The End of Education is Character

You may gain mastery over sciences, reign among scholars,
Fight bravely in battles,
Take birth as an emperor and rule over kingdoms,
And donate untold gold and cattle in charity.
You may be able to count the number of stars in the sky,
Name all the species of living beings,
Study the eight limbs of scholarship,
And even travel to the Moon.
But can you control the body and the senses,
Steady the mind and turn it inward,
And acquire a firm, selfless heart?

Embodiments of Love!

Students, Teachers and Patrons of Education!
The world is ruled by science and technology. First, scientists have made astonishing strides in the fields of plastics, electronics and computers, atomic power and space research. Satellites have been sent into space. Boundless time, effort and money is spent on the investigation of atomic power, but there is no corresponding benefit. In the anxiety to exceed each other’s achievements, scientists have set aside morality and human values. Second, we have political and financial turmoil. Men quarrel and wage wars on the basis of religion and nationality. Attachment to family and power is unrestrained. Regional differences and hatred are dividing the sacred and ancient land of Bharat into pieces. Violent agitations by students have grown beyond limits. Science has become all-important and morality has declined — What is the cause of such retrograde progress in these two aspects?

Human Values: Today’s Prime Need

What is it that man must desire today? We need virtuous, selfless boys and girls. We need heroes who are ready to sacrifice for the welfare of the motherland. Unfortunately, man wrongly expects happiness from wealth and comforts. Truly, worldly objects bestow no happiness. If one feels joy in their midst, it is only temporary.

Chatrapati Shivaji had no dearth of wealth and power. Then, what is the significance in his surrendering to Samartha Ramdas and requesting his guidance? King Janaka also abounded in material prosperity. Then, why did he seek refuge with Sage Yagnavalkya? Since ancient times, even the most powerful emperors of India have approached penniless renunciates to earn peace and security. Peace, the prime need of man, is available only through Atma-jnana.

It is essential for students to understand why morality and spirituality have disappeared from society. Education without character, science without human values, commerce without ethics, and politics without truth are responsible for the erosion of virtue. Students have a duty to develop patriotism and restore these forgotten values. Today’s education makes one clever but does not instill virtue. Students transform their heads (mastakam) into books (pustakam) without practising human values. There is no benefit in turning your head into a book or vice versa. Recognise the path of Truth and demonstrate it in day-to-day living. How can we develop human values?

Sinning by losing fear of sin,
Adopting a path devoid of love for God,
Man has destroyed his human qualities.
This is the cause of unrest in the world.

Man must fill his heart with love for God (Daiva-preeti), fear of sin (papa-bheeti) and morality in society (sangha-neeti). Instead of restricting yourself to pride in your state or province, develop love for the Motherland and help bring about prosperity in the country.

Present-day education develops cleverness,
But not even a trace of virtue.
You may master a million subjects. But devoid of virtue,
What fruit can they bear, what is their use?

“The proper study of mankind is man”. Unity in thought, word and deed is most essential. The world can be benefitted only by those who demonstrate humanness in actions, not by those who are human only in name. Scientists and politicians set many destructive precedents for youth of the country. The world has no need for slogans written on walls, statements issued by politicians and speeches made from high platforms. The world needs people imbued with integrity. All that is learned must culminate in behaviour. Life today is based on show, expenditure and comfort. Man’s problems cannot be solved by money or science, but by man alone. Man must transform himself to live as a human being. Man lives like a demon, like an animal.

Education Must Develop Selflessness

Students, you see education as a means to secure a job. Education and a job must be disjoined. “Education should be for life, not for a living”. Animals and birds also feel the pangs of hunger and try to fill their stomachs. So, mere living is not enough. We must understand the secrets of life. Schools propagate knowledge about living but not about life. Human birth is Divine. Unmindful of the sanctity of our birth, we aspire for pleasures of the world.

Worldly comforts are necessary. But life should not be dedicated to their pursuit. Worldly pleasures are subject to change and destruction. Men are bound to die. But ideals remain immortal. Students should not merely cultivate ideals, but spread them in the world.

Since ancient times, India has propagated the endless stream of Atma-jnana. But today we find discord, falsehood, injustice and devilish qualities ruling people’s minds in Bharat, the birthplace of spirituality. Students alone are the inheritors of these problems, and they alone are capable of solving them.

Students, Embodiments of Love!

Fill your hearts with the aim of dedicating your lives to the Motherland. Selfishness is unworthy of you. “Fish is better than selfish”! Man is not able to rid society of wickedness and immorality because he acts with selfishness. Love must be developed, and the heart must be expanded.

