Good Teachers Make Good Students
Modern education equips man just to fill his belly; it does not help him to attain righteousness. What is the use of acquiring this type of education? Listen! Oh valorous son of Bharat!
(Telugu Poem)
Dear Teachers!
You have come all the way from Srikakulam, the very name of which begins with Sri, meaning resplendence and loftiness. Sri is not an ordinary word. It carries with it great eminence; it is used with the names of noble souls like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
Inculcate Spiritual Thoughts In Children
All those who have come from Srikakulam are great devotees. They have not become devotees only now; they have been ardent devotees right from the beginning. All of them, men, women, children and elders, experience the divine principle in thoughts, words and deeds and enjoy bliss therefrom. The teachers who have come to this sacred place from Srikakulam are very fortunate. A country makes progress because of such teachers only. However, much depends on the conduct of a country’s students. The students who are endowed with skill and knowledge can promote its welfare and advancement. They should have purity of thought and tenderness of heart. It is the teachers like you who prepare such students. If the teachers are good, the students will also be good. If the teachers have purity of speech and thought, the students will also imbibe pure, tender and exalted feelings.
Embodiments of Love!
You should not impart merely physical and worldly education to children. You should also expose them to moral, ethical and spiritual knowledge. Infuse self-confidence in the students. Whatever one may possess, it is of no use without self-confidence. You should primarily instil spiritual thinking in students. Spiritual thinking means contemplation on God. So, develop the thoughts of contemplation on God in the hearts of students. Then their feelings will become pure, steady and selfless.
Today, wherever we see in the world, people are crazy for money. What can money do for us? Can it wipe out the tears of sorrow? No, not at all. Money is only for names sake. It cannot bring real happiness. We can attain happiness only through right conduct, sacrifice and love. Wherefrom does dharma (righteousness) come? Satyanasti paro dharmah (There is no dharma greater than adherence to truth). There can be no dharma without Satya (truth). Therefore, lead your life relying on Satya and dharma. Why are we born in this world? Not merely to eat, drink and sleep. Lord Krishna declared, “_Mamaivamsho Jeeva-loke Jeeva-bhootah Sanatanah_” (the eternal Atma in all beings is a part of My Being). Each being is an aspect of divinity. Hence, all of you are embodiments of divinity. Love is your true nature. Having been blessed with human birth, you should lead your life with purity of thought and action. Only then can the country make progress. Otherwise, all your spiritual practices like Yajna, Yaga (sacrificial rituals) and Tapas (penance) will be as futile as pouring rose water over ash.
The hearts of students are pure and sacred. Sow the seeds of love in them. They will grow into gigantic trees and yield the fruits of peace and righteousness. Man today is beset with so many worries. You cannot carry on your life if you are bogged down by worries.
Make The Students Shining Ideals Of Goodness
To be born is a worry, to be on the earth is a worry; world is a cause of worry and death too; entire childhood is a worry and so is the old age; life is a worry, failure is a worry; all actions and difficulties cause worry; even happiness too is a mysterious worry. Devotion to Swami alone will put an end to all your worries. Oh people! Develop such devotion and love.
(Telugu Poem)
Never give room for worry; lead a life full of happiness. Love for Swami is the panacea for all your worries. Inculcate good qualities in children so that they can attain progress in life and have a bright future. If you sow the seeds of Satya (truth), Dharma (righteousness), Shanti (peace), Prema (love) and Ahimsa (non-violence) in children, they will set not only this country but the entire world on the right path. When the main switch is put on, all the bulbs will shine. Similarly, when the main switch of bhakti (devotion) is put on, it will spread its sacred light to all countries. Bhakti does not merely mean singing bhajans to the beats of cymbals. Bhakti means love for God. When you develop this love, all your endeavours will become sacred. Not only that, your entire life and your human birth will also be sanctified. You are born out of love, you are sustained by love and you will ultimately merge in love. Teach the children to develop tender feelings and sweet speech. Never teach them to speak harsh words. Saturate their life with love and righteousness. Then the entire world will shine resplendently. Just as a lamp spreads light all around, the light of their good conduct will make the world shine.
Dear Teachers!
Make every effort to inculcate goodness in children in spite of all your difficulties and problems. That is your primary duty. Teachers are the true leaders of the country, not the political leaders. Only teachers can make the children good. There would be chaos all around without good teachers. Teachers should take keen interest in the well-being of students. Make them shining ideals so that their light of goodness spreads to every street and village, giving joy to one and all. People today are suffering from many types of problems. By exhorting them to contemplate on the name of God, you should try to alleviate their suffering. They may be afflicted with any number of worries, but their heart will rejoice the moment divine name enters their ears.
Teachers Should Set Ideals For Students To Emulate
Dear Teachers!
You are all very fortunate. Make the best use of the fortune that you are blessed with. Develop this fortune and share it with all. By sharing this with all, you will enjoy the harvest of bliss. Teaching is a noble profession. The teachers are the leaders of the world. The world cannot exist without them. There have been many great Maharshis (sages) like Vashishta, Vishwamitra, Jamadagni and great preceptors like Dronacharya, Kripacharya and Bhishmacharya who set ideals for the whole world by their example. They in fact were true Acharyas (preceptors). If you transform yourselves like them, you can remove all evil from the face of the world.
Dronacharya was the preceptor of the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Once when the Kauravas and the Pandavas were playing with a ball in their childhood, the ball fell into a nearby well. The children tried many methods to bring the ball out. At that time, Dronacharya was passing that way along with his wife and son. Coming near the children who were surrounding the well, Dronacharya asked them, “My dear children, what is the matter? Why are you standing around the well in this manner? What has happened?” The children replied, “Swami, our ball has fallen into the well.” “Do not worry at all. I will bring your ball out.” Saying this, Dronacharya took out an arrow and shot at the ball. The arrow pierced the ball. Then he shot another arrow which got into the first arrow. In this manner, he shot consecutively one arrow after the other and made a rope of the arrows, and brought the ball out. The teacher should develop the skill and strength of the children like this and teach them noble ideals. Only then can the children come up in life and experience happiness.
The happiness of the children is the source of sustenance of the world. Their ananda (happiness) is verily its aharam (food). Without the food of happiness, what is the use of other foods? Eating, drinking, walking, sleeping and ultimately dying – is this the be-all and end-all of man’s life? Human life is highly exalted and lofty. We should fill our heart with sacred feelings befitting our exalted human birth. Being teachers, first you yourselves should cultivate good habits and lead ideal lives. Then you should teach the children to cultivate good habits. When a teacher is addicted to smoking, how can he tell the students not to do so? It is only when the teachers cultivate good habits and good conduct can the students emulate their example and strive for the welfare and progress of the country. You may have to face many difficulties but never go back on your resolve to mould the students as ideal persons. These are the attributes of a true teacher.
I am very happy that so many teachers have come from Srikakulam. Whatever good that you know, first you yourself put it into practice and then teach it to children. With this, I bring My Discourse to a close.
Srikakulam Teachers’ Conference, 5-12-2006. Prasanthi Nilayam