Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

Talk, brave talk; has grown so wild; Work, brave work; has dried and died; Living is burdened with hollow pomp, Love is lost while hatred lasts. The world today is caught up in political stratagems and atheistic anarchy. Respect for Truth has declined. Mankind is sick, afflicted with wickedness and hatred. The most effective cure for this illness is spiritual sadhana and progress, which can restore the genuine virtues of humanity. Man can be truly human only when he understands himself and others, realise the bond that binds him with society and works with others for the good of all. The word sthree (woman) indicates that she is a composite of the three modes, the three facets of human nature' Sathwik (serene), Rajasik (active) and Thamasik (inactive, ignorant) for it has the three sounds of sa, ra and tha. As a consequence of the Sathwik component, woman has fortitude, equanimity, rectitude, goodliness and godliness. The Rajasik component has endowed her with courage, adventurousness and willfulness. The Thamasik nature in her has resulted in modesty and hesitancy. Of these three, the Sathwik is the predominant feature in her. But, it is being suppressed by contrary influences and the Rajasik has been encouraged to prevail. A woman earns renown from what she does; man earns renown from what he desists from doing. Based on what they do, women acquire name and fame. They sustain the home; they mould the nation's fate. That is the reason why their names are mentioned even before the name of their spouses, in the epics, puranas and scriptural texts - Seetha-Rama, Lakshmi-Narayana, Parvathi-Parameshwara.

You are all here as students of this College. How can any study be worthy, if it does not confer good knowledge and prompt one to do good work? An education that helps you merely to keep alive is no education at all. The wheels of the chariot of life are good knowledge and good deeds. This alone is true spirituality - virtue and humanitarian deeds. Charity is spiritual; good behaviour is spiritual; keeping away from evil is spiritual. Today, science has overwhelmed the world. The power of the atom has overshadowed the entire world. Marvels unseen, unheard and unknown to man in previous centuries are astounding mankind one after the other. But, contemporaneously with them, fanaticism based on the language one speaks, the region in which one is born and narrow loyalties to social and economic isms are spreading fast. Imagine! In the 5000 years of human history, fifteen thousand wars have soaked its pages in blood. That is the measure of the brutality inherent in man. Man feels that riches are paramount, but what he fancies as wealth are but material, momentary, trivial things. Character, virtue, brotherhood, charity - these are the real riches. The company of the good and godly is wealth most worthy. Wisdom is the most precious wealth. The educated person must live with this conviction. Search for mere riches can never confer contentment and peace of mind.

Each one yearns for lasting joy but does not stop to discover from where it can be got. It is not available anywhere outside him. Instead, searching in the outer world, he might hit upon many objects and experiences which mislead him, but he does not hit upon himself. When he sees his Self, he does not notice the objective world. When he pays attention to the outer world, he cannot notice his inner Self.

The purpose of existence is not fulfilled by getting born, managing to grow and quietly quitting through the doors of death. To become aware of its significance, Vidhya (the Higher Learning) is needed. This Vidhya can never be out-dated. It can never desert us.

This Institution of Higher Learning is established with high ideals before it. You must be aware of this purpose and prove that you stand by them. The nation can progress only when the students progress. In every field, students must strive to become ideal leaders and guides. The students of today, are the experts on which the nation will rely, the citizens who will shape its destiny. When you grow straight and strong, every department of public and governmental activity will become efficient and beneficent. When education degenerates, all social, economic and political activities start rotting. So, the educational process and system must be allotted a crucial role. But, at present, they involve high expense and low income. Women after spending years in school and college marry and shut themselves in. Of course, it is good that they enter married life and establish ideal homes. But, that does not utilise all that they have studied so meticulously, at such cost. Education should not end with the winning of a degree or diploma. That is no real evidence of one's learning. Learning is not as mechanical as all that. It must inspire even the most inert individuals. It has no place for pride, pomp or jealousy. It shares its illumination with all. The magnet activates the inert piece of iron. Vidhya or the Higher Learning that you acquire here, should move all into higher levels of activity and thought. It must confer intuitive light. It must delight the parents, render fellowmen happy and make one's own life an example. Know that you are engaged in studies here for achieving this goal.

Einstein, the great philosopher and scientist, met a famous poet once and wanted to know from him the secret of his popularity and fame. He led Einstein into his library and drew his attention to the Bhagavad Geetha, the Rig Veda, the Brahma Suuthra, the Upanishadhs and commentaries of Shankara and confessed that they had granted him the wisdom that shone in his poetry. But, many scientists still deny spiritual values and are immersed in mere materialism, holding fast to the belief that seeing is believing. People have faith in the results given by scientists of the calculation of planetary distances and sizes. But, they hesitate when confronted with conclusions arrived at by investigators into the inner space, into the inner regions of the Spirit - those who have seen and shown, experienced and enjoyed the Truths they proclaim. It is unreasonable willfulness that makes people stick to the beliefs they have accepted, as unchallengeable. As the statement goes, The subterranean fire can be grasped in the palm; the sky can be contacted as a concrete entity; but, one can never refine the mind of an obtuse obstinate person." For, one can awaken a person who sleeps; one can make a person who is not asleep to rise and move; but, one can never awaken a fellow who pretends to be asleep. Willfully avoiding the illumination of knowledge is a sin against spirituality. Our students must welcome light at all times, from all quarters.

This attitude should not be dropped as you leave the Institute. Some people drop even human qualities when they step out of the College, after finishing their studies. Of what avail is all the teaching they receive? And the expense? If only all that money was deposited in a bank, they could have lived on the interest. Instead, what has been achieved from this holy place is "an empty head and an empty purse." What does the world gain from such failures?

One must take up work, that is of some use to the world. Move into the villages and help to keep them clean. Instruct the women of the village in the basic principles of child-health, child-care and child-training. When health fails, people become despondent and even desperate. When health prevails, vitality pervades both mind and body. By the process of loving service, you can become the promoters of much joy. Do not consider any act of service as demeaning. Sweeping the streets, for example, is not below your dignity. Do you not sweep the floor of your. home? Do you not scrub and wash off dirt? When you undertake such tasks, the villagers will also gladly share in them. Why be ashamed to be good? The ridicule that may be cast on you has been the reward of many saints. It will soon fade away. Mohammed was driven out of Mecca by those who could not appreciate his teachings. Jesus was crucified. But, their names resound in reverence in the hearts of millions. So, boldly face ridicule and plunge into selfless, intelligent service. This institution is the Ganga of seva. Yamuna, the Bangalore Campus of this Institute, joins it. And both take in Saraswathi, the Prasanthi Nilayam Vidhyagiri Campus. I am now proceeding to Yamuna and later, I reach Saraswathi. The teachers and students of these campuses have to live harmoniously and cordially, sharing and caring in loving co-operation. I am confident you will act thus and I bless you for success in this endeavour.