Love lives by Giving and Forgiving.
Ego lives by Getting and Forgetting.

In ancient Bharateeya heritage, we have Ashtadasha Puranas. Their essence is — “Help Ever, Hurt Never”. Follow these principles tenaciously. By neglecting these guideposts, man descends into unrighteousness with every step. In every statement, truth is absent. In every look, love is diminished. In every desire, foresight is put aside. Every ambition is selfish. Ideas which promote long-term progress are nowhere to be seen. Divine Consciousness in man is asleep, while differences based on religion and caste are uppermost in his mind. Attachment and hatred roam the world. Truly, human qualities have been devastated in the world today. We need “quality”, not “quantity”. A teaspoon of cow’s milk is useful. Why have barrels of donkey’s milk?

Money is Desirable, Within Limits

Money, money, money… Earning (sampadana) is not as important as values and traditions (samskaram). Excessive money makes people mad. I advise students always to earn whatever is necessary for daily living. ‘Na sreyo Niyamam Vina’ — There can be no progress without limits. Our body temperature is 98.4°F. A reading of 99°F is a fever. Our eyeballs can see only a limited brightness. Excessive brightness burns the retina. Blood pressure is normal at 120/80. Variation beyond these limits signals heart-trouble.

Yes, to lead an independent life, to avoid reliance on others, money is indeed essential. But it is surprising to see what ‘educated’ people do in the interest of money. Even illiterate villagers have a sense of sacrifice, but educated people have none. Wherever there are more universities and law colleges, we find more uncultured behaviour and injustice! In remote hamlets and forests devoid of such institutions, people lead peaceful and simple lives.

What is the reason for this despicable state of morality in our country? Selfish desires are growing beyond limits. Less Lugguage, More Comfort. Reduce your responsibilities and desires. Money is like a shoe. When the shoe is loose, we cannot walk. If tight, it causes pain. Excessive money as well as shortage of money are undesirable. Keep as much as you need. That is the way to peace. Peace is within ourselves, not outside. Do not look for peace in degrees and positions.

What is the use of all your education?
Who can change the destiny written on your forehead?
As soon as wrong ideas enter your mind,
Your intelligence dries up like a pond in summer.

Education does not mean collecting facts about the world in your head. “Lokaah Samastaah Sukhino Bhavantu” — May all the worlds be happy. When everyone is happy, your happiness is automatically assured. Educated people care only about themselves and their family, not about society. Can we exist independent of society? Our life is intermingled with society. The welfare of society alone is our welfare. The journey of life starts with the individual, but it must progress to the family and then, to the society — from "I" to "We".

Who Am I?

What is the “I”? There are two kinds of “I”: The single-letter “I”, and the three-letter “eye”. “Eye” is the body, “I” is the soul. You are not the body, the senses or the mind. They are only instruments. Using them as tools, base your life on the letter “I”.

There are many new students attending today. Students! From waking to sleeping you say, “My house, my car, my pant, my shirt, my book”… Everything is “my, my, my”. Who are you? I cannot see students who ask themselves, “Who am I?” When you say “my body”, you are different from the body. Then, who are you? Enquire along these lines, and the foundation of spirituality will dawn in you.

“Skill” Your Knowledge

Science has advanced but ignorance has also grown correspondingly. They have moved together, balancing each other. Man’s entire life is developed on the basis of knowledge. How does he use this knowledge? When we “skill” our knowledge, life is well-balanced. When we “kill” our knowledge, the balance is upset. Today’s students are “killing” their knowledge. How?

See no evil, See what is good.
Hear no evil, Hear what is good.
Talk no evil, Talk what is good.
Think no evil, Think what is good.
Do no evil, Do what is good.

Bad looks, bad thoughts, bad talks, bad works: This is “killing” knowledge. Jihve Rasajna Madhura Priyatvam, Satyam Hitam Tvam Paramam Vadami — Tongue must speak sweet, truthful and beneficial words. Our tongue is sacred. We should not allow bad words to form on it, especially words finding fault with others. We should not speak about others’ faults, make fun of them or belittle them. If possible, help others. If you cannot, sit quietly without harming anyone. That too is a big help!

Brahmacharya is the foundation for life. Grihastha stage is like the walls. Vanaprastha is the roof. In the same way, self-confidence is the foundation. Self-satisfaction is the wall. Self-sacrifice is the roof. Self-realisation is the life. These four stages depend on the strength of the foundation. Our life can be full of happiness and peace only when these years are well-utilised.

Students, practise the precepts you learn here and transform yourself into exemplary men and women. Science and technology are very necessary. Science is not evil but it is being misused. You can use a knife to slice a fruit or to slash someone’s throat. The fault lies with the hand, not with the knife. Science is similar.

