Swami teaches... Promote the education - appealing to teachers and students

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Sai Ram Light and Love

Swami teaches...

Promote the Education - Appealing to Teachers and Students

The world has become a very small globe, as a result of fast means of

communication and transport, human has not yet learnt the art of living

together in close proximity, as brothers, as children of the One God. The

closer people are brought, the larger the differences appear. Thus, the little

world is now fiddled with problems of conflicting cultures, competing creeds

and contesting ambitions. The sorrows of one State spread fast into all its

neighbours and infect the whole world. The world has become one vast

battlefield. Let us try to answer the question. "What kind of Government is

the best? "The answer is: "That Government is best, which helps us to govern

ourselves." Make your Conscience the Ruler, do not depend on the external

Ruler. Those who diagnose the ills of the world suggest various remedies to

mend affairs; but, no analysis reveals the correct reason. The fundamental

reason for the state of disease is "want of confidence in the Self."

The Bible says: "Pious seekers seek God"; but said Annie Besant: "God seeks the

pious seeker!" God is seeking for the pure heart that longs to reach Him.

Today the world is reduced to a theatre by human, for, devotion to God has

become a histrionic performance. You find people weeping in their heart of

hearts, but, laughing their lives away. We find people who laugh in their heart

of hearts, but, to all observers, weeping profusely over their fate. Worship is

more for effect, a play acted with the pit in view; there is no sincerity.

You dread that it is very difficult, nay, impossible, to realise God. It is

very simple; its very simplicity makes you feel that there must be some hidden

trap. You do not appreciate simple things and habits. For example, there is

nothing so simple as speaking the truth; yet, how many stick to Truth. If you

venture into untruth, you have to invent new stories all along the line and

keep in memory all the stories and all the persons to whom you have related

them. It is all very complicated and confusing.

Love,' is the prayer that rishis have taught the children of ancient

India. Their teaching has been Unity Divinity Charity - in thought, word and

deed, from the first breath to the last. When teachers transmit this heritage,

unspoilt and undiminished, to the children, the future of the land is assured

to be glorious. Fundamentally, the years of life are but a short span, a

rest in a wayside caravanserai, a drama played on a rickety stage, a bubble

upon the waters. During this fleeting hour, it has been given to few to share

this golden chance of imparting instruction, inspiring devotion, instilling

courage, into the growing children, so that the generation to follow will be

ever grateful. Let teachers do their job well as a puja and they will be amply

rewarded with joy, peace, restfulness and rapture. Today's teachers have the

same message for all students. Do not call them poor, for they are rich

spiritually, doing their duty which is well-understood, well- undertaken, and

well-done joyously.

Teachers are not nowadays aware of the nobility of their profession; society

has turned ungrateful. Young people have the stars of the silver screen as

their gods and guides; they learn deeply and dangerously from films, from

horror comics, from crime books. The teacher is a helpless witness of this

tragedy; for, he has no strength and sustenance to impart, no ideal to implant,

no enthusiasm to transmit. If only the teacher is imbued with the lessons of the

Upanishaths and the Geetha, he can by precept and example turn the children

along the path of peace and joy.

No amount of advice and exhortation can make the teacher rise to the full

stature of his/her profession. Teacher has to improve him/herself; he/she

cannot be improved by external pressure or persuasion. Teachers need to tread

the footsteps of the great teachers of the past, who transmitted their

spiritual wealth to succeeding generations. Teachers duty is to delve into the

Inner Reality and discover the spring of joy therein, so that the exacting task

of moulding the children will be a recreating job for you, highly refreshing and

rewarding.

The teacher is the most important asset of the school. Brick and mortar do

not make a school efficient and useful. Nor are books in the library or

appliances in the laboratory, so essential. Teacher has a big responsibility.

The teacher dedicates him/herself to a great sadhana. If the teacher insists on

punctuality, he/she has to come to the classroom on time. He/she is under

rigorous scrutiny, all the time.

Teachers are reservoirs from which, through the process of education,

students draw the water of life; so, every effort has to be made to see that

the reservoir is not contaminated by hate or pride. Schools and colleges should

not be engaged merely in the processes of teaching and learning. Reading,

writing and arithmetic do not exhaust the task of the school. The inculcation

of great ideals and the attempt to put them into practice are also equally

important tasks.

