Learning and liberation

30 August 1978, Anantapur

Professor Kasturi's English.

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True education is that which liberates man Unless knowledge is transformed into wisdom, and wisdom is expressed in character, education is a wasteful process. If education confers this gift of transformation, then surely life will become peaceful, happy, and full of mutual help and co-operation. But the aim of education today has degenerated into the acquisition of certain skills and intellectual tricks. It provides the educated with food, clothing and shelter and considers that its task is over with that achievement. The sages who laid down the goals of education have declared, "." (That is true education which helps to liberate man) - liberate him from greed, hatred, unrest, narrow loyalties and ego impulses. Education today, adds to the unrest already in the heart of man; it does not liberate him from the prison house of desire into which he has strayed. Man builds rest-houses where he can cool his tired brain and revive his exhausted nerves, but he has yet to build (temples of peace) where he can unconcernedly learn to witness the happenings of the world, aware of the level of the world, aware of the level of their relative importance. That will give him equanimity. Faith in an All-knowing, All-operating God will render him free to watch with interest the ups and downs of history.

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Cultivate the habit of self-examination No one has the golden quality of contentment. The discontented man is as bad as lost. There is no limit to man's desires. Every person wielding power over others yearns to rise higher and higher and exercise more and more influence, but no one attempts a rigorous examination of himself to find out whether he has merit enough to be conferred with the position he craves for. Those who contentedly carry out the duties commensurate to the positions they hold, are very few. Every one, fit or unfit, throws stones, on the off-chance of getting a fruit from the laden tree. Students must cultivate humility and the habit of self-examination. Another reason for the prevalent overwhelming dissatisfaction of the youth, is the chronic hypocrisy of elders. The very people who proclaim the efficacy of (truth) from platforms, the very preachers who dilate on (righteousness) and (peace), live without any regard to , or . The determination that one must act according to one's profession has disappeared. We can establish peace and prosperity, morality and uprightness in the land, only when those who preach and those who teach high ideals, act up to their own exhortations.

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Be conversant with some spiritual discipline The code of conduct laid down for the students of this college helps you to develop qualities that will stand you in good stead later in life. The eye, the ear, the nose, the tongue - the four senses of sight, hearing, smell and taste - are all located in the head. Of course, the eye and the tongue have been provided with doors, so that the doors can keep out what is not desirable and welcome what is. Desire only the sight of beneficial things, only to speak out what will be conducive to peace and harmony. Do not indulge in talkativeness. If you get a reputation for talkativeness, you will suffer from weak memory, social odium, and nervous debility. You have the great responsibility of motherhood and the duty of educating your children into strong and good citizens of this country. Along with the University degree, you must also acquire some general knowledge which is essential for householders and others. Otherwise, though the husband and the wife may both be degree-holders, they would be helpless and desperate even if the baby caught a slight cold. You must also be conversant with some spiritual discipline like (remembering God's name), (meditation) and (divine communion), so that you may not be carried away by every changing breeze.

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Practise the constant presence of God It is best that you imprint on your hearts the dual nature of the world that is a mixture of pleasure and pain, joy and grief, victory and defeat. Practise the constant presence of God and learn to offer all your activities at the feet of the Lord as an act of worship. Then they will be free from fault. advised to enter 'the fight,' and at the same time told him not to have hatred towards the 'enemies.' These may appear to be two irreconcilable attitudes, for war is (passion, attachment) and renunciation of hatred is (absence of ). asked how he was to reconcile these two attitudes. said, "" (Keep Me ever in thy mind, and fight). "Do not cultivate the egoistic feeling that it is you who is fighting. I am-using you as My. Instrument," He said. Even the food you take should be to propitiate Him, who is resident in your bodies as the , eager to digest the food we place in it. It is the Lord who receives the food, digests it and supplies strength thereby to the various limbs of the body. This college was established ten years ago. Hence it is now a sprightly girl of ten summers. A baby girl of two or three will not dare venture outside the home alone. A girl of twenty can well look after, herself wherever she is. But a girl of ten can neither be kept at home, nor does she know how to look after herself outside. Therefore we have all to guard her and guide her with great care and diligence. We must see that the ideals and aims of this college are maintained and fostered. On your discipline, devotion and duty are based the success and reputation of this college. Now, and later, you must lead lives of exemplary virtue and bring honour to parents and your alma mater.

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