Professor Anil
Kumar has presented this talk as an extra satsang. He has selected important
messages Baba has imparted to the students gathered around Him during the
afternoon sessions on the veranda at Prashanti Nilayam. These talks will
continue.
ANIL
KUMAR'S SATSANG:
BABA'S CONVERSATIONS WITH STUDENTS
“Sai Pearls of Wisdom”
Part Twenty-Three
November 12th, 2003
OM…OM…OM…
Sai Ram
THE SACREDNESS OF THE VEDAS
As Bhagavan comes out of His residence and
walks towards the Kulwant Hall auditorium, both morning and evening, the
students start chanting the Vedas. The chanting of Vedas may appear to be just
noise, just some voice or some loud, meaningless sound sound. But my friends, it
is not so.
The Vedas contain slokas. The slokas
are in the Sanskrit language. These are not composed by any man. They are born
out of the intuition of the saints, who spent years and years in penance in the
forest, long ago. They got some intuitive feeling which they started memorizing,
and that knowledge is passed on, from one generation to the next.
The very sound of the Vedas has an effect on
our brain. The electromagnetic waves of the Vedas have an effect on our nervous
system, circulatory system, digestive system and so on. Vedas help us
individually at the physical level, at the mental level, and at the spiritual
level.
Chanting of the Vedas also helps the entire
community to grow. It is also a type of prayer to ensure timely rain, so that
the country may prosper, so that the country may be blessed with plenty. The
Vedas pray for the welfare of the entire humanity and the whole universe, not
just for the welfare of a particular country, region, or religion. Vedas have
nothing to do with religion. With this brief introduction, I will proceed with
the rest of the details.
You are quite welcome
to put any questions you may have, at the end.
TEACHING CULTURE AND VALUES
My friends, let me tell
you that there are around three hundred universities in this country with forty
lakhs (one lakh = 100,000) of students enrolled to receive higher
education. But I can tell you one thing: There is only one university where the
teaching of culture and the teaching of values is the main theme; and that is
none other than Sri Sathya Sai University. This is a fact and will be confirmed
slowly, as you listen to my other talks, which contain statements made by
eminent educationalists from all parts of this country. Sri Sathya Sai
University is the only university in the country which focuses on the cultural
values and the traditions of this country.
CHANTING THE GLORY OF GOD IN UNITY
The second point I want
to draw your attention to is that all students know the chanting of Vedas, right
from kindergarten level to Ph.D.
All students chant the
Vedas in unison. They join in chorus in perfect harmony, excellent diction,
beautiful pronunciation, ideal modulation, full-throated, with joy, for hours.
It’s not easy to teach Vedas to hundreds of children. They all sing the glory of
God, praying for the whole of humanity, so that all of mankind will live in
peace, security, safety and prosperity. This is something great and quite unique
about this institution.
Another thing, which we
don’t find anywhere else, is that the girls are chanting the Vedas. This is an
exception. Women, in earlier days, were prohibited from learning the Vedas.
Later they protested. Vedic knowledge is still not very popular among women. But
Sri Sathya Sai Baba made all the girls of Anantapur recite the Vedas. I am still
unable to believe this, even though I have been listening to it for fourteen
years. I ask myself, “Is it true?” That is how I feel every time that I hear the
girls chanting the Vedas.
In this country, there
are priests who perform rituals: spiritual activities like marriages,
house-warming functions, naming the child, etc. These are religious activities,
which are performed by priests. All priests are supposed to know the Vedas. As
the chanting of Vedas by all students is of professional standards, I even joke
with them: “Arrey boys! You don’t have to worry about unemployment -- you can
live as priests as well!” (Laughter)
Well, I am not a
serious man by temperament, and I don’t mix with serious people. I believe
religion is bliss, and that God is bliss. I believe that seriousness is a kind
of sickness, not spirituality. So I like people who smile, and I like to make
people smile.
I appreciate the boys’
ability to chant the Vedas for another reason. Outside priests chant the Vedas
as a means of livelihood, to earn their bread. I tell the boys, “You, you are
Ph.D.’s and M. Tech.’s and M. Sc.’s who can chant the Vedas. I think you are all
first-class enemies of the priestly class in this country!” (Laughter)
They have reached a remarkable standard of
excellence. The intonation and modulation is of an unbelievable standard! If a
pundit were to listen to a cassette of the boys chanting, he would say that the
boys must have studied at a high-ranking Vedic university.
