The Educational Crisis And The Way Out

Wealth has been apotheosized; 
Arrogance has become a creed; 
Peace has become remote from man; 
Egoistic boast is fashionable. 
Property has become an adornment; 
Selfishness is installed in the heart; 
Sense of self-respect has declined; 
Hypocrisy has become the hallmark; 
Love and affection have become sickly; 
The heart is divorced from righteousness; 
Llife has become a burden; 
People have lost their moorings. 
What does the future hold? 
Make education value-based 
And ensure a future for Bharat!

Students! Embodiments of love!

Educationists! Bharat, which has been the treasure-house of spirituality, is steadily degenerating in dharma (righteousness). Injustice, dishonesty, immorality, and other demonic qualities are having free play in the country. In this situation, students alone—both men and women—will be able to deal with these forces and establish peace.

Students! If your parents feel unhappy if you are backward in your studies, how much more unhappy will Mother Bharat be feeling over the decline of moral values! Students must take a resolve at the outset to serve their mothers and the motherland. They must strive for the restoration of peace and order in the country. A country does not mean a piece of earth. It is the people who make the country.

What is the meaning of transformation of people? Transformation is not one specific object. It is the entire process of refinement by which people get rid of their bad thoughts and actions, cultivate good thoughts, and do good acts in daily life.

What is the meaning of vidya (education)? What is the kind of education suitable for young people, today? What are the norms of right education? What kind of education will promote the elevation of man? What is the use of the present system of education? The one who examines and finds the right answers to these five questions will be a wise adviser to the nation. The value of a person is not derived from education alone. The cultural refinement of his lifestyle is also essential.

What is meant by culture? It is the realization of the inherent Divinity in man and making it manifest in one’s way of life. A life without culture is like a house without light. A dark house is a home for foul-smelling bats and not for fragrant objects. A person without culture is like a stringless kite, which is tossed hither and thither. An education bereft of culture is worthless like a counterfeit coin. Hence, culture is most important, especially in relation to one’s character.

Education For Life, Not Merely For Living

In the sphere of education, many revolutionary changes are needed. Since the attainment of freedom fifty years ago, many committees have been set up by the government to go into the problem of educational reform. These committees have recommended many reforms. But, there has been no implementation of these reforms.

Even now, no one is trying to restore the ancient ideals of education. As a result, the country is riddled with violence and disorder. Educational institutions have become centers of disorder.

Vidya means acquisition of knowledge. In the English language, this is called "education." The term education is derived from the Latin term educare, which means "drawing out." The idea is to draw out what is latent. Acquisition of knowledge is a worldly aspect. But what has to be discerned is the Divine feeling present in the human heart. One refers to living and the other to life itself. In addition to earning a living one has to understand the purpose of life. Both these aspects are as essential as the two eyes for a person. Today, there is too much concentration on one aspect—how to earn a living? Even here, there is a steady decline in moral standards. No one makes a serious attempt to realize the Divinity in man. No attempt is made to understand one’s true nature. That is the real purpose of life. True education means trying to manifest the inner Divinity in man. How is this manifestation to be brought about?

Education is that which illumines the physical, the mental, and the social environment of man. It is not confined to one specific sphere. Education should illumine every aspect of life—the economic, the political, the moral, the spiritual, and other spheres of life. Students consider book knowledge as education. This gives them only superficial knowledge. They need practical knowledge. This knowledge should enable them to lead righteous lives.

Today, people are worshiping wealth as Divine. This is totally wrong. Wealth can never give peace of mind. It may provide physical comforts, but not mental peace. Without understanding this, people and the government imagine that there is great progress in education.

What is this progress?
Justice and morality are confined to books. 
The hearts have become the abode of all that is foul. 
Hands have become instruments of selfishness. 
This is the progress achieved by education, today.
(Telugu poem)

Education Must Be For The Well-Being Of Society

Is this the mark of true education? No. Efforts must be made to eliminate such feelings. Moreover, all that is learned must be utilized for promoting the well-being of society. All should work for the welfare of society.

"Sarvalokahiteratah (Let all rejoice in the well-being of all people in the world)."

"Sarvajnanasampannah (Let all possess wealth of all knowledge)."