Patient effort and steady persistence are indispensable for teachers. Their

work is of basic importance to the nations. Children's minds are innocent,

tender and pure. The snake gourd is apt to grow crooked, if left alone. The

minds of children and of youth too are apt to grow crooked, under the influence

of the sensuous films, the hollow hypocritical atmosphere created by the elders,

the lure of glitter and glamour and of a false sense of adventure and fame. So,

schools have to attach the stone of discipline and make them grow straight and

true. Disciplinary rules have to be well thought out and adapted to the

age-group they wish to correct. The atmosphere must be so charged that

obedience to discipline comes automatically, with full heart. Such discipline

will shape good leaders for the all nations. Teachers should not feel that they

belong to a despised profession. Teaching is a very noble and respectable

profession. The teacher is actually a king-maker. Even Kings and Emperors have

to be in their early years students under a teacher.

You know that you can draw cheques upon a bank, whenever you need money,

provided you have enough current deposit therein. If the bank goes bankrupt, it

will be a disaster. The educational system is the bank, on which the nation

draws a cheque whenever it wants strong reliable skilled workers. If the system

is overhauled and lubricated, the next generation is assured of good leaders

and, what is equally essential, good followers. The attitude today is the

root on which the future grows. The consequences of action can never be

avoided. In schools we must learn to cultivate unselfish love, with no fear or

suspicion. The teachers of tomorrow are the students of today; so, cleansing of

the atmosphere of the classroom is very necessary, in the interests of the

future.

There are two aspects of Vidhya (education) that you have to master;

Vijnaana - understanding the world around us, science: and also Prajnaana - the

higher learning, the art of controlling the inner feelings and the many layers

of Consciousness. The characteristic of true Vidya is Vinayam (humility).

Humility helps to make one deserving respec. Deservedness leads to Dhanam

(wealth) and Dhanam leads to Dharma (righteousness).Dharma is the means to

Mukti (liberation).

Today still educational systems usually are giving importance only to

intellectual cleverness. So present day education develops mainly the intellect

and skills. Human's achievements in the fields of science and technology have

helped to improve the material conditions of living.

Science is tending to get out of control. There is a Sanskrit saying that

there is no nobility without self-control. People are gloating over the

phenomenal successes of science and technology. The scientist, in exploring the

secrets of Nature, has acquired mastery over air, water, earth, fire, etc. But

all these achievements are not greater than what Hiranyakasipu was stated to

have achieved in his time. What should be recognised is that in controlling the

forces of Nature, the balance should not be upset. In dealing with Nature, there

are three requirements. The first is knowledge of the laws of nature. The

second is the skill to utilise the powers of Nature for human needs. The third

is to maintain the balance among natural forces. It is the disturbance of this

balance that has led to such consequences as soil erosion, pollution of the

atmosphere, etc. At present science has enabled to acquire immense control

over the external world. But he has no control over him/herself. The student

fills his/her head with a lot of information, but the personality is impaired

in the process. Filling the mind with physical facts and absorbed in physical

investigations, student undermines own basic humanness. Selflessness, humility,

unostentatiousness are qualities that underlie the human personality. Along with

academic excellence, a student should aim at the cultivation of good qualities.

Education enables to score marks, but there is a need elevation of student's

personality. Qualities contribute to elevation. Education and elevation combine

to develop the human personality.

Winston Churchill once observed: "Man has conquered all, but not himself."

And this was what Prahlada told his father, Hiranyakasipu: "Oh Father! you have

conquered all the world, but you have not conquered yourself."

 

All knowledge is useless, if one has not acquired Self-knowledge. Such a

person may be regarded as intellectually clever, but cannot be called

intelligent. The first step, therefore, is to know one's Self. (Spirituality is

the means to acquire knowledge of yourself). It is essential that the

development of science should be accompanied by a corresponding development of

the power of Viveka (discrimination). It should be combined with Prajnaana

(divine wisdom). Prajna is the essential principle in human. This 'Integrated

Awareness' in Vedhaanthik parlance, Prajnaanam has been equated with Brahman

(the Supreme Absolute). Earning of money should not be the primary aim of

students. Education should be for developing human qualities, not for securing

jobs. There are four requisites for promoting this attitude to education and

life.

