Role Of Teachers, Parents And Governments

Embodiments of Divine love! Teachers! Students! Educationists! 

Despite all the knowledge one may have acquired, if one has no concern for the welfare of the world, all that knowledge is worthless. Without good qualities, all knowledge is useless.

Without refinement in daily actions, 
vast scholarship will not confer renown. 
Conformity to rules without morality,
will not enhance one’s worth. 
Will anyone respect you in the world 
if you display the arrogance of power, overstepping 
the limits? 
Going astray from Dharma, 
if you preach Dharma to others, 
Will you be deemed human at all? 
If you have not cherished the fear of sin 
And not entertained the Love of God in your 
thoughts, 
what have you achieved so far?
Leading a truly human life, 
be human at least from now onwards.

Embodiments of love! 

What we need today is not a new system of education. Nor do we need a new social system. Such changes will not serve to solve the problems we face. We need today men and women who are pure in mind and heart. In a society lacking in purity of mind and integrity of character, noble-minded human beings will be few. Without spirituality, there will be neither purity, nor morality, nor integrity. Where there are no men and women of noble character, the state will not flourish.

Bharat Is Like A Multi-Petalled Rose

No country in the world has so many races, creeds, and languages as the sacred land of Bharat. Bharat shines forth as a multi-racial garden with its many races, creeds, languages, and cultures. The different creeds and cultures are like so many flowers in a garden. The varied manners and cultures contribute to the multi-faceted brilliance of the nation. The magnificence of this diversity is beyond description. Bharat is like a multi-petalled lotus.

Bharat is the home of people who cherished Love as the way of the Spirit and Truth as the breath of their life. Unfortunately, lost in the pursuit of worldly, physical, and material objects, the people have forgotten their basic divinity as human beings.

It is in this context that the educational system has to be examined. Teachers have to consider the fundamental features of this system. From early times, the ancient system of education developed a broad outlook and promoted virtues and morals which served to foster noble ideals in society. What are the changes we witness today in the educational setup? Who is responsible in this sacred land of Bharat for moulding the young children of today into ideal citizens of tomorrow? It is only when this question is properly examined that we will find the right solution to our problems. Is the responsibility that of the parents? Or is it that of the teachers who enrich the intellects of the students? Or that of the national leaders who profess to strive for the progress of the nation? Or is it that of the administrators who are in charge of educational institutions? Or is it that of the writers who are producing the literature for the students and the public? The question may be asked whether all of them are discharging their respective duties properly. Let them examine their hearts and furnish the answer. Only then shall we find solutions to our educational problems.

Who Is Responsible For The Indiscipline?

Among students, discipline has almost totally declined. What are the means to restore this discipline on the right lines? Is anyone trying to find out the cause of indiscipline or the means to remedy the situation? Without seeking to find out who is responsible for this indiscipline, it is wrong to blame the students. They are not to blame.

The truth is: The students are not being taught the greatness of the culture and ideals of Bharat through suitable books and writings. Are we teaching our students the exemplary lives of those who struggled for freedom and gave even their lives for the sake of the country? To our students, are we imparting any inspiration from the lives of great leaders like Bala Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Netaji Subhash Bose who asserted the nation’s right to freedom? Are we teaching our students the message of great men who proclaimed the supremacy of morality and character?

Students Should Be Taught To Develop Good Qualities

We do not impart to our students the lessons of our great epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Are we teaching our students the story of Sri Rama, who sacrificed his all to fulfill the promises of his father? Are they told about the sacrifice of Dharmaja who went into exile and lived on roots and leaves to uphold Dharma? Do they learn about the devotion of Shravan Kumar, who did not spare himself in the service of his parents? Are the students taught anything about Ekalavya, who was prepared to offer anything desired by the preceptor as the debt he owed to him? Are we teaching our students the story of Prahladha, who rejoiced in chanting the Lord’s name and demonstrated the infinite power of the Divine in coming to the rescue of the devotee? Are we imparting to them the great message of the Bhagavad-gita, which is relevant not only to Bharat but to the entire world? Are they receiving the message of the Buddha, who proclaimed the truth that there is no greater virtue than refraining from harming others?

Are they taught the significance of the compassion of Jesus? Are they told about the message of Prophet Mohammed? Are they taught the hymns of Guru Nanak which glorify the unity of all faiths? Do they learn about courage and sacrifices made by great heroines like Jhansi Lakshmibai, Padmini, and others?

It is because such examples of noble conducts are not being taught to our students that their sense of patriotism is on the wane. Love of the country is turning into indifference. We have to develop in the students a deep sense of love for the country. Students should be taught how to use their talents and abilities in a worthy and ideal manner. Students today, without developing good qualities, are wasting their lives by bad association and giving free rein to their energies. Character alone is enduring. Students are going astray because their virtues are not cultivated.

