Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning

Sathya Sai Baba

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
A BEACON LIGHT OF INTEGRAL EDUCATION
by Sanjay Sahni

SRI SATHYA SAI INSTITUTE OF Higher Learning is the visible manifestation of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba‘s vision of education which is not only an important means for the transformation of mankind, but also a panacea for the ills that are afflicting it today. More particularly, it is a precious gift of Bhagavan to the youth whom He is moulding to become shining examples of ethical and spiritual awareness to make them the torchbearers of moral regeneration and spiritual reawakening of the world. The Institute has evolved the integral system of education which lays as much emphasis on inculcation of values as on achieving academic excellence. Come 2006, the Institute, a deemed university, will be celebrating its silver jubilee. The birth of the university represented a significant milestone in the glorious unfolding of the Divine Mission of Bhagavan whose watchword, “the end of education is character” forms the main objective of all its activities. From a humble beginning in improvised premises to be acclaimed today ‘as the crest-jewel of higher education in India’, the Institute has come a long way. On 22nd November 1981 this deemed university was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Y.V. Chandrachud at Prasanthi Nilayam, and Bhagavan bestowed on it a unique honour by accepting to become its Chancellor.

Divine Vision of the Revered Chancellor
The spirit behind all its achievements is the Revered Chancellor of the Institute, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba who from the very beginning chartered its course by His Divine vision. While laying the foundation stone of the Sri Sathya Sai College for Women at Anantapur in 1969, Bhagavan declared:
“It is indeed deplorable that education of the spirit has been totally neglected while attention is devoted to the training of skills and for gleaning and garnering information… My Sankalpa is to provide the youth with an education which, while cultivating their intelligence, will also purify their impulses and emotions and equip them with the physical and mental disciplines needed for drawing upon the springs of calmness and joy that lie in their own hearts.”

In another Discourse to the students and staff of this college in August 1974, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba observed:

“This college has not been established just to prepare you for earning degrees. The main purpose is to help you to cultivate self-knowledge and self-confidence, so that each one of you can learn self-sacrifice and earn self-realisation. The teaching of university curricula and the preparation for presenting you for the university examinations and the award of university degrees – these are only the means employed for the end, namely, spiritual uplift, self-discovery and social service through love and detachment.”

Again, while speaking at the Brindavan College on 31st March 1974, Bhagavan revealed:

“Do not be under the impression that you and I have come together only now, since you study in this college; you have come to Me for the sake of far higher triumphs, as a consequence of merit acquired in many previous lives. You and your teachers are destined to achieve tremendous tasks under My guidance, in the execution of the Mission on which I have come.”

Another milestone was reached in the history of the Institute when on Vijaya Dasami day after the Poornahuti of the Veda Purusha Sapthaha Jnana Yajna on 8th October 1981, Bhagavan announced that from that day the colleges at Prasanthi Nilayam and Anantapur would be raised to the status of the campuses of the new university.

Evolution and Growth
It was Prof. V.K. Gokak, the first Vice Chancellor of the university, who gave a concrete shape to the vision of Bhagavan. In 1982, the Institute launched its Five Year Integrated courses and PG courses in the sciences and humanities. The same year, the Brindavan College became the third campus of the university. I recall how Prof. Gokak outlined before us, first year UG students then, the grand vision of the academic education in the Institute. To inculcate in students a wide and liberal mental outlook, education in the university was envisaged as a pyramidical structure. The pyramid has a wide base and accordingly the students in the undergraduate courses would begin with the study of languages and awareness courses along with their respective courses in core areas. At the end of the second year, the languages would drop off and the science students would start specialising in their area of interest. This would continue into the PG, after which the student would choose a narrow niche for undertaking research. In 1984, Bhagavan started the Ph.D. programme with the intention of preparing His future teachers. Many doctorates have now joined the university as faculty.

In 1986, the MBA and B.Ed. programmes were launched. Many MBA and PG alumni have gone on to man Bhagavan’s institutions in the Ashrams, hospitals, schools and colleges. Others have made their mark in the wide world. Other courses got added in subsequent years: B.Sc. (Hons.) 1992; B.Com. (Hons.), M.Tech. (1993); M.A. (Economics) (2001); M.Phil (2004).

Many academic reforms and innovations were adopted by the Institute right from its inception. It has a merit-based open admission policy enabling students from all over the country to seek
admission to various courses, irrespective of income, class, creed, religion or region, making it truly national in character. Education is provided to students free without any fees whatsoever, in sharp contrast to the rapid commercialisation of education elsewhere.

