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Sathya Sai Speaks 1999 · True education liberates

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  1. True education liberates

    22 November 1999, Convocation - 18, Prasanthi Nilayam

    Published English.

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    One may master all forms of knowledge, One may vanquish one’s adversaries in debate, One may fight with valor and courage in the battlefield, One may be an emperor reigning over vast kingdoms, One may offer cows and gold as acts of charity, One may count the countless stars in the sky, One may tell the names of innumerable living creatures on the earth, One may be an expert in eight forms of , One may reach even the moon; But can anyone control the body, mind, and senses? Turn the vision inward And achieve the supreme state of equanimity of the mind. [Telugu Poem]
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    Education is for serving society once told the students of University, “Students! Why do you acquire this knowledge? Is your learning only for your selfish ends? You have acquired all these skills expense of society. If you do not repay your debt to your community by using your talent for society, it is better you burn your books.” Today, science has achieved great advancement. Many scientific and technological disciplines are taught to students. Is this knowledge imparted by society for the benefit of society or for the name and fame of the students? Having become great intellectuals, is there any genuine transformation in them?
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    Ancient education system In this sacred land of , great sages have been making many changes and modifications in the education system since ancient times. Before the coming of foreigners, there were very few educational institutions in this country. Each of them specialized in one branch of knowledge or the other and helped the students to achieve excellence in that branch.
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    () University specialized in the study of grammar. (rhetoric) was the specialty in University. University specialized in mathematics. Similarly, there was a small town known as where (logic) was the specialty. , the capital of the kingdom of (brother of ), specialized, apart from other sciences, in (medicine). was a specialty in the (Taxila) University also. One of the most famous universities of ancient India was , which specialized in grammar, , medicine, and . , , and were other well-known universities of ancient India.
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    Learning professional skills is essential (truth) and (righteousness) were the guiding principles for all students. Besides, vocational training for various trades like carpentry, pottery, blacksmithy, etc. was given so that the pupils may be trained for life and may become capable of earning their livelihood in a righteous way.
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    What is the point in learning subjects that are not useful in daily life? Learning professional skills is therefore essential. Fine arts like music, dance, and drama were also taught in these universities. University included in its curriculum all these subjects and their branches. Careful investigation indicates that there were only nine or ten such universities in those days.
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    is termed Education. What is the root meaning of Education? The word is derived from the Latin root . What does it mean? It means to bring out what is inside. What has to be brought out?
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    The knowledge emanating from the head, viz. reading, writing, etc., helps you to earn a living. All this is mere bookish knowledge. From (books), it enters the (head). It is only superficial knowledge, that which has gone into books from someone’s head and back into another’s head from the books (from to and to ).
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    In ancient times, each student was himself a scholar That is why in olden days, each university specialized in one area of knowledge and imparted the knowledge of the highest quality to its students. The university in () specialized in grammar in all its manifold aspects so that the acquired knowledge could become useful and practical in dayto-day life. The - probably first of existing lexicons in Sanskrit - was a subject of study and even through this study of grammar the teachers of those days were preparing their students for (immortality). In these universities, each student was himself a great scholar.
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    Who were the teachers? Often, the resident preceptor was himself the faculty and indeed the Vice Chancellor. The whole process of education was carried out independently, without any interference or control by any government or other agency. , the goddess of learning, was honored and given complete freedom. The students received her boundless grace to attain high standards of excellence.
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    Wavering mind is the cause for short memory Today’s education requires huge edifices. An enormous number and variety of equipments and implements are necessary, and huge effort, physical and monetary, is required for these. There were no such requirements of equipments or grand buildings those days. Even in the famous universities like and , there were no large buildings or edifices like those of today.
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    Education in those days included the techniques of controlling the mind. Only when the mind is under control is it possible to absorb and retain the subject of study. That is why it is said, (the mind is responsible for both the bondage and liberation of man).
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    There is no harm in acquiring modern education and skills, but the blossoming of your heart is the fundamental education. A noble heart and a broad mind are your basic requirements; do not stray into narrow-mindedness. You should expand your love. If you narrow it down to yourself, then it will become contraction love. Instead you should have expansion love. This is the principle taught by our ancient culture. Forgetting this valuable ancient tradition of , you are engaged in acquiring physical and material education.
