1977: One-pointedness
Teachings to treasure, teachings that transform.
In this auspicious year 2015 commemorating the 90th birthday of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, we offer a compilation of key messages from the over 140 discourses in the month of July, including Guru Poornima Days between the years 1958 and 2009.
1977: One-pointedness
EDUCATION must impart those qualities in the individual that
will ensure his peace, and thereby, universal peace. It should cleanse the mind
of all traces of narrowness and help in fostering unity and love. In those days
the sages lived with their pupils in hermitages, in quiet sylvan surroundings
on the banks of rivers. Each hermitage was a university with the sage as the Kulapathi
(Chancellor). They were proficient in ail the branches of knowledge
and eager to give the knowledge over to whoever could receive it and make the
best use of it. They succeeded in their mission as a result of their own
efficiency, the enthusiasm of their pupils and the sublimity of the
environment. It was all so simple and sincere, so fresh and free.
The created universe is called Prakrithi
(Nature); prior to the Manifestation, there was darkness; after the
Manifestation, there was light. The darkness was the thaamasik
(quality of inaction) state, when there was no activity. The light
was the raajasik (quality of agitative) state, when
with movement and agitation, uplift and downfall alternated. The 'five
elements' were then formed, and in time attained comparative quiet. That was
the saathwik (quality of serenity) state, when
Divinity shone through them. These five elements are perceptible by the five
senses; in fact they are the responses to the needs of the senses. The saathwik
state is the Divine state, when light is shed on the Truth. This
Truth was there even before the creation and the cosmos.
You do not lose much if a finger is so damaged that it needs to
be cut off. The body can still function and be a fit instrument. Even if you
lose a limb, you can function and benefit with the help of your faculties. But
If you lose your character, then everything is lost! You can be worthy of the
name 'student' only from the day on which you imprint this thought on your
mind. Do not allow laziness, hatred or anger to contaminate your hearts. The
world looks forward to your leadership in establishing and ensuring peace; how
can this. be realised if you cultivate hatred and anger? Practise calmness and
the habit of deliberation. Don't get agitated and yield to mass frenzy, that is
a sign of weakness and waywardness.
Vidh means light, and a vidhyaarthi
(student) must seek light and gain it. What is the use of an eye
that does not reveal to you the pitfalls? Education must endow you with that
type, of eye which will reveal in time the pits that yawn in your path. Vidhya
must confer humility, selflessness and the ideals of service. The
educated man must be ready and skilled to serve his parents, his villages, his
state, his nation, his language and his culture.
Points to
Ponder:
·
What are qualities of an
educated person ?
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