TO WHAT EXTENT ARE THE TEACHING OF SWAMI RELEVANT TO THE MODERN WORLD AND HOW CAN IT BE USEFUL TO THE MODERN WORLD?

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TO WHAT EXTENT ARE THE TEACHING OF SWAMI RELEVANT TO THE MODERN WORLD AND HOW

CAN IT BE USEFUL TO THE MODERN WORLD?

This topic has many branches, spiritual, scientific, social,

cultural, educational, etc. as Swami is the world Teacher. It is correct to say

that there is no area of human activity where His Teaching does not shine.

There is system of Sri Sathya Sai schools and high schools, where on the first

place are universal human values: Truth, Love, Peace, Non-violence and Right

contact. There are many free Sai hospitals and Medicare systems where the

modern medicine treatment is bound with wisdom of Vedas and Swami's teaching

(look: also Sanathana Sai Sanjeevini healing fragrances - a spiritual healing

system to awaken the body's own healing power).

It seems that science is that mirror where Swami's explanations based on Divine

vibrations and wisdom of Vedas as though in new light is reflected. Here Swami

is a great scientist who entwines spirituality and science into

scientific-spiritual wisdom where knowledge about cosmos, atoms, magnetic power

and humanity, nature, plants and animals are diverse forms of one and the same

Atmic reality.

Below are some of Swami’s quotations concerning to this topic. 

"The astonishing, progress of science and technology has not brought with it

corresponding powers of discrimination and wisdom. Man must realise that the

sense organs, through which he explores the external and discovers the powers

latent in Nature and the physical universe, function because of the Divinity

which is immanent with them. Without the power of Divine, the eyes cannot see

or the ears hear or the mind thinks." (SSS.Vol.17.Chapter 11)

"Intellect alone can direct man in the path of discrimination, between the true

path and false, the proper step and the improper. This is the reason why man

has been praying since ages, through the Gayathri hymn: "Illumine me, prompt my

intelligence, so that I may walk aright." (SSS.Vol.11.Chapter 50)

   "Awareness is life."

For enlightened devotees Awareness means an ultimate fusion with Divine, (Atma)

and they needn't any other explanations. Their real Self is united with God

(Atma) and they as reflecting light, love and harmony where they ever are and

relaying Divine Beam to everyone, who is ready to accept it.

Many human beings have connected with Divine Spirit through sacred rituals,

mantras and Darshans. They are open to the fine divine vibrations. They need a

bit of love and proximity of God to obtain peace in mind and bless.

A lot of humans all around the World do not think about God. Their consciousness

is busy with various scientific, technical and other truths. They too are

carriers of divinity within and need in helpful information to understand the

existence of Creator and results of creation. It seems that for these people

scientific approaches entwined with spiritual ties are helpful pin pointers on

their way to spirituality.

Humanity has reached to the crucial stage: development or destruction. The

causes of this dilemma clear to everyone. To avoid the global ruin humanity has

to reach to the higher stage of spiritual consciousness signified by

Swami’s Teaching.  Every one of Swami's devotees/followers would to declare the

principles His Divine Teaching more loudly, helping to the spiritual awareness

of people.

What concern to science, it may be said, that His Teaching is higher than

science: the last is an episode in it, what has partly materialized in a great

number of educational and research institutions.

Human consciousness has a special position. Carrying the active form of Divine

spark and having chance to reflect it, gives to a human being a possibility to

various auto-regulation processes. The quality of these processes depends on

the level of a person's spirituality, his/her skill to understand himself and

his proximity with Atma.

Pictorially humanity belongs as to a huge labyrinth, where all parts are

connected with each other and entwined with Atma. When a human being likes to

act by self-acting-knowing, as the crown of Nature, he/she has no patient to

notice own blindness as the divine Light is hidden under the sensual desires.

Swami's Teaching leads humanity to the light of Atma, and teaches to use the

capacity of human's auto-regulation power (as an instrument of Divine Will) in

harmony with laws of Creation and Being.

 Swami’s teaching has different approaches and delivered in different levels.

The skill of the teacher or lecturer is to be responsible for using the

suitable explanation from His Teaching according to the students or

participants spiritual, social and cultural level.

