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Bhagavân on S'rîmad
Bhâgavatam
Discourses of
S'rî Sathya Sai Baba
Summer
Course in
Indian Culture & Spirituality
Brindavan,
Bangalore - May 2-31, 1995
Chapter
1 -
Mother
and Motherland are Greater than Heaven Education is a third eye,
a secret treasure, The culture of
Bharat
is the noblest. Bharatiyas are truthful and righteous.
Justice and fairness are their life-breath. When the
eternal, indestructible, formless truth is given a form,
that is Indian culture. Students need to uphold
only sathya and dharma which, in turn,
will protect the country. Victory weds only truth and
righteousness, not wealth or position. No matter how
educated, intelligent or influential you are, you must
foster human values. It is only because human values are
disregarded in Bharat today that man has lost
value. What is meant by
education? It is not just bookish knowledge. Can all
those who know how to read and write be called educated?
Does earning degrees make one educated? Will education
achieve its purpose without moral and spiritual training?
If education is just for a living, aren't birds and
beasts living as well? Thus, living is not sufficient.
Ideals in life are important. Today the ancient, noble
truths are misinterpreted. Nature, pure and sacred, is
being driven far from society. Compassion, righteousness
and discipline are shunned. Knowledge of the ancient
Vedas is on the decline while all kinds of harmful
sciences are flourishing. Since ancient times
Bharat has granted peace and comfort to the
entire world by virtue of Her spiritual treasure.
'Loka
Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu'
- May all worlds
be happy - This has peen the ideal of Indians from time
immemorial. What is the reason for destructive tendencies
in today's education despite such a noble
heritage? Parents at home, teachers
at school and leaders in society are not setting the
right example. They say one thing and act otherwise.
Students are observant and intelligent. They think, "When
experienced elders behave in that manner, why can't we?"
When the cow herself goes to graze in the field, will you
find the calf at home? Elders are the root cause of moral
decline in our land. First of all, parents at
home are responsible. Parents desire only degrees, job,
wealth and position for their children. No parent hopes
that the child becomes devoted and noble. Parents should
definitely love their children but it should not be the
love of Dhritarashthra.
Do not support every action of your children. Mistakes
must be punished and good actions appreciated. Only with
such training at home, students will maintain their
values when they enter society. Today every student
desires comfort. What is comfort? They do not understand
what is comfort and yet, they desire it!. In their
opinion, eating, sleeping and leading life forgetful of
time is comfort. But to live without regard for time is
not a human quality. Birds and animals live that way. Why
be born as a human when you want to live like an animal?
No, no. Jantoonaam Nara Janma Durlabham - Among
all species, a human birth is most difficult to
obtain. It is indeed very valuable and sacred. If
students live like animals, they stain not just
themselves but humanity itself. What is true comfort? It
is control of the senses and ceiling on desires. Then we
become eligible for peace and joy. This is true
freedom. What is svatantram,
freedom? Freedom is not going where you please and
acting as you like. Sva means that which emerges
from the heart. To follow the teachings and prompting of
the Atma
emanating from the heart is true freedom. The four
stages of saalokyam, saaroopyam, saameepyam and
saayujyam
are possible only by following only the directives of
the Atma. Sveccha or free will means following the
Atma. Sveccha = sva (self) + iccha
(desire). Knowledge of the Atma, enquiry into the
Atma and the bliss of the Atma - these
constitute freedom. India has won freedom
from foreign rule but sadly, we have not won unity.
Students! Unity is most essential. What cannot be
achieved by individuals can be easily achieved
collectively. The Vedas say: Let us move together, let
us grow together, Bharat has always
produced excellent people in abundance - intelligent,
courageous, valourous, devoted, strong and virtuous. Yet
we were conquered by foreigners. Why? Only because there
was no unity. For this reason Bharat had to endure
slavery and untold injustice at the hands of invaders.
Students must cultivate unity. The reputation and future
prosperity of the nation are hinged on the behavior of
students. Ensure that your conduct is proper. All the
future leaders of Bharat are among today's
students. "Start early, drive slowly, reach safely."
