From ‘I’ to ‘We’

There is proliferation of studies and desires too! 
Talking like heroes, but performing like zeroes 
Is there any use of all this intelligence? 
Put into practice atleast a little, dear ones! 
The present day education improves intelligence 
But it does not foster virtues even a little! 
What is the use of crores of studies 
When there are no virtues? 
Why struggle in search of God? 
Eswara (God) is in the heart itself! 
Do service, take Love (Bliss) and 
Experience the Atmic principle!

Girl students, Teachers and Educationists!
Man is forgetting his lord the God as his scientific knowledge increases. Humanism is forgotten and only the scientific aspect is being fostered in modern research laboratories. Sacred divinity is being totally ignored. This is an aberration in the path of education. The fact that purpose of education is to make a man compassionate is totally forgotten. To dedicate life towards selfish and self-centered pursuits is not the duty of man. This leads to wastage of sacred humanism. Man is priding himself for having reached the moon. Look at the beauty and grandeur of all animate and inanimate creations of the world.

Education Must Lead To Real Glory

The joy derived from this world is far more superior to the joy of reaching the moon. The education is not real if the divinity in man is not realised. The main qualities of educated people are selflessness, humility and simplicity. We are engaged in endless researches. Inspite of all this, it is an accepted fact that what we know is very little, be it any field. The aspect of research is increasing and the aspect of realisation is dwindling. This leads to inflating ego. Humanism can attain divinity only when the ego is destroyed. We find trees, animals and birds helping man in many selfless ways. But, man has become so selfish that he is deceiving his own clan, his own parents, teachers and even God. He boasts of truth, virtue, love and peace. But in practice his behaviour is contrary to this.

Man is unable to realise the fact that all his pursuits are concentrated on trivial acquisitions and glories. He craves that others should honour him. But, he never thinks of honouring others. What is the root cause for this? Ignorance is its root cause. This ignorance is putting a veil over humanism by spreading lawlessness, deceit, recklessness and untruth. The sun of Prajna (Willpower) will shine forth when ignorance is destroyed. Therefore, man must endeavour to destroy ego, must take up spiritual learning so as to reform himself into a truly human being. This is a real education.

Knowledge is not confined to studying literature pertaining to various subjects and various pursuits. Personality development really means development into a true human being. This is the inner significance of the pursuit of knowledge. Education must bring out broadness of heart. Sacredness of heart is the base for every good quality. Where is this Love? It is right within our heart. Every member of the family must try to enhance the love in the heart. This process must be extended to village, then to the country and finally to all humanity. Every student must participate in Seva (Service), spread the principle of love and divinity in the society. It is necessary that everybody should realise the truth; Eshavasyam idam sarvam - God is present in everything. Selfishness is holding its sway like a formidable demon. This can never be of any use to society. The aim of education is to take man from ‘I’ to ‘We’.

Education should reflect expansion, sacredness and should foster truth. The principle of divinity cannot be realised by worldly education, intelligence or scientific knowledge. It may be possible to measure the ocean with a foot-scale, but it is utterly useless to try to measure the depth of divinity. This sacred principle is beyond the ken of standards or comparisons. Question of comparison or evaluation comes only when there is a form, entity or name. But the principle of Atma is attributeless, dispassioned, eternal, baseless, primordial, ever truthful, supreme intelligent, liberated and pristine; and hence no standards can be established for this principle. Everybody should endeavour to recognise it within one’s own heart; should try to develop inner vision and must thereby acquire requisite powers in order to develop society.

Ego Begets Disgrace

What is meant by individual? Individuality is that which realises the truth about the goal. True individual is he who can explicate his inner divinity through his acts, behaviour and attitude. Everyone must endeavour to achieve this and do justice to his individuality or personality.

One of the meanings for ‘Persona’ is spark of divinity. Jesus Christ is referred as Persona. Bible refers to ‘Quest’. In Vedic parlance it is known as Sadhana (spiritual endeavour).

Spiritual education strengthens your power of self-sacrifice, your yogic power and your capacity to tackle problems (Prajna). This is being totally neglected by man. There are two important aspects which you must know. One is Aim and the other is Goal. After strenuous efforts one will know the true Goal. After knowing the goal in right perspective, one has to make a proper ‘Aim’ at it in order to reach the goal in an easy and safe manner. In this respect, everyone must question himself, “Who am I?” Science without discrimination, scholarship without common sense, music without melody, friendship without gratitude and society without faith are useless and harmful too.

Today man is pursuing material sciences in a feverish pace. But he is utterly incapable of controlling its impact. Science devoid of discrimination is dangerous. Pragmatism should be accompanied by scientific thinking. Scientific knowledge should be accompanied by discrimination; discrimination should be followed by tolerance and tolerance should be accompanied by humility.