My friends! Why do we
worship? To enjoy the blessings of God. Why do we pray? To get the blessings of
God. Why do we meditate? To see the manifestation of God. Why so we sing bhajans?
To see God in front of us. All our spiritual activities are to enjoy the
manifestation of God. Vedic chanting in front of God is something fantastic -- a
lifetime fulfillment.
Outside people chant the Vedas in order to see
God. Whereas here, you see Him and chant His glory in front of Him, which is
really profit doubled. Double the profit -- not a thing to be taken for granted.
SWAMI IS PROUD OF HIS STUDENTS
Our God also wants all of us to know how great
His children are. When God takes a human form, He displays certain humanistic
tendencies. He wants the whole world to know that all the students are expert in
the Vedas; that this is not a monopoly of a couple of students only. You must
have noticed how He suddenly will ask all college boys to stop chanting, after
which He will ask high school students to start. Then suddenly He will stop
that. He will ask elementary school students to start chanting. In this way, we
know that all students of Sai educational institutions are very well versed,
very familiar with the Vedas and its chanting.
Not only that. He sometime plays games: He
wants one boy to start, and then another boy to continue from where the first
boy left off, like a chain. This way the chanting is not mechanical. Chanting is
an art of perfection, not mere memorisation. He wants boys to chant perfectly
and we are extremely happy to witness this.
One day He asked somebody, “Do you know the
meaning of Veda?”
The boy said, “Yes Swami!”
“All right – Start!”
After one stanza, Swami said, “Stop! Now tell
the meaning in English.”
The boy started giving the English meaning of
the verse.
“Haan. Stop! Next verse.” So it was,
verse after verse, and in between, the English translation.
Please don’t misunderstand me. A fact is a
fact. Most of the pundits do not know the meaning of Veda. The great majority of
Indians do not know Veda, nor its meaning. Amazingly, the students can give the
English meaning, verse after verse. To chant the Vedas is sufficient
achievement, but to also know its meaning is a unique accomplishment.
IMPROMTU ORAL EXAMINATION
One day He suddenly asked one lecturer, “Come
here! You ask these boys some questions on Veda. “
To prepare a question
paper, a teacher needs at least three to four hours. He should gather all his
books, see the syllabus, see the previous year’s question paper, and then
prepare the question paper. But here is our good God, who suddenly asks one
lecturer to put questions on Veda. The lecturer was caught unawares. The boys
did not know that they were going to be examined; and in addition, in front of
thousands of devotees. If they failed, they would cut a sorry figure and Swami
would feel very much let down. But God never fails!
So, to demonstrate
this, Swami asked one lecturer: “Come on! Put some questions.”
Please believe me, all
questions were highly informative and the answers were excellent. None failed.
There were claps and cheers. Most of you must have watched the whole scene that
day. I noted those questions and answers for the benefit of English-speaking
people. Some Sanskrit verses are here, the language that I myself do not know.
So, for convenience sake, I have written in Telugu, my mother tongue, but it
will be written in English Roman script, courtesy of our friends.
A lecturer on the dais
in Sai Kulwant Hall put questions to students. This was viewed by a public of
thousands. Any student could get up to give the answer. You must have seen that.
All of them were unprepared. To me it appeared as if it were a public oral
examination, an open viva-voce.
Question 1:
- Rudram
There is a portion of Veda chanting called Rudram. Rudram has two parts –
namakam and chamakam. What is the difference between the two?
One boy got up and said, “Swami! I will give
the answer.”
“Yes. What is the answer?”
“The chamakam part of chanting of Veda
helps in the fulfillment of your desires. So all mantras of this
chamakam part end with these two letters: chame..chame...chame…chame.
Chame means ‘I want that’. Therefore chamakam is the submission of
desires. And you get them fulfilled.The other part is namakam. What is
namakam? The namakam part of this rudram is surrender to God.
Here there are two letters: na + ma: ma - mine, na – not; so, ‘not
mine – everything is Yours.’ So, it means submission to God, surrender to God.
