In plain words
In us there is something called the suṣumnā nāḍī. This suṣumnā nāḍī is in our spinal column, at the 33rd ring, mind in the middle. What is the reason our memory is failing today? We do not recognise the right meaning in how we conduct ourselves. We sit. When we sit, how do we sit? We sit like old men of ninety. When you sit, this is not how to sit. You must sit well. If a mallet struck you on the head, it should go straight down. Our body is like a rope wound round a stick. That is why the way we sit does great harm to the suṣumnā nāḍī. It is because the suṣumnā nāḍī is harmed that memory is lost. The reason memory is lost is these ways of behaving in our daily life.
For this very reason, they said, a certain discipline is needed. Within this discipline too one must be very stiff. Without this stiffness, faults will keep arising in every task we do in this life. So children must sit very well. Only then can we gain the fruit our studies deserve. We must cut down our talk. We must not interfere in what does not concern us. We must not wander from one room to another like cats. We must live like human beings. Each must see to his own work. From the time one rises at dawn, one must examine and test oneself: ‘Why did I come to this Prasanthi Nilayam? Why did I join this college? Am I achieving the goal for which I joined? Am I doing the work I came for, or am I getting into what does not concern me?’ One comes for one purpose and does something else. That is why we cannot reach the aim we hoped for. We have come here to study. Study. This study brings satisfaction to your parents. It brings a good name to our Institute. It will be a very fine ideal for your future. Along with it, when we gather in and take up such spiritual feelings, our life will shine like a divine light.
Students! First of all we must show gratitude to our parents. We must not neglect our parents. The reason is that your blood, your food, your head are your parents' gift. So, to make this worthwhile, you must out of gratitude carry out their commands with reverence. That is why in the Veda, Mother be your God, Father be your God: they gave the first and chief place to mother and father. We must not misuse the money our parents send. Our blood and our money must both circulate in the same way. If this blood does not circulate properly, a boil forms there. If we misuse money, unrest forms there too. So it was said, misuse of money is evil. We must not misuse money in any way. Your parents go through so many hardships, losses and sorrows and try to give you an education.