Proper study of mankind is ‘man.’ When thought, word and deed are not in coherence, then it is not humanism. You may call it ‘monkeyism.’ Man must keep up his humanism by practicing unity in all his thoughts, words and deeds. Today man is studying and researching on the properties of all materials, but alas he is unable to study the human values. And without recognising the values first, how can he go about the task of its practice and improvement. The most basic and important values are truth, righteousness, peace, love and non-violence. Only when Love is made a constant stream of life the other values can be fostered. Love in action becomes righteousness, love in thought and contemplation becomes truth. When love is filled in the heart and experienced it becomes peace; and when love is understood properly it becomes ‘Non-violence’. Love is the inner stream in all of these values. As this love is neglected and selfishness is fostered, humanism is being reduced to lower levels. Only when selfishness is sacrificed, divinity can be understood and thereby truth can be grasped. Disgrace and dishonour are acquired due to ego.

Ego achieves nothing except these two. You must keep ego away, lead a simple life and must enter into service of society. Even a small service has a potential of great power.

Bharatiya Culture is replete in transcendental truth. Its inner motivation is the eternal principle of righteousness. Only when the doors of the heart are opened, there is a chance of humanism to enter in it. But man is narrowing his outlook. The atom bombs and hydrogen bombs invented by man are only leading man away from peace. Fear is ruling the earth. Suspicion is so high these days that even a small transistor causes panic of a bomb scare. It is clear that attractive things are really attracting fear. Only detachment gives fearlessness. With a sense of detachment, we can keep all desires at a distance; and thereby reduce the burdens. Detachment does not mean renunciation of family and moving over to a forest. Removal of desires is the real detachment. Less luggage, more comfort makes journey a pleasure. The long journey of life can be rid of worries and fear only when burdens of desires are curtailed. Man must be fearless. Divinity is that which removes fear and fosters courage and fortitude.

Who is making the earth rolling around the sun incessantly? Who is making a seed to sprout? When the seed is sown in soil, it branches into two, develops into a sapling and then into a tree. Tree yields fruits; and then seeds are formed. This nature’s cycle is run by whom? Scientists say it is the nature of a tree. Who is that nature and who gave that capacity? These questions cannot be answered by science. The subjective aspect can only be understood by spiritual education.

Somebody noticed a swan dipping its nose into a pot of milk and found that water got separated from milk. Then, a scientist explained that the swan had a kind of acid in its mouth; and this was the reason for its capacity to separate milk from water. Another gentleman asked the scientist innocently, “Who was the person that had placed acid in its mouth.” This scientist had no answer. Who is the cause for this entire creation?

“The one who is the cause for the birth of all 
worlds,
In whom all the worlds are sustained,
Who is Parameshwara (Supreme Lord),
Who is the root cause of everything
He who has no beginning, middle nor end,
He who is appearing in all forms,
To that Eswara (Lord), who had generated Himself,
I pray for protection.”

By reckless talk against such God, the educated people are bringing disgrace to education and the educated community.

Humanism shines only when truth is grasped and propagated. The principle of love has to be developed within humanism, and humans must live in unity. All countries are fragmented due to lack of unity. In the days of yore, the country of Bharat remained as a single body. “Deho Devalaya prokto jivo devas sanatanah - Body is the temple in which the eternal soul, God, is residing.” This body of Bharat has now been divided into various blocks, and its limbs are separated.

Wisdom and discrimination are supposed to be the offshoots of education. Education must be beneficial to society. At home father, mother and elders should be regarded with respect and humility. Male members may be a bit wayward in this regard. But, women members must show greater patience and care, because it is through women that Culture of the world really develops. Women are noted for ages for their natural spiritual bent of mind and humility. It is because of them the Bharatiya Culture had sustained its ancient norms and practices. But, in the modern period, women are showing craze towards material type of education and are grossly neglecting the spiritual and ethical aspects. Anybody can earn money. But earning virtues is not an easy task. Real Wealth is the wealth of virtues. ‘Money comes and goes; morality comes and grows.’ God is pleased only at the integrity and virtues of man; but not at the wealth and pomp.

Present Is Omnipresent

When we love others, they will return the love. He who loves people is loved by society. Therefore, everything is dependent on the principle of love. It goes without saying that hatred will result in discard and dejection. Therefore, you should be able to develop love and discard hatred. This love must extend to all living beings.

