Parenting Discourse etc part 2,Ethics etc

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Namaste, continuing after truncation!

Ashram (hermitage) Education v/s Urban Education

 

In the Mahabharata, there was a king by name Dushyantha. Having been

born and brought up in a palace, he was after worldly and material

pursuits. On the other hand, his son Bharata who was born and brought

up in Kanvashram (hermitage of the sage Kanva) was a repository of

moral, spiritual and ethical values. This clearly demonstrates the

difference between urban education and ashram education. Ashram

education inculcates all noble values in man. Bharata became a paragon

of all virtues because he received ideal education right from his

childhood. This enabled him to lead a life of peace and security.

That is why it is said, start early, drive slowly and reach safely.

 

Values and Pranas (Life Principles)

 

The five human values of Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa can

be compared to the five life principles of man, viz., Prana, Apana,

Vyana, Udana and Samana. A true human being is one who practises the

five human values. Today man does not speak truth, apprehensive of the

consequences and does not practice Dharma as he does not know what it

really means.

 

Under any circumstances never give up human values. Losing any of the

five human values amounts to committing suicide. If you do not speak

the truth, you lose one of your life principles. Truth is your Atma.

So, till you breathe your last, uphold truth. The culture of Bharat

teaches Sathyam Vada Dharmam Chara (Speak truth and follow

righteousness).

These values are the same for one and all. People all over the world

are praying for peace. How can peace be attained? It is only through

the practice of Sathya and Dharma. Today man is leading a life bereft

of Sathya and Dharma resulting in lack of peace (Santhi), which in turn

has lead to the absence of Prema (Love). The absence of these four

values compels man to resort to violence. Violence is rampant

everywhere

be it home, bazaar, or factory. Man, bereft of these five principles,

has become a living corpse. Life has to be infused into man today,

for which faith in God is very essential.

 

Where there is faith there is love. Where there is love there is

peace.

Where there is peace there is truth. Where there is truth there is

God.

Where there is God there is bliss. Human life has to begin with faith

and end with bliss.

 

Faith is the restorer

 

Today even the parents and the children, the husband and the wife lack

faith in each other. The love they exhibit is only artificial. Under

such circumstances how can love prevail? One should have 'heartful'

faith in order to experience true love. Whatever you do, do it

wholeheartedly. Fill your heart with compassion. When the heart is

filled with love all actions will be suffused with love. Jumsai, in

his talk, referred to EHV as 3HV. The first H stands for Heart, the

second for Head and the third for Hand. The harmony of heart, head and

hand symbolises the true human life. "Manasyekam vachasyekam

karmanyekam

Mahatmanam" (he is a noble soul whose thought, word and deed are in

perfect harmony). "Manasyanyath, Vachasyanyath, Karmanyanyath

Duratmanaam" (he is a wicked one whose thought, word and deed are at

variance). The very name of Hridaya (Hri + Daya) indicates compassion

(Daya). So, the heart should be filled with compassion. When there is

love in the heart all that you utter will be truth. Love in speech -

is Truth. Love in action is Dharma. Love in thought is peace. Love

in understanding is Ahimsa (non-violence). So, love is the underlying

principle of truth, righteousness, peace and non-violence.

 

Teachers and Gurus

 

In olden days the teachers were called Acharyas, meaning those who

practice what they preach. Today the teachers cannot be called

acharyas because they do not practice what they preach. The modern

teachers are experts in giving platform speeches, whereas the Achari's

of ancient times were proficient in practical science. How can the

students heed the advice of the teachers if the teachers themselves do

not practice what they preach? If the cow is grazing in the field can

we expect the calf to remain a mere witness? The calf naturally

follows the cow. The relationship between the teacher and the student

should be like that of cow and calf. It means the teachers should

treat the students as their own children. But today one does not find

such relationship between the teacher and the student. Both the

teachers and students have become money-minded. As a result the

students do not respect the teachers and the teachers do not have love

for the students.

