Teachers!

This is the way to God.

They practiced the truth that God is love and love is God and lived accordingly starting the day, spending the day and ending the day with love. People were inspired by this teaching of the sages.

The second type of teachers were the explaining ones. They studied all subjects in detail and explained them to their students in such a way that it would be imprinted in their hearts.

The third type were the complaining teachers who always sought comforts in life, were never satisfied and always complained.

In olden days, the teachers never sought any comfort. Even under the trees, or in temple premises or choultries they used to teach. They had no school buildings built of brick and stone. Their only aim was to instruct the children on the basis of ‘heart to heart’ and ‘love to love’. The sages had love for everyone. They set ideal examples in practical living which the students could follow. Such teachers were called ‘Acharyas’.

The term Acharya is applicable only to that teacher who practically lives according to the ideals he propagates.

In those good old days the teachers used to take their students with them on their tours. Adi Sankara took his fourteen disciples with him on his tour and reached Benaras (Kasi). He saw an old man repeating some grammar rules to memorise them. He asked the person why he was doing so. The old one replied that by this he would be able to give expositions of scriptures in the court of a king and get some handsome reward with which he could maintain his family. Sankara asked him "What is the use of getting that money?" The old man said that it would fetch comfort and happiness. Sankara told him that this transient happiness arising out of worldly comforts would not last long and would not come with him when he sheds the mortal coil. He taught the old man the famous song "Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam: Govindam Bhaja Moodamathe, Samprapthe Sannihithe Kale Nahi Nahi Rakshathi Dukrun Karane"

"Worship the Lord Govinda, Oh Fool! Your knowledge of grammar will not help you at the time of your last breath." He gave him the inspiring message "Oh mad cap, pray God first. Then you will get His Grace which can confer everything."

Happiness in this world is secular happiness. Eternal happiness is spiritual. You can make your family comfortable with the salary you earn. But one’s whole life should not be wasted only in material pursuit without spiritual enlightenment. You must first learn how to make God happy. Once God is happy, the world will be happy. Therefore, everyone should pray to God while engaging in any activity. So, first you should start spiritual pursuit and then your secular activities will become successful.

What you teach today, will be followed by the children in the future. One’s own biological children are children of desire whereas the children whom you teach are children of love. You must treat students as your own children of love.

Dronacharya, in the Mahabharata, was a great teacher and both the Kauravas and Pandavas were his students. Drona had great affection for Arjuna to whom he taught all great secrets of warfare which he did not teach even to his own son. The reason: his son was not considered by him to be fit to receive the secret teachings. Thus Arjuna was his Prema Puthra (son of love). The teaching of Prema Putra is heart to heart and love to love. You should mould the students in your Institute in this manner with unsullied love. Teachers in the Sathya Sai Educational Institutions should serve as ideal examples.

Teachers can be compared to the water storage tank while the students are like the water taps. If pure water is stored in the tank the water flowing to taps also will be pure. If the water in the tank is polluted or impure, so also the water in taps will be impure. The teachers should fill their hearts with love and spirit of sacrifice so that the students also have the same spirit.

The Vedas proclaim "Na Karmanaa Na Prajaya Dhanena Thyagenaike Amrithatwamanasu"— Not by deeds, nor by progeny nor by riches can liberation be attained. Only by sacrifice can one attain immortality. If you have the spirit of sacrifice you can lead an ideal life.

Now, in the Kali age, many take to preaching but never practise what they preach. Teachers should set examples to their students by their scrupulously following what they teach in their own daily lives. You should speak the truth so that your wards will also do so. You should engage in service to the needy in society so that even the student should be taught to respect and serve their parents and society. Intimate relationship should be maintained with those who suffer.

The education is now imparted in schools to only confer book knowledge which is superficial. This turns to knowledge next day, then to allergy on the third day. This tendency should be overcome. Only when you realise the divine in you, can you get over this allergy. How do get into this path? You have to set limits to desires and avoid wasting time, food, money and energy. Misuse of money is evil. Time is God. So you should not waste time. Time wasted is life wasted.

Annam Brahma- Food is god. Don’t waste food. If you have excess food share it with others. As is food so is head, as is head so is God. Don’t waste energy. Too much talk is a waste of energy. For example, you listen to a programme in the radio. Immediately after it is over you have to switch off the radio, otherwise you will waste electrical energy. You should listen only to useful and good programmes. Your heart is like a radio. Use it for sacred purposes. Do not give room for unwanted and useless things. If you do so without restraint, you become aged prematurely because seeing, hearing, talking and every action involves utilisation of energy. Talk less and do more work. Thus you increase your mental strength and can serve students as ideal teachers.

