherein you must learn to cut, prune and hedge the qualities of anger, worry, jealousy, ostentation, laziness, and so on.

You must not forget that this stage is a very sacred part of your life. In case you are unable to develop good qualities at this stage, how can you aspire to be good in your old age? Will anyone be able to do Naama-smaraëa (reciting lord’s name) at the last moment when the Yama Kinkaras (orderlies of the God of death) start dragging out the life with their ropes, at a time when relatives hasten to pull and throw the body outside and at a time when spouse and children start crying? It is impossible indeed. And about controlling the senses at that stage, it is unthinkable. In fact, the senses will flatly refuse to come to your aid in a condition of trauma. To win over the senses is like winning over the whole world. Without acquiring the prop of God, there is no point in having physical and mental prowess. One must control desires and develop proper discipline in order to acquire God’s support, and Dharma’s (righteousness) support. Without discipline, it is not possible to acquire these two kinds of support.

Parent’s Service Is Paramount

I am sure you are all aware of Pundarika’s story. Pundarika was fully engaged in the service of his parents. One day he was immersed in pressing his old father’s feet and legs to make him sleep well. At that time, Lord Panduranga had come. But Pundarika did not move out to greet Him. Then Panduranga spoke to him thus, “Dear! I came with the intention of granting you my Darshan. But you are not giving proper attention to Me; and you continued to serve your parents.” Then Pundarika said, “It is 18 years since I was born. Have you visited me at least once during this period? On the other hand, my parents have brought me up even while they were undergoing hardships. I cannot leave such parents and attend to you who had come for giving a moment’s Darshan.” Then Panduranga was very much pleased and said, “Dear! You had put the dictum ‘Maatru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava’ into practice. I am present in your father and mother as well. Therefore you first attend to them. I shall wait here until you finish your services to them.” Pundarika showed him a brick that was lying outside the house and asked Panduranga to make Himself comfortable on the brick until he came.

Panduranga stood on the brick until Pundarika finished his services to parents and came near Him. In the same manner, you must pay utmost respect to the college and hostel by observing proper discipline. There is no use if you get ‘marks’ in the college while you invite ‘remarks’ in the hostel. You must learn to conduct yourselves in consonance with the circumstances.

Once upon a time, an artist in the tunic of a recluse had visited the king of that land. He had enlightened the audience on various spiritual matters. The king was happy and offered him a plateful of gold coins. Then the sanyasin said, “Oh benevolent king, I did not come here for the sake of these gold coins. I am happy that your heart is purified; that is my reward, I do not want anything from you.” Saying thus, the recluse went away. The same artist had come to the king the next day in the attire of a danseuse and danced wonderfully before him. Then the king was pleased and gave him some silk clothes and jewelry as presents. Then the dancer said, “Oh great king, the presents are not sufficient because they are not befitting your stature and my performance.” The same person came to the king the previous day in the garb of a sanyasin. Therefore, he refused the presents. But as a dancer, he demanded more in accordance with the role he was playing. Renunciation is the quality of a recluse, and greed is the nature of a danseuse.

In the same manner, different materials have different properties. Butter can be pressed and made into pieces easily; whereas a piece of steel cannot be changed so easily. You must understand your respective roles and conduct yourselves accordingly. As a learned person, you have certain norms of behavior. Also, as a devotee, you have certain responsibilities. But those roles are not one and the same. This kind of discrimination has to be applied to all situations of life. You will notice that a majority of agitations in the world have their origins in woman-related passions. But the atmosphere in this college is entirely different from the above.