Sri Sathya Sai Integral Education
The Revered Chancellor of the Institute, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has given the Institute its philosophy of integral education and has been inspiring and guiding the administrators, teachers and students of the Institute since its inception in the practice of this philosophy. According to Bhagavan, “One should have the head of Sankara, the heart of Buddha and the hands of Janaka”. An integrated personality is a harmonious synthesis of a discerning intellect, a compassionate heart and efficient hands; it is a beautiful combination of nobility and ability. Nobility without ability is useless to society and ability without nobility is dangerous to it. Spiritual education is the basis of integral education. This is what Bhagavan calls educare. Ultimately, all education should converge into educare.

Integral education aims at the all-round development of the human personality – the physical, the intellectual, the emotional and the spiritual. Acquisition of knowledge when supported by its proper utilisation leads to skill; the harmony of knowledge and skill leads to balance of mind which is the basis for spiritual insight. The surest sign of spiritual insight is the blossoming of true love in the heart, springing out of recognition of the oneness of all existence.

The university is a modern Gurukula combining the best of the past and the present. All the campuses of the Institute are wholly residential. The students reside in the hostels along with the Warden and a band of resident teachers carefully hand-picked by Bhagavan. Character moulding is a twenty-four hour endeavour and the Institute could not be otherwise. The key to success in community living in the hostels, which represent a mini-India, is understanding and adjustment. Mutual tolerance and courtesy, sacrifice and service to fellowmen, civic sense and social sensitivity – the blessings of community living under the watchful eyes of committed teachers are immense. The daily routine in the campus is designed with the guidance of Bhagavan and has multifarious activities to foster the development of integrated personalities.

Prayers before sunrise and at bedtime, before meals and at the commencement of classes in the Institute help the students to still their minds and periodically reconnect to the Divine who is the source of all succour and energy. Spiritual talks in the college and-hostel, the value-based Awareness Course, the spiritual study circle sessions and above all exposure to the divine influence of Bhagavan strengthen the moral and spiritual fibre in the student’s personality. Since 1990, a number of summer courses in Indian Culture and Spirituality were organised for the benefit of all students.

Physical culture is encouraged through participation in jogging, games, sports and yoga in the mornings. The objective of physical culture is physical fitness, though annual competitions are organised to spot and nurture sporting talent. The Annual Sports and Cultural Meet on 11th January is an important event in the academic calendar of the Institute and represents the expression of students’ love for Bhagavan manifesting in the form of breathtaking sporting feats and aesthetically delightful programmes, charming one and all.

While co-curricular activities in literature, music, dance, drama and other fine arts along with harmonious community living foster emotional balance and self-reliance in students, social service activities instil in them self-confidence, humility, dignity of labour and helpful nature apart from nurturing their talents. Service in the kitchen and dining hall, cooperative stores, dispensary, maintenance, audiovisual department, garden and myriad other areas is undertaken by the students under the guidance of their teachers. The annual Sri Sathya Sai Grama Seva in the villages around Puttaparthi during Dasara celebrations and initiated by Bhagavan in 2000 is a great educational experience for the students and staff of the university.

The Crest-jewel of Higher Education
At the first Convocation of the Institute on 22nd November 1982, the late legal luminary Sri Nani Palkhiwala observed, “This Institute is a tribute to the great organising genius of its founder, Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Without His initiative and inspiration it would have been impossible to found an institution of this character. We are witnesses to a great event in the history of our country. This deemed university is a memorable experiment in the moral and spiritual regeneration of India. It stands for nothing less … This Institute aims at becoming a nation-builder.”

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India declared at the Institute’s Convocation in 2002, “The purpose of real education is to initiate a learning process that transforms students into good human beings with knowledge and value systems. Is value education possible? Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning has given an answer in the affirmative.”

In December 2002, the Peer Team of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), which is set up by the University Grants Commission to assess and accredit higher education institutions, visited the Institute and reported:

“The Peer Team puts on record its appreciation for providing the members of the Team the opportunity to spend time with the Institute faculty and the students so as to develop a thorough insight into the higher education process of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, particularly the integral higher education interwoven in the blueprint and design of higher education products. This made us realise that there is a way to correct our already degrading university education system in India, if we decide to do so.

