Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

Modern education develops the intellect and imparts skill, but does not promote good quashes in any way. Of what value is the acquisition of all the knowledge in the world, if there is no character?

Knowledge has multiplied and with it desires have grown. The result is that one is a hero in words, but is a zero in action. What is the use of acquiring inteligence and skills if even a small fraction of what is learnt is not put into practice?

SATHYAM Ekapadam Brahma. Sathye Dharmo Prathishtitah. Sathyameva vak-hridayam. Sathyam Sarvam . (The one word Sathya is Brahmam. Dharma is rooted in Truth. Truth is the heart of speech. Truth is all).Embodiments of Love! Truth is the beautiful mansion of God. Dharma is firmly established in Truth. The Vedas which represent Jnana and Vijnana (Knowledge and the Higher Wisdom) are the embodiments of Truth. Those who seek to achieve higher stages in life must follow the injunctions of Truth.

Truth, charity, penance, sacrifice, friendliness, purity, straightforwardness, service to the Guru and study are the nine gems which every seeker of knowledge has to cherish. Dharma, Santhi, Prema and Ahimsa are to be found in the state in which Truth and goodness prevail. The basic Truth is one, but the sages have called it by many names. The ideal man is one who adheres to Truth and does not give it up in any circumstance. He lives the true life. Truth does not exist for the sake of any one person. It transcends the limitation of time, place and personalises. It is the life-breath for all counties, for all people, at all times. The grand sire of humanity, the great Manu, after deep enquiry, analysis and experience, gave this as his boon to mankind: "Sathyam bruyath, priyam bruyath, Na bruyath Sathyam Apriyam." (Speak the truth, speak what is pleasing. But never speak truth that is unpleasant). You should not utter an untruth because it may be pleasing. Nor should you utter truth which is unpleasant. This great advice was given by Manu to mankind.

Man can make genuine progress only when the idea that education is for earning a living is given up. The link between education and jobs should be totally snapped. Education should be for life, not for a living. Only one who realises this truth is a truly educated person. From ancient times this truth had been recognised by the sages of Bharat, who preserved the nation's cultural heritage. Knowledge does not mean mere book-lore. It is not the transference of the contents of books to the brain.

Education is intended for the transformation of the heart. Man today is proud about the little knowledge he has acquired about the physical world and boasts that he knows all about the universe. True knowledge is that which establishes harmony and synthesis between science on the one hand and spirituality and ethics on the other. Man, therefore, should at the outset determine the true value of education. Today, because of the striking growth of the physical sciences, man tends to feel he is highly knowledgeable. But only when man tries to understand knowledge of things beyond the physical sciences can he fully benefit from the latter. Beyond physics lies metaphysics. Of late some are beginning to realise this fact and are embarking upon spiritual exploration.

Great sages like Vasishta, Vamana, Jamadagni, Vishwamitra, Gautama and Parasara were among the Saptarishis who achieved the distinction because of their spiritual greatness. Do we have such sages today? It cannot be said that the accomplishments of modern science are not prodigious. There is no question about the necessity of scientific knowledge. But it must be realised that it is necessary as much to develop our sense of discrimination for the proper use of science pari passu with the development of scientific knowledge. It is because this discrimination has been lacking in the use of science we find that the world is facing many dangers and difficulties.

But even today there are some noble minds, who, even in the pursuit, of science, are exploring spiritual truths, analysing them and trying to see how these can be used for transforming man. Newton, after discovering the gravitational power of the earth, declared: “Although I have discovered the force of gravity, the gravitational force itself has been existing always before my discovery." He also admitted that while "I have been able to identify the force of gravity, I did not create it." He was convinced that there was a creator for the force of gravity. Einstein also, after his scientific studies of the working of nature, turned his mind to spiritual matters. He realized that for spiritual pursuits the company of good men was necessary, and that the association of good men can transform the human condition. He declared, "Tell me your company and I shall tell you what you are." This shows that what we are is determined by the character of the people with whom we are associated. Heisenberg, a great philosopher, after studying various sciences, embarked on an investigation of the link between the physical sciences and spirituality. He discovered the great secrets contained in the Yoga- sastras. He observed, "Master the mind: be a mastermind." Another great scientist, Schroedinger, found that science and spirituality were integrally connected and that in fact spirituality was the basis for science. He also noted that the growth of science had led to a multiplication of wants, which brought about a weakening of man's will and intelligence. He declared: "More desires, more despair."