“Nothing is mine and everything is Yours” is nama-namakam. I hope
I am clear. Therefore, that is namakam and chamakam. The
interesting thing is that in namakam, the first letter is na,
while in chamakam, the second letter is ma. Nama meaning
‘egolessness, not mine’.”
As was very well noticeable on Swami’s face, he
was very very happy at the meaning explained by the boys.
The second question – Everything is full
There is one sloka, which says that everything is full in this world. Nothing is
a fragment. Nothing is a bit. You are full. Everything is full. Which sloka from
Upanishad says that everything is full, that Divinity is full, that this
universe is full. Full minus full is full. Full plus full is full. Because we
are fools, we don’t understand what fullness is. Zero minus zero equals zero.
Zero plus zero equals zero. Zero multiplied by zero equals zero. Simple
mathematics. So, that is infinite, this is infinite. That is full. This is full.
Which sloka says that?
One boy said:
“Purnamadah Purnamidam Purnat
Purnamudacyate
Purnasya Purnamadaya Purnamevavashishyate.”
Third question
How do you say, that has the quality of fullness, that meaning Divinity, and
this has the quality of fullness, this meaning humanity? Cite one example given
by Baba in support of this concept.
One smart fellow got up and said, “When you
want to make some sweets, what do you do? You go to a shop and buy jaggery. Out
of that big lot, you cut a piece. Out of this piece, you cut a still smaller
piece and make use of the material to make rice pudding or a pie or a doughnut.
Now the point is, the piece of jaggery, which you use, is as sweet as the mass
you had.”
This example has been given by Baba. It
constituted a good answer by a student. One bag of sugar is as sweet as one
bottle of sugar. One bottle of sugar has as much sweetness as a spoon of sugar.
So far as the quality of sweetness is concerned, a bottle of sugar is as sweet
as a bag of sugar.
Question number 4 – Upanishad
What is the meaning of Upanishad?
Upan
means ‘near’, ni means ‘down’, shat means ‘sit’. ‘Sit down near’.
So, Upanishad means students should sit down near the teacher.
This may not be possible for western students.
“Why should I sit down? I want to sit on the head of the teacher!” (Laughter)
Why? Equal rights! But, the idea behind ‘sit down near’ is this: The teacher
sits at a higher level and the students sit at a lower level. Knowledge flows
downward just as water flows downward. Upanishad means ‘sit-down-near’.
Upanishad
is taking place every day in the presence of Swami. Swami sits on the stage,
while we sit on the ground. Everybody liked the answer.
Question 5 - Purusha-suktam
Then there is another
portion that they chant everyday. It is called Purusha-Suktam. Purusha-Suktam
means everything in praise of God, the Divinity: Praise His greatness, His
uniqueness, His glory, His vastness, His splendor. God’s attributes are
described in Purusha-Suktam.
So
the question is, what is the relevance of Purusha-Suktam for modern society? If
someone starts chanting Vedas on the road today, we would think something is
wrong with his mind. What has Purusha-Suktam to do with modern society? In a
world of computers, where man is sent to the moon, how do we apply
Purusha-Suktam?
One boy gave the answer, quoting from Swami’s
discourse. “Man is the limb of the society. Society is the limb of the nation.
The nation is the limb of Divinity. So, man and God are related. Part of God is
nature, part of nature is society and part of society is man. So, the
relationship between man, society, nature and God is very well explained in
Purusha-Sukta. They are inter-linked, inter-connected, inter-dependent and
inter-related. The modern society requires the inter-relationships now more than
ever before, because we are divided on a lot of silly considerations. So for
unity, we need to study Purusha-Suktam today.”
You must have heard of the caste system in
India. Most unfortunately, the caste system is politicized: It is used by
politicians to their advantage. It was exploited by the foreign rulers in the
past, to divide the country, so that they could maintain their control of the
country. But the original concept of caste was different. This sloka
speaks of it.
There are four castes: First caste, Brahmin,
the priestly caste, represents the head of God. Second, Kshatriya, the
warrior class, represents the shoulders. Third, Vaishya, the business
class, that is the stomach. Fourth, Sudra, the agricultural labor, the
feet of the same body.
