From Falsehood to Truth
You should not become arrogant on being
educated.
How big is that learning? Humility is the benign
form of education.
Know that knowledge is unfathomable; and
shed your arrogance and maligned ego;
Teachers and Girl Students!
Every day we come across words like mother, father, teacher, and God. These are imbued with immense meaning and joy of nectar. As soon as one is born, it is the mother who provides milk and fostering of all kinds. She is the first person whom the newborn comes across. She is the one who introduces the father to the child. Then, the father takes up the responsibility of the child’s grooming; and he takes the child to the teacher. Along with secular studies, the Guru teaches the transcendental education leading towards Godward path.
Therefore, mother, father, and Guru are the people who initiate and establish God in man’s heart. This is the reason why these three words have assumed prominence in everybody’s life. We find a parallel to these in the aspects of devotion, Jnanam (wisdom), renunciation, spiritual reasoning (Tattvam), and liberation. These aspects are inseparable from each other, as they are very closely interrelated. The first one is Bhakti (Devotion). This teaches knowledge pertaining to the unique divine and eternal principle. Non-dual perception is known as Jnanam (knowledge). The path of devotion teaches the knowledge of the unique form through several ways of worship. This understanding gradually takes us to the concept, “Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagat – The whole world is filled by Vishnu”; and leads us from temporal desires to the desire for moksha (liberation). The Tattva-jnanam is denoted by phrases such as Ayam Atma Brahma (This Atma (self) is Brahman) and Aham Brahma Asmi (I am verily Brahman myself). What is Tattva-jnanam? What is meant by Jagat? What is Self? Who is Jiva?
The knowledge (or enquiry) pertaining to these aspects will enable us to merge into God the Supreme Soul. Adveetyam means without the second or the principle of oneness, otherwise known as Mukti or liberation. The Bhagavatam is a standard scripture that defines the principles of Bhakti (Devotion), Jnanam (knowledge), and Vairagyam (renunciation). In the word Bhagavatam, there are fine syllables or letters – Bha-ga-va-ta-mu. They are the five vital airs, the five sheaths, and the five senses which are essential things of our human body. These five letters connote the five aspects of Bhakti, Jnanam, Vairagyam, Tattvam, and Moksha. ‘Bha’ connotes Bhakti, ‘Ga’ connotes Jnana, ‘Va’ connotes Vairagyam, ‘Ta’ for Tattvam, and ‘Mu’ for Mukti. Bhagavatam extends beyond aspects related to God.
The aspects of devotion are described in a heartening manner so that the divine plays of God are memorized and enjoyed in our daily lives. The divinity that unifies God with man is explicated in Bhagavatam. Everything is included in Bhagavatam. Bhagavatam leads to betterment through Bhakti, Jnana, Vairagyam principles. It describes how human life has evolved, the purpose or cause behind this life, what ideals it connotes, what is its inner significance, and what is its goal? We must try to understand these aspects well. Prahlada as a student had spoken to his classmates thus,
“There is neither sanctity nor divine glory in it;
Why this misery of birth, death and rebirth?
Wise intellect seeks the path of no birth and
death.”
The Highest Degree One Can Obtain
We have been watching all along. People are dying. People are taking birth. What is the goal? “Seek the path”, he said. What is this path? Real path, is the same path by which we had come. We are searching because we forgot the route and the root. We forgot the origin because of the delusion of worldly pleasures. You are aware that the child as soon as it is born, it cries, “Kva” “Kva”, meaning ‘what is my origin? This quest stays only until the child comes in contact with this external atmosphere. Thereafter, the child takes this world as everything and gets fully immersed in it. In regard to this delusion or forgetfulness, the Vedanta cautions us, “Wise intellect must seek the path”. It pleads, ‘How long do you want to camp in this place’. The animal intellect forgets while a reformed intellect seeks the right path. Purandara das said, ‘Oh Madhava! This birth happens only because we forgot you. My blissful form had been transformed into this earthy form, because I forgot you”. Every theist, wise man, and spiritual man keeps goal in mind while leading a normal life; and heads towards the principle of truth. Care and discrimination on whatever we do should be our way of life. Lack of this is the main cause for all sorrows, troubles, and agonies.
This goal is the final degree that anybody can obtain. This is the highest pursuit in life. All your degrees pale before this achievement. People are seized in fear at every stage, because of ignorance. Fear does not leave a person until Truth is realised. We must endeavour to leave this transient world and to attain eternity or immortality. This should be our daily prayer.
Asatoma Sadgamaya
Tamasoma Jyotiragamaya
Mrityorma Amritangamaya
From where did we come? We had come from Atma. People are forgetting Atma and are after Annam (food). Our duty is to seek Atma. It is the purpose of our birth. We have the mirror before us. Instead of looking for our own face in if we are directing the mirror at others. Then, how can you expect to see your own face in it? This is the kind of contemplation everyone must be involved in. Maturity in this kind of contemplation leads to realization of the true form. This is the real goal and fulfilment for man.
Girl Students!
