Education: The Mine of Wisdom

Dear devotees,

Education sans wisdom, mere wisdom bereft of discrimination, action without discretion, erudition lacking sagacity, power not justified by deservedness, statements not based on truth, music wanting in melody, adoration not sustained by devotion, a person devoid of common sense and character, a student not endowed with humility and a discourse that fails to inspire, serve no useful purpose.

In addition to knowledge derived from the sacred texts, one should gain wisdom through experience. Education and knowledge without personal experience will be futile. It will assume the form of mere scholarship. If such learning is brought within the ambit of practice and experience, it is creditable. Acquiring and hoarding of wealth will be of no avail if it is not consecrated and spent for the welfare of the world. Similarly, mere acquisition of knowledge from books is a futile exercise. Knowledge becomes blessed only when it is translated into experience and actions which promote the good of humanity. This translation of knowledge into experience is possible only when one passes through the three stages of knowing (Jnatum), visualising (Drashtum) and entering (Praveshtum).

First, one must learn about the truths contained in the sacred texts from veterans in the field. When you learn about them, you naturally take an interest in them. Then you develop an urge to visualise those truths at any cost. This is the first stage of knowing.

In the second stage, we carefully peruse, examine and collect such sacred texts wherever they may be available. We read and directly visualise them. With great perseverance, we enquire, comprehend and enjoy them. Thus, we derive some satisfaction that we have discerned certain profound truths. This is the second stage of visualising.

It is not enough if we make progress in the first two stages. We must experience what we have known and seen. By entering the arena of experience, one should feel complete identification with the ideal. If one lies down after having consumed food, it will cause indigestion. However, if one consumes daily the requisite quantity of food and undertakes some physical work, it will be digested and being converted into blood, will offer nourishment. In the same manner, we should translate into experience and action what we have known and seen, by assimilating it and utilizing it for the progress of our country as well as for the welfare of humanity.

It is easy to memorize passages from books and deliver lectures. Knowledge acquired merely through the reading of books can be termed bookish knowledge. This is quite an ordinary type of knowledge. At least to some extent, what has been heard, seen and understood should be put into practice. It has to be experienced. This is the stage of entry.

In our ancient sacred lore are contained several precious truths. Invaluable gems lie hidden in them. Many scientific theories relating to the atom are also to be found there. Students should seek to unravel these hidden truths and harness them for human welfare. There must be an urge as well as the determination in them to explore undiscovered truths. They should not rest content with delivering discourses and appearing on forums of discussion.

Only those students possessing a spirit of enquiry can disseminate real knowledge in the world. Mere superficial knowledge will be of no avail. There is no knowledge that can surpass the knowledge derived from direct experience. It must be acquired through self-effort, initiative, determination and perseverance. It should be utilized for technological development and increase of production, which make for the country’s progress.

It is necessary to derive wisdom from experience but it is equally essential to develop the faculty of discrimination which enables us to employ it for the well-being of the country. Education without discrimination and wisdom without discernment are of no use. Education is one thing and discrimination is quite another. Discrimination is the faculty that enables us to distinguish good from bad and confers upon us the ability to decide ‘when’ and ‘how much’ importance is to be given to various aspects in a given situation. Discrimination is a component of wisdom. With discrimination, one cannot pursue the right path.

Self-knowledge is the supreme sovereign. Without its attainment, one cannot enjoy any peace. Though one may gain renown and recognition in the world, he will not experience happiness without self-knowledge. “Knowledge of the soul”, “Knowledge of God” and “Spiritual Knowledge” — all these expressions connote that it is wisdom which promotes full awareness of the Soul and God. Self-knowledge is that knowledge by acquiring which everything else is known. A person with self-knowledge can indeed be acclaimed as all-knowing.

Secular learning cannot confer on us abiding and absolute peace. Self-knowledge alone can help us cross the sea of sorrow. So, all should strive to attain this self-knowledge, which can be acquired only through purity of mind. Purity of mind can be attained through pious deeds, sacred acts, charity, helpful nature, compassion and devotion. Disinterested action consecrated to God purifies the heart. The Sun of wisdom dawns in a pure heart. The dawn of such wisdom exalts man to the status of God.

Human effort constitutes the prime step in man’s endeavour to attain this highest state of Godhood. God’s grace is the second essential factor. Anyone can strive for and attain self-knowledge. Men and women, rich and poor, all are eligible to kindle in themselves the flame of spiritual wisdom. Distinctions of race and religion, caste and creed do not come in the way. It does not matter if one has no secular education, no grounding in physical sciences, or is not well versed in worldly lore. In the modern world, it is not that easy to gain self-knowledge. All the same, one need not give up efforts in a mood of frustration and despair.

At times, people relentlessly seek spiritual knowledge at the expense of secular learning. This is not desirable. Some miss both and wander aimlessly between the two. Such a predicament too is undesirable. Secular learning should not be neglected. It is beneficial to acquired spiritual vision while seeking mastery over secular lore. So, students should necessarily spend some time everyday in meditation upon God.

Students have to spring into the sphere of action and strive to the best of their ability for the building up of a resurgent India. They must shed nepotism and the desire for power.

Mother India’s future depends on them and she is waiting for them. Even as it is the duty of children to serve and please their mother, it is the bounden duty of every child of Mother India to make her happy. To serve the motherland selflessly should be the sacred ideal of one’s life. Thus, it is the duty of all Indians to engage themselves in the dedicated service of Mother India. Such an obligation on our part may even be described as forming part of ‘Desa Niti’ — nobility of character of the individual vis-a-vis his motherland. Therefore, every student must inculcate in him a wider perspective of national unity and integrity. A person without character can neither uplift himself nor be of any use to the country. Those who sacrifice their interest, seeking the welfare of the nation, discharge truly their duties to their motherland, are blessed.