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    Ignorance is very close to knowledge In , some people are spending of to convert sea water into potable water. are being wasted in such futile efforts. By such methods, you may get a glass of drinking water at a cost of about five thousand . This country is served by sacred rivers like the and the . What is needed is to pump up and distribute this water to the people who require it. This will require only a fraction of the cost of converting seawater into potable water. This kind of effort at technology is like buying peanuts for a quarter of a rupee and paying half a rupee to carry it to your house. Such learning is not knowledge. It is sheer ignorance.
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    Ignorance is very close to knowledge, just as darkness is under a source of light. You imagine that technical knowledge has made rapid strides. You also believe that science has made great progress. But the fact is that side by side with the growth of physical knowledge, ignorance has also grown enormously. You are totally unmindful of this ignorance, and are continually spending four times the money and effort for fulfilling each one of your needs. This is the reason for ’s visible poverty.
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    Respect your parents You know how difficult it is to get good education these days. It is only in our university that you have the privilege of free education. Anywhere outside, it costs ten to twenty thousand to put a child in the First Standard. For graduate courses, you know what the monthly expense is. Who bears this cost? Is it not your parents? Out of love for you, with your welfare, progress, and future prosperity in mind, they undergo many difficulties, wearing themselves out day after day so that you may achieve academic success. You are just not mindful of all this.
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    It is imperative that you imbibe divine qualities. You should grow up as an intelligent, sensible, and compassionate person with human qualities. Otherwise, you cannot achieve the purpose of human life. Instead, if you join evil company and take to all sorts of vices, you will dissipate all your acquired good education in worthless ways. Seek good company. (abandon bad company, seek the company of good people, perform good actions day and night). This is the proper way. By evil association you also become evil. That is why it is said, “TeIl me your company and I shall tell you what you are.” Make friends after proper enquiry. You must love all. Do not hate anybody. But you must keep in your heart good people only. Similarly, mere bookish learning is fruitless unless it is put to practical use.
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    Tread the path of purity, humility, divinity and set an example to the world. When people extol you as a student of Institutions by your exemplary conduct, how much good reputation is earned not only by you but also by your Alma Mater! Be sure to uphold your own dignity and respect. Only then can your parent institution have a good reputation. Otherwise, it will become a case of empty pocket, bare face, and shaven head! (A Telugu saying signifying total ruin.) Keep your parents and family happy Never mind whether your stomach is full or empty, but keep your parents and family happy. Speak gently and properly with them. That is why I say, “You cannot always oblige, but you can always speak obligingly.” Nowadays, it is difficult to make out whether a student is talking to his own parents or strangers, because his manner of talking to parents is so reprehensible. If the father is not highly educated and approaches his son with an enquiry, “My boy, what are you doing?” mostly he is shrugged off with “Go away, don’t bother me.” Instead of this, if you speak sweetly with humility, “Father, I am trying for a job,” how pleased he will be! If you can’t please your own parents, how on earth will you please society?
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    What was the nature of convocation in olden days? After completing their studies, the pupils made appropriate offerings to the preceptor and prayed for his parting advice. Then, the preceptor used to advise them, “My children, now you are ready to go back to your families. Support your parents, get married and lead a righteous life.” What is the state of affairs today? When children get back home from the educational institutions, they do not treat their parents properly. But the parents still take care of their children, putting up with all their misbehavior. Modern students do not have even an iota of our culture. What a sacred tradition it is! (May the entire world enjoy bliss) is the prayer that our culture enjoins us to utter each day.
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    Understand the significance of ancient culture There was an old man who followed his rituals strictly and performed his prayers () in the prescribed manner early in the morning and at sunset. He had a grandson who used to sit in the verandah doing his day’s homework, dipping his pen in the inkbottle every time he wrote a few lines. As he was busy with his study, his grandfather came out and sat on a little stool and started chanting the , “," etc. Taking water from a little vessel, he sipped half a spoonful at a time with each mantra as per the ritual.
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    The grandfather continued, “Dear boy, you have to dip the pen in ink to write every word. Only then will it be neat. When I chant a mantra and take water, it reaches the particular deity whose name is chanted. When you write a letter and write address correctly on the cover, it will reach the right person. Similarly, the are addressed to the respective deities. If you don't understand, you should keep quiet.” Instruction was given in an informal and interesting way in those days. Today’s students neither know their own job nor understand the work of others. This kind of general knowledge has to be acquired by direct experience, not from any institutional study. Hence, try seriously to understand the significance of your ancient culture.