Imprint the nation's welfare as the primary goal in your
heart, starting in your student days. Students should enter
society as men of action. You should win victory in
selfless endeavors with self-confidence. This is what
Mother India needs desperately. Today people advocate new
forms of society based on various criteria. We do not
need a new social order or a model society. Virtuous boys
and girls alone are enough. The nation can progress only
through virtuous youth. Establishing various social norms
and then breaking them is only a waste of
time. There is only one
society, the human society. All of humanity is one. If
all stand as one and work in unity, truly what a glorious
nation Bharat will become! Bharat has 90
crore (900 million) people. If all act united as "plus,
plus, plus, plus, plus", their abilities will add and the
country will stand strong as one
body.
[*]
There are many aspects of
Bharat's ancient culture which you are yet to understand.
You must ponder what grand values were present in ancient
India. What strength! What
sacrifice! What adherence to dharma and justice!
Such a Bharat is ignorant of its own glory. What
is the reason? Selfishness and hatred are growing. We can
attain peace on the day we destroy selfishness and
hatred, not before that. What good are 10 acres of
barren land? A tiny plot of fertile land is better. Even
a small amount of education is meaningful when coupled
with virtue. Without virtue, Ph.Ds upon Ph.Ds are of no
avail. They are totally useless Ph.Ds! We must learn at
least one skill that is useful. What is this "usefulness"
we must look for? Ensure that education keeps you, as
well as society, happy. You should be happy and peaceful.
And you should deliver that happiness to society as well.
We are all members of society. We cannot live separated
from society even for a moment. Being members of society,
we must desire its welfare before our own. Students!
Pursue education while keeping society's welfare in
view. We were born in
Bharat, we grew up in Bharat, we breathe the
air of Bharat, we eat the food of Bharat.
But we are unable to render desperately needed
service to Bharat. Names may differ but the
substance is one. Rings are many but gold is one;
Nationalities are many, birth is one. Flowers are many,
worship is one. Similarly, God is one. That is power, that is
electricity. This electricity is present in every human
being. It is this power which sustains life. Students! You know how
scientists are inventing wonderful and complex machines
today. But they don't recognize the one machine that
creates all other machines! They develop machines to
travel into the depths of the earth, to soar towards the
Moon, to harness solar power and so on. They have
invented atom bombs, hydrogen bombs, nuclear power and
many other applications of these energies. But there is one machine
which is more valuable and more powerful than all of
man's inventions - the human body. But no one attempts to
understand its secrets today. As for external phenomena,
yes, scientists actively investigate and experiment on
them. But what about yourself? Examine yourself
first! Your power is in the
universe and the powers of the universe are in you.
Students must recognize this truth. You may consider
someone else as a great person. But there is no one
greater than you! All power and potentiality is present
in you. The power of attraction and magnetic energy is in
you. Electricity, light and fire are also inherent to
you. X-ray power is also inside you. In effect, everyone
is a computer, a generator, a light source, a radio
station ... all in one. All the "news" is in
us. Instead of discovering
the "news" within ourselves, we absorb "nuisance" from
outside. No, no. What we want is good, pure news. What is
this NEWS? N - North, E - East, W - West, S - South. The
Divinity that is present equally everywhere, we must
absorb into ourselves. Even among today's scientists we
do not find this concept of North, East, South and West.
Living in the physical world we use these terms without
much thought. We say that the Sun rises in the East and
sets in the West. This is completely wrong! How, you may
ask. The Sun neither rises nor sets. We revolve around
the Sun and perceive the illusion of East and
West. Divinity is described
as: Attributeless, stainless,
eternal, the final abode, Through such education we
must experience the same peace that our ancients enjoyed.
Never relax your efforts to reach Divinity. In ancient
times everyone was peaceful. Now, everybody has tension -
from the tiny tot to the old man! This tension causes
temper. Tension and temper are ruining human qualities.
Then how can we expect peace? With an atom bomb in one
hand, we ask for peace. How is it possible? We will get
only fear, fear, fear. Man has travelled to the
Moon. The Moon is cool and peaceful. Even after
travelling to such a cool Moon, the heat of our hearts is
ever on the increase. So, peace is not external to you.
You are the embodiment of truth, love and peace.
Instead of trying to experience this glorious truth,
students pursue this subject, that subject ... In this
craze for subjects they have forgotten the
object! Subject and object - both
are necessary. Consider a locomotive engine. It is huge,
complex and worth millions. Yet, without electric current
it is just scrap metal. The body is valuable only with
the current of Divinity. You can secure whatever
power you desire when these two join. All power is within
us. But we misuse the body as we're unable to recognize
its potential. So don't misuse anything.
Time is most crucial. Once lost, it cannot be regained.
