Not even a trace of human values is seen in today’s students. Students’ hearts are filled with impurity. Students should become pure at heart. They should transform themselves. The good and bad of a nation depend upon the students. Students alone should be the forerunners in all fields. Students should develop skills in all spheres of life, which includes moral, physical, religious, spiritual and worldly education, in a pure and righteous way.
You should also try to undertake the acts of appeasing (Sama) and subjugating (Dama). Sama means controlling the mind, exercising your discrimination power and thus keeping all activities under control. This is the influence of the inner senses. The external senses will be under control only when the inner senses are subjugated. The Karmendriyas (organs of action), and the Jnanendriyas (organs of perception) are the external senses. Whatever we see has to be good. You should not look at evil. You should listen only to good. You should speak sweetly, avoiding altogether those words that harm others. Even one’s thoughts should be pure. Bad thoughts should not enter your mind. All your activities should be good. They should set an ideal to others. This is the influence of Dama. See no evil, see what is good. Hear no evil, hear what is good. Talk no evil, talk what is good. Think no evil, think what is good. Do no evil, do what is good. This is the way to God.
One may acquire high academic qualifications such as M.A. or B.A., and attain exalted position.
One may amass wealth, perform acts of charity and attain name and fame.
One may have physical strength and enjoy a long and healthy life.
One may be a great scholar studying and preaching Vedas.
But none can equal a true devotee of the Lord.
In spite of his education and intelligence,
A foolish man will not know his true self; and
A mean-minded person will not give up his evil qualities.
Modern education leads only to argumentation, not to total wisdom.
What is the use of acquiring education which cannot lead you to immortality?
Acquire the knowledge that will make you immortal.
Are you studying for indulging yourself in arguments? Arguments breed enmity. ‘Vaade Vaade Vardhate Vairam’, which means arguments only increase enmity, not friendship. Hence, you should not give scope to arguments. Learning should be with patience, love and with coordinated effort. That coordination should be understood as true learning. You should understand the unity in diversity. It is only then that Divinity blossoms in humanity. Divinity is no different from man. Divinity is an aspect of man. Man is a speck of Divinity. Man is forgetting Divinity because he is immersed in body consciousness.
The body which is made up of five elements is weak and is bound to disintegrate.
It is a leather bag with nine holes and not something very strong and lustrous like a diamond.
From moment to moment it emits only foul smell and not fragrance.
Our body is an instrument. What for has this instrument been given? ‘Paropakaaraartham Idam Shareeram’ – This body has been given only to help the fellow members of the society. You should serve the society. Service alone leads to the blossoming of Divinity. Hence, you have to get rid of the impurities of the mind and sanctify your body by surrender to the Atmic principle. The adage, ‘Karmanubandhini Manushya Loke’, means that the human world is bound by Karma. All the activities have to be performed by the body. One should, through the deeds one undertakes, utilise the time in a pure way. When the time, deed, body and the reason for the activity are pure, the duty that is being discharged will be perfectly accomplished.
You should also understand the constraints and impact of time, country or the place where you are staying. Decorum and obedience are highly essential for all students. Respect your elders. Love your parents. Serve your teachers. Be friendly with your neighbours. With this unity comes purity. Divinity sprouts from purity. Without unity there is no purity. Absence of unity leads to enmity. You should not give scope to enmity at any point in time. There is a chance for developing humanness if one adheres to the principles of Yama and Niyama. It is enough if you observe the principles of non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy and non-acceptance. You should not hurt anybody. You should not cause pain to anyone. Try to contain and control, as long as possible, the sufferings of others. Never try to possess objects that belong to others. Pray to God if you want something. You have every right to ask from God. But never stretch your hands before anyone. This is the most important thing that students should remember. Depend on your capacity and strength. Depend on the good deeds that you are involved in. You should not be lazy. Laziness entails bad qualities. You should be ever engaged wok. Work, work, work! You should be desirous of accepting responsibility in working. Then our hearts will plunge into action and we can discharge our duties in a better way. With love for God and Divine thoughts, you should believe that life is pure.
Source: 'Yama And Niyama: The Twin Pillars of A Righteous Life', Discourse 8, My Dear Students Volume 4, Divine Discourse delivered on September 3, 1989 at Sri Sathya Sai Hostel, Prasanthi Nilayam
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