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22nd
Novemebr 2006 |
25TH Annual Convocation of SSSIHL |
Puttaparthi |
Divine Discourse
By Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Note:
Discourses of Sri Sathya Sai Baba
on this SBOIwebsite/group are unedited, authentic & only
sourced from the official Sai baba Org.
"Put Human Values Into Practice"
Scroll down this page to see photo slides from
convocation
Man today feels proud that
he has mastered many branches of knowledge and studied a number of
texts. But he does not try to understand the essence of education.
Nowadays learning is limited only to physical and worldly aspects,
moral, ethical and spiritual aspects are left out. Today the parents
make strenuous efforts to provide education to their children. But
nobody is trying to know the real meaning of education. People think
that those who can speak eloquently and have studied a number of
books are highly educated. But the fact is that it shows just the
knowledge of the alphabet and nothing else. Mere knowledge of the
alphabet cannot be called education. Besides knowing the letters,
one has to know the meaning of the words and the sentences
constituted by them.
Having realised this truth, King Krishnadevaraya convened a big
assembly. He posed a question to all the assembled poets and
scholars. Also present in this assembly were eight renowned poets of
his court known as Ashta Diggajas. They were: Allasani Peddana,
Nandi Thimmana, Madayyagari Mallana, Dhurjati, Ayyalaraju
Ramabhadrudu, Pingali Surana, Ramarajabhushanudu and Tenali
Ramakrishna. Krishnadevaraya wanted to know who among them was the
best. He wanted them to frame a meaningful sentence consisting of
five letters, each letter having the same meaning in five different
languages. “Whoever comes out with an answer to this question by
tomorrow morning will be suitably rewarded”, he declared.
Since his house was far away, Tenali Ramakrishna decided to spend
the night in his brother-in-law’s house. When he was provided with a
comfortable bed for the night, Ramakrishna refused to sleep on it.
He said, “I have to think of an answer to a question put by the king
by tomorrow morning. A bed like this is sure to put me to sleep in
no time. So, provide a cot for me in the cowshed.”
As he was lying on the cot, at one o’clock in the night, one of the
cows in the shed gave birth to a calf. Ramakrishna called out to
inform his brother-in-law about this. His brother-in-law wanted to
know which cow had given birth since he had given different names to
his cows like Lakshmi, Saraswati, Radha, etc. He asked Ramakrishna,
“Ye Aav Ra Bava” (Oh brother-in-law! Which cow is that?). When
Ramakrishna heard this, his joy knew no bounds since he had found an
answer to the king’s question. So, he repeated the phrase again and
again. His brother-in-law thought that Ramakrishna was behaving in
this strange manner due to lack of sleep.
Next morning, Ramakrishna went to the royal court and found that no
one else had the answer to the question. All others were convinced
that it was not possible to frame such a sentence. “Ye Aav Ra Ba Va.
This is the answer”, he said. Everyone was intrigued. Then he
explained, ‘Ye’ in Marathi, ‘Aav’ in Hindi, ‘Ra’ in Telugu, ‘Ba’ in
Kannada and ‘Va’ in Tamil convey the same meaning, i.e., ‘come’. All
the five languages were represented in this sentence.
In this manner, one should know the meaning of every letter. People
today read many books without knowing the real meaning of the words.
But in ancient times, people knew the meaning of every letter that
they studied. Pleased with the answer of Tenali Ramakrishna,
Krishnadevaraya presented to Ramakrishna a bundle of gold coins and
precious diamonds. Ramakrishna was happy to receive the precious
gift from the king, but he was worried how he should safeguard it.
Therefore, he requested the king to provide him with two bodyguards
so as to carry the bundle safely to his house. Accompanied by the
bodyguards, he carried the bundle safely to his house.
On reaching home, the thought of keeping the bundle safe in the
house caused him a lot of worry since he did not have any iron safe.
His wife came near him and saw the bundle. At that time, Tenali
Ramakrishna noticed two thieves who had followed him all the way and
were now hiding in the backyard of his house. Then he told his wife
that he was going to drop the bundle of gold coins and precious
stones into the well in the backyard of his house for its safety. He
spoke loudly so that the thieves could overhear him. Instead of
putting the bundle of precious gems in the well, he actually put a
bag of stones in it. All through the night, the thieves kept on
drawing water out of the well in expectation of getting the bundle
of gold coins and precious stones. All their attempts proved futile.
They left the place at daybreak. Tenali Ramakrishna was happy that
he could save the precious bundle from the clutches of thieves and
in the process they had poured adequate water in his fields.
One who knows the meaning of every letter, every word and every
sentence is a true poet. Tenali Ramakrishna was one such great poet.