Below are reproduced in a little short form the text of the Divine Discourse:

"Pari Prashna - The Divine Answers" delivered by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

during the Valedictory Function of the First Conference of Sri Sathya Sai

Schools World over, on 21st November 2001, Prashanthi Nilayam).

     Q.1. What is the relation between Religion, Spirituality and Educare?

     Embodiments of Love!

     It is surprising to me to note that you have been unable to recognize the

relationship among religion, spirituality and Educare. First and foremost,

understand what religion is - 'Religion is realization.' Only when you realize

the truth about yourself, will you understand what religion is. Spirituality is

not merely singing Bhajans, performing worship, and going to temples or on

pilgrimages or undertaking any other good activity. Spirituality is recognizing

oneness of all beings. Here is an example. When we close our eyes we cannot see

anybody. But the moment we open them we can see thousands of heads in this

hall. Where have these heads come from? If you enquire into the truth, you will

recognize that your eyes notice all heads. They have not come from anywhere

outside.

To recognize unity in diversity is spirituality. The basic truth to be

recognized is that there is only one Atma in all beings. The questions and

doubts arise when you see multiplicity in unity. The entire creation has

emerged from love. Therefore, there is no difference among religion,

spirituality and Educare.

Religion is realization of your Self. Spirituality also is discovering who you

really are. For example you say, "This is my handkerchief, this is my plate,

this is my hand and this is my body." Then who are you? There must be someone

to say that he owns the tumbler, plate, hand and the body. When you enquire

into this truth you will realize that you are separate from all these and in

fact, you are the master of all these. That master is the Atma.

The next aspect is Educare. How can you call yourselves educated if you do not

understand what Educare is? The word 'education ' is derived from the Latin

root 'Educare'. While education refers to collection of worldly facts, Educare

is to bring out from within. Education is for a living while Educare is for

life. Education is for 'Jeevana Upadhi' (livelihood). Educare is for 'Jeevitha

Paramavadhi' (the ultimate goal of life). It is easy for us to recognize things

outside us and difficult to look within. There are many things inside us, which

are not manifest. When you join the three letters G, O, D, we get the word GOD.

When you look at the letters individually they have no meaning of their own. Our

effort lies in putting together these letters to get the meaning. This is

Educare. Educare means to bring out from within. The Atma is our innermost

reality. That is what Educare should bring

out. Therefore, there is actually no difference among the three - religion,

spirituality and Educare.

Whatever we see in others is only a reflection of our own self. If we accuse

somebody as bad, it is just that our feeling towards that person is bad.

Whatever impression we have about others is a reflection of our feeling towards

them. Everything is just reflection, reaction and resound. Therefore, you should

not find fault with others. You do not have the right to find fault because your

assessment of a person is limited to your experience with him. There are so many

aspects of the personality of that person you do not know. For example, you look

at Anil Kumar; you will know only his dress, his complexion, his height and

weight. But Anil Kumar is not merely what you see. There are so many qualities

like love, compassion or anger, which are in him that you cannot see.

Therefore, if you want to know a person completely you should investigate into

all the aspects of his personality. In

modern times, people go by the physical appearance and judge people based on

their external actions. This is wrong. Hence, defect lies in the vision and not

in the creation. When you put on red glasses everything appears red and when you

put on blue glasses everything appears blue. Only those foolish people who fail

to recognize this truth resort to criticism. Even in the case of an ordinary

human being your assessment is wrong, then how can you assess God?

God has many invaluable things in His store. But you come and ask, "Swami, give

me a locket." You ask Him for a locket because you do not know what precious

gifts He can bestow upon you. There is no dearth of anything in His store.

Therefore, you should not ask God for anything in specific. When time is ripe,

He will give you. God knows and acts appropriately, based on the right time,

place and situation. That is why you find sometimes He Himself comes and gives

you things unasked. It is therefore very difficult to understand God. An

ignoramus, who fails to understand this principle, often misinterprets it. But

you should not fall prey to such calumny.

