Saturday, September 30, 2000
Swami: (To Warden, Dr. Siva Sankara Sai) Make all the boys who know Vedam sit near the interview room.
(Those students who had already got Dhotis during the 70th birthday and those who are still in the initial stages of learning Vedam were seated separately. Swami called some students to get the red silk Dhotis and Angavastrams (the lower and upper dress to be worn during the Vedam procession in Dasara) from inside, and He distributed to all those who were seated there. Then, Swami told the students to chant ‘Mantra Pushpam’ (a Vedic hymn). Swami also chanted a few lines along with the students. Swami told them to chant the Mantra in Swasti.
(Editor’s Note: According to Swasti chanting, the group divides itself into two halves and each group chants one verse, and the other group the next one, alternatively. It is one of the types of group Vedam chanting, and is very useful when the Vedam chanting is to be done for long hours. While collectively all the Mantras are chanted; each group effectively ends up chanting half of the total hymn.)
After some time, Swami again changed the sequence. Next, He asked the boys to chant ‘Chamakam’ (a Vedic hymn to Lord Rudra praying to Him to shower different boons on all humanity). After a while, Swami asked the students to stop, and asked some students to chant individually. Few of them found it difficult to chant.
Swami: (Swami asked the Vedam teachers to chant. After that, He asked a Primary School student to chant. He asked the student which class he was studying in. Then, Swami asked some of the Institute boys) Which class?
Student: II M.Sc., Swami.
Swami: (To two other students, Swami asked the same question, for which they replied II M.Sc. and M.Tech. Swami mentioned their classes to the senior devotees sitting there. To a student) What is M.Tech.?
Student: Master of Technology, Swami.
Swami: Not ‘tricknology’?
(Swami told the Warden, Dr. Siva Sankara Sai, to call some of the School students for chanting. Thereafter, a School and an Institute student gave a speech. At the conclusion of the speech, the student said, “Thank you, Swami.” Swami immediately said…
Swami: Do not mention it. Small boys have discipline, respect, manners, and humility. But when they become big, all these go away.
(To students) Who is a man? One with manners is a man. Who is a boy? Boy is the one with good behaviour.
(To a student) Who is man?
Student: One with manners, Swami.
Swami: The proper study of mankind is man. There should be unity in thought, word and deed. Manasyekam, Vachasyekam Karmanyekam Mahatmanaam; Manasanyat, Vachasanyat, Karmanyanyat Duratmanam (The one with unity in thought, word and deed is a noble one. The one whose thought, word and deed are not in untiy is a wicked one). What is the meaning of Duratmanam?
Student: Swami, wicked person.
(Swami spent a lot of time with the Vedam students. During the last week of this month, there was an International Conference on ‘Education in Human Values’. Many academicians, educationalists, teachers, and others participated in the conference. There were few members from UNESCO and education ministers of other countries who also participated. During this conference, Swami gave His Divine Discourses on three occasions.)
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