The Peer Team feels that this Institute stands out as a crest-jewel among the university education system in the country and this model is worthy of emulation by the institutions of higher learning in the country and elsewhere, so that these benefits would be reaped fast and on the widest possible scale.”

NAAC granted accreditation at the A++ level to the Institute for five years in 2002-03 placing the Institute in the highest bracket of Indian universities (Ref).

I would like to conclude with the following experience of an alumnus of the Institute. He was facing a job interview and the Managing Director of the company, who was on the interview panel, enquired, “I understand that you are a student of Sai Baba’s college. I have heard that Sai Baba creates and gives rings, necklaces, etc., to his devotees. What has He given you?” Spontaneously, the boy replied, “Sir, I am a village boy. Today, this village boy is sitting and talking with so much confidence to the M.D. of one of India’s most prestigious research based companies. The confidence that you see in me is Sai Baba’s gift to me.”

Faith in oneself and faith in Divinity is truly the quintessence of education at the Lotus Feet of our Beloved Bhagavan.

sourced: Sanathana Sarathi pgs 384 to 389 November, 2005

Sathya Sai And Two Short Stories To Ponder

Sri Sathya Sai

Sathya Sai And Two Short Stories To Ponder

Loving Sai Ram, and greetings from Prashanti Nilayam, the abode of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. For a change, this Sunday, we offer you two stories relating to the famous Stanford University in America. Each has its own lesson for us. Here is the first one:

A lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston, and walked timidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President’s outer office. The Secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard.

“We want to see the President,” the man said softly.

“He’ll be busy all day,” the Secretary snapped.

“We’ll wait,” the lady replied.

After many hours, Secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the President.

“Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they’ll leave,” she said to him. He sighed in exasperation and nodded. The President, stern faced and with dignity, strutted toward the couple.

The lady told him, “We had a son who attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed. My husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus.”

The President wasn’t touched…. He was shocked. “Ma’am,” he said, gruffly, “we can’t put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery.”

“Oh, no,” the lady explained quickly. “We don’t want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard.”

The President rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit, and then exclaimed, “A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings here at Harvard.”

For a moment, the lady was silent. She turned to her husband and said quietly, “Is that all it costs to start a University? Why don’t we just start our own?”

Her husband nodded. The President’s face wilted in confusion and bewilderment.

Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford got up and walked away, travelling to Palo Alto, California, where they established the University that bears their name, Stanford University, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about.

You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing.

Here is the second story:

Many years ago two boys were working their way through Stanford University. Their funds got desperately low, and the idea came to them to engage the famous pianist Ignacy Paderewski for a piano recital. They would use the funds to help pay their board and tuition.

The great pianist’s manager asked for a guarantee of $2000. The guarantee was a lot of money in those days, but the boys agreed and proceeded to promote the concert. They worked hard, only to find that they had grossed only $1600.

After the concert, the two boys told the great artist the bad news. They gave him the entire $ 1600, along with a promissory note for $400, explaining that they would earn the amount at the earliest possible moment and send the money to him. It looked like the end of their college careers.

“No, boys,” replied Paderewski, “that won’t do”. Then, tearing the note in two, he returned the money to them as well. “Now,” he told them, “take out of this $1600 all of your expenses and keep for each of you 10 percent of the balance for your work. Let me have the rest.”

The years rolled by. World War I came and went. Paderewski, now premier of Poland, was striving to feed thousands of starving people in his native land. The only person in the world who could help him was Herbert Hoover, who was in charge of the US Food and Relief Bureau. Hoover responded and soon thousands of tons of food were sent to Poland.

After the starving people were fed, Paderewski journeyed to Paris to thank Hoover for the relief sent by him. “That’s all right, Mr Paderewski,” was Hoover’s reply. “Besides, you don’t remember it, but you helped me once when I was a student at college, when I was in trouble.”

We seldom realise that when we help others, the Good Lord will make sure that in due course we are amply rewarded.

H2H wishes to thank Mr. Tandon for the above stories.

Jai Sai Ram.
With Love and Regards,
“Heart2Heart” Team

Sathya Sai Human Values Debate

Sathya Sai Human Values Debate
The Star Online
Sunday August 24, 2008

THE Sathya Sai Baba Centres of Perak recently organised the ninth annual Sathya Sai Human Values Debate.

The debates, which aimed to promote good values amongst youths, were conducted in the English Language and followed the Austral-Asian format.

