The steady stream

I am glad I came to this newly established College and saw these students who are the builders of India in the coming years. Virtue is the fragrance of the flowers which the tree of life puts forth. Educated people must be identified in society by their strict adherence to virtue, not by more skilled methods of escaping the consequences of vice. Education is now sought after, more for securing a means of livelihood. The attempt of many parents and their children is to learn some skill which will give them a good job, in a factory or business establishment or bank, on a decent salary. Of course, man must live and live comfortably. So, it is necessary that some useful skill is mastered. But, man needs things much more satisfying, much more essential, than comfort. He must have faith in himself, so that he may respect himself. This Aathma vishwasa (trust in the Self) lies at the very root of joy.

In India, the education that leads to the knowledge of the Aathma and faith in the Aathma has been perfected since ages. That education teaches a proper sense of values; giving the Vishayas (the objective, world), relative importance for temporary periods, for transient ends and encouraging man to hold fast to disciplines that confer inner peace. The Aathma thathwa (principle of the Self) grants Amritha (Immortality). The deha thathwa (principle of the body) is anritha (invalid), and so, cannot give absolute Bliss. Man is not an improved type of monkey; he is a child of this Immortal Entity. That is why he refuses to accept that death is his end. That is why he strives to perpetuate himself for ever. The hunger for escaping death is strong in man; he does not believe that he is a bubble, that can be pricked out of existence by chance.

Teach youth the fundamentals of Indian culture

The system of education has to be recast in order to allow the children of this land to grow up as the seers and sages of this land, to hand over to the sons and daughters of Bhaarathamaatha the precious heritage, which the world too is anxious to share. The significance of yajna, dama and thapas (sacrifice, self-control and penance); of sahana, saadhana, samyama (forbearance, spiritual discipline and sense restraint); of the great Mahaavaakyas (Vedhic dicta) enshrined in the Vedhas; of the three Yogas — bhakthi, karma and jnaana — as elaborated in the Geetha; of the Daivi and Asuri (godly and demonic) natures — all these and many more of the fundamentals of Indian culture have to be taught to the children in schools and colleges. They must be encouraged to practise them, for their own as well as for the country’s good.

The Principal requested Me to bless all the candidates who have appeared for the examinations so that all of them may pass. My blessings are with them; but, I do not consider passing the examinations as so profoundly important. This College is started on the basis of a big donation of a lakh of rupees, by a merchant of this place. Show by your discipline, character, sacrifice and other traits that he has not donated that amount in vain. Let him be happy that, from the institution he founded, the country is getting a steady stream of honest, efficient, reliable workers, who will enhance the glory of India in the spiritual field as well.

Become worthy children of your Motherland

This is the land where the Upanishads called upon the students to adhere to truth, to follow dharma, and to revere parents and teachers. If you learnt those great lessons, then, certainly there would be no anxiety and grief; but, now, parents are neglected and even disowned. How can a nation that does not revere those deserving to be revered, be revered in its turn? If the teacher is not listened to with the respect due to his age and attainments, how can the student learn from him the ideals on which he should plan his own life? Sathya and dharma are the two rails on which the locomotive of the nation runs; when sathya is given up, chaos prevails; when dharma is discarded, might becomes right.

So, whether you have it in the curriculum or not, learn the underlying principles of Sanaathana Dharma from elders and teachers; practise at least the very first steps in spiritual discipline, like silence, reciting the Name of God, reading of the scriptures, etc. Avoid wasteful and harmful forms of recreation; maintain your health by moderation; become worthy sons and daughters of your Motherland.