All Are To Blame And Not One Single Agency

Who is responsible for this? In the home, the parents are responsible, in schools and colleges, the teachers, and outside, the governments which have failed to provide a proper system of education and the administrators who have not recognized their obligation to train young people on right lines. The responsibility thus rests on all of them and not on any one single agency. In the homes, the parents should teach the children to cultivate good qualities and noble ideals. Bookish knowledge alone is not enough. It is superficial and not practical. Students need also general knowledge and common sense.

The teachers, for their part, should impart knowledge and skills to the students, which will enable them to lead ideal lives. Students today are getting involved in all kinds of petty agitational movements. Morality and discipline are not to be found. Educational institutions are growing in numbers but the quality of education is declining. The reason is that proper textbooks are not made available to the children.

Morality and character are confined to books. 
The hearts are filled with foul things. 
The hands are used for selfish purposes. 
This is the progress made in education today. 
One repays with harm the good done to him. 
One betrays the man that feeds him. 
Students mock at teachers. 
This is our progress.

Students should cultivate human values. The teachings of great and noble souls should be taught to them. Education should not be to get degrees to earn a living but should be a preparation for the good life. Education should be for elevation. Teachers should teach students discipline, observance of humility and respect, and instill in them the spirit of service to society and the sense of fellowship.

There Is Only One Religion, The Religion Of Love

Differences of caste and creed should be eradicated from the minds of students. They should feel the sense of human unity, with faith in God. All religions teach essentially the same truths. Hence no religion should be despised. Because of the government’s policies, a wrong attitude has been developed towards religion. The concept of a secular state is bandied about. Secularism really means that you should have equal respect for all religions and beliefs. No one can be asked to renounce his faith in the name of secularism. There is only one caste, the caste of Humanity. There is only one religion, the religion of Love. There is only one language, the language of the Heart. Imagine how our students would be able to serve the nation in the future if these basic truths were taught to them. Hence, at the outset, teachers should set the example. Parents should exemplify ideals. The government should be exemplary in its actions. It is because teachers, parents, and rulers have failed to set the right example that today our educational system is in shambles.

Teachers should combine practice with precept, like the physical instructor who demonstrates the exercises the students should perform. In the hermitages of the ancient preceptors, this was how the Gurus taught their disciples.

The Six Qualities That Emanate From The Mind

The distinction between the body and the mind should be understood in this context. The body can stand still easily but cannot run so easily. In the case of the mind, to keep it still is difficult, but it can be always fleeting. From the body arise the six enemies of man: lust, anger, greed, delusion, pride, and envy. Man today is a victim of these enemies. But from the mind, many good qualities can emanate. Good qualities, good feelings, adherence to truth, devotion, discipline, and discharge of duty are the six qualities that emanate from the mind. These are the traits that uphold humanness. Man is called Manuja, the one who has come from Manu, the primal author of the Dharma-shastra (the Code of Conduct for all mankind). These are the qualities that have to be cultivated and practiced today. They are the property of man along with his mind. A good mind is a god-mind. The degeneration in education is indicated by the change in addressing a student as “good boy” in olden days, to “bye-bye” at present.

Teachers! Inspire your students by your example. Give no room for anger, jealousy, or hatred within you. Teach the children the three P’s: Purity, Patience, Perseverance. Armed with these three qualities, they can protect the nation better than any army or atom bombs. When Truth and Righteousness are protected, the nation will be secure. Truth is God. This is true for all countries, everywhere, without regard to nationality or creed. Both Truth and Righteousness transcend barriers of space and time.

Students have to be taught the path of spirituality. They have to acquire faith, which generates love. Self-confidence is the basis and Self-realisation is the roof. That is the ultimate destiny of man-- the full realisation of his human potential by practising human values.

Unity Of Head, Food And God Is Vital For All

When all concerned- from students to educational authorities—function in this spirit, they can achieve all that they want. Teachers should not be content with merely teaching the children. They should contact the parents and ascertain how the children are behaving at home. Most Bala-vikas Gurus are working in rural areas. It is not enough to relate stories and teach songs and Bhajans to the students. They should tell them about health, and food. For instance, in areas where fluorosis is rampant, they should teach the children how to treat the contaminated water before drinking. The teachers should teach them how to purify their heads and food to realise God. The unity of head, food, and God will make them ideal citizens of Bharat. Unity is vital for all, wherever they are and whatever their country, religion, or sex. Love should be the unifying force. Utilize the three days of the Conference for exploring all problems relating to your work in small groups and come to practical decisions.

Teachers! Promote the sense of human unity among all people, without regard to race, religion, or caste. Make Bharat the leader of the nations. The entire existence of Bharat is based upon spirituality. If spirituality goes, Bharat will cease to exist. If Bharat goes, the whole world will go. Faith in God is the life-breath of Bharat. With this faith, Bharat can face any challenge. Imbue the children with confidence and courage. Unify them through Love and Love alone.

Discourse in the Sai Ramesh Hall, Brindavan, on 19-7-1994.