Thursday, February 24, 2005
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| The new Vice Chancellor - Sri Anil Gokak with Chancellor Sri Sathya Sai |
In a function held in the Institute Auditorium on 24th February 2005, at Prashanti Nillayam, Sri Anil Vinayak Gokak (son of the first Vice Chancellor of the Institute - Prof. Vinayak Krishna Gokak) took over from Sri S.V. Giri, as the 7th Vice Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning.
On 24th morning, Bhagavan was offered a traditional welcome with Poorna Kumbham at the Institute at 8.00 am. Sri S.V. Giri, the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the Institute, welcomed Bhagavan and introduced Sri A.V. Gokak, IAS (Retd.). Sri Sanjay Mahalingam, Ph.D student of the Institute and Sri Gokak addressed the gathering. Bhagavan then delivered His Benedictory Discourse. He said:
“It is your good luck and fortune. You will certainly realise this because, right from the inception of this University you have had many distinguished, eminent, prominent Vice-Chancellors and faculty members. The first Vice-Chancellor of this University was Prof. Gokak. It is the seed sown by him that has sprouted into a mighty, gigantic tree that has won immense reputation and esteem.
Sri Sathya Sai University Will Lead the Whole Country
I am unable to express in words the fortune and good luck of the students of this University. I am very happy noticing the University and the wonderful things you have been through all along. In future you will find this University attaining and reaching greater heights and in fact it will be the leader for the whole country. There may be some ignorant people who begin to doubt the statement, feeling how is it possible that a University from a rural background can be a leader. People may think in their own way. But this University is bound to be illustrious and glorious. It will also give wider opportunities to people to know their own talents, their own skills. You are thinking of this University from the academic point of view only. You view this University from the point of academic excellence and textual information. This is not merely an educational institution. We don’t have to set our limits as that of an educational institution only. This University will proceed further as to reach the heights of Educare and enjoy and share with the people the profundity, the depth and the insight of the Self, the Atma, the Spirit. The education is external, merely limited to writing and reading, but underlying is the undercurrent, the fundamental principle of Educare. Very soon you will know Educare in this University.
Educare has already made its beginning there in Delhi. Experts, scholars, lawyers, administrators, emancipators of education have associated themselves in the process of Educare. It is not that it is going to be an individual achievement, but at the same time the capacities and the abilities of the individual also come into view. You may find an element of pride in education, but not in Educare. Educare wants everyone to be humble with a sense of discrimination, endowed with wisdom. Why do you feel proud of being educated? Of all the educated lot in the world, what fraction do you have? Never be egoistic for all the learning you have. It is true education if it helps to render service to society. Infact the good and bad are fostered and they prevail because of the society.
It is the human behaviour that decides ultimately what is good and what is bad. From the worldly point of view, we may distinguish good and bad, but both then happen to be the creation of the same God. Therefore knowledge being the creation of the Divine cannot be distinguished into good and bad. Why do you feel proud of your scholarship? Of all, you know only a fraction, a segment. It is only humility which is a jewel to an educated man. Humility is the essence of education. Humility must be reflected in our conduct and behaviour and it should not be simply limited to verbal or vocal expression.
The Story of Abraham Lincoln
The light of spirituality which is beyond comprehension and description lies within. The Americans, the British, the Japanese, Germans consider their achievement due to individuals. All the achievements are due to the tender-hearted, sacred-minded youth, youngsters and students.
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| Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865); 16th President of USA |
What was the qualification of Churchill? He was the Chief of the Army. He went on encouraging everybody. Such people who encourage others to proceed in the right direction are responsible for the advancement of the strength of the nation. The topmost dignitary, the American President; what was his qualification? While he was young, his mother had taken care of him. Because of poverty, she had to maintain the family working as tailor stitching worn out clothes. That son became the President of America. His name was Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln while sitting on the lap of his mother went on feeling sad, sharing with his mother, the thought that he was disrespected and put to shame by his classmates. The other classmates were wearing prestigious dresses. And Lincoln could not afford the costly dresses. As he was wearing old, dirty dresses he was not accepted by his classmates and they maintained their distance from him. Though people had isolated him, because he enjoyed the benediction and blessings of his mother, he could reach great heights in life. It was his mother who said to him that poverty, though cheap in the sight of the public, will finally one day help him gain respect. Always speak the truth unmindful of your financial position. And because of her advice Lincoln became very famous in later times. Lincoln clearly declared, “You may disrespect me, but the truth cannot be disrespected. The truth will be triumphant. I proceed on the path of truth and my mother is my ideal”. Infact those people with the blessings of their mothers, happen to be leaders of different countries. Infact such good and noble mothers are present in this land of Bharat. But today we do not find such people who encourage their children inspite of their conditions. However in the recent times, we do have some noble mothers. The parents because of their love for their son sacrifice everything. This is ultimately responsible for the esteem and prestige earned by their son. Infact Lincoln used to proceed to school, after rendering salutations to his parents. While all other friends used to proceed in groups, he used to walk all alone. It is humility that makes you deserving and affluent and eventually helps you attain Divinity. Therefore humility is most important. We should always respect and revere our parents and consider this education as their gift. It is for that reason that since ancient times people have been speaking very highly of parents. The scriptures declare Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava, Acharya Devo Bhava, Atithi Devo Bhava (Mother is God, Father is God, Teacher is God, Guest is God) and Truth is God; follow the path of righteousness. There are many people who have attained and achieved these values.