Thus Educare, spirituality and religion are not different from one another. Here

is a ring, a chain and the earrings - all these are different forms of the same

gold. If one realizes this unifying truth then where is the scope for

multiplicity? Therefore, God is One though He may appear to you in different

forms. The fundamental basis for everything is love. This is what you should

aspire for. Do not worry about religion. There is only one religion, the

religion of love. Educare means to bring out the divine love latent in man.

That is why it is said, Love is God, live in Love. Then there would be no

conflict in the world and all would live together happily. Only when are

differences, there is conflict. Push aside these differences and live with the

feeling of oneness.

There is only one language, the language of the heart;

There is only one religion, the religion of love;

There is only one caste, the caste of humanity;

Religions are many but the path is only one and we need to discover this path.

"O heroic sons of Bharat! No religion is bad for the one who has a good sense

of understanding." It is incorrect to see differences among religions. In our

daily life, we need to realize the limitations of education. What you read for

the first time may look new to you but when you read it again and again it is

no more new. Here is an example. Once God wanted to grant liberation to a

person and sent Yama, the God of death, to him. When Yama approached this

devotee, he questioned whether the devotee knew him. But the devotee answered

that he (Yama) was a stranger to him. Then Lord Yama told him that he would

return to him only when he could recognize Yama. When Yama returned after three

days the same question was posed to him. Now the devotee answered that Yama was

no longer a stranger to him, because he had

already seen him. Everything appears strange and new before acquaintance. But

once we acquaint ourselves we tend to shed differences.

Basically, you have to get rid of the sense of differences and develop the sense

of oneness. Then you will know that religion; Educare and spirituality are one

and the same. 

     Q.2. What relationship should Sri Sathya Sai Schools have with Government?

Sri Sathya Sai education and Government education are two separate entities.

Nevertheless, Sathya Sai Schools should have good relationship with the

government. Sai belongs to everybody but government does not belong to

everybody. Sri Sathya Sai Schools should obey all rules of the government, but

with Sai, the only rule is Love. In Sri Sathya Sai Schools we follow all rules

of discipline with love. The government enforces its rules, therefore it is

'force', but Sai's method is from the 'source'. One can pursue Sri Sathya Sai

education along with government education. Sri Sathya Sai education imparts

human values. Follow these values, and at the same time pursue government

education. But do not split them into artificial divisions.

Everyday we have twenty-four hours at our disposal. At the most we spend six

hours - three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon in schools.

We still have eighteen hours at our disposal. Allocate six hours for your sleep,

six hours for personal activities and the remaining six hours can be utilized

for spiritual pursuits and developing human values. Sri Sathya Sai education

imparts practical knowledge, while the government education teaches only

bookish knowledge. But do not ignore bookish knowledge also, because the former

grants us spiritual happiness and the latter, worldly happiness. Government

education gives us the means of livelihood whereas Sri Sathya Sai education

leads us to the ultimate goal of life. The two constitute the two sides of the

same coin.

     Q.3. As teachers how can we understand the minds of students?

The teacher must first have a thorough understanding of his own mind before

trying to understand the minds of the students. If the teacher’s mind is good,

the students will reflect it in their behavior. Since the teacher cannot see

the student's mind, he has to understand it only by observing the student's

behavior. The teacher should observe and analyze the student's behavior with

that of his parents, his friends and his fellow students. Basing on this, he

will be able to lead the student on tote right path.

Sometimes, parents give too much freedom to the children and children in turn

misuse this freedom to interact with their friends with laxity in behavior. At

school his freedom is curtailed. He must be taught to strike a balance between

freedom and discipline. The teacher cannot interfere in the student's family

affairs, for, parents give freedom to their children out of their love.

Nevertheless, the teachers must keep in touch with the student’s activities at

home. But the sad plight of the modern age is that the parents are ninety-nine

percent responsible for their children getting into bad ways, by providing them

with excess of money and freedom. The parents are misguided by imagining that

their children would be hurt if their freedom is curtailed. But they feel

dejected if the child gets perverted and runs into bad ways.

