HUMILITY AND CHARACTER ARE THE HALLMARK OF EDUCATION Swami's discourse on 16-3-2005

[Guest guest]

HUMILITY AND CHARACTER ARE THE HALLMARK OF EDUCATION

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

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

Poem)

Embodiments of Love!

You have joined this institution to pursue your education. First, 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 air 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 education 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, bliss.

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-suddhi (purity in

feelings), which will ultimately lead to jnaana-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 ideas

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 hundreds of thousands 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 would 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% vegetarian. 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

budged 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 deligently.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 your 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, several harmful microorganisms infect them. Similar instances

were reported from various parts of Bharath. 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 are 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 sattvic 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 feet it again with flesh? Such

unsacred food gives rise to unsacred thought. 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 hope 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 you 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 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. Educare relates to inward

transformation. Educare is that which makes the human values blossom from

within. Whether you have acquired education 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.

Bhagavan concluded His Discourse with the bhajan, 'Hari bhajan bina sukha santhi

nahin Hari naama bina ananda nahin…'

With Sai love from ''

Source: http://www.vedamu.org/forum/forum.asp

Attachment: (image/pjpeg) Vibhuthi manifestation.jfif [not stored]