 

Mercenary Education

 

In many of the educational institutions seats are allotted to those who

can pay large sums of money. The quota system has corrupted the field

of education. To stop this unholy trend education should be offered

free of cost. Everyone has an equal right on education. Education is

the gift of God. No one has the right to sell it. As the Government

is also encouraging the commercial educational institutions, the

educational system has become totally corrupted. Education should lead

to elevation, not agitation. Today, money can buy admission,

attendance, marks and even degrees for that matter. The medical seats

are readily offered to candidates who pay a sum of twenty to thirty

lakhs. In order to earn the money they had paid to get the medical

seat, the doctors charge exorbitant fees from the patients. The same

is the case with engineering too. Even for admission in first

standard, some institutions are charging twenty to twenty five thousand

rupees. The modern education has made man a beggar. One should be

'bigger,' not a beggar. I am not saying this out of sense of pride,

Sathya Sai Institute is the only institution offering free education.

Jumsai said that more and more institutions should be established. It

is a matter of pleasure, but care has to be taken to see that education

is offered totally free of cost. Only then can we shape the students

into ideal citizens. Teachers should share all their knowledge with

the students wholeheartedly. They must practice before they preach.

This is what I expect the teachers. The education that is acquired by

paying large amounts as donation is no education at all. Only people

having black money will resort to such illegal means to acquire

degrees. 'Do(for the)nation,' that is the real donation. Make use of

your education for the welfare of society and the nation. Share your

knowledge with others. It is not necessary that you should become a

teacher to do so. There may be a few poor students in your locality.

Conduct special classes for them in the evenings. Today people fight

for money and property right from dawn to dusk. They take to corrupt

ways to earn even a single rupee, One should not live just for the sake

of money. It is better to die rather than to lead a life just for the

sake of money. If you have money in excess, help others, provide free

education and free medical care to the poor. In Zambia there is a

devotee by the name Victor Kanu. He is here right now. He has

established a Sathya Sai Educational Institution in Zambia. Many poor

children are studying there. Both he and his wife are teaching the

children with all love and care. (At this juncture Bhagavan asked

Mr Victor Kanu, sitting nearby, as to how many children are studying in

their school. Mr. Kanu said 520 children are there.) They are

imparting Swami's teachings and human values to all the children.

It is going to become a college very soon.

 

There are many affluent people in the world. But they do not have the

spirit of sacrifice to help such sacred institutions. Some of them do

contribute their mite, but they are after name and fame. They expect

their names to appear in letters of gold. Sathya Sai institutions are

not for name and fame. I would like to narrate a small incident in

this regard. At a particular place when I was about to give discourse

one person switched off the fan. I asked him, "Why did you switch off

the fan? We need it now. It is very hot here" That person replied

saying, "it was he who donated the fan, his name was written on the

blades of the fan and unless it was switched off his name will not be

visible"

 

Bharatiya Education and Values

 

The culture of Bharat declared "Na Karmana Na Prajaya Dhanena

Thyagenaikena Amrutathwamanasuh" (Immortality can be attained only

through sacrifice, neither wealth nor progeny nor good deeds can confer

it.) All the activities and rituals you undertake must be for the

welfare of society. All your children must be dedicated for the

emancipation of the country. It is only sacrifice that confers

immortality. Participate in every good work according to your

capacity. Select a few deserving students and give them free

education. Education is not for worldly progress. It is to set an

ideal, experience happiness and share it with others. All the elders,

the educationists, the rich and the students should come-together and

strive for progress in the field of education. Just as the thread that

binds flowers of different, hues to make a garland, likewise the,

feelings of love and sacrifice should bring you all together. The

flowers may fade away, but the thread remains changeless. Your bodies

can be compared to flowers. With the passage of time, the child

becomes man, man becomes father and f becomes grandfather. But the

feeling love of is changeless. It is true and eternal. Even the

animals render help to others, but not man. The cow partakes of grass

and yields milk. But man partakes of sacred milk and indulges in

wicked deeds. The spirit of sacrifice that is found even in a cow is

not found in man today.

 

What is the use of all the education he has acquired if he cannot

give up his evil qualities? All the worldly education will only lead

man to vain argumentation, but not total wisdom. It cannot help you to

escape from the clutches of death. So, acquire that knowledge which

will make you immortal

 

(Telugu Poem)

 

Education should enable us to cultivate sacred qualities. The worldly

education is negative and the spiritual education is positive. What is

the use of having a bulb without electricity? Secular knowledge is

like

the bulb and the spiritual knowledge, the electricity. Both are

essential

for the progress of man and the world at large. Make proper use of the

knowledge you have acquired. The parents should take active interest

in education of their children. Never desire that your son should

become

a great person, instead pray that he should become a good person.