Can there be a body without a head? Can there
be a body without the feet? Can there be a body without the hands? So, all the
castes are compared to the limbs of the same body – the body of God. But
unfortunately, people came to think that the castes are totally separate. This
divided the people, and the country became weak. Even now, politicians play
games, taking advantage of the caste system in order to divide the society.
But the original design of the caste system was
based on the temperament, profession, vocation, avocation and attitude to life
of individuals. Brahmins are supposed to be the priestly class. They are
supposed to take care of spiritual pursuits and spiritual needs of the society.
Kshatriyas, the army, are supposed to protect the country. Vaishyas
are supposed to take care of business – ministers of commerce and industries.
Sudras are supposed to take care of grain, food, agriculture. So, tell me
who is important and who is unimportant? Can you say? No.
Question 6 - Bhruguvalli
In
one Upanishad, there is a small portion called ‘Bhruguvalli’. What does the
Bhruguvalli convey?
The answer was given by one boy: Bhrugu is the
name of a saint who, as a boy, went to his father, who was himself a great
saint, and said, “O Father! Who is God? Let me know.”
Father said, “You go and investigate. You do
some penance. You do certain spiritual activity. You will know the answer.”
After some time the boy returns and says,
“Father! I have found out who God is.”
“Oh! Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Who is God?”
“Food is God,” he said.
“Food is God?”
“Yes.”
“My son, you need to know little more. Go and
meditate further.”
The boy goes to the forest once again,
meditates for sometime and returns: “Father, I known who God is this time.”
“Oh son, good. Who is God?”
“Life is God.”
So from food, he has evolved to the state of
life. Life is God!
Then the father says, “Son, you need to know
little more. You better go again.”
The boy did penance for some more years and
returned. ”Father! I know some more details of God.”
“Oh son, how nice! Who is God now?”
“Mind is God."
“Mind is God? You need to know some more
details.”
The fellow went and did more penance and again
returned. “Father! I know.”
“What do you know?”
“Bliss is God.”
Then father said, “You have arrived at the
end.”
So, the investigation or the inquiry into God
begins with food. We think food is God at one time. Later, life is God; and at a
later stage, we begin to understand that mind is God. Still later, we begin to
understand that spirit is God, which is jnana. And finally, we come to
know that bliss is God, which is the end.
Question no. 7 – Immortality
Vedas taught the way to
Immortality. Vedas say that there is only one way to Immortality. What is that
way?
“A sloka is given there. I will convey
the meaning. The only way to Immortality is awareness of the Self, experience of
the Self. The path of inquiry takes you to the state of Immortality. This
knowledge of the Self was first revealed to Indra by Brahma Himself. And later,
it came down to the earth and its people. What is important for us today, right
now, is the path of self-inquiry. In modern society, it is not possible to spend
a longtime in penance. It is not possible to do rituals, like yagas and
yagnas today. We do not have eligible, qualified, experienced people to
do these spiritual rites today. The modern technical mind does not accept the
old methods. Self-inquiry is the method which you have to follow today. It is
the only path to Immortality.”
Question no.8 – Use of Veda chanting
What is the use of Veda
chanting? What then is the benefit of chanting the Veda loudly?
We can have Swami’s darshan. We have two
benefits. As some chant, others hear. There are those who chant and those who
hear. First, they atone our sins. All the sins are forgiven; no dues remain.
Secondly, Divinity is experienced. That is the second purpose of Veda chanting.
Question 9
Towards the end of bhajans, we hear the following:
Mrithyor Maa Amritam Gamaya.
Father, lead us from untruth to
Truth,
from darkness to Light,
from death to Immortality.
These three are from which
Upanishad?
The answer came from a high school boy: “This
is from Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad. There are 108 Upanishads. Of
them, the ten Dwadasha are very popular Upanishads. Amongst them,
Brihadaaranyaka is one.”
Question 10 - Shikshavalli
Shikshavalli is a part of one Upanishad. What is its ultimate teaching?
The ultimate teaching of Shikshavalli, a
portion of the Upanishad, is: Speak the truth, follow righteousness.
Sathyam Vada, Dharmam Chara. Speak the truth; follow dharma – the
right conduct – in humility and with Love.
