Divine Discourse on 16th March 2005 - Humility and Character are the Hallmark of Education

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Humility and Character are the Hallmark of Education

Text of the Divine Discourse delivered by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 16th

March 2005, at Prashanti Nilayam, Sai Kulwanth Hall

The creation emerges from truth and merges into truth,Is there a place in the

cosmos where truth is not?Visualise this pure and unsullied truth. (Telugu

poem) Embodiments of Love! Students!You have joined this institution to pursue

your education. Firstly, make efforts to understand the true meaning of

education. Humility and character are the hallmark of education. But, today

students do not develop humility. They are interested only in acquiring

degrees. However, our educational institution is an exception in this regard.

Few students come here with the sole objective of acquiring degrees. Most of

them come here with the single aim of pleasing Swami by striving to follow

Swami's ideals and attain exalted position in life. They give happiness to

their parents by their good conduct.Students!Education does not mean mere

acquisition of degrees.Oh man! Examine and enquire for yourself what great

happiness you have achieved by spending all the time from dawn to dusk in

acquiring knowledge and earning wealth unmindful of God.(Telugu poem)One may

acquire a high academic qualification such as M.A. and B.A. and attain exalted

position,One may amass wealth, perform acts of charity and attain name and

fame,One may have physical strength and enjoy a long and healthy life,One may

be a great scholar studying and preaching the Vedas,But none can equal a true

devotee of the Lord. (Telugu poem)Having entered the portals of this

educational institution, you should try to understand the value and true

meaning of education. Only when you understand these aspects, can you be called

truly educated. There is a lot of knowledge in pustakas (books), but what is the

use if the mastaka (head) is filled with 'mud'? Once you fill your mastaka with

knowledge, you need not refer to pustakas any more.Elders should evince

interest in the education of their children. They should enquire as to what the

children are learning in the educational institution and constantly monitor

their progress. Modern students react to the queries of elders in a

discourteous manner. They indulge in mere verbosity and confuse the

elders.Students should earn a good name in society and uphold the reputation

and prestige of the institution in which they study. An educational institution

is like a gigantic tree. Different subjects are like its branches and

sub-branches. Virtues are like the fragrant flowers that you find on the tree.

Faith is like the roots. When you water the roots of faith, you get the fruit

of Ananda.At present, all educational institutions have begun to feel that

character is very important for a student. The end of education is character.

Character does not mean good conduct alone. One should consider the fellow

human beings as one's own brothers and sisters. One should develop

Bhava Shuddhi (purity in feelings), which will ultimately lead to Jnana Siddhi

(attainment of wisdom).Our students are highly virtuous. I repeatedly say that

they are My property. When I have such a property with Me, why should I worry

about anything? I asked the boys who appeared for the GATE examination, "My

dear ones! How did you write the exam?" They said, "Swami, with Your grace and

blessings we have done well. You say that students are Your property. Having

been blessed with the opportunity of being Your students, our only aim is to

live up to Your ideals and bring a good name to the Institute." I was very

pleased and deeply touched by their answer. It is heartening to note that there

are such ideal students in our Institute. It is because of such noble students

that the country has progressed and prospered. If there are no men and women of

virtues, how can the world shine with all its brilliance?Our students do not

indulge in empty rhetoric, they

are men of action. Their sincerity makes Me happy. I have come to impart such

ideal education to the students and inculcate virtues in them.In spite of his

education and intelligence, a foolish man will not know his true Self and a

mean-minded person will not give up his evil qualities. (Telugu poem)Modern

education leads only to argumentation, not to total wisdom. What is the use of

acquiring education which cannot lead you to immortality? Acquire the knowledge

that will make you immortal. (Telugu poem)Once you acquire the knowledge of the

Self, you would have acquired everything else. These words of wisdom are

imprinted in the hearts of our students.Embodiments of Love! Students!You have

proved your worth among lakhs of students and secured high ranks in the GATE

examination (loud applause). The examiners were highly impressed with the

intelligence and behaviour of our students. They wanted to know whether our

students came from East or West, North or South. Our students replied, "Sir, we

are neither from East nor from West, neither from South nor from North, we are

the students of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning."They are not

satisfied with what they have achieved. They are striving hard to bring more

and more laurels to our Institute. Wherever you go, you find our students

leading exemplary lives propagating the ideals of our educational

institutions.Once someone asked our students what type of food they like to

take, vegetarian or non-vegetarian. They replied in one voice, "Non-vegetarian

food gives rise to evil thoughts and feelings; hence we would never touch

non-vegetarian food." They are 100% vegetarians. Even the students who used to

eat non-vegetarian food earlier become vegetarians once they join our

Institute. Once someone tried to persuade one of our students to take

non-vegetarian food, saying it contained a lot of good nutrients. But, he not

budge

from his stand. He said, "I don't want such vitamins and proteins. Even

vegetarian food has all the vitamins and proteins that I need. I want to tread

the path of truth and non-vegetarian food is not at all conducive for spiritual

progress. Along with secular education, I want to acquire spiritual education

and propagate it to the world." There are many such students who are firm in

their resolve to spread the Sai ideals. It is because of such noble students

that our institution has attained worldwide fame.Students should develop good

habits right from their childhood to enjoy good health and happiness. In this

context, there is a poem which reads as follows:Get up early in the morning at

the crowing of the cock,Have a bath after your morning ablutions,Wear a proper

dress.Eat properly and moderately.Go to school and study diligently.Earn a good

name.Don't move out when it is raining,And never go near the murky pools.Take

part in

games, Run and play.If you abide by all these rules,You will have both health

and wealth. (Telugu poem)Students should exercise restraint over their food

habits. Even birds, beasts and animals observe certain regulations in this

regard. Born as human beings and having acquired education, is it not expected

of you to follow proper discipline with regard to food? Students who eat

non-vegetarian food right from their childhood give up that habit when they

join our institution. Even their parents are surprised at their transformation.