They were open to universities, colleges and sixth form students in Perak between the ages of 17 and 25.

This year’s programme was one with a difference. Firstly, all arguments had to be supported by sound statements of human values. Secondly, all participants including teacher advisors, were required to do community service prior to the debate.

The service project was carried out at the Batu Gajah Handicapped Children’s home. Participants carried out gotong royong activities including cleaning the home and compound, washing cooking utensils, and bathing and dressing the inmates.

The aim was to enhance awareness on the importance of service to the less fortunate.

Seven teams from institutions in and around Ipoh took part in the debates which focused on thought-provoking topics relevant to the students’ lives. The participating institutions were Olympia College, Ipoh; SMK St Michael’s, Ipoh; Institut Perguruan Ipoh, Hulu Kinta; SMJK Shing Chung, Sungei Siput; SMK Anderson; SMK Methodist ACS; and SMK Sultan Yussuf, Batu Gajah.

The first preliminary round, held at Olympia College, saw students debating on the topic “Juveniles should be charged as adults for violent crimes committed”.

The topic for the second preliminary round was “It is morally wrong to place our parents in care centres”, while the semi-finals saw students arguing that “Poverty in the third world is the fault of the first world”.

The grand finals pitched SMK Methodist ACS, Ipoh, against Institute Perguruan Ipoh on the topic “Global warming is avoidable”. Both teams were very vocal.

Among the 300 people present was Perak State Education Department deputy director Mohd Yasin Mohamod, who gave away the prizes.

The opposing team from Institute Perguruan Ipoh — comprising Wee Vee Vien, Charlene Anak Charles Banyi, Shoba Andiappan and Nik Khairina Balqis Nik Mohd Asri — won the day and walked away with RM600 and the Dr P. Palani Velu challenge shield.

Reference

Education In Human Values

Focus On Sathya Sai Institute Of Higher Learning

Sri Sathya Sai

Focus On Sathya Sai Institute Of Higher Learning
A parable often retold by Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the story of a little boy who tore up his father’s world map into bits. While the father was furious, the boy decided to make amends and starts putting the pieces back in place to stick them up. Even as he puts in all his efforts he fails to put the world together again. Then he notices that on the reverse of the human body; a nose here, an ear there, a foot here and an eye there… and then an idea strikes him. He reverses all the torn pieces and puts the parts of the human body together so that they form the complete picture of a man. Then he turns the picture to have the whole world going into pieces; the only way to make the world united is by making each human being a wholesome person. There are no other short cuts to it.

It was precisely with this aim that Sri Sathya Sai Baba, revered as a world teacher, began his educational mission in 1969 with the establishment of a women’s college at Anantapur. Over the past three decades, the mission has grown to include a deemed university (the Sri Sathya Sai University) under which come the Anantapur campus, the Brindavan campus of the Sri Sathya Sai Arts and commerce college, Whitefield and the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) at Puttaparthi itself, besides a dozen schools and colleges elsewhere in India and abroad following the Sathya Sai system of education.

The Ministry of Education in Mauritius, has adopted the Sathya Sai system of education. Likewise educationists in Zambia, U.K., Thailand, Brazil and many other countries around the world have taken up this programme entitled “Education in Human Values” (EHV).

EHV Programme
Historically the EHV programme has its roots in the Bala Vikas programme started by Sri Sathya Sai Baba in the Sixties. Women, usually housewives, were the Gurus and once a week they would interact with children sent to them by willing parents. These sessions usually included retelling stories from the puranas and bhajan singing; discussions on how to tackle anger, envy and so on; enacting plays on nature, conservation etc.

This EHV programme, with suitable modifications was made an integral part of the curriculum when the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation started educational institutions; and with the establishment of the Sri Sathya Sai University of which Baba is the Chancellor, the EHV programme has blossomed to fullness.

Two thirds of a student’s education take place outside the classroom; therefore to ensure that there is no dilution of the EHV programme, these institutions are strictly residential.

Admission to the institutions is based only on merit; and beyond the primary school stage, there is segregation of the sexes; no fee is collected; even hostel accommodation is free; the students only pay a nominal sum for food. Except during vacations when they are sent home, everyday is a working day; even festivals and holidays are converted into learning opportunities.

Academically speaking, these institutions compare with the best in the world in terms of qualified faculty and facilities; besides, classes and examinations are held very studiously. Naturally, the results are enviable and many of the alumni are scholarship students with the CSIR, Indian Institute of Science and so on.