Embark in service activities without wasting a moment.
All your studies must be applied in service to society.
Only then your knowledge will improve. What good are
bookish knowledge, superficial knowledge and general
knowledge? All these are useless. Why? Because they do
not have practical application. What we need today is
practical knowledge. You say the words - mysore pak,
gulab jamun, jilebi, barfi (Indian sweets).
But can you experience their taste merely by saying
the names? Instead, eat a small piece and you get
immediate, direct experience. So plunge into divinity.
What good is it to say "God" over and over again? Today
many people memorize the entire Bhagavad
Gîtâ. They know every verse (sloka)
but they see no end to their sorrow (soka).
Why? If you practise just 1 verse, that is enough.
There are 50 matches in a match-box. But you need only 1
match-stick to build a fire of any size. You don't need
all the 50 sticks. Similarly, you have the
five
human values in
you - Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and
Ahimsa. Practise one of them. That is
enough. Students! We pray -
Tamaso Maa Jyotirgamayaa - Lead me from darkness to
light. Light these virtues in yourselves and drive away
the darkness of ignorance. Mainly, don't develop
pride and ego on account of your youth. This stage of
youth is like passing clouds - It comes and goes in a
flashy. The period of youth must be made meaningful while
it lasts. Respect parents and elders. Develop obedience
and humility. Without humility, all education is a waste.
But todays's students have no idea what humility means.
They behave as they please. You call yourself a boy,
but you don't have behavior. This behavior must start
early, when you are a boy. "Start early, drive slowly,
reach safely." Do not compare your studies with your
behavior. Human values are human values. Do not compare
them with anything because they are permeated with
divinity. So think of spiritual
matters at a young age. "Who is God? How can I see Him?
How can I live like a true human being? In what manner
can I serve society?" All these issues can be understood
in this Summer Course. This course is not meant to teach
you some new subject. The subject is Human Values. The
name is "Summer Course in Indian Culture and
Spirituality". What is culture? It is sometimes defined
as a "way of life". But Indian Culture cannot be
understood easily - it has numerous meanings. Life itself
is culture. Our behavior, moment to moment, is
culture. Students! Born in this
sacred land, you must conduct yourself so as to increase
peace in the country. Today Bharata Maata is continuously
shedding tears, wondering in what ways Her children will
hurt Her next and bring Her disrepute! Not just students,
but all four
stages of life -
Brahmacâri, Grihastha, Vânaprastha and
Sannyâsa - are causing grief to Bharata Maata. No
section of society is giving satisfaction to the country.
What a pity that even in spirituality, Bharat is shedding
tears! Today, only the outer
forms of men are changing but not their minds. Their
dresses change but not their qualities. Where are these
people headed? Is there anyone today who is able to
recognize and understand the truth about Bharat Maata?
The Motherland is worrying, "My own children are not able
to recognize Me!". What kind of children
are they who do not recognize their own mother? You
must first recognize your mother. Then understand the
nature of your father. The country is the mother and the
culture, the father. First of all, protect your
motherland and its culture. Patriotism and nationalistic
feelings are totally absent in today's youth. What is
meant by a nation? Students think that land, trees and
rivers constitute a nation. No, no. Students should
understand the principle of their Motherland. "This is my
motherland, this is my mother tongue!", you should
declare with pride. If you cannot, you are only a dead
body! We should be ready to sacrifice even our lives for
the sake of the country! "What do I care if the country
or world goes to ruin? I should be happy"- This is the
attitude of students today. This is gross ignorance. It
is only when the country is happy that the society can be
happy. And you can be happy only when the society is
happy. Students! Consider the nation first, above
everything else. What is our country called? We are
called Hindus. What does that mean? Only when you have these
qualities, you are a true Hindu. Of these, humility is
most essential. Pride drives away the other four virtues.
Without humility, there is no individual, much less,
individuality! Humility, Humility, Humility - This is of
utmost importance. Only then can unity result. The next 10 days in the
summer course are valuable. Consider each moment as an
era and use this time carefully. Don't waste life just
listening. You must practise what you have learned.
Translation into action should be the chief quality of
our students. The chief minister and
education minister of Karnataka State are here to give
you advice. You must recognize their expectations of you.