Question no.11 – Apauruseya
Vedas are also called
Apauruseya. Why?
Vedas are the revelations arising from the
intuition of sages and saints. They are not composed by a human being. The sages
and saints got the intuitions as a result of penance, renunciation and total
dedication to the welfare of humanity. Therefore Vedas are called Apauruseya.
Question no.12 - Prasthana-traya
The three sacred texts are
called
Prasthana-traya. What are they?
Brahma Sutra, Bhagawad Gita, Upanishad.
All these sacred texts together are called Prasthana-traya.
Question no. 13 – Brahma-sutra
Brahma Sutra is one among those
three. What are Swami’s views about this book?
Behind all the apparent world, there is a
hidden principle of Divinity. There are flowers in a garland and a thread passes
through all these flowers making it a beautiful garland. But, the thread is not
seen while the flowers are openly seen. So in Brahma-Sutra – sutra
is the thread, Brahma is the Divinity, bringing together the flowers of
creation.
Question no. 14
You must have heard this –
Aditya Varnam Tamasa Parastat
Vedahametam Purusham Mahantam.
(After chanting this sloka, Anil Kumar says:)
As a result of hearing these slokas repeatedly, some things have gotten
into my head. (Laughter!) Don’t think I know all of that and that I am
expert. Please don’t mistake me.
Now, how did saints view
Divinity? What is their view? What is their vision?
Answer: Aditya Varnam means brilliance,
radiance, splendor, illumination. Samataha – darkness. Saraspat –
beyond. “Beyond darkness, there is effulgence, there is light, that is
Divinity.” It means, darkness is ignorance, while effulgence is self-awareness.
Then question no. 15 - Panchama Veda
There are only four Vedas. But
there is a book called Panchama Veda. Which has been given the status of Veda,
although it is not Veda. What is the fifth Veda, Panchama Veda?
The great epic – Mahabharatha – about
the Pandavas and Kauravas. That is called the fifth Veda.
Question no. 16
Why is it called the fifth
Veda?
What is present in the world is present in
Mahabharatha. Whatever is not mentioned there, is not present anywhere.
Political, ethical, moral, spiritual -- all aspects of life are dealt with in
all thoroughness and depth in the Mahabharatha. So it is given the status
of a Veda.
Question no.17 –
Mrutyumjaya
There is one mantra which is repeated, which prays for long life. Ordinary people take this path to be immortal, to conquer death: Mrutyumjaya. ‘Mrutyum’ is death and ‘jaya’ is victory. So you can conquer death if you repeat this sloka.
Triyumbakum Yajamahe Sugandhim
Pushtivardanam
Urvarukamena Bandaanaath Mrutor Muksheya Mamrutaath.
Can I be deathless by reading
this sloka? I don’t think so. What is death? Desire is death. Attachment to the
body is death. Ego is death. So you can conquer death by being desireless. You
can win over death by being egoless. But why is it called Mrutyumjaya? Can you
conquer death? Why is it called so?
Some living creatures go to the other world
before schedule; that is, they die at a young age. As an example, some flights
reach the airport half an hour before the scheduled time. When the flight
schedule time is 12:00, the aircraft may reach by 11:00 -- one hour before
schedule. Likewise, some living creatures go to the other world ‘before
schedule’, dying at a young age. So this sloka at least will take us to
the destination at the right time, not before our time. That’s how also we can
take it.
And further what does Baba say about it? “O
God! As I leave this world, let me leave this world in full knowledge and
awareness -- in full awareness of the Self, with full experience of the Self,
just as a ripe fruit gets disconnected from the tree and falls onto the ground.”
Fruit falls on the ground automatically at
maturity, painlessly, effortlessly, naturally, easily, instantaneously.
Similarly, “O God! When I leave this world, let me drop like a fully ripe fruit,
easily, simply, effortlessly, joyfully.” Joyfully! There is no reason to cry for
death because death is a celebration. When I change my dress, when I feel like
wearing a nice suit, I don’t cry for my other clothes when I change into the new
suit.
I have a dark blue suit I wear on special
occasions when Swami talks to doctors at international conferences.