The child must be groomed well right from the beginning itself. Just as

speed-breakers control the speed of vehicles on the road to ensure safety, so

too restrictions must be enforced upon children's freedom for their safety. The

child should be given freedom in areas related to right conduct and must be

punished when it errs. When the parents give freedom to their children, they

should watch carefully as to how the children behave. It is then that the child

will tread the right path. The first responsibility rests with the mother for

the child to tread on the right path. Generally, if the daughter in the family

is spoiled, mother irresponsible and if the son goes astray, father is

responsible for it.

It is in order to ensure that unlimited freedom is not given to children that

the institution called school has come into existence. It is here that teachers

should strike a balance between freedom and restriction in student’s life. The

teacher must advise the student regularly that his conduct will be responsible

for the name he earns for his parents and the school in which he studies.

In some countries the concept of kindness and respect for elders is not stressed

upon. The teachers of Sathya Sai schools must advise the students in the right

way. The teacher must advise the student that he is born as a human, and that

he is neither a 'wild animal' to strike terror in the hearts of people nor is

he a 'domestic animal' (docile person) to be afraid of others. He has no cause

to fear nor should he cause fear in others. In this manner, the teacher must

lead the students on the right path. Life is a long journey and must not be

dismissed in a trivial manner. It must be spent in the most auspicious manner

possible. We should aspire for a divine life and not long life. It is possible

to bring about a change in students by such good advice.

You are 'Acharya' and not merely a teacher. Acharya is one who first practices

and then teaches the same to his students. So when you want to teach good

principles to students, first you practice and then set an example. For

example, if you smoke in the class, students will also emulate you and start

smoking. If you try to correct them by saying, smoking is bad for health; the

students will in turn ask you, "Sir, then why are you smoking?" The true

characteristic of good education is good teaching. Good teaching brings about

transformation in students. It will make students confess their mistakes before

the teacher. I know this very well. Sometimes I punish My students for their

mistakes and be strict towards them. Yet, I love them and give them what they

need. This transforms their hearts. They come and pray to Me, "Swami please

forgives. It is our mistake that we did not conduct

ourselves according to Your words. Now we have realized it. Swami, we will never

repeat such mistakes again". Words that come out of true repentance melt Swami's

heart and Swami forgives them by saying, "My dear son, whatever I do is for your

good." All teachers can learn to emulate this example.

     Q.4. What is the most important quality a good teacher must have?

     This is a very important question. Teachers should practice what is good

and teach the same to students. Teachers should lead an exemplary life. Here is

an example; when I was studying in third Form in Kamalapuram, we had a teacher

by name H. Iyengar. Students were very afraid of him and would often avoid

meeting him. I had great respect for my teacher. One day Iyengar got angry

because he observed Me going into a lane when he was coming from the opposite

direction of the road. Next day, I went to the class. I was the class monitor

and had to get a bundle of sticks with which he would punish students. When he

came to the class he was angry with Me for not meeting him on the road. He

asked Me, "Why did You not meet and greet me?." I replied, "Sir, I did not see

you. I was going to My friend's house to take My notebook from him." He

shouted, "So You did not see me!"

I replied, "No I did not see you." He threatened to punish Me. I told him, "Sir

I am speaking the truth. If you wish to punish Me, you can do so." This answer

melted his heart and he shed tears. He called Me near and said, "Raju I knew

that You would never commit such a mistake. It is my mistake to get angry with

You. I have a request, would you please come to my house tomorrow evening?"

As instructed by H. Iyengar, I went to his house. Iyengar had great love for Me.

He gave Pakodas in an aluminum plate. He said, "I made a mistake by thinking of

punishing You. As an act of repentance, I want to cultivate friendship with

you." Our goodness, our truthfulness and our sacred qualities will transform

any person. I said, "Sir your position is much higher than Mine. Friendship is

possible only between equals." He replied,” You may look at it that way. But,

one's age and education are not important, what is important is one's heart.

You have a good heart." He further enquired whether I was studying well. I told

him, "Yes Sir." He cautioned Me that exams were fast approaching and wanted Me

to study well. I appeared for the examination. The examination was for two

hours duration, but I finished answering the paper within half an hour. I

handed over the answer script to the

invigilator and came out. He kept watching Me. He quipped, "Raju! You don't seem

to have written anything!" I replied, "Sir! You will see it for yourself

tomorrow. I have written everything correctly. I do not write or speak

untruth."