The students should have the character of Bharata.

 

The Good and the Great

 

If one goes through the sacred texts of the Ramayana, the Bhagavata and

the, Mahabharata, one understands the evil effects of Kama (desire),

Krodha (anger) Lobha (greed). In the Ramayana, Rama symbolised

goodness, whereas Ravana, greatness. Though Rama and Ravana were

equally

proficient in all the forms of learning, Ravana could not make proper

use

of his knowledge as he had no control over his senses. On the other

hand

Rama exercised control over his senses a sacrificed everything for the

sake of truth. The Ramayana is known as Ramacharitra (the story of

Rama) and the story of Ravana is known as Kamacharitra (the story of

desire).

 

The Bhagavata speaks of the consequences one has to face if one becomes

a victim of anger. Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu were all-powerful,

but ultimately perished because of their anger towards God.

Hiranyakasipu

was a great scientist. Today man has travelled only up to the moon,

whereas Hiranyakasipu could even reach the stars. But he was ruined

by his anger.

 

In the Mahabharata Duryodhana and Dussassana symbolise greed, which is

a negative power. On the other hand, the Pandavas stand for the

positive power. They adhered to Dharma under all circumstances.

Similarly in the Bhagavata, Hiranyakasipu symbolises negative power and

Prahlada, the positive power. Thus wherever you see, you find positive

and negative, good and bad co-exist. Accept the good and give up the

bad and earn a good name.

 

The Method and the Means

 

Teachers! You have participated in this conference for the past three

days. All of you have noble ideas, but you have to think of a proper

way to implement them. Understand that character is important, not

money.

 

Students! I want you to become ideal leaders. Make use of your

education to sereve the poor. Conduct free tuition classes four

children, share your textbooks with them.. Only then the feeling of

brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God will develop.

 

As I have told you earlier Educare has two aspects: one is Pravritti

(outward) and the other is Nivritti (inward). God is the Hridayavasi

(indweller). So all that originates from the heart is essentially

divine. So, let all your thoughts, words and deeds' originate from

your heart. Do good, be good and see good. This is the way to God.

Accept both pleasure and pain as gifts of God. In order to get cured

of Malaria, one has to swallow a bitter mixture. Likewise, one has to

face hardships in order to attain happiness. That is why it is said,

"Pleasure is an interval between two pains. Light has no value if

there is no darkness. Likewise, pleasure has no value without pain.

 

Students! To the extent possible serve the society. Of course, you

need to take up jobs and earn your livelihood. But do not be

avaricious for money. Be satisfied with what you get. Alexander

conquered many kingdoms and seized a lot of wealth. When his end

approached, he realised that he could not take even a single penny with

him. He requested his ministers to keep his two hands raised above the

head during the final journey so that the people would understand and

that even the mighty emperor Alexander had to leave the world empty

handed. Likewise, everyone has to le this world empty-handed. Even a

millionaire has to partake of only food; he cannot sustain himself

eating gold. So, be satisfied with the basic necessities of food,

clothing and shelter. Do your jobs properly and undertake service

activities in your leisure time. Develop faith in God. If you do not

have faith in God, you will not have fear of sin. Then you will become

a demon. So, fear of sin; love for God is very essential. If you have

these two, you will be successful in all your endeavours. Consider

every good work as God's work.

 

Embodiments of Love!

 

Give up the hankering to go abroad after you complete your studies.

Serve your Motherland. Lord Rama said, Janani Janmabhoomischa

Swargadapi Gareeyasi (mother and Motherland are greater than heaven).

So, work for your Motherland and serve the poor. The best way to love

God is to love all and serve all, but serve only when it is necessary.

You are born to experience love. Your life is full of love. But, you

are not able to understand this Principle of Love. There is nothing

greater than love in this world. Love is God. God is Love, so live in

love.

 

 

 

Bhagavan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajans, "Bhava Bhaya

Harana..." and Sathyam Jnanam Anantham Brahma..."

 

 

 

 

===

Keep on truckin-Chant the Gayatri!

 

"God is formless. In order to merge in the formless God,

you have to give up identification with the body."

"There is only one Soul and that is God." Sai Baba.

___________

 

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