We also have some post-graduate students here. It is my advice to them that they should be ever ready to help their juniors without any reservations or pride. After finishing education, you will be proposed for marriage. At that time you should not agree for any kind of dowry. When there is any demand for dowry, you must tell them boldly, “we don’t entertain such things. We are prepared to sacrifice our lives for the sake of sacred ideals and we are prepared to serve the family with selfless love and humility. We have come from Sri Sathya Sai Women’s College”. More than doing Bhajans, you must be able to spread the discipline and principles of the College in the family and society, and you must shine like diamonds. That is what Swami likes and expects of you. Discipline is important. The doctor, along with the prescription, puts restrictions on diet also. It does not mean that the doctor is merciless. It is for the good of the patient that the doctor adopts an attitude of harshness.

Apply Spirit Of Mother To Service

I keep coming every month to this college. I noticed that in the hostel you are all adjusting yourselves well. In the family life also you should display this kind of amicability and adjustment. Troubles and tribulations are an unavoidable part of life. The attitude of patience and perseverance is very important in order to overcome any kind of difficulties. Some people may try to instill in you negative ideas. Never succumb to such instigations.

You may wake up a person who is really sleeping. But it is impossible to wake up the one who is pretending to sleep. This is the condition of our society these days. You may convince a knowledgeable person easily. You may also convince a person who is without knowledge. But it is impossible to convince the one with half knowledge and arrogance. This is the basic cause for all evils.

You are all living in a Karma-ksetra (the land of Karma). Everybody is a pilgrim. Pilgrimage involves travel to a sacred place. When you think well, you will know that the sacred place to which you are traveling is your heart only.

Forgetting this central aspect of our being, we are attracted towards the physical and mundane aspects of the world, and thus we are losing our moorings of humanness. In fact, we have every kind of power within ourselves. There is no greater divine power than what man has within his heart. Without knowing this, we are craving for external and trivial powers. Character, discipline, and sacrifice-these three are very important for man. There is no humanness without these three qualities. These three qualities must be cultivated properly in this youthful stage. This is a discipline pertaining to the integration of ethical, virtuous, and spiritual ways of life.

What is the purpose of education? It is to foster self-confidence, destroy ignorance, and experience bliss. Every person in the world struggles to escape from sorrow and runs towards happiness. But, are we going in the right direction to achieve this? For those who are determined to re-establish the sacredness of Bharat and to make it vibrant, ‘politics’ is not the only way to follow. It is possible only by fostering the two qualities of selfless service and self-confidence which are deeply embedded in our national fabric. In fact, divinity alone is the permanent aspect of the world. All other things are ephemeral and are like mirages. One does not get satiated by chasing a mirage. Even while sitting on the bank of the river Ganga, we are unable to quench our thirst. Even while sitting across a heap of food, we are unable to satiate the hunger. Even though we have the divine light of Soul within us, we are groping in darkness. The reason is that we lost our awareness, discrimination, and faith.

We must consider faith as the very breath. Like our breath, the faith should be retained at all times. We should not change faith like we change our clothes. Come what may, we must remain steadfast in our faith in all circumstances and in all stages. Students must develop this kind of steadfastness.

You should worship your country like you worship God. This worship should be in the form of selfless service. The country's prosperity is your own prosperity. When there is no nation, then where are you? It is our duty to extend to others all that we consider as happiness, comfort, or prosperity. We must pray for others the way we pray for ourselves. This kind of broadness has to be fostered by education. We must foster this kind of education. Students must develop such broad ideas.

Woman is responsible for the betterment of family and nobility of individuals. Women are embodiments of all the three qualities of *Satva, Rajas *and Tamas. But the educated women must strive to promote Satva and subdue Rajas and Tamas in a spirit of endurance and patience. When you control your own senses, it means you have conquered the world.

You must not develop the attitude of slavery. What does it mean? Doing something with love is one thing. Servitude is different. A mother stoops down to lift the child. It does not mean surrender to the child. Similar is the case of an Avataar. Avataar means the descent of God to earth in a physical form. Why should he descend? You may wonder why an airplane should land at all. The plane lands in order to take eligible travelers with it, and to take them to the destination. In the same way, God comes down to earth in order to take with Him the sacred people to their sacred destination. It is to give them liberation.