"Sarvesamhitagunaihi (Let all be endowed with good qualities).” These are three main pronouncements regarding educated persons. This implies that every student, after completing his studies, should dedicate himself (or herself) to serving society. To do so, one should acquire all the necessary knowledge. Students should have all good qualities. A good student should promote a calm atmosphere wherever he stays. He should be ever prepared to help others. These are the marks of a good student. Unfortunately, students, today, are not having any of these qualities. Who is to blame? Not the students. Not the teachers. All in society are responsible. Students do not possess the requisite abilities to pursue the right path. Teachers also lack these abilities. They do not take up the task of molding the character of students from an early age. To do so they have to train themselves to be ideal teachers. When teachers lead an exemplary life, students will follow their example. There is no scrutiny of how teachers teach or how students study.

The Government is spending over Rs. 2,000 crores a year on education. No one knows what the outcome of all this expenditure is. What transformation is taking place in the students? What is their future? No one seems to enquire into all these. Only money is spent endlessly.

It Is Not Greatness But Goodness That Matters

Nor is that all. Politicians are invading the educational field and ruining the students. Students have, of course, to study political science. But, the educational field should not be politicized. Today, students are entering the political field and are not only spoiling their studies, but ruining their entire future. Hence, students should resolve to pursue their studies with devotion.

Parents also should encourage their children to pursue education in the right spirit. They should not desire so much that their children secure high ranks. It is not greatness that matters, but goodness. They should wish that their children should earn a good name rather than achieve purely academic excellence.

Make proper use of your education for the good of society. Be men of good character. That will make you shine before the public. True education will make you Divine. Education is not mere knowledge of words. It should broaden the mind. The mere acquisition of degrees is valueless. Character is more important and it can be developed only by taking to the spiritual path. Of what use is an education that does not promote good qualities?

Humility Is The Hall-Mark Of True Education

Students! Boys and Girls! Together with academic education, you have to acquire wisdom and a sense of right and wrong. Knowledge without wisdom, scholarship without discrimination, music without melody, learning without humility, society without discipline, friendship without gratitude, speech without truth—all these are utterly useless. Hence, everyone should seek to follow the correct path.

There is no sense or respect for people in society. Gratitude is absent. Scholars are without discretion. The educated lack humility. Humility is the hallmark of true education. Humility does not mean moving about with a bowed head. It calls for respect to humanness. It is beastly to go about causing fear in others. Humans should be free from fear. Both fear and frightening are animal qualities. Men must be fearless. Today, fear haunts every place. How does fear arise? When one is full of bad thoughts and bad feelings.

Educational institutions, today, are full of disorder and indiscipline. How different were the ancient abodes of learning! In ancient times education used to be offered free. In those days the preceptors used to send the students to the forests. The students used to be examined periodically in their studies. For instance, the students would be asked: What tree did you find useless in the forest you visited? The replies of the students varied, each one saying that one particular tree was useless. The preceptor did not accept their answers. He told them that all trees were useful, each in its own way. Every tree had something or the other of medicinal properties. If a tree did nothing else, it served to take in the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release the life giving oxygen for the benefit of man. Every tree serves a useful purpose. Equally, every human being is valuable. Today, education has become very expensive. Education should be made free. Then, there would be no room for corrupt practices over getting seats.

The Uniqueness Of Sai Education

In the Sai Educational System, there are no problems of student unrest because education is free. Our students are happy. All of us are also happy. Because of free education, the students’ behavior is exemplary. All the students feel spontaneously, “Here we are getting free education. We must conduct ourselves well to show our gratitude to all concerned.” Opportunities must be provided for students to develop such an attitude towards their alma mater. In our Institute, no fees is charged for anything.

We must strive to revive the ancient system of free education. Today, such a sacred approach to education is lacking among students, parents, teachers, and the authorities. The change must come at the Governmental level. Then, the public at large will also change. There must be a change in the moral climate of the educational system. Only then the educational institutions can turn out young men and women of character.

Tribute To Sai Students

The first thing students have to learn, today, is moderation in speech. Talk less and study more. Although I do not speak about it often, I am immensely happy over the character of our students. They are inspired by high ideals. Some of the students even go to the extent of reforming their parents. With due humility and reverence, they tell their parents to change their ways of living. Whenever I hear reports of such conduct by our students I rejoice in the fact that we have such students. I do not expect anything from the students. All that I desire is that they should earn a good name when they go out. Their behavior should be beyond reproach. Ill-educated students are worse than illiterates.