Science, science, science… Without the support of spirituality, science is blind and cripple. We must see science and spirituality as “positive” and “negative” and use them harmoniously. Science grants worldly happiness while spirituality grants happiness hereafter. Science is incomplete because it does not encompass the mind and Atma. Science is just knowledge, a collection of facts… it is “gas”. Man got the name manishi from the word manas (mind). The mind, his distinguishing feature, must discriminate between the permanent and the temporary.

Today, there are five types of knowledge. First, bookish knowledge, is found everywhere. This turns later into superficial knowledge. Everybody has these two but the third, general knowledge, is zero! The fourth, discrimination knowledge, is being used, but in the wrong way. Today “individual discrimination” is used — “Is it convenient and beneficial to me and my family?” No, no. We must exercise “fundamental discrimination” — Is it good for me, my family, for the world… Is it the Truth? Only with such discrimination, the fifth — practical knowledge — dawns.

Practical knowledge is scarce. Based on bookish and superficial knowledge, people enter into lengthy arguments. If one says “yes”, another says “no”. We spend our lives in such shallow thinking. No, we must descend deep into life! We must face everything!

Life is a challenge, meet it!
Life is a game, play it.
Life is love, enjoy it.
Life is a dream, realise it.

Control Your Senses

We must stand up against situations in life! Only when we face and conquer circumstances, our conscience exudes contentment and satisfaction. We must walk the path that satisfies the conscience. Students are interested in satisfying only their “conscious”, not their “conscience”. The conscience is our real power, strength and awareness. It is unchanging, beyond understanding. How can scientists, who do not even understand themselves, grasp anything about the conscience?

Even Churchill declared, “Scientists today struggle to understand everything, but they make no efforts to understand themselves”. Scientists exert to control everything external, but they are not able to control their senses. This is exactly what young Prahlada advised his father, Hiranyakashipu:

You, who have won supremacy over all the worlds,
Father,
cannot control your own mind and senses.

“Father, you have won over the worlds, even subjugated the five elements of nature. But your senses and your mind remain beyond your control. So what are your undisputed power and strength worth?” Therefore, control of the senses is most important for students. The world abounds in violence only because students are slaves of their senses. We must be “masters”, not “slaves”. When can we be masters? Only with control of the senses.

Too Much Freedom is Harmful

Students! Young children are pure at heart. Only due to faults in the education system, they seek destructive paths. Students are selfless and sacred. Parents at home and teachers in schools lead them astray. It is natural for parents to be attached to their children, but it should be within limits. Parents must always be watchful about their children’s behaviour. Today’s parents themselves do not know what is right conduct. How can they guide children? There is too much freedom. Yes, freedom is desirable. What kind of freedom?

The end of wisdom is freedom.
The end of culture is perfection.
The end of knowledge is love.
The end of education is character.

Yes, this kind of freedom is definitely worth pursuing. But by giving children the liberty to act as they please, by letting them return home at 1 a.m. or 2 a.m., by not questioning their whereabouts, parents totally ruin them. Students have no manners and discipline. However, this is not entirely their fault. Excessive love of the parents encourages their waywardness.

Serve Your Motherland

Students, strive to demonstrate your purity in every field of activity. Do not study for degrees alone. Study for self-satisfaction. Serve your country, serve your country, serve your country — This is absolutely essential. To depart to Iran, Iraq, Germany, the USA or Japan soon after securing an Engineering or Medical degree is treason to the Motherland! You must serve Mother India which has given birth to you and brought you up. Every individual should serve his country. Is it proper to leave one’s own mother and consider some other lady as mother? ‘Janani Janmabhumishcha Svargadapi Gareeyasi’ — The mother and motherland are worth far more than heaven itself.

If all the educated children go abroad, what will become of our nation? Rather than earning hundreds of thousands outside, you will enjoy greater peace of mind if you earn hundreds here. This is morality. “Money comes and goes, morality comes and grows”. Students, develop patriotism. If you do not have love for your country, how can you love your body? The country (desam) and your body (deham) are reflections of each other. We do not need to go abroad and beg for a living! What is available in Bharat is not present anywhere else.

Loving Mother India is not a matter of shame! Since ancient times, India alone has propagated spirituality and various kinds of knowledge throughout the world. But Indians are in the same pitiable state as an elephant unaware of its strength. The elephant, unaware of its own strength, shudders at the sight of the small iron rod shown by its master. In the same way, we become a prey to attraction, attraction, attraction… We get attracted by the money and glamour of foreign countries. No, no. We do not need this attraction.