The educated person must strive to maintain his/her dignity. When an educated person resorts to disgraceful deed, society sees it as a painful experience. Animals and birds are sticking to certain regulated life. But, unfortunately humans are displaying abandonment. This trend has to be reversed by the present generation in a highly dedicated attitude. Say good bye to artificial life. You must not read cheap literature. Everyone must be conversant with sacred literature like Ramayana, Mahabharatam, Bhagavatam, Upanishats, Bible, Quran, etc. Man must realise his Atmic principle. The law of Karma is that any act done must reflect back in someway or the other. In old age people keep thinking of their past life and repent over unnecessary things while youngsters keep on dreaming over their future and they ruin their happiness in the present. Everyone must cultivate the habit of living in the present. This is not ordinary present. This is omnipresent. This is what you must keep in mind always.

Present should not be procrastinated or neglected. Time is God. Spend the present in sacred thoughts, words and deeds. The food we eat today is meant to dispel today’s hunger, but not to dispel tomorrow’s hunger or to compensate for yesterday’s hunger. Seed of the past has now grown into a tree. In future it will give fruit. What we do today is a stepping-stone for the future. Therefore, boys and girls must lay their own foundations for a happy and safe future, on a right royal path. They must endeavour to lead a dignified life. Teachers should behave in an exemplary and ideal manner. The land of Bharat had been extolled as a Yoga-bhoomi – Land of Yoga, Karma-bhoomi – Land of spiritual deeds’ and as a country of spirituality. But, people are trying to turn it into a Land of Bhoga, enjoyment. Bhoga can only lead to Roga – Disease. On the other hand, Tyaga – renunciation’ leads to lasting happiness. It is said, "Tyagenaike amritattva manashuh - Renunciation alone begets immortality.” You must be prepared for sacrifices for the sake of parents and the society. Their souls must be touched by your selfless services.

Dear Girl students!
Your blood, your food and your head are all gifts of your parents. This fact must never be forgotten. If you do not show your gratitude and if you do not render necessary help to your parents, then the food you eat, the blood that flows in you and the head you are using are absolutely useless. All these gifts get sanctified only when you display gratitude through acts of love and tireless service. Your intellect, your physical energy and your kind words are the triad through which you repay your debt to parents and the society. You must go further and endeavour to rejuvenate the Bharatiya culture using these energies.

It is essential that you learn to unify your thoughts, words and deeds. Unity reveals divinity. Divinity should not be construed as something available at a distant place. It is present all around us and within us. Like the wind that is invisible divinity is also present though it cannot be seen. It is in you, with you, above you, around you and below you. The physical eyes are not capable of seeing divinity as your inner vision is not fostered well. People are running after external objects and pleasures, but they are not going in pursuit of the creator! It is an irony that people are unable to find God who is Omnipresent. Some animals go after mirages mistaking them as water, and at long last they meet with death. In the same manner, people running after wealth, vehicles and other material comforts and in the process they are losing sight of the eternal bliss.

Man is called “Manava.” Ma means ‘ignorance’, na means ‘without’ and va means ‘to behave.’ This means, ‘the one who behaves without ignorance is man.’ Education can be considered fruitful only when this aspect is achieved.

Self Confidence Leads To Bliss

When you study Botany, you must look at it in a human angle also. “This body is like a tree. Its branches and twigs are like my friends and relatives. My thoughts are like the flowers. My intellect is its fruit. My character is its sweet juice. My confidence is like the roots of this tree of my body. Fruits on top, roots at the bottom – without them, the tree of life is burdensome.” Therefore, character has to be regarded as the fruit of life. Confidence is the base of life, without which nothing can be achieved.

Where there is Confidence, there is love
Where there is love, there is peace 
Where there is peace, there is truth 
Where there is truth, there is bliss 
Where there is bliss, there is God.

Oh Girl students!
It is first necessary to control and discipline the five sense organs. See no evil, hear no evil, think no evil, do no evil and talk no evil. See what is good. Talk what is good. This is the way to God. We must try to realise this truth. The crow keeps on crying kav, kav, kav (Oh God! Protect me, Protect me – caw in telugu is a ‘plea for protection’). In this respect, the crow is better than man who never thinks of God. The crow is also endowed with qualities of selflessness and social conscience. Whenever the crow finds some tasty material, it does not pounce at it in a hurry. The crow thinks of her flock and calls them crying, ‘kav, kav, kav’ in order to partake the food. The crow considers itself as a part of its flock of crows. The crow stands as an example of unity and selflessness.

The ant never eats anything in a lonely manner. It does not rest until all ants of its abode come and gather the material. The ant shares its happiness with fellows. It has a great sense of equality. This is the reason why Tyagaraja sang, “Oh Rama! You are present in the ant as well as in Lords Brahma, Shiva and Keshava!” He expressed by this song the truth that God is present in all beings right from ant up to Lord Brahma.