Skepticism seems to grow with more and more education. The more intelligent the students are, the more doubts develop in them. Lacking self-confidence, ultimately they fail to reach self-realization.

The students of our Institute are always happy. This happiness lends beauty to their lives. It is not physical beauty, but the spiritual beauty derived from good character.

Our Vice-President (in his Convocation address) dwelt at length on dharma. Today, sathya and dharma are not very much in evidence. Dharma seems to be fleeing from the people. Sathya and dharma are declining among the people. The ancient sacred Vedic teachings are disappearing. It is essential to revive them.

Students should not be obsessed with earning money (dhanam) alone. They must be keen on acquiring good qualities (gunas). Education without ethics is no education at all. Education must teach men to be sincere in thought, word, and deed as the mark of humanness. The state of Indian education is such that it breeds all sorts of bad tendencies in the students. It encourages deception and dishonesty.

Education should result in the purification of the heart. Students need not be over-anxious to score high marks. It is more important to cultivate a good heart. Revere your parents. Promote social improvement. Co-operate with your fellow-men. These are the things you should learn.

Make Nature Your Teacher

Make nature your teacher, instead of relying too much on books. The vast universe has many lessons to teach. Make you heart your preceptor. Esteem God as your best friend. He will never fail you, unlike most fair-weather friends in the world.

I prefer to hear that you have earned a good name for your behavior rather than praise for your scholarship. Do not calculate how much money you can earn from your degrees. You must ask yourselves, “What good can I do to my family? What help can I render to my fellow men?” Education is not for securing a job. It is for acquiring knowledge and wisdom. It is unfortunate that education has been linked to jobs and earning money.

You must move among the people in a friendly and comradely spirit. Do not hate anyone. Follow the principle: “Help ever; hurt never.”

Today, many occupy high positions and earn fabulous salaries. How many of them do work that can justify the salaries they are paid? Men who receive Rs. 20,000 a month do not do even Rs. 20 worth of honest work. This is treachery to the nation. An educated person must give proper return for the salary he receives. Students must bear this in mind when they enter service. They must give adequate return for the salary they receive. That will give you job satisfaction and soothe your conscience.

Our students are behaving in an exemplary manner. Whatever their background before joining the Institute, within a month the new students are transformed into ideal students. They develop commendable qualities.

Boys and girls! Wherever you may go and whatever institutions you may work in, bring a good name to the Institute and earn a good name for yourselves. Girl students who may get married should serve their in-laws in such a way that the good name of the Institute is vindicated. The mother-in-law should be proud of a well-educated daughter-in-law coming from the Sai Institute. The good name you earn will rejoice Me. Do your duty wherever you may go. Earn the esteem of your employers. That will please Me. This is My message to you.

Students’ Devotion To Swami

Students! Many of you have secured high ranks in the examinations. This year 150 students of the Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School appeared for the public examinations held by the Central Board. All of them passed in first class. In many States, even when one or two candidates get first class, they give publicity to it. I asked our students why they do not get their photos published in the papers when they have secured a first class. “We studied for the sake of Swami and not to get our photos published in the papers,” they replied. Those words delighted Me immensely. That such high sentiments are present among young children is known to very few. The children are full of fine qualities. They have the ability to develop the whole world. But, they do not try to utilize it. Students should realize the integral relationship between them and the world. Hence, they should not hesitate to serve the world with determination. They can achieve anything they want to.

Students possess immense power, more than anybody else. My students are My property. Earn a good name wherever you go—from the home to the nation. That will please Me more than anything else. When you earn a good name, your human birth is redeemed. Sankaracharya has warned youth against being proud of wealth, progeny, or youthfulness. All these are transient. What is enduring are sathyam and kirti (truth and fame). Never bother about success or defeat, loss or gain, happiness or sorrow. They are incidental to life in the world.

With the conviction that very soon our students will go out into the world, set an example to everyone in whatever institutions they may work and usher in a new era. I bless one and all.

One more thing. I do not mind whether you achieve high ranks or not. But, do not get any “remarks” against you. I am aware that nearly all of you are behaving well. But, one or two may go astray. I desire that everyone should be exemplary. This is My benediction.

Address at the XVI Convocation of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning in the Purnachandra Auditorium, on 22-11-1997