Next day, from the pile of answer scripts, he picked up My answer script first.

He checked My answers one by one and found that there were some answers which

were not known even to him. So, he wrote very, very, very, very good on my

paper. In those days, the teacher retained the answer scripts. The next day, he

asked his wife to prepare some snacks and invited Me to his house. He told Me,

"Raju! Have a cup of coffee." I said,” Sir! I do not drink coffee. I don't have

that habit.At least have a Dosa", he requested. I replied, "But I do not have

the habit of eating at odd times." Please eat at least for my satisfaction," he

pleaded. To satisfy him, I partook of it. Likewise, students have many

opportunities to make their teachers happy. Though the students were afraid of

our teachers, I was not. The reason was that I never committed any mistakes. I

used to talk very sweetly. Because of

this, my English teacher, MahbubKhan, was very eager to come to My class. If any

other teacher continued to be in the class even after the bell, he would ask him

to leave. In the class, all other students would tease Me by saying, "Raju, go

to the front!" Mahbub Khan loved Me very much. He used to caress My hair,

fondle Me and pinch My cheeks. He was 50 years old and had no children.

He would ask Me to visit his house frequently. He was very devoted to Me. At the

age of 11, I left that school. Till that time, I used to lead the prayers at the

school. Mahbub Khan was looking after the prayer arrangements and he asked Me to

lead the prayers saying, "Your prayer smelt our hearts. You compose a prayer

song and sing it.How can I compose a prayer song?", I asked. He said, "You

can do it!" I composed a song and sang at the prayer meetings. In that song I

had incorporated the idea of unity of religions even at that age.

After listening to that song, all were surprised. After sometime, I left the

school, declaring, "I am Sai. No one however great can ever understand Me. Give

up your attempts to retain Me with you. I belong to the whole world!"

All were bewildered. They came behind Me crying, "Raju! Raju." Without answering

anybody, I went straight to Anjaneyulu's garden. I sat on a rock there and

started preaching, "Manasa Bhajare Guru Charanam Dustara BhavaSagara Taranam

(Contemplate on the feet of the Divine Master who alone canhelp you to cross

over the ocean of life and death.)"

The next day, the Telugu teacher and also Mahbub Khan resigned from their

teaching posts. They loved Me so much that they did not want to teach in the

school without Me. Many other teachers followed their example. A Muslim boy was

asked to go on the stage to lead the prayers. After coming on to the stage, he

broke down thinking of Me. He could not sing the prayer. Others also started

crying. From that day onwards, prayers were stopped.

There is a bond of pure love between teachers and students. Students can win

over any teacher's heart and a teacher can win over students' hearts. If you

want to be loved, you have to love others first. First and foremost, we should

aspire for truth. The basis of Indian culture is,” Speak truth, practice right

conduct." I was always very humble. Now also, I teach the same thing to

students. You cannot always oblige, but you can speak always obligingly! But

sometimes, one needs to be strict. That is what I do. I can be harder than

diamond when the situation demands. Otherwise, I am softer than butter.

Teachers understood this nature of Mine.

Teachers! If you want to take students into your confidence, you have to

approach them with love. You have to point out their mistakes and lead them on

the right path. Only then will they follow the right path and accept their

mistakes. For the progress and prosperity of the nation, teachers should

develop love for students and mould their character. Then the society will get

many good citizens.............

     Q7. How can we attract children of non-devotees to Sathya Sai Schools?

This is a very important question. Our students are our spokesmen. We have to

reform the students so that they will attract the attention of their parents

and bring about a good change in them. The parents may not know about Sai Baba.

But when they see the good behavior of their children because of the practicing

of the principles of Sai Baba, they will naturally change their minds. Students

can also tell their parents that all their good behavior is because of their

joining the Sathya Sai schools. This will also attract other children to the

Sathya Sai Schools.