In the future, you are going to be mothers. But you must endeavour to become embodiments of motherhood. Then, you must go further and teach the ideals to people. You must lead a good family life and take full enjoyment of it. But, you should not develop craving for it. Your love should not be directed towards transient things of the family. Love should be directed towards the principle of Atma which is its real origin too. At this prime age you will do well to engage in the task of learning good aspects of life and learn to do in a thorough and perfect manner whatever you take up.
“Listen to the good words.
If life is procrastinated in silly deeds
Know that human life cannot be obtained again
Path is only one; and don’t stray away.”
Tyagaraja’s Poser
Listen to good words, speak good words, and teach what is good, this is the gist of education. Reading of books is not all about education. The transcendental truth is different from the apparent facts of life. Your education must be directed towards the pursuit of this eternal and imperishable principle of truth. Realising the goal is the fulfilment of life. In life, there are two important aspects which everyone must observe. One is Danam (charity) and the other is Namam (recitation of name). Annadanam and Hari naama - charity of food and recitation of Hari. Hari’s name is the boat of safety for this ocean of life. The body is fostered by food. Only when the body is fed properly it is possible to keep the name of Hari on the tongue. So charity of food through the hand implants Hari in the heart. Atma is not a separate entity. Our scriptures have termed the heart as Atma. When somebody asks your name, you say Rama, Krishna, and so on. But, your real name is Hrudaya (Heart); Atmic bliss is your description. Immortality is your address. You should strive to keep up that ever truthful name. The name of Tyagaraja is quite befitting his character. Once the king of Tanjavur had sent him several presents consisting of gold coins, golden ornaments, chariot, and other things.
As he looked at them, Tyagaraja’s feelings were expressed into the lyrical composition,
“Nidhi chala sukhamä, Rämuni sannidhi
Chala sukhamä nijamuga telupave manasa...”
O, mind tell the truth which is more comfortable, wealth or Rama’s presence. This Tyagaraja’s interlocution is indeed a challenging poser to every one of us. Wealth and riches are like passing clouds, whereas God’s prop is the wealth that can never be dissipated. With this view in mind, Tyagaraja had declined all those presents sent by the king. This is what is known as Tyaga and hence his name of Tyagaraja is quite befitting his character. Despite his poverty, Tyagaraja had declined all worldly riches and sought only the grace of Sri Rama. Some have names like ‘Soundar rajan’ (king of beauty). But in reality, he may be looking ugly. Somebody is called ‘Satyam’ but in real life he may be talking only lies. Similarly, the name ‘Shantamma’ connotes a person with peaceful disposition; but in real life, this person is full of restlessness and anger. One must endeavour to behave in a way befitting the name given to him/her. There are five kosas (sheaths) in our body. The gross body is Annamaya kosa. The vibrant aspect of life force is Pranamaya kosa. The domain of mental activity is known as Manomaya kosa. The fifth one is blissful state known as Anandamaya kosa. It is deplorable that many people are always indulging in Annamaya aspect only, forgetting all other aspects. But our goal is beyond all there sheaths. These days ‘man’ is known only by his external shape of body and not through his behaviour. What charm is there in such a figure of man?
What you say, ‘I am man’, is in reality half-truth. The other half of the truth is that you are ‘not animal’. Truth is complete when you conjoin there two statements. Man must prove himself as different from other animals, by avoiding violence, ignorance, and inertness. Look at this. This is a rose. A real rose. Therefore, no one needs to specially invite a bee to reach this rose. It comes on its own. But, does the bee approach a plastic rose. Similarly, only when there are human thoughts in the heart one can be recognised as man. Otherwise, he is only a human-figure, or an artificial-man or robot. We are after ‘art’ while forgetting the ‘heart’. In fact, art must come from the heart. Therefore, it is said, love is God. Form of God is love. He is the abode of love. When a man keeps this God of love in his heart, can he resort to violence? Such a heart develops fear of sin. Love of God and fear of sin are like twins. Along with them, it is necessary to develop social ethos, or morality. This morality is the sheet anchor of our nation. There may be a person without the identity of a nation or a community. One need not have any fear about him. But, the one without morality is highly dangerous. By morality we mean good behaviour. This is true education.
“Honour of any community depends on its ethics
Without morals the community gets spoiled
Real identity of a community is in its ethics”
Listen oh, valorous children of Bharat! While coming I noticed several students carrying heavy loads of books on their way to classes. You should not become a slave to books. Man must become Madhava so as to change the world into an orderly abode. Instead of being a pasu (animal) he must become Pashupati (eshwar). Only that kind of education which leads to this end is spiritual education. Out of five basic human values; namely truth, dharma, peace, love, and non-violence, you need to take care of three, because love is God, Dharma is God and Truth is God. Fear of sin leads to non-violence. Peace is there where there is non-violence. Peace and non-violence are the products of fear of sin. Peaceful living is the cardinal Dharma that glows as morality in society. Therefore, these five values are inseparable. We have in us five aspects and five breaths and three attributes (Gunas) – love of God, Fear of sin, and ethics of society. Foster three aspects and you will become personifications of the Trinity of Lords. Today being Mukkoti Ekadasi, you are all fortunate to hear this discourse. I shall be back to Puttaparthi for Lunch. I bless that all of you, will imbibe well these aspects.