Education And Immortality

20 May 1996, Summer Course 1996, Brindavan

Published English.

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Students of today are blind to the goal of life. Some students do not even feel the pain of not knowing the purpose of life. Only one in a million or one in a (ten million) strives to realise the essence of life. This striving is the steppingstone for the realisation of the purpose of life. Many students and men feel that the acquisition of food, clothing, shelter, wealth, conveniences, and comforts constitute the very purpose of life. Life remains a tragedy as long as man labours under this kind of delusion. The day he realises the purpose of life, he undergoes a total transformation, from (agony) to (freedom from pain). When one becomes conscious of light, acquires wisdom and realises the meaning of existence, one is transported from agony to ecstasy. Light here does not signify the light of the Sun, the Moon or the lamp but that of the heart. Wisdom does not refer to scientific wisdom, but enlightenment brought about by the transformation of the heart. What about existence? Awareness of one’s own true reality is the proper meaning of existence. The awareness of one’s reality lies in the realisation that one is not the body, the mind or the senses. True realisation lies in understanding the fact that man is based on a transcendental principle that goes beyond the boundaries of matter.

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and Modern education does not confer any value on man. Even the rich meaning of a word like has lost its pristine glory. The syllables and are laden with significant meaning. means light and means that. Hence, means ‘that which lends light.’ The present educational system keeps us in darkness instead of shedding illumination. True education is that which is in consonance with the vedic statement, (Lead me from darkness to light). But today’s education-systems, instead of dispelling the darkness of ignorance, have made the students blind and deaf. Students have eyes, but they do not see. They have ears, but they do not hear. They have minds, but they are as deficient as the mentally-deranged. One has lost faith in one’s own eyes, ears and mind. Man has begun to deceive himself. Today he sees with the eyes of others, hears with the ears of others and thinks with the minds of others. How can such a man be called human, when he has lost faith in his own eyes and ears and in himself? What can such a man achieve in life?

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(student) is the one who contributes substantially to the welfare and the well being of society. He is: + , a true seeker of learning. Unfortunately, today he seeks sensual pleasures instead of seeking true learning. Why should such students enter educational institutions, which are temples of learning?

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Education today is mistaken for bookish learning. It is spirituality that lends excellence to education. Education devoid of spirituality is an utter waste. Great men of learning like and were born in . In the same State was born , who had no schooling at all to his credit. Though an illiterate, he is more remembered in than scholars like and . It is the spiritual might of that earned for him an eternal place in the hearts of the people. Every bit of learning should be based on the foundation of ethical, dharmic (righteous), and spiritual principles. Education that is not founded on these will flounder to the ground and become useless.

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They may be men of eminence, With MA and BA degrees to their credit. They may be men par excellence, Endowed with wealth and merit. They may he perfect men, Endowed with perfect health and strength. They may be men of penance, Reciting the with religious zeal. But they can never match the excellence and splendour of the devotees of God. It is by dint of devotion that even ordinary persons are elevated to extraordinary status.

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The lives of eminent (devotees) demonstrate to us how firm and strong our devotion should be. The life of is a testament of real devotion to God. Though severely tortured by his father, , stood firm as a rock, steadfast in his devotion to . The teachers of came to and pleaded their inability to divert the mind of thus:

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O Great Lord of the Demons, Though pierced by sharp swords, Your son does not shed a single tear. Instead he prays: "Oh , the destroyer of demons."

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Though of tender age, planted God firmly in his heart and withstood every storm and stress. Physical afflictions had no effect on him and did not reduce his devotion. The mind steeped in the Love of God is beyond any shock and strain like the chloroformed patient who is oblivious of the incisions made by the surgical instruments. Only Love of this kind can be victorious ultimately. Pain is a part of life and must be accepted at any cost. Pleasure is an interval between two pains. But today, the devotion of the people wavers with every trying circumstance. When our wishes are fulfilled, we install many photographs for worship; and when our wishes are not fulfilled, we throw out all the photographs. We must cultivate the temperament that makes us view pleasure and pain alike. Both pain and pleasure are gifts of God, for there is no pleasure without pain and there is no pain without pleasure. Culture lies in seeing this unity of pain and pleasure.

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The glory of a race rests on morality. Decline in morality brings degradation of the race as well. That race is indeed a noble race which seeks sustenance from morality. Listen to this noble truth, O brave sons of , O brave students of !

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Divert the mind Though it is hard to restrain the mind, it can be diverted. When the mind steeped in the secular world is diverted toward Divinity, it gains in moral strength. The mind steeped in the worldly matters makes you a prisoner of the world, whereas a mind steeped in God secures liberation for you. Your heart is the lock and your mind is the key. When you turn the key to the left, it locks. But if you turn the key to the right, it unlocks. It is the turning of the key that makes the difference. Hence the mind is the cause for your liberation as well as bondage. What then is liberation ()? It is not an air-conditioned mansion, but a state devoid of delusion (). Majesty and morality lie in diverting the mind from the world to God. It is this that really contributes to your progress and prosperity.

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Your Vice-chancellor has appealed to Me to speak about the glories of the . This I shall do every evening, bringing out the excellence of the Epic. Every syllable of the is of utmost significance to students. As the human body is made of blood cells, the too is constituted of sacred and sublime cells. Human life finds fulfilment by dwelling on the sanctity of the .

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I will expose the rings of moral principles that constitute the . My earnest wish is that students evince keen interest in the moral and spiritual principles of the and fully benefit from it. The elders too should mould their lives in consonance with morality and spirituality. Neither wealth nor scholarship can bring you happiness. Only the Love of God confers endless Bliss on you. It not only bestows happiness but gives extreme strength as well.

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