They are: "Thyaja dhurjana samsargam" (Give up all association with the

evil-minded),

"Bhaja Saadhu samaagamam" (Pray for the company of the good),

"Kuru punyam Ahoraathram" (Engage yourself in meritorious deeds day and

night) and

"Smara nithyaanithyathaam" (Remember what is permanent and what is transient).

The ancient sages considered association with the evil-minded as

companionship with a poisonous snake. Itwas to escape from the danger of such

association that they resorted to the solitude of forests. A snake may bite a

person once in a way but a bad person infects others with poison all the time.

 

What we need today, is a transformation of the spirit. Character is

knowledge. Character is power. Character is life itself. Character is the

hallmark of true education. Education should help to broaden one's outlook and

make him useful to society and the world at large. This is possible when

cultivation of the spirit is promoted along with education in the physical

sciences. Moral and spiritual education will train a human being to lead a

disciplined life.

Education without self-control is no education at all. True education should

make a person compassionate and humane. Spontaneous sympathy and regard for all

beings should flow from the heart of one who isproperly educated. He should be

keen to serve society rather than be preoccupied with his own acquisitive

aspirations. This should be the real purpose of education in its true sense.

Students do attend schools and colleges in order to cultivate discipline,

control emotions, canalise passions, learning just a small fraction, of what

can be gained from schools and colleges. They instil into the pupils thelessons

of mutual co-operation, good manners, courtesy, compassion and comradeship,

adjustment to limitations, overcoming of obstacles with calm deliberation.

The marks ones get in the tests and examinations in each subject are not so

important; more important is the 'remarks' that you earn - whether you are

judged good, bad or indifferent, fresh, fair and free or wicked, vile and

vicious.

Education should instill in the student "fear and faith." 'Fear' does not

mean timidity. It is fear of sin and faith in God which have to be promoted.

One should feel that he will forfeit the respect and regard of the community if

he commits a sinful or immoral act. The student should learn to avoid

unrighteous conduct. Students should be taught to love their mothers and their

Motherland with deep devotion. Desabhakti (devotion to one's country) is one

form of devotion to God. One who has no love for his mother, his Motherland,

his mother tongue and his religion will be leading a meaningless life.

If the present educational system is to improve, the only way is to

eliminate selfishness and trainstudents for the service of society. It is

through the inculcation of love, with no trace of self-interest. Love is of two

kinds - Sahaja Prema (Natural love) and Daiva Prema (Divine love). Natural love

is one which expectssomething in return. Divine love expresses itself in loving

service without expectation of any return. Divine love always gives to others

and receives nothing. Natural love always expects something from others. True

education must teach this divine love of heart to heart, mind to mind, and Atma

to Atma.

What the students need today is the refinement of the heart. This is

possible through an internal process. Students who have imbibed modern culture

should not only develop their intellects, but should also develop a broad

outlook. The students today have a two-fold duty: One is to face the

challenges of modern civilization, the other is to protect and preserve the

ancient spiritual and cultural heritage of the country. A complete education is

that which makes a human compassionate. Besides giving appropriate exercises to

the body, students should strive to cultivate the heart and keep it pure.

Teacher can teach love to students only through love. Love in speech is Sathya.

Love in action is Dharma. Love in thought is Shanti. Love in understanding is

Ahimsa (Non-violence). This love is flowing in us as an unseen river. It is

only by developing love that we can sanctify the educational system and train

the students in the practice of human values as the essential condition for

leading worthy lives. (Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 8.

"Love and be loved," Chapter 31; Sathya Sai Speaks.Vol. 10. "School for

hypocrisy," Chapter 5 and "The most profitable job," Chapter 9; Sathya Sai

Speaks. Vol. 19. "Education for transformation," Chapter 2; Sathya Sai Speaks.

Vol. 26. "New horizons for the Sai Institute," Chapter 8).

 

Namaste - Reet