Sports and games also get pride of place. But the main thrust of the Sathya Sai system of education is on moulding the personality of the student, for Baba says, “The end of the education is character; education is for life and not just for a living.” The watchwords in the Sathya Sai institutions are cooperation and harmony. Discipline, orderliness and patience needed for this are assiduously cultivated.

I asked an old student how this was achieved. She smiled and said; “Standing silently and waiting patiently for one’s turn—be it for a bath, breakfast, games or class and back; well, this disciplined routine itself is a great teacher!” Time management is another concept learnt by practice. There are no holidays to laze around; no whiling away over a pack of cards; no watching the idiot box; no gossiping. A key factor that ensures the success of the programme is that the teachers lead from the front.

Practical training in living together as a community is imparted by a self reliance programme. Although there are cooks, electricians, plumbers and so on at the hostels, the running of the mess, cleaning of rooms, maintenance of hygiene, electricity and water supply maintenance, keeping music equipment and sports equipment in good condition — all these activities are done by the students. A history student may thus learn how to change a fuse; a literature student may learn how to take care of overhead tanks; a physics student may learn how to cook and so on. Within one hour, five hundred students eat noiselessly in a mess and leave after all the plates and glasses are washed.

EHV is infused into the teaching of academic subjects as well. That products from trees are used in the manufacture of perfumes; this example, is converted into a fantastic EHV opportunity when the social studies teacher says:

“Look at the mango tree—you throw stones at it and yet in return it gives you delicious mangoes. And as for the sandalwood tree — it imparts fragrance even to the very axe that fells it. See their spirit of sacrifice! That is what we too should cultivate.:

The biology teacher while teaching about bacterial diseases explains how the loss of pain sensation leads to the mutilation of hands and feet in leprosy patients; as a spin off, he adds “So pain and suffering also have beneficial role on life.”

The chemistry teacher while teaching about subatomic particles says “Just as electrons exist unseen in all matter, living or nonliving, so does divinity exist unseen in all things.” Another facet of the EHV programme is the awareness module. Adolescence and youth are biologically explosive times when hormones race thorough the system and cause violent emotions and feelings. The awareness programmes help students understand themselves better. Fear, ambition, success, failure, inferiority complex, birth, marriage, death—students thrash out all these issues with teachers; often the Chancellor too participates and guides. For a practical exposition, the epics of various religions, the lives of saints and the scriptures of various faiths are also studied. In these days of communal and sectarian strife, the message clearly sent down in the Sathya Sai system is; there is only one religion—the religion of love; only one caste—the caste of humanity; and only one language. The language of heart. The students live this precept out, for the festivals of all religions are celebrated. A student of this system is equally at home singing Christmas Carols, chanting the Vedas and reciting the Suras of the Holy Koran.

An in-depth exposure to Indian culture and spirituality is another exercise that contributes to the success of the EHV programme. Be it Adi Sankara, the Sufis, Buddha, the Thirthankaras or Gandhiji, the students are exposed to everything; and to make the exercise more meaningful, the lessons are driven home through mime, theatre, plays and concerts. Fine arts are also given great importance; for it is art that uplifts and refines man. At the Puttaparthi campus, on every Tuesday, the boys have a fine arts session, aptly named “Saama,” when everything ranging form Carnatic music, Kathakali, Bachn’ Beethoven, and tribal music dance are demonstrated and discussed.

The flagship of the Sathya Sai university is the MBA course. Total quality Management and Re-engineering, the mantras of modern management schools are suitably modified here. TQM translates as “Total harmony in the quality of thought, word and deed” and RE as humility combined with co-ordination of head-heart and hand for without the former one would not accept the need for change and benchmarking; and without the latter the change would never take place. The cold, market economics usually taught at business schools acquires the warmth of compassion and human values at this institute.

Excerpted from an article by
Dr. Hemamalini Seshadri
The Hindu

Prof. Vishwanath Pandit Assumes The Mantle Of Vice Chancellorship At Sri Sathya Sai University, Prasanthi Nilayam

Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Prof. Vishwanath Pandit Assumes The Mantle Of Vice Chancellorship At Sri Sathya Sai University, Prasanthi Nilayam
August 06, 2008

Poornachandra Auditorium that has a glorious tale of hosting events in Prasanthi Nilayam was yet again privileged to host a glittering ceremony, the changing over of the Vice Chancellorship of Sri Sathya Sai University. In a ceremony presided over by the Chancellor of the University, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba and attended by a capacity crowd including students from all the three campuses, Prof. Vishwanath Pandit, a leading economist, has been handed over the mantle as the 8th Vice Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai University.