When one of our students went home during vacation, his mother tried to serve

him non-vegetarian food. He refused to touch it and requested his mother not to

prepare non-vegetarian items in future. He explained to his parents the ill

effects of consuming non-vegetarian food.Non-vegetarian food is the cause of

several diseases like cancer. You might have read in journals and newspapers

that most of the people in Singapore eat

fish. Consequently, they are infected by several harmful micro-organisms.

Similar instances were reported from various parts of Bharat. It is because of

unhealthy food that people suffer from diseases. Many are under the mistaken

notion that non-vegetarian food gives them strength, but in reality it makes

them weak. Once you spoil your health by partaking of non-vegetarian food, you

will never be able to regain your health even if you spend the rest of your

life in forests eating fruits and tubers.These were the answers given by our

students when they were asked questions about their food habits. The

explanation given by our students made such an impact on the audience that many

of them became total vegetarians. As is the food so is the mind. As is the mind

so is the man. Hence, one must necessarily partake of sacred and sattwic food

to lead a happy and healthy life. Of late, there is a growing awareness among

the Bharatiyas about the influence of food on one's

mind. Consequently, people are changing their food habits for the better. Our

body is made up of flesh. Why should you feed it again with flesh? Such

unsacred food gives rise to unsacred thoughts.Students!It is not enough if you

observe regulations with regard to food alone; you should cultivate good habits

also. You should participate in sports and games regularly. Take part in such

games which will help in the blossoming of your physical and mental faculties.

Healthy food and good habits will take you to exalted position in life.Dear

Bangaru Students!Truly, you are like gold. It is not possible to describe your

sacred feelings. You speak from the depths of your hearts. The language you

speak is not ordinary. It is Atma Bhasha (language of the spirit). You are

leading your lives with sacred feelings. However, keep away from bad company.

It is said, "Tell me your company, I shall tell you what you are.As is your

company, so

you become." Hence, always keep good company. Be in the company of those who

speak good words. Never utter harsh and unsacred words. If you use unkind

words, people will treat you like an enemy. If you speak softly and sweetly,

people would enjoy your company and talk to you for any length of time. When

you are in the company of others, make sure that your body is clean and your

mouth does not emit bad smell. You should take proper care of your health in

every possible way. When your body is clean and healthy and when your thoughts,

words and deeds are pure, you will be loved by one and all.Students! Wherever

you may go, ensure that you are presentable and acceptable in every way. Only

then will you earn the respect of others. Always keep your mouth clean. Bad

breath leads to various diseases. Not merely that, it will cause inconvenience

to others. If your mouth emits foul smell, people try to avoid you. Hence, the

moment you get up from bed in the morning,

you should brush your teeth and clean your tongue thoroughly. When you keep your

mouth fresh and clean, you will enjoy good health. Though I don't sleep in the

night, I brush My teeth before going to bed. I brush My teeth at regular

intervals so as to keep My mouth fresh and clean. That is why I don't have any

health problem. I don't have any pain whatsoever.You should take care that no

food particle sticks between your teeth. Some people use a hard brush to clean

their teeth. As a result, their gums start bleeding. But I use a very soft

brush. Even now My teeth are so strong that I can crack a betel nut. My

students are struck with awe and wonder when they witness My physical power.

Students!It will be a matter of shame that you spoil your health and submit

yourself to the hands of a doctor. Hence, each one has to take care of one's

own health. One should never be dependent on others. This is what I teach to My

students quite often. Get up early in the

morning, do some jogging and exercise so as to keep your body fit. During

examination time, students try to keep themselves awake in the night for late

hours to study. They keep dozing with books in front of them. Such studies will

take you nowhere. Do not force yourself to study when you feel sleepy. Keep the

books aside and go to bed peacefully. You should study only when your mind is

fresh and attentive.Oh man! Do not feel proud of your education and

scholarship. If you do not offer your salutations to God and not contemplate on

Him with devotion, of what use is all your education? (Telugu

poem)Students!First and foremost, take care of your health. Your education will

prove as mere waste if you do not maintain proper health. Do not rest content

with secular education. You should also acquire Educare. Education is related

to gathering outside information, whereas Educare relates to inward

transformation. Educare is that which makes the human

values blossom from within. Whether you have acquired educare or mere education

will become evident in your speech. A word of caution in this regard - you

should not talk loosely. Especially when you speak to elders, you should

carefully frame your sentences and speak with all humility and respect. True

education is not limited to textual knowledge. You should manifest the human

values of truth, righteousness, love, peace and non-violence. Truth should not

be confined to mere words. It should be translated into deeds.Students!Having

come here and acquired education of the highest standard, lead a life of

virtues. Share your knowledge with others.Let us all move together, let us all

grow together, Let us all stay united and share our knowledge,Let us live

together with friendship and harmony. (Telugu poem)This is what you have to

learn today. Always have a smiling countenance and be a good friend to others.

A good friend is one who

always has good thoughts, speaks good words and performs good deeds. When you

lead your life in such a manner, you will be an ideal person and a source of

inspiration to others.Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the bhajan, "Hari

Bhajan Bina Sukha Santhi Nahin…"

Source: http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/16-03-05_Discourse.htm