People waste a lot of energy. They also waste knowledge. Knowledge of self is real knowledge. The Vedas say ‘Prajnaanam Brahma.’ This refers to Constant Integrated Awareness. You have to direct your mind towards God. Concentrate on the Divine. If you follow the vagaries of the mind you waste energy. Don’t allow the mind to get the better of you. You should have a strong will to control the mind. Teach the children to ‘Be good. See good. Do good— this is the way to God.’

Such teachers should grow in number to set ideal examples. All may not be able to pursue studies up to the Ph.D level, but you can study as far as you can and still set a good example in practice.

I generally never speak in public about the teachers of our Institute. A good number of the students of our Institute finish their M.Sc, M.Tech and M.B.A getting three master’s degrees. Further they want to pursue Ph.D too. We appoint them in our Institute as professors. If you are sincere, Bhagawan is prepared to meet all your expenses. If you are progressing in the right direction, following the motto "the end of education is character" Bhagawan will help them to pursue the studies in every way. Our students will never look at the ladies side and when they happen to come face to face with women they will bend their heads considering them as their mothers. This is the greatest virtue of our students.

Drona was considered to be a great teacher but Bhishma was hailed even by the demi-Gods as a greater person because he sacrificed the happiness of a married life for the sake of his father’s happiness and remained as a celibate (Brahmacharya) keeping up his terrific vow. The whole country bows to him forever and his teaching is taken as a gospel. You should teach good things to students. The students should not fail to express gratitude to the Institute which helped them to blossom into good citizens.

Victor Kanu and his wife have done tremendous work in teaching the values to students of Zambia, facing stiff opposition initially. Kanu was a priest. He is an ideal person. Swami told him not to waste time and start a school soon. Kanu came here 40 years ago when very few foreigners knew about this place. Swami performed his marriage with Mrs. Kanu. They have been sincere devotees following Swami’s teaching scrupulously. It was an extremely difficult job to start such a school, teaching values in Zambia. But Mr. and Mrs. Kanu struggled a lot to establish a school. Two years ago Kanu said that it was very difficult to manage and there was constraint for funds. It was not an easy proposition as we could not help in rupee currency. They needed American dollars. Swami told Kanu "Don’t worry. Swami will arrange, you go and do your work." Swami arranged funds through devotees in U.S.A. "Sraddhaavan Labathe Jnanam." To acquire wisdom, interest (Sraddha) and faith in God is essential. Swami arranged by calling up the American Organisation. Swami speaks only truth, as embodiment of Truth, Swami assured him, "I won’t allow you to suffer. I shall take care of every thing. You should improve the school." He collected poor children and helped them progress in education to amazing high standards never known before. As he worked for the school, Swami helped him overcome all obstacles.

Jum Sai appears to be young and unassuming. You may not know his worth. He is an eminent scientist and a Professor. Not only that. He is also a member of Parliament and was even offered a minister’s post in Thailand. But he declined the offer. He wanted to serve in the propagation of Education in Human Values. His aim is to start a Sathya Sai Institute of E.H.V. in every country. He started in his country in Thailand and in Sri Lanka in spite of political problems on the island.

I blessed him in his work. I encouraged him to start such institutes in other countries too and gave him full assurance of my help as he is an experienced devotee who is sincere in his pursuit.

While Swami was in Bombay, Kanu came and told me that they asked him to close the school. I blessed him to work in his dedicated way and everything was set right. I shall support goodness wherever it is. That goodness itself will help one to get through obstacles. With such faith many in the world are working in so many countries.

Kanu, in his talk, mentioned about the left brain education that was introduced two hundred years ago, and now the right brain type of E.H.V has come into being. This is the march of left and right as they do in an Army Drill. Bhagawan will follow you, wherever you are when you do good work.

I wish you to bring more teachers next year. Do not worry about personal and family problems. I am a member of your family and shall look after everything. I and you are one. Do not fear. The world is restless. You have to go into the world and preach the great message ‘Loka Samasthaa Sukhino Bhavanthu’.

Let the whole world be happy. Swami blesses all of you to lead ideal lives.

International Conference on Human Values

30 September, 2000