Kavim Purana Manushasitaram Anoraniyamsamanusmaredya,
Sarvasya Dhataramachintyarupam Adityavarnam Tamasa Parastat.
(He who contemplates on the all-wise, ageless Being, the ruler of
all, subtler than the subtle, the universal sustainer, possessing a
form beyond human conception, refulgent like the sun and far beyond
the darkness of ignorance, he reaches verily that supreme divine
Purusha (God).
Today people try to know the meaning of sentences without trying to
know the meaning of letters and words that constitute the sentences.
Even the preceptors today give only the worldly meaning of the
sentences, but none gives the moral, ethical and spiritual import of
the sentences. It is the responsibility of teachers to disseminate
the knowledge pertaining to moral, ethical and spiritual principles.
That is true education. Today the students pursue their studies, but
if you ask them what you are doing, they reply,
“Chaduvu-Kontunnamu”, which also means, “We are buying education”.
That is no education at all. We have to know the meaning of every
letter, every word and every sentence and act accordingly.
Despite acquiring all this worldly knowledge, one has to meet one’s
end which is inevitable. One should acquire that knowledge which
makes one immortal. It is the knowledge of five human values,
namely, Sathya, Dharma, Santhi, Prema and Ahimsa. The first one is
Sathya (truth). Truth is deathless. Truth is one, not two. Dharma
(righteousness) is eternal. Santhi (peace) is the source of bliss.
Next is Prema (love). Right from a child to an old person at the
verge of death, everyone is endowed with love. But love has no
death. The last, but not the least is Ahimsa. Where is the death for
Ahimsa (non-violence)? Buddha propagated this principle. He
declared: Ahimsa Paramo Dharma (non-violence is the highest Dharma).
Knowledge and practice of these five principles is real education.
Speak truth, follow the path of righteousness and experience peace.
Share your love happily with all and lead your life with
non-violence. This is the essence of education. These are the five
main human values which should be propagated in the world. They are
eternal and immortal. Today we run after all that is perishable
ignoring that which is immortal. The President of India has told you
many important things. You can achieve great heights if you put his
teachings into practice. Every human being is endowed with these
five values. If we promote these five values, we become God.
The Vedas declare: Tat Twam Asi (That Thou Art). This profound
statement of the Vedas contains the essence of all knowledge.
Therefore these five human values have to be inculcated in everyone
right from childhood. When you rely on truth, you can achieve
anything in life. Daivam Manusha Rupena (God is in human form). God
is not separate from man. All are the embodiments of Divinity. The
same principle of the Atma is present in all. But it assumes many
names. Develop self-confidence. Face all difficulties with
self-confidence. Whomsoever you see, consider him as your own
reflection. God is beyond all attributes and actions.
Develop the spirit of sacrifice. Na Karmana Na Prajaya Dhanena
Thyagenaike Amrutatthwamanasu (immortality is not attained through
action, progeny or wealth; it is attained only by sacrifice). You
should be prepared to make any sacrifice. Have the firm conviction
that I am God and God is not separate from me. Wherever you see, God
is there. There is nothing else except God. Names and forms may be
different, but the same principle of the Atma is present in all.
All that man experiences is the result of his actions. It is already
very late now. I do not want to cause inconvenience to you by
speaking at length. It is enough if you know these five principles
and put them into practice in your daily life. It is only by
practising these five principles that you can know them, not merely
by reading or writing about them. Any knowledge that is not put into
practice is no knowledge at all. Put into practice at least one or
two principles in your life out of all that you have learnt,. Then
only will your life be redeemed and you will acquire merit. Only
then, you would have followed the right path. You have heard many
things from Me and Kalam. What is the use of all your listening if
you do not put anything into practice? It is your rare fortune that
you have got the opportunity of listening to such sacred talks. Make
the best use of the opportunity and attain the goal of your life.
Lord Krishna declared in the Bhagavadgita, Mamaivamsho Jivaloke
Jivabhuta Sanathana (the eternal Atma in all beings is a part of My
Being). You are all sparks of divinity. You are not mere mortals.
You are not separate from Me. Being an aspect of My divinity, you
should conduct yourself accordingly. Do not waste your time in vain
gossip. These five values have originated from God.
Wherever you see, there is the principle of unity. You and I are
one. Many people ask Me about My true identity. I tell them, “You
and I are one. You are not separate from Me.” Consider all your
fellowmen as your brothers and sisters and strengthen the bond of
love with them. You should all stand united. Never give room for
evil qualities like anger, hatred and jealousy. These qualities will
create only differences. We should develop these five human values
which will promote harmony and unity in the world. We should develop
those qualities which will bring us closer to each other and not the
ones which take us away from each other. Leave the burden of all
your responsibilities to God. This is My message to you today.
Source: sssbpt.org
***SBOI***
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