Mind Determines Bondage and Liberation

We do not need different kinds of “information”. We need “transformation”. This is the difference between worldly and spiritual education. Science is “outlook”. Spirituality means looking inward. What is the use in looking outward? Even animals experience the world through the five senses of touch, sight, hearing, taste and smell. We must cultivate inner vision. We must introspect in every situation, “Is it right or wrong?” Our mind alone is accountable for both bondage and liberation.

Students!

Your heart may be compared to a lock. It is not possible to open it with any key. Our mind alone is the key. When you insert the key of the mind into the lock of your heart and turn “right”, it opens. When you turn left, it locks. When we turn our vision to the world, we develop attachment. When we turn to Divinity, detachment results. Therefore, for attachment and liberation, our direction alone matters, while the lock and the key are the same. Cultivate inner view. This is true education.

Yes, worldly education is necessary. I do not ask you to give it up. Whatever you do, do it with shraddha (dedication). “The secret of happiness is not doing what you like, but liking what you do”. Every act must be suffused with Love. If you say, “I can do only those acts with Love which I like to do”, that is the wrong approach. Whatever you do, infuse it with interest and Love. See all work as sadhana, as an offering. Then, work is transformed into worship. This is the way to serve our nation and set the right examples for the progress of India.

Honour Your Parents

Students!

For your birth, for your upbringing, for your education in Bharat — For these invaluable boons, you must bring a good name to your parents. Our culture teaches four guiding principles:

Matru Devo Bhava
Pitr Devo Bhava
Acharya Devo Bhava
Atithi Devo Bhava

Treat the mother as God
Treat the father as God
Treat the teacher as God
Treat the guest as God

No matter how high your position in life, even if you become the Prime Minister, you are still your mother’s son. First and foremost, love and respect your mother. Second, respect your father. The world can never honour one who does not respect his own parents.

Students!

Each of you must sit alone in solitude and ponder upon this important issue — “Food, blood and head” are gifts from parents. First comes gratitude to the parents. Everywhere I look, I find students who do not even feel gratitude to their parents! Parents also indulge their children, instead of pointing out this deficiency in their character. Children consider parents as “friends”! Parents should not permit such reckless behaviour. Why? It will only ruin the children’s future.

I know I am taking a lot of your time, but I want to tell you this significant point. You may have heard of the poet, Premchand. There is a nice example in his life. He had two sons studying in Allahabad. Premchand and his wife planned to depart to Nainital one day. They told their sons, “You must come and see us off at the railway station”. Both the sons went to the station as instructed.

The older son bowed low at his parents’ feet and said, “Namaste, father. Namaste, mother”. The second son walked-up arrogantly with hands in his pockets and exclaimed, “How are you, mummy and daddy?” He did not salute them or show reverence. Premchand was shocked but he kept quiet, only talking of their studies and health. The train started moving. The older son stood respectfully with folded hands on the platform till the train went out of sight. The younger son shouted out, “Oha Oha, bye bye”!

In the train, Premchand was very restless. He paced up and down nervously. His wife asked, “What is the problem?” He explained, “Didn’t you notice? Our younger son showed us no reverence?” His wife said, “Poor boy, he is young and inexperienced. Why should you find fault with him? Why worry over such a triviality?”

Premchand lay down. Before falling asleep, he told his wife again, “Our younger son didn’t show us respect”. He could not think about anything else. He spoke of this incident on many occasions. His wife always replied in defense of their son, “Has he caused us any harm? You should stop worrying about it”. Premchand would tell her strongly, “You think I’m concerned for myself? No. With such behaviour, he will jeopardise his own future.”

Only a student who honours his parents can enjoy a safe and secure future. This truth was amply demonstrated in the lives of Premchand’s sons. The older boy passed his examinations in flying colours and, in due course, became a judge in the Allahabad High Court. Wherever he went in the city, people bowed down to him. The younger son worked as a clerk, also in Allahabad. Instead of receiving respect, he had to salute everyone! Do you see? One who respected his parents became worthy of everyone’s respect. The one who did not respect his parents was compelled to bow down to all. This inevitable law can never be changed by anyone.

Regardless of your degrees and positions, first respect your parents. Parents may give you freedom due to their attachment. Love and respect them, and do not misuse that freedom. From their point of view, they have given you certain liberties. From your perspective, you can use the freedom constructively. Respect your parents.

During this fortnight learn the right ways to think, speak and act in different situations. With the hope and blessing that you imbibe sacred ideals, I bring My discourse to a close.

(The National Anthem of India, ‘Jana Gana Mana…‘, was sung upon Swami’s instruction)

May 20, 1991