The stage that was decorated matching the grandeur of the occasion had the hallmark message from Bhagawan highlighted, for one and all to imbibe the true meaning of Education. “Saa Vidya Ya Vimuktaye”, meaning, ‘True Education grants you Liberation’ was the apt message adorned the stage that welcomed one and all when Bhagawan entered the auditorium at 9:50 a.m. On stage were the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Sri Anil Gokak, Mrs. Anil Gokak and the new incumbent Prof. Vishwanath Pandit. The programme began with Mr. Gokak and his wife being garlanded by the principals of the Prasanthi Nilayam and Anantapur campuses respectively. Recounting the instances wherein Mr. Gokak had shown a lot of care, concern and character at the expected lines set by Bhagawan, Sri Srirangarajan, faculty member from the School of Business Management, delivering his introductory speech, expressed profound gratitude to the outgoing Vice Chancellor for his yeomen, dedicated service to the institution.

Mr. Giri who addressed next, spoke of the glory of the story of the Institute. He highlighted on the sterling qualities of Mr. Gokak and Prof. Vishwanath Pandit. Overwhelmed by the grandeur and the magnitude of Bhagawan’s all conquering love, the outgoing Vice Chancellor, who spoke next, recounted how his father, Dr. Vinayak Krishna Gokak had experienced Bhagawan’s Divinity that resulted him to finally reaching at His Divine Lotus Feet. Speaking with overwhelming emotion, he expressed his firm conviction that Bhagawan would be with him always and he would be serving Him all through his life. As a conventional practice Bhagawan facilitated the couple with “Suvarna Kankanams” (golden bracelets).

Bhagawan commenced His Divine Discourse with a poem praising Bharat (India), saying that Bharat was such a sacred land where people were born, who were reputed across continents, who had driven away enemies attaining freedom, adding ‘concern’ that now people in the country have become like elephant that does not realise its strength.

The need of the hour is not merely education, but Educare. Educare means to manifest the innate noble qualities from within. Education is related to the outer world whereas educare is related to the inner world, said Bhagawan delivering His Divine Discourse blessing the occasion. Following are the excerpts from His Divine Discourse.

God is One…Goal is One…
Here are the main points from His Divine Discourse

• Man is the embodiment of God, endowed with all powers, but is unable to realise his innate powers as he is deluded with worldly feelings; He is living in grip of fear and is unable to face even small problem. Main reasn for this is the modern education.
• Modern Education helps you to eke out your living and earn money. Modern Education will give comforts to the body which is ephemeral. One may be having any amount of money, but it does not confer peace of mind. One can experience peace and happiness only by taking to spirituality. Bhagawan sang the first line of the Bhajan, “Bhajana Bina Sukha Shanti Nahi, telling that only through contemplating on God one can experience peace and happiness…
• In spite of all his learning a mean minded person cannot give up his evil qualities. What is the use of education, if it fails to confer peace of mind and coming to your rescue when your end approaches? Acquire that knowledge which will make you immortal. To acquire that knowledge one needs to have five human qualities, namely, Sathya, Dharma, Shanthi, Prema and Ahimsa, that is, Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love and Non-violence.
• The need of the hour is not merely education, but educare. Educare means to manifest the innate noble qualities from within. Education is related to the outer world whereas educare is related to the inner world.
• Man is essentially Divine. Because of his attachment with the body he considers himself a mere mortal, due to which he is unable to give up his evil tendencies.
• Whenever one gets evil thoughts one should remind himself that he is not an animal but a human being.
• One may be a scholar or an educated person but cannot be called a human being if he lacks evil qualities. Bhagawan cited the example of King Alexander.
• Gokak was the first Vice Chancellor who was an ardent devotee of Bhagawan and students and the institution is enjoying the benefit of his good work. He would obey My command in letter and spirit. Anil Gokak is the worthy son of the worthy father. He has completed there years of his tenure and today he is retiring. But, wherever they go, Bhagawan is always with them; Both husband and wife are ardent devotees.
• We do not give send off to anybody here; we always welcome everyone… welcome….welcome. They are not going anywhere away from Bhagawan.
• The entire world is created out of truth and merges in truth. Even tiny ants and insects, everything is embodiment of Divinity. There is no place where one cannot find God. Hence even if you are protected or punished, think that it happened because of God’s will. It is only God who does everything.
• People may put you to suffering, but still you should love them considering them as your own because the same Atma is present in all.
• Whether you go to America, India, Japan, Germany or Pakistan, Sun is one and the same. it is the same God who is present everywhere. When you think and contemplate on Rama and Krishna you can certainly see them.
• Do not think that God is different from his devotees. Always think that you are God.
• You say that this is my body, this is my mind…questioning yourself who are you? Once you give up the feeling of I and mine, you will know your reality.
• When there are thousand pots filled with water you will see the reflection of the sun in each pot. But once the pots are emptied, there would not be any reflection…similarly when you transcend your mind you will go beyond the feeling of I and mine.
• Today Vishwanath Pandit is taking over as the new Vice Chancellor. He is a good person, travelled all around the world. Many Vice Chancellors have come and gone. But, they have come and gone at the physical level. I am present in all of them as the Atma. Hence there is no question of anyone coming or going. However, one has to discharge his duties at the physical level. This duty is meant to establish relationship with God at physical level. Duty is God. Gokak has done his duty very well. He used to seek clarification from Me. I need such people in My Mission.
• One should always have the unity of thought, word and deed which is the hallmark of a true human being. Educare brings out the unity of these three. You do not need to search for a text book outside to understand Educare. Your heart is your text book. Follow your heart. Only then you become good boys and good people. Good people are God’s Own People.