Swami jokes, “Oh! You are in suit now?”
“Swami, I am an international fellow now. (Laughter)
We have doctors from all parts of the world, I can’t afford to be simply in an
Indian dress.” So, when I change my dress, there is no reason to cry. We can be
happy. “Death is the dress of life.” That is the meaning of the Mrutyumjaya
mantra.
Question no. 18 - Taittreya Upanishad
There is one Upanishad named
Taittreya. What is it? What is the etymological meaning of this word Taittreya?
There lived a great saint named Yajnavalkya. He
vomited all the knowledge that he had acquired. All that he vomited was eaten by
birds called Taitree birds. These birds, by taking all that was vomited, started
making the sounds of this Upanishad. As all the sounds are repeated by
the birds named ‘Taitree’, it is called Taitreeya Upanishad.
Question no. 19 – Isavasyopanishad
There is a very popular Upanishad called
Isavasyopanishad. These days, most people want to hear experiences,
stories and miracles. This denies many of us a chance to go into the depth of
the philosophy.
My preference is to read Upanishads, to
read Ramana Maharishi and His teachings, and to go into the depth of the
Brahma Sutras. But people say, “Anil Kumar, please tell me the latest
miracles.” I don’t know what ‘latest miracles’ or ‘outdated miracles’ look like.
The Upanishad literature is not much appreciated by ordinary people
unless there is within them a depth, some awakening, or unless they are
especially blessed by God.
Isavasyopnaishad is a popular
Upanishad. What is the first sloka of this Upanishad?
Isavasya Sarvam Idam Yat Kinchat
Jagatam Jagat,
Tena Tyaktena Bunjeeta,
Ma Bruhat Kasya Siddhanam.
That is the first sloka. What
is its meaning?
The whole universe is filled
with Divinity.
Thou shall not covet others’
property.
This is in the Ten Commandments. Am I not
right?
Question 20
There is one Upanishad, which
compares the human body with a car. What is that Upanishad?
It is Katho-Upanishad.
Question 21 - Katho-Upaniahsad
Katho-Upaniahsad is the
conversation between two people. Who are they?
It is the conversation between a boy, Nachiketa,
and the god of death, Yama. Nachiketa wanted to know about life after death.
Yama says, “My boy! Why do you want to know
about life after death? You want a kingdom? I will give it to you.”
“No, sir. I want that knowledge.”
“You want money? I will give it to you.”
“No, sir. I want that knowledge.”
“You want palaces?
“ No, I want that.” He kept pestering and insisting that Yama teach him the
science of the Self. So, ultimately Yama told him.
Katho-Upanishad
speaks of the fundamental Vedanta philosophy, taught by Yama, the god of death
himself, to Nachiketa, a true aspirant, who could conquer Satan. Just as Satan
tempted Jesus Christ, Yama tempted Nachiketa in every way. But Nachiketa said,
“I want that knowledge only.”
ONE FINAL QUESTION
Then, towards the end, Swami asked a young boy,
aged 6 years: “Do
you know Mantra Pushpam?”
Mantra Pushpam has number of
Sanskrit verses in praise of God. ‘Pushpam’ means flower. Mantra
Pushpam – the flower of mantra. So He asked the boy,
“Do you know what Mantra Pushpam is?”
“Yes, Swami.”
“What is it?”
The boy said:
Antar Bahischat Sarvam,
Yapya Narayana Sthitaha.
“Do you know the meaning?”
“God is inside. God is outside also. God is
everywhere. The whole world is the very form of God. The world is a
manifestation, the reflection of God. God is the energy providing sustenance for
the maintenance of the entire creation.”
We were all dumb-founded that evening. This is
yet to come in Telugu Sanathana Sarathi.
University Grants Commission valedictory function
On the evening of 30th October 2003,
there was a meeting, the the valedictory function of the vice-chancellors. In
the Divine presence of Bhagavan, the vice-chancellors of some Indian
universities held a symposium on human values – a three-day programme. Three of
the vice chancellors addressed the gathering, which was presided over by
Bhagavan. The three vice-chancellors expressed their feeling about the Sri
Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. As devotees of Baba, we will be happy
to know how His university and His children are viewed. So, with this idea in
mind, I recorded the speeches of all the three people and noted some important
points. This will come in the Telugu Sanathana Sarathi, later.
