In plain words
“Education is that which teaches virtues, a good Buddhi, steadfastness in Satya, Bhakti, discipline and the doing of one's duty; this the student must learn.” The studies of today do not develop in students the power of thought or the power of discernment. From the power of intellect without thought and the power of skill without discernment the gain is nothing. Yet students toil for just this kind of study. Such study is no study at all. You must pursue the study that does good to the country. You must pursue the study that brings benefit to the people. Many elders have made many changes in the system of education today. No gain at all is seen from them. First of all, man's mind must change. Only when the mind changes will man change. Only then will the whole world change. “Mano mūlam idaṃ jagat”: the whole world is filled with the mind. Students must make the Knowledge they have gained into skill. Only then can they attain Ānanda in life. But students do not know this. Teachers do not teach it. Whose fault is this? The mother's, who bore them? The father's, who brought them up? The guru's, who imparts learning? Or the leaders', who rule the country? Everyone has a share in this fault. Children have very pure minds. Parents must teach them the importance of human values at home, from their tender years. They must make them speak the truth. But today the parents themselves teach the children Asatya. If someone phones and asks for him, the father, sitting right beside, says, “Tell them he isn't here, son.” In this way children learn from their parents to speak Asatya, and even after they grow up they go on following Asatya. We must recognise the truth that Satya, Dharma, Śānti and Prema are our five life-breaths, and act on it.
I tell our children now and then: the current of Satya, through the wire of Dharma, enters the bulb of Śānti and gives the light of Prema. So if you want to enjoy the light of Prema, you must follow Satya and Dharma. “Satyaṃ brūyāt, priyaṃ brūyāt, na brūyāt satyam apriyaṃ”: you must speak the truth, you must speak pleasantly, you must not speak an unpleasant truth. These three alone are the moral, the righteous and the spiritual values. Whatever the situation, you must not speak Asatya, you must not do injustice to anyone. You must always help, and only help.