Prof. Vishwanath Pandit, a noted economist, was earlier the adviser to the World Bank/advisor to Govt. of Srilanka, Dean at the prestigious Delhi School of Economics apart from holding various other distinguished positions and have more than hundred articles published in various international journals.

Prof. Vishwanath Pandit who was asked to address towards the end started with stating that being a man of few words, he had fewer words on such an overwhelming occasion. He thanked his predecessor for all the wonderful works done and prayed to Bhagawan to make him a worthy instrument. As he concluded, Bhagawan blessed him profusely before Arathi was offered to Bhagawan.

Reference (With Pictures)

RadioSai: Wednesday, August 6, 2008 – This morning, an auspicious shower preceded the change of Vice-Chancellor of the Sri Sathya Sai University at the Poornachandra Auditorium. As announced yesterday, the ceremony got underway at 10 o’clock with the students singing bhajans as Bhagawan arrived onstage. Swami sat there, flanked by the incumbent and outgoing VCs, with Mrs. Gokak beside her husband. Ten minutes of bhajans were followed by an invocatory Vedic hymn by the students. Mr. and Mrs. Gokak were garlanded by the principals of the Prasanthi Nilayam and Anantapur campuses respectively. Sri. Srinivasan Srirangarajan then gave a speech, outlining Mr. Gokak’s term as VC, highlighting his transparency, helpful nature, and attention to detail. Sri. S. V. Giri, former Vice-Chancellor, spoke next, bringing out the contributions of both Sri. Anil Vinayak Gokak and his illustrious father, Dr. Vinayak Krishna Gokak, the first Vice-Chancellor of the Sri Sathya Sai University. Sri. Gokak spoke next, praying for Swami’s blessings in his next endeavour, which is to organise the centenary celebrations of his late father.

Bhagawan stood up to deliver His Divine message after Sri. Gokak’s speech. Swami stressed that He is always with each and every one of us, and that with Him, there are no “goodbye”s, only “welcome”s. He urged all of us to remember that we are divine, though we use different names for our bodies for worldly convenience. After His 45 minute Discourse, Bhagawan asked the incumbent, Prof. Vishwanath Pundit, to speak. Prof. Pundit humbly stated in his short speech that he was only an instrument in the Divine Hands.

Swami blessed Mr. and Mrs. Gokak with bracelets. The function concluded with Arati ten minutes past noon while prasadam was distributed.

The Himachal youth had another musical presentation this evening. Bhagawan came onstage at 5.15 pm and the concert for the evening got underway. Ms. Sunanda Sharma sang in Hindustani classical style for an hour. Bhagawan then called her up and blessed her with a chain. The students sang a bhajan while the lady members of the Himachal group readied themselves for a musical presentation, with a couple of group songs. Bhagawan blessed the performers with clothes and chocolates while the students sang a couple of Bhajans till Arati at 6.50 pm.