This year 2003 happened to be the Golden
Jubilee year of the University Grants Commission, New Delhi. The University
Grants Commission is the apex body, an independent, autonomous central
government body, which gives recognition and also financial support to all the
universities in the country. It rates the quality of teachers and students of
every university.
The University Grants Commission wanted to have
a symposium organised in Prashanti Nilayam, with the permission and blessings of
Bhagavan Baba, on value-oriented education. Swami approved. This led to a three
day conference on the 28th, 29th and 30th of
October. On 28th of October, the inauguration ceremony
took place, while the valedictory function took place on 30th.
V.S. PRASADA RAO
The first speaker was V. S. Prasada Rao. He is
in charge of the National Assessment and Accreditation Committee. It is the body
that rates every university, every lecturer and every degree. It determines the
standard. It is a supervisory body. Prasad Rao, the first speaker, made certain
important statements, which should be of immense interest to all Sai devotees.
Point one: “We visited the whole university
here. We went around to all the departments. We visited all the hostels. We
visited the hospitals. We visited Chaitanya-Jyoti museum. We have
been to all places of interest in Prashanti Nilayam and had the opportunity to
talk with people in charge of these centres.”
Point no 2: “We consider it to be a blessing,
the greatest fortune given to us by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, to have our
conference in the Divine presence.”
Points no. 3: “We noticed the spirit of
devotion, dedication and duty amongst the teachers and professors of this
university. We also observed discipline amongst students. As we visited the
Super-Specialty Hospital, we met some of the former students of Sathya Sai
Institute who work there. We observed former students practicing all the values
they had learned as students in the university.”
Next point: These committee members recognised
and fully appreciated this university, calling it the ‘crest-jewel of education
in India’.
He said, “The education system adopted in Sri
Sathya Sai University is called ‘integrated education’. What is integrated
education? It means teaching the human values along with the academic
curriculum. As one teaches physics, he simultaneously teaches values. As one
teaches bio-sciences, he blends the subject with human values. This is called
‘integrated education’, which is unique here in Swami’s university.”
“Sri Sathya Sai University has a special course
called ‘Environmental Science’. Environmental Science is present all over the
world, but environmental science in this university is beautifully combined with
the value system. By following the values, you can preserve the environment. The
environment can be protected from all sorts of pollution by practicing these
values. All universities, all over the country, may adopt these values.”
Prasada Rao finally said that all the
vice-chancellors requested Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the Chancellor of this
University, to start a National Institute of Excellence in Education in Human
Values, in order to train all professors all over the country in batches, so
that they learn what integrated education is, how to blend the curriculum with
human values, and how to introduce values into the syllabus. So, Baba, we pray
that You start this national institute.
PROF. K. SUDHA RAO
The second speaker was a lady, Prof. K. Sudha
Rao. She is the vice-chancellor of the Open University, Mysore, in the state of
Karnataka, India. She made a brief speech and these are the points she made.
“I see every person here in this institution
not as an individual, but as an institution in himself.” She also said, “For the
total development of the human personality, the integrated education system,
which is followed here in this university, is best suited and most ideal.
“We find that values are very much talked about
all over the world.” Here she observed the values being practiced in daily life.
She noticed this in the manner in which teachers and students talked to each
other, in their behavior, in their day-to-day routine. She said, “If the values
are not practiced and are simply spoken or talked about, they lose their real
value. Values are practiced in this university.”
She concluded her talk saying, “All this is
because of the location of this university in an ideal place like this, far from
the maddening crowd, and with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba as the Chancellor of
this University. I thank Swami and the university professors for the courtesy,
invitation, generosity and hospitality extended to us.”
N. JAYASANKARAN
The third speaker was N. Jayasankaran. He is
the vice-chancellor of Sri Chandra Sekhara Saraswati Vishwa Mahavidhyala located
in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. His speech was very well applauded. Everyone liked
it. This is the gist of the third speaker’s speech.