There was another great thinker, named Dirac. He sought to know the connection between science and spirituality. He tried to discover the one entry underlying all things in creation and conducted experiments for this purpose. He found the truth to consist in the statement: "Love ever; hurt never." Dirac's conclusion is nothing but an echo of Sage Vyasa's pregnant pronouncement, after completing his works of the 18 Puranas: "To help others is meritorious; to hurt others is sinful." We have yet another modern thinker - De Broglie. Having begun as a critic of spirituality after serous enquiry, De Broglie confessed that his criticisms were due to ignorance. He proclaimed from his own experience that divinity was at the core of everything in the universe. Such seers of the truth are not absent in the world of science. These great scientists, who have examined, explored and declared the truth, are akin to the ancient Saptarishis (Seven Sages). Newton declared that the universe is a manifestation of God and everything revolves through the power of God. Fritzof Capra, at the present day, has explored the link between the atom and vibrations in nature. In ancient times, Vyasa declared that the universe emanated from the vibrations of the sound. 'Sita' and all things in creation - living and non-living - were the outcome of these vibrations.

Here is an episode from the Mahabharata. Once, when his wife, Subhadra, was enceinte, Arjuna, not knowing that the child she was bearing was the future hero Abhimanyu, began telling her all about war-fare and the Padmavyuha, an intricate type of military formation, Krishna came in at that time and pointed out to Arjuna that the child Subhadra was carting was being influenced by what he was telling her. It is an ancient practice in Bharat to relate to pregnant women stories about heroes and saints so that the child in the womb may be influenced by the vibrations produced by such sublime stories and the thoughts produced in the mother. The ancient Rishis knew this truth. No wonder that the children born under such conditions had noble nature and heroic virtues. It was a common practice to relate stories of exemplary children like Markandeya, Dhruva and Prahlada. They provided the inspiration and ideals for the children of those days. What do we find today? Pregnant women are engaged in seeing Television, Cinemas and other deleterious media which play up crime and sex. The result is the children who are born develop undesirable tendencies.

What Krishna told Arjuna might have been dismissed as meaningless previously. But today, scientists in the West are realising that what was said in the Mahabharata is true. The Institute of Child Health and Human Development, attached to the Carolina University in America, has been conducting experiments on the factors influencing development of children. An eminent scientist in this Institute, Anthony Casper after various experiments, came to the conclusion that what Sri Krishna had said was true, though our ill-equipped minds cannot fully understand the profound truth underlying Krishna's statement. Anthony Casper announced his findings on 3rd January 1984 at a conference of scientists. Caper's experiments showed that the food taken by the pregnant mother, the thoughts she had and the words she listened to had their impact on the child she was carrying.

It is a welcome sign that there are open minded scientists today who are prepared to explore the truths declared by our ancient sages and to seek the link between science and spirituality. On the other hand, it is a pity that people born in this great country with such a precious heritage, are leading lives contrary to its ideals and wasting their opportunities. The American cosmonaut, Mitchell, after landing on the moon, had a look at the earth from the moon. He saw the earth as a huge brilliant diamond set against a vast carpet of blue velvet. Experiencing this spectacle, he shed a few tears. He was stricken by the feeling: "Born on such a beautiful and brilliant land, why are men behaving like ignorant, evil minded beings? Only a diamond can come out of a diamond and not a mere piece of stone. Why should evil men arise from the pure, holy soil of Mother Each?" he asked. And he found the answer in man's fascination for material things, ignoring the cultivation of good qualities.

It should be realised that whatever scholarship one may possess, whatever position or name one may have, without righteous conduct all these are meaningless. Right conduct is the only thing that really matters. What you do determines what you get. Hence you must concentrate on right conduct. Give up narrow feelings. Broaden your outlook. True education can be summed up in one word: Love, all-encompassing love. A life without love is worse than death. Worldly knowledge is undoubtedly necessary. But it is not all. You must also know the basic Truth about life and the human destiny. Along with the acquisition of knowledge, you also have to cultivate the disciplines of right behaviour such as respect for elders, love towards parents and affection for friends. The affection you show must be constant, continuous and unchanging like your breathing.

Education today is a process of filling the mind with the contents of books, emptying the contents in the examination hall and returning empty-headed. True education consists in the cultivation of the heart. What you learn should become a part of your whole being. Only then will you have a sense of fulfillment, and establish complete harmony in thought, word and deed. The country needs today, persons who lead such integral lives.

People in all counties talk about peace but their actions are contrary to their professions. They talk of peace on the one hand and keep the atom bomb on the other. The entire world is suffering from environmental pollution. The talk of star wars contains the threat of polluting even the outer space. The desire for peace must be built in the hearts of men. The cultivation of love is the greatest need today. This vast gathering is a manifestation of love in action. Here are assembled lakhs of people. Were any invitations sent to them? They have come out of love of and for Sai. There is no use in acquiring all kinds of knowledge and performing of japas and mediation if there is no love in the heart. It is love alone which can save the world. Students, teachers and lovers of education! I wish that in your attempt to perfect the system of education you provide for love, dharma and moral values, for these alone can take the country forward and enable it to regain its past glory. Bhagavan's Benedictory Address to the Fourh