Let us take for example the good practice of the students chanting

'Brahmarpanam' before partaking of food. Even the parents will be surprised at

their devotion to God. If children explain to the parents themeaning of the

prayer saying, "Food is given to us by God. Therefore, we must offer it to Him

before partaking of it. Then the food becomes Prasadam and will not be tainted

by impurities." Thus even the parents will learn to pray. This is the way to

bring the parents on the right path through their children.

Whatever we do, we must do it properly. If any guests visit our house, we must

speak to them courteously. We must offer them seats, make them comfortable and

tell them, "Please be seated. Father will meet you in a few moments." Such

behavior will make the guests happy and will naturally appeal to the good sense

of the guests, whether they are devotees or not. This is how we have to train

our students so that they will attract others and be an example to them.

     Q8. How do we deal with parents who do not follow Sai's teachings?

We must bring about a change in the parents through their children studying in

our schools. For example, the parents of a student may be non-vegetarians. When

the student goes home for vacation, he can bring about a change in his parents

by narrating to them with humility the sanctity of eating vegetarian food. The

student can tell his parent,” Mother, I cannot feed myself by killing another

being. This is not good for me. This body, which is made up of flesh, should

not be fed with flesh. Our body must be fed with nectar and not with flesh.

Eating of flesh will induce in me animal feelings. We should eat only

vegetarian food which God has provided for us." Thus, we can teach parents

through students. And in course of time even the parents will stop eating

on-vegetarian food. Many families have stopped eating non-vegetarian food after

their children joined our institutions. Thus, it is

easy to bring about transformation in the parents through students.

     Q9. How to actively involve parents in Educare program?

It is very difficult to directly involve parents in the Educare program. Hence,

Educare must be taught to the parents through their children. Parents do not

know what Educare is. What will they understand if you speak about Educare to

them? Since you understand what Educare is, you should teach them about it

through your actions.

     Q11. How to go about starting the first Sri Sathya Sai School in a country?

It is not possible for all to start schools, as all may not have the resources

to do so. But they can start imparting Educare through the Balavikas program.

Gradually, it can be upgraded into a school. Here I have an important point to

make. The good work done by women in this field is highly appreciable. Men lag

far behind in this aspect. Women are somehow finding time for Balavikas in

spite of their daily chores. In this Kali Age, it is a good blessing for both

women and children. Men too should come forward to participate in such work.

Only then can the nation progress. Big schools and buildings can land us in

worries when we lack resources. Let it be in a small scale.

      Q12. What is Sai Baba's vision of the future of Sri Sathya Sai Schools around the world?

There is no need to worry about what awaits us in future. Do whatever you are

supposed to, in the best way you can. This will lead you to a brighter future.

Future is not sure, it is not in our hands. Present is important. Present is

not ordinary present; it is omnipresent. Take care of the present, the future

will take care of itself. Did you ever think in the past that you could grow to

the present state of attending the conference? When you do good work that itself

will bestow upon you a good future.

      Q14. Should Gayathri Mantra be chanted in Western Sathya Sai Schools?

You can do as per the dictates of your heart. If you feel its chanting bestows

upon you benefits, you can do it. Gayathri is not a woman or this Mantra

belongs to any particular religion or country. It is only the name and the form

of a deity. It represents the three aspects of materialization, vibration and

radiation. These three are present in everyone irrespective of one's country

and religion. In this Mantra, one prays for inspiration and stimulation of

one's intelligence. I do not force anyone either to chant it or not to chant

it. Mine is not 'force’ but only 'source'. You can do whatever gives you joy.

I have answered your questions in brief. Purify your hearts and follow the

Divine command. You can pray to God - Allah, Jesus, Krishna or Zoroastra. It

does not make any difference. Develop virtues and get rid of vices. Sathya Sai

is absolutely selfless; whatever I say, follow it implicitly. It will be good

for you. Attain happiness and share it with others.

*****

A young boy’s request for help on the subject matter has generated so much of

informations and interest among our members. Many have sent innumerable

guidelines to the boy which we hope he would cherish as treasure. They all

would act as nourishing manure in molding his propensity and his future life

setting his life for other boys to emulate. Thanks for all members who took

initiate and interest in the matter.

Sai brothers – ‘’

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