Sacrifice too is an aspect of character. It is one of the qualities which young men should imbibe. It is often thought that charitable and philanthropic acts make for sacrifice. But there is a vast difference between charity and sacrifice. Charitable people give only a fraction of their bounty to others. Giving of land, distribution of food, contribution of physical labour and spreading of education and knowledge belong to this category. Through acts of charity, no man ever gives up all that he has. One is not cursed to be born penurious if one does not perform acts of charity. Going a step higher, some retain for themselves what is just and essential and give away the rest to society. Such people win the highest acclaim in the world. Our sacred texts prescribe that a portion of one’s possessions must be offered to the poor and helpless. Neglecting this injunction, one should not accumulate lakhs of rupees in a selfish, callous, unfair and unjust manner like an avaricious curmudgeon. Such a miser will become a victim of disaster and degradation, sooner or later; it is inevitable.

Wealth piled up through unfair means is the result of exploitation of the blood of the poor. Young men ought not to become slaves of such unfair existence and adopt exploitation as a means to living. Even God will not forgive such selfish exploitative lives. He who piles up wealth without enjoying or giving to the other will be damned after death. The progeny of such people too will be damned in the future. There are four inheritors for hoarded wealth. The first is charity; the second, the king; fire is the third inheritor and robber, the fourth. The first claimant is charity and the major share goes to him. Students should recognize the profound significance of this truth and utilize the wealth they acquire for the welfare of mankind. 

Sacrifice is the highest step. One who has the true spirit of sacrifice gives to others without any hesitation or reservation, smilingly and gladly, even his dearest and highest possession. Surrendering the fruit of action to the Lord is real sacrifice. A tyagi does not shirk even to give up his body, regarding it as a worthless straw. Sacrifice means something more than giving up of wealth, gold, and material objects. Evil qualities like hatred, jealousy, wrath and malice which have become ingrained in man over many lifetimes should be discarded. There is no happiness greater than that obtained from sacrifice. Only those who sacrifice are the children of immortality because they live forever in the memory of the society as ideal people to emulate.

When we study our epics and legends, we come across numerous figures that embody such spirit of sacrifice. Emperors like Sibi and Bali, heroes like Dadhichi and Karna, belong to that illustrious line. We need today such people animated by the spirit of sacrifice among the political leaders and students. They should forget selfishness, crush egoism, dispel desire for power, put an end to pettiness of mind, and pledge themselves to establish righteousness, to dispense justice and to promote the welfare of the society.

Unfortunately, words are losing their significance. Sacrifice, justice, righteousness, and service have lost their meaning and have degenerated into a business. Selfishness looms large and dances like a destructive demon among the students, politicians and educationists. The clamour for power and the desire for position are uppermost in the mind of man. Our country which was once celebrated as a land of sacrifice, dedicated endeavour and penance, has degenerated into a veritable playground for ephemeral joys. And this is the reason for the country’s many afflictions and ailments.

Students! This state of things must come to an end and there should be a change for the better when our history will be repeated and our former glory revived. Thousands of sacrificing spirits should emerge from your midst. Every young Indian should be enriched once more by the spirit of sacrifice. 

Sacrifice is sweeter than enjoyment. Sacrifice should become the aim of life. Only through sacrifice can one attain peace. Sorrows do not flee from us as long as the mind is not at peace with itself. Agonies dwell forever within us. Without the tranquillity of the Soul, no amount of wealth can be of use. Surrendering the fruits of action with a dispassionate mind is eligible to be termed sacrifice. Purity of mind alone can confer upon it tranquillity. The Upanishads have proclaimed in a full-throated voice that sacrifice alone leads to immortality.

Sacrifice is the chief trait of the pure. Therefore, every student must imbibe and display the spirit of sacrifice in his life. He should not become a victim of the disease of enjoyment.

Unfortunately, there is a widespread opinion circulating freely that education is for a job and not for the expansion of illumination. This is deplorable. Wisdom is illumination. It is the aim of education to radiate that light of wisdom. Such wisdom bestows upon man the real power. Wisdom enables us to recognize mutual relationships of power and individuals and to know the precedents and antecedents of each object. 

How can this illumination enter man’s being? By listening to and going through great books like the Vedas, the Vedangas, the Upanishads, the Koran, the Granth Saheb, the biographies of noble souls, books dealing with physical and technological sciences and psychology, one gains this light. Alongside with wisdom, discriminatory approach and logical thinking can also be gained by reading them. One should not depend entirely on knowledge derived from sacred texts but must depend upon wisdom arising from experience.

This attitude is a far cry from the ideals of obedience and humility instilled by education. Students must strive to impart to the people around them in society, the sacred ideas they have imbibed. They must spring like tiger cubs into the arena of the villages and cleanse them of all sorts of pollution. They must teach and train the illiterate residents of the villages to live decently and with dignity. Students must strive along with the villagers and lead them forward. Students of today should pose lofty ideals of life to the world through their exemplary lives. Students of the Sri Sathya Sai Colleges are capable of setting an example to the world through their lives. Only such students are the alumni of the Sri Sathya Sai Colleges. All their endeavours shall be crowned with success.

With Blessings,

Sri Sathya Sai Baba.