Respect Your Parents
Students! Your parents are responsible for all the education you are receiving here. They undergo so many sufferings to educate you. They pay your fees. At times for this they may even have to fast. But in our University there are no fees, whatsoever. Everything is available to you totally free of charge. Sports is free. There are no examination fees. We do not collect even a single naya paisa. Therefore it is important on your part to bring a good name. You should emulate the example of Lincoln. You should be as great as that person. That is true education. Your education begins with respecting your parents. We should foster the patriotic spirit and uphold national values. To maintain the prestige of the family, we should revere our parents. You can be a true student only if you are humble, only if you are obedient, only if you respect your parents. You should not be artificial; you should not simply do these things to win the praise and acclaim of the people around.
Students! What you need is humility. Students with humility and obedience will progress in their career. Such students are needed today. We have good lot of such of students here. They did not have a scope to express these values earlier. I have now willed to give them a number of chances in the future, so as to manifest all the values latent in them. You should demonstrate to everybody that humility and obedience are of prime importance.
Get a Good Name
You think that securing ranks and getting first class is all that you should be proud of. No. Do not limit yourself to being a rank holder. You should make every effort to be true to yourself, true to your heart. Many people as they are affluent, go abroad. You should be prestigious right here in your own motherland. I will never be happy if you humiliate your own country and get a good name abroad.
Students! I am very happy in the company of you students. You are also equally ecstatic in the company of Swami. You are getting good name because of this intimate association with Me. I am ready to give you whatever you want. I am ready to sacrifice My Life for your sake. Get a good name. Be humble and obedient and uphold the national prestige. The national prestige depends on morality. Without morality, nationality will be in ruins. It is a true nation if it has got proper conduct and morality. Great people were always moral. In this world there are many educated people who use this education to earn money. Spiritual knowledge is not a commodity to be put on sale. It makes people closer to each other and win respect and esteem. That spiritual education is necessary today.
In future be prepared to sacrifice. Sacrifice does not mean giving up everything in life. No, you should get a good name in society where you are born and brought up. The position may bring you name today and once you are out of the position you lose it. But in spiritual field, the name you get will be eternal and permanent. Basing on this, it is said, Tyagenaike Amrutatwa Manashuhu (Sacrifice leads to Immortality)
Embodiments of Love! I am very happy in the midst of students. I am happy because we have students who Love Me 100%. And infact the real value lies in this Love. I am unmindful of the cost and the expenditure involved. There is no greater value than Love. See that this Love never diminishes. Never give any scope for ego. Humility is the breath of God. We should never waste our breath. In all humility and obedience, we should learn and acquire knowledge and serve the society.
We must make every effort to experience the Self, Dehi, the Indweller. Dehi is eternal. The Indweller has neither birth nor death, nor attachment, nor liberation. There are many people who concentrate on the Indweller, Dehi. You are Dehi, the Self not Deha, the body. Dehi is immortal. It has neither beginning nor end and the Indweller is verily Divine. The sustenance of life is because of God, not merely because you are taking care of the body. Body also has to be taken care of. Body is important to discharge your duties. You discharge your duty with this body going by the principle of Dehi, the Self and get a good name in this country. Students! Don’t have too much attachment to the body. To achieve success this body is also essential. Without this body you cannot accomplish anything. While taking care of the body, you should always keep in view the Self, Dehi and carry on your life sojourn.
In conclusion at every meeting, we should say, Loka Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu (Let the whole world be happy), because individual peace depends on the peace around. Therefore, we have to pray for world peace, so that we can be peaceful.”
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| Revered Chancellor Sri Sathya Sai felicitates the outgoing Vice Chancellor Sri S.V. Giri |
Bhagavan blessed Sri S.V. Giri with gold bracelets and Smt. Giri with a gold necklace. The students of the Brindavan Campus enacted a drama in Sai Kulwant Hall that evening. Bhagavan had group photographs taken with them.
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