Many of you sit for meditation daily. It is common in Indian families that the sanctum of meditation is situated adjacent to the kitchen. This is a reminder of the fact that meditation is for head as food is for the body. You must always keep this in mind. Meditation improves intelligence, just as food fosters body. Without caring for intelligence, if one fosters body alone, the end result is disastrous. Meditation fosters intellect; science fosters intelligence and food develops body. Japa, Tapa, Yajna, Bhajan, etc. will broaden the heart. We must not neglect any of them. While doing Bhajan, you should not give scope for complacency. Do not consider it as a funny event or ritual. You must carefully follow the tune, beat, melody and the idea and meaning behind the song. Bhajan, when followed sincerely, takes one to divine ecstasy that transforms the very core of the individual.

There are no differences between religions at their base. All are one. The seeker must search one’s own mind in order to realise divinity; there is no point in seeking God in external aspects of religion. Each religion follows certain rules and norms of its own. But God is beyond all rules or regulations or philosophies. He is not bound by anything. Therefore, no single religion is at liberty to assume a fixed or rigid belief over God’s form, nature or will. However, every religion has to work within certain limitations and disciplines. A seeker may belong to Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, or any other religion. But he must realise that methods of worship may vary but God is one. In fact God is not in religion; He is in your heart. A true follower of religion is one who recognises this truth.

All religions teach good alone! 
One must act in this light of understanding! 
Which religion is bad when minds are good? 
Listen, Oh the valorous girls of Bharat! 
Character Is Hall-mark Of A Good Human Being

You must keep the mind clean. Without wasting sacred time, we must engage ourselves in selfless service with all our hearts. There is only one race, the race of humanity. There may be differences of colour, climate, language and form. But, all belong to only one family, that is humanity! Who is the father of this family? He is God. When this father is forgotten how can there be a family.

Everyone must be engaged in his worldly chores while keeping always this Father in mind. The essential purpose of education lies in teaching this duty, this ideal, this secret and this goal. All endeavours must be focused at this very goal.

Girl Students!
Beyond your college and hostel, you find many negative forces in society. All of you here must develop a formidable positive force and provide ideal examples in order to improve conditions of society. You must lay proper foundations in this direction.

This is my motherland 
This is my dear mother tongue, this is my religion! 
Was there anyone on earth 
Who did not speak thus, proudly?

Do not grow as cowards. Develop courage and go about the pursuit of truth. You must take a resolve for such a sacred way of life. Foster character which is the hallmark of a good human being. Without character life is a waste. End of education is character. Good name is more precious than life. Without it, life is equal to that of a crow. What is the difference between a crow and a cuckoo? We love cuckoo because it has a sweet voice. You must remember that basing on words one speak others form opinion about him. Your good words endear you to people around you. You cannot always oblige, but you can always speak obligingly. Speak good. Do good. Such people are a wealth to any nation. Out of what you learn in this college, if you put into practice atleast two or three aspects, the time you spent becomes worthwhile. People may be under the impression that Sri Sathya Sai College is turning out sanyasins and applauders. Good people, call them by any name, are the real asset to the society at anytime. Noble principles are rarely acquired in the world. When you are on the right path you need not worry about other’s opinions. Serve God. This divine principle must form the base of your education. God is the sustainer. God is the path. God is the witness!

Oh, the blissful Sai Rama! 
You create tears, you wipe tears! 
You change a recluse into a reveller 
and a reveller into a recluse! 
Oh, the fire of divinity! Oh boy, Rama!

He creates tears and He wipes tears! What for? He creates tears so that one craves for God and cries for His sight. He wipes those tears that are the result of worldly troubles. He turns a recluse into a reveller and a reveller into a recluse. Ordinary people feel jealous about wealthy people. In fact the wealthy people are always filled with all sorts of worries; therefore wealth is a kind of disease. It is very difficult for a wealthy man to become a Yogi. He is always worried about retaining what he earned and about Government raids, etc.

Real bliss and joy is enjoyed by a Yogi, who sees divinity within himself and in everything he looks at. Yoga is closely associated with Tyaga. The divine feeling and peace obtained by Tyaga and Yoga cannot be found anywhere else. I am not against material studies. They are necessary no doubt. Without having worldly knowledge it is difficult to live in this world. But, along with this, it is more important to develop divine feelings and qualities. Antar bahishcha tat sarvam vyapya Narayana sthitah - Narayana is present inside as well as outside of everything. The outer has to be realised through material education and the indweller has to be realised through Yoga. I conclude my discourse with a blessing that all of you will be able to achieve these two aspects in your lives.