Live up to the high hopes of these guests and make them
happy by demonstrating your exemplary behavior. The chief
minister has been exerting much for the welfare of the
people. He wants to do lasting good to the country. But
good people always face hurdles. A pleasure is an
interval between two pains. It is natural for good people
to experience more obstacles because no one even cares to
look at worthless people. A beautiful diamond receives
more cuts. Gold is burnt in the furnace. But the more it
is burnt, the purer it becomes. The cuts of a diamond
only enhance its beauty. Likewise, troubles only increase
the worth of good people. So we must face troubles
bravely. Bhagavân
asked all to rise. Upon His instruction, the national
anthem of India Lexicon
"Janani
Janmabhoomischa Svargaadapi
Gariyasi"
Vidya Bhogakari Yashah Sukhakari, Vidya Gurunaam
Guru,
Vidya Bandhujano Videsha Gamane, Vidya Paraa
Lochanam,
Vidya Raajasu Poojyate Na Hi Dhanam, Vidya Viheenah
Pasuh.
Bestower of fame and enjoyment, the teacher of
teachers,
A friend in foreign lands, the supreme guide, and
Honoured by kings more than wealth. One without education
is a beast.-
Patrons of education, teachers and students! -
Just
as a child recognizes its mother and father at birth,
students must recognize the history and culture of the
land of their birth. The country is like a mother and the
culture, like a father. One who does not recognize his
culture can never understand his motherland.-
India's Glorious Heritage -
-
True Comfort and True Freedom -
-
Unity - Today's Dire Need -
Kalasi Melasi Telusukunna, Telivini Poshinchudaam
Kalasi Melasi Kalata Leka, Chelimito
Jeevinchudaam
Let us foster the knowledge that we have earned
together,
Let us live together in harmony.-
Uproot selfishness and hatred -
Forbearance is the sign of beauty.
Of all disciplines,
Adherence to truth is the greatest penance.
The sweet feeling pervading this land is the
Motherly feeling.
Character is more precious than life itself.
But, alas! Like an elephant unaware of its own
strength,
Bharatiyas imitate foreign values today,
Forgetting their own greatness.
Today's education
Teaches cleverness and guile
But not even a fraction of virtuous
behavior.
What is the value of even a
Million different kinds of education
Devoid of virtue?
The mother and motherland are worth more than heaven
itself.
Students! Bharata Maata yearns day and night for
Her children to become virtuous. You must become good
citizens, blossom into exemplary students and earn honor
in society and peace of mind for yourself - This is what
Bharata Maata desires for you. Whatever country
you belong to, uphold the respect of your
nation.
There is only one family - the spiritual family.
There is only one language - the language of the
heart.-
The Indweller - Source of All Power -
The One Indweller is in all.
Suddha Buddha Mukta Nirmala Svaroopinam
Pure, aware, free, embodiment of
sacredness.-
Practise -
Perform actions with Love - they are Dharma.
Think with Love - you experience Peace.
Enquire with Love - it is transformed into Ahimsa.
There is no place for hatred where Love is present.
Darkness has no place where light is
present.-
Obedience and Humility -
One with good Manners is a Man.
One with good Discipline is a Devotee.
-
The Grief of the Motherland -
-
Work for the Motherland -
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is love, enjoy it.Life is
awareness.
Poornamadah Poornamidam Poornaat Poornam Udachyate -
This is full, that is full, from the full emerges the
full.
Everything is poornam, full. Your mind must also be full,
not narrow. Practise expansion of love. I conclude My
discourse by hoping and blessing that you understand your
motherland, work for Her welfare and become ideal
examples.
"Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka Jaya He" was
sung.
listen
Bharat:
Sanskrit name for India (related terms: Bharat
Maata = Mother India, Bharatiya = Indian).
Dhritarashthra: Indulgent father of
the wicked Duryodhana in the epic
Mahâbhârata.
Atma: Soul. Related terms: Paramatma
= God, Jivatma = individual soul.
Saalokyam = absorption in thoughts
of God, Saameepyam = nearness to God,
Saaroopyam = vision of God and Saayujyam =
merging with God.
[*] Read:
A Small Philosophy of
Association
Brahmacâri (bachelor,
celibate (till age 25), continent student of a bona fide
spiritual teacher),
Grihastha (householder, married (25-50 years)),
Vânaprastha (forest-dweller, withdrawn
(50-75 years)) and Sannyâsa (detached,
renunciate (over 75 years)).
of names, essential terms and Sanskrit words,
to the S'rîmad Bhâgavatam and the Bhagavad
Gîtâ
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