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    Science helps you to develop and sharpen your intellect. There are many scientists; many of you are also students of science. You must know that knowledge that comes from within is at the top level. At the second level is skill; at the third is balance; and at the fourth is insight. tells you to convert your knowledge into skill, not to kill it. When knowledge is killed, imbalance ensues. Why is there such loss of balance in the world today? This is because you have killed your God-given knowledge instead of turning it into skill.
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    Between the tree of the past and the tree of the future, the present is the seed, which is of utmost significance. It gets sustenance from (morality). Without , (the human race) is bound to be ruined, and even its existence is impossible. (human race) is a balanced blend of truth, morality, and sacrifice. But we are failing to recognize the sacredness of human nature. Amongst all beings, birth as a human being is the rarest (). Loss of this humanness in man is the cause of chaotic conditions in the world.
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    I said the other day, “ (speak the truth, speak sweetly, do not speak unpalatable truth).” This mode of living is true sacrifice. Who can assert that he is treading strictly this path?
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    Some people make fun of the when they chant . Each mantra is potent, and all our ancient traditions are meaningful. A small example. There is a wedding going on. These days you have elaborately decorated or . Those days they had no such elaborate external decoration. Just four posts were put up, covered over for shade with green leaves and branches, and the people used to sit under the shade to carry out the rituals.
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    was the basis of ancient education system Dear Students! You should try to understand the inner significance of your cultural heritage. never says you should not have modern education. Why would make such an inhibition? All that is said is that along with this worldly study, pursue also an enquiry into the principle of your Self (). This was the basis of the ancient education system.
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    You know, and were taught in the forest. The friendship developed during that study was long lasting. Today there is no true friendship. If you have money in your pocket, there will be many who will be hailing you, “hello, hello.” If there is no money, then “hello” becomes “hollow”, and all friends desert you. Is this friendship?
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    Your effort should be to acquire friendship like this. While making friends, do not hate anybody. Do not harm anybody. wants that you should all acquire education of this kind, with broad-mindedness and purity, and become a model for humanity. This is My benediction for you.
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    Goodness versus greatness Do not strive to acquire the status of a great man. Always strive to become a good man. Great men may do many evil deeds, but the acts of a good man stand out as ideals for others always. was a great man. is the example par excellence of a good man. Both had mastered the same studies: but how different were their natures! , though endowed with extraordinary learning, was himself destroyed and was the cause of the destruction of his entire clan, because of one bad quality of desire. , the master of all the five elements, was ruined by his evil quality of anger. was ruined by greed. He refused to give even five villages to the .
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    Do not make friends indiscriminately. Always enquire into the good and evil in your fellowmen and then choose your company. While helping, you need not discriminate. Help anybody in need. Earn a good name for your institution by your reputation as a good person. That alone will make happy.
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    Keep God in your heart and serve society There are no fees for the various facilities in the institutions. You have complete peace in the absence of all fees. In other places, there are fees of many kinds. Paying out fees here, fees there, fees for this and fees for that, where is the room for peace? You only go to pieces.
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    Lead a peaceful life. Be good. Be a model for society. This is the gift of to all of you today. Do not forget God. God is your very life. Keep God in your heart and serve the society. You are bound to succeed in all your endeavors. wishes all of you to lead lives full of bliss.
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    It is not for any of the material things like wealth, fame or health that he comes here. It is for the sake of the bliss he experiences here that he comes so frequently. When asked him, Goldstein replied that he found bliss here in that was not there in America. You know he is a rich man. If he wanted his son to be married in grand style, he could have done it in America. His son was to be married to the daughter of a well-known film star who is also a rich person. But Goldstein does not bother about grandness and greatness, he is concerned only with goodness. The film star brought her daughter and Goldstein his son, and the marriage was performed in that little interview room of . The couple is happily living together.
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    His second son insisted that perform his marriage,
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    too. For many years, delayed the decision. Finally, asked Dr. Goldstein to bring his son here. found a suitable bride for him from an ideal and well-to-do family. The marriage was again performed here.
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    In olden days, girls used to cry a lot while leaving their parents’ homes after the marriage. Unlike modem girls, this girl also cried for while departing from here, I told her not to cry and to come again with a child.
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    Both the sons of Goldstein are very good. Their goodness is in fact a consequence of their association with the Organization. Their wives are also very good.
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    Goldstein does everything according to the commands of . He is in charge of the Organizations of several countries, including that of America. He is a good, devoted, and disciplined worker. As a loyal member of the Organization, he has the three sacred qualities: duty, discipline, and devotion.
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