Human Values and Education

What can the evil effects of Kali Age do to a man whose heart is filled with compassion, whose every utterance is truth and whose body is dedicated for the service of others.

Man should fill his heart with compassion, always speak the truth and dedicate his body for the welfare of society. The thought, word and deed of man should always be sacred. The heart not polluted by desire and anger, the tongue not tainted by untruth and the body unblemished by the acts of violence-these are the true human values. It is because of the lack of these human values that the country is facing hardships today. The parents and the teachers should take note of the fact that only the students can restore the pristine glory of Bharat, which once was the treasure house of spirituality, but has now become the abode of worldly and ephemeral pleasures. Just as the parents are saddened seeing their children lagging behind in studies, so also Mother India feels sad seeing her children lacking moral and ethical values. You have to remember that all those whom you revere as ideal citizens and noble souls were once students themselves. Never forget that students of today are the future citizens and leaders of this country.

The value of an individual depends on his or her culture. The real meaning of the word culture lies in giving up bad thoughts and bad actions and cultivating sacred thoughts and noble deeds. The country is not a mere piece of land; it is an assemblage of citizens. For the country to progress, the citizens have to cultivate the moral, ethical and spiritual values. It is not possible for the citizens and the leaders to cultivate these values unless they practice them right from childhood. Life becomes meaningless if one does not take to righteous actions from an early age. Modern students are not able to refine their lives. So, the parents and the teachers should play an active role in shaping the lives of the students. First and foremost they have to enquire as to how the students can get rid of their evil tendencies. Just as a boulder becomes worthy of adoration and respect when it is carved into a beautiful idol, so also the students will become ideal citizens if they are brought up in the right environment. The teachers and parents are responsible for the good and bad in students. But, unfortunately, they have not understood their role in shaping the lives of the students.

Today the moral, ethical and spiritual values are on the decline. The modern students have no trace of these values in them. They have no respect for their parents and society. In that case how can they expect to be respected by their children? Our ancient culture exhorts: Mathru Devo Bhava, Pithru Devo Bhava and Acharya Devo Bhava (revere your mother, father and teacher as God). Respect and be respected. Practice before you preach. A composer is one who practices what he preaches.

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.

The five human values of Sathya, Dharma, Santi, 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 practices 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 compel 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.

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 acharyas 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.

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 a 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 from 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 spoor 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.

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) The 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? The 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.

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 symbolized goodness, whereas Ravana, greatness. Though Rama and Ravana were equally proficient in all the forms of knowledge, 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 and 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 air-powerful, but ultimately perished because of their anger towards God. Hiranyakasipu was a great, scientist. Today man has traveled only up to the moon, whereas Hiranyakasipu could even reach the stars. But he was ruined by his anger.

In the Mahabharata Duryodana and Dussassana symbolize 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 symbolizes 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.

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 serve the poor. Conduct free tuition classes for the poor 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."

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 "Sathya Jnanam Anantham Brahma..."]