“As I look at the huge gathering here,
students, staff and devotees, I see that each one here in the auditorium is a
reflection of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Baba and His bliss. I have participated in a
number of symposia and conferences. For the first time ever, my voice is
fumbling, my legs are trembling. You must have watched me drink five glasses of
water. All this, because I am in the presence of Divinity, Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
That makes me nervous”.
Further, he mentioned that on the previous day,
the 29th of October, four students had spoken in four languages --
Hindi, Sanskrit, Telugu, English. The vice-chancellor appreciated all four
speeches made by the students in the four different languages.
“There are certain very well-known speakers in
this country: the late Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Lakshmana Swamy Mudaliar,
Ramaswamy Mudaliar, Hon. Srinivasa Shastry. They all belong to Tamilnadu. They
are all very popular orators. The British appreciated their English. Some of
these speakers even corrected the pronounciation of the British. Some of them
have also pointed out their grammatical mistakes. So you can imagine their
scholarship in English language and literature.”
Then Jayashankaran said, “The four students who
spoke are going to be orators of that standard in the years to come.” Further he
said, “All the vice-chancellors here on the dais cannot make speeches of that
standard. All the talent and skills of communication, the language, feelings and
the thoughts -- all these things are the gifts of Bhagavan to the students of
this university. I request all students here to be the messengers of Sai, to be
the propagators of Sai message all over the world.”
He mentioned a small miracle. The daughter of
his maidservant had a heart problem. That little girl was taken to Apollo
Hospital in Madras for treatment. After conducting all the tests, the doctors
said that she should be operated upon at a cost of rupees three lakhs.
You cannot expect a maidservant to spend so much money. It is practically
impossible. So, as a result of this, she cried and cried as she worked in the
house of this vice-chancellor.
The vice-chancellor wanted to do something for
the maidservant. He happened to go to Bangalore on official work when Swami was
in Whitefield, and he got an interview.
There he said, “Swami, I have a request.”
“What?”
“My servant’s daughter is suffering from a
heart problem, Swami. You should bless her.”
“Is that so?”
He materialised vibhuthi for her. He
then called the director of the hospital, Dr. Saffaya, and gave instructions
that this girl should be operated upon at the earliest. The girl was operated on
free of cost. It has now been three years, and she is hale and healthy. The
doctors had given her three months’ time to live, that’s all. But three years
have now passed.
The vice-chancellor also recalled another
incident. Along with him happened to be another person who was called for an
interview by Baba that same day, three years ago. The devotee had a ring with
three diamonds. Because of prolonged use, the shape of the ring had changed. The
symmetry had changed, and one diamond had fallen out and was lost.
Swami gently removed it. “Hmm! Shape is gone.
No diamonds.”
“Swami, one fell down. What to do?”
“Is that so?” (Swami blew on it.) A
perfect new ring with three diamonds appeared -- three perfect diamonds,
a shiny new ring.
Swami gave it to him.
Further, Vice Chancellor Jayashankara said,
“Swami, we are very grateful to You for Your kind hospitality, which was of the
same standard as that given to a marriage party. We were treated first-class.
Thank You very much. We enjoyed every minute.”
Then he said,” All the vice chancellors have
come here not merely to attend a conference. This is a holy pilgrimage to
Prashanti Nilayam.” He also commented on the serenity, the solemnity, the
dignity, the sanctity, the peace and the silence that he observed here, which he
had never experienced anywhere until now.
He concluded his speech with a beautiful
remark, which I am sure you will enjoy. He said, “Swami, there are three hundred
universities in this country. This university is great because You are here. I
pray that You be in three hundred forms and exist in every university as
chancellor, so that other universities can also come up to this standard.
Otherwise, it is impossible to match Your university.”
Usually when vice-chancellors or professors go
for conferences at other places, they go for sightseeing, and they also shop in
order to bring back gifts for their family members. The vice chancellors said,
“This is the only place where vice-chancellors sat through all the
proceedings.” They were very serious and took things very seriously.
And the miracle of miracles is that all
vice-chancellors agreed on all the points, on all the resolutions arrived at
towards the end. All resolutions were passed unanimously. This is the grace of
Bhagavan! This is, in brief, the valedictory function held on October 30th,
which will appear in the Sanathana Sarathi sometime later.
Om
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka
Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka
Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Om
Shanti Shanti Shanti