25th Annual Convocation 22 November 2006 Put Human Values Into Practice Sri Sathya Sai Baba 25th Annual Convocation Prasanthi Nilayam 22 November 2006 Today, man feels proud that he has mastered Since his house was far away, Tenali many branches of knowledge and studied a Ramakrishna decided to spend the night in his number of texts. But he does not try to under- brother-in-law's house. When he was pro- stand the essence of education. Nowadays, vided with a comfortable bed for the night, learning is limited only to physical and Ramakrishna refused to sleep on it. He said, worldly aspects, and moral, ethical, and spiri- “I have to think of an answer to a question put tual aspects are left out. Today, parents make by the king by tomorrow morning. A bed like strenuous efforts to provide education to their this is sure to put me to sleep in no time. So, children. But nobody is trying to know the provide a cot for me in the cowshed.” real meaning of education. People think that those who can speak eloquently and have As he was lying on the cot, at one o'clock in studied a number of books are highly edu- the night, one of the cows in the shed gave cated. But the fact is that it shows just knowl- birth to a calf. Ramakrishna called out to in- edge of the alphabet and nothing else. Mere form his brother-in-law about this. His knowledge of the alphabet cannot be called brother-in-law wanted to know which cow education. Besides knowing the letters, one had given birth, since he had given different has to know the meaning of the words and the names to his cows like Lakshmi, Saraswati, sentences constituted by them. Radha, etc. He asked Ramakrishna, “Ye aav ra bava (Oh brother-in-law! Which cow is Having realised this truth, King Krish- that)?” When Ramakrishna heard this, his joy nadevaraya convened a big assembly. He knew no bounds since he had found an an- posed a question to all the assembled poets swer to the king's question. So, he repeated and scholars. Also present in this assembly the phrase again and again. His brother-in-law were eight renowned poets of his court, thought that Ramakrishna was behaving in known as ashta diggajas. They were: Allasani this strange manner due to lack of sleep. Peddana, Nandi Thimmana, Madayyagari Mallana, Dhurjati, Ayyalaraju Ramabhad- Next morning, Ramakrishna went to the royal rudu, Pingali Surana, Ramarajabhushanudu, court and found that no one else had the an- and Tenali Ramakrishna. Krishnadevaraya swer to the question. All others were con- wanted to know who among them was the vinced that it was not possible to frame such a best. He wanted them to frame a meaningful sentence. “Ye Aav Ra Ba Va. This is the an- sentence consisting of five letters, each letter swer,” he said. Everyone was intrigued. Then having the same meaning in five different he explained, “Ye” in Marathi, “Aav” in languages. “Whoever comes out with an an- Hindi, “Ra” in Telugu, “Ba” in Kannada, and swer to this question by tomorrow morning “Va” in Tamil convey the same meaning, i.e. will be suitably rewarded,” he declared. "come". All five languages were represented in this sentence. 1 25th Annual Convocation 22 November 2006 In this manner, one should know the meaning of every letter. People today read many books He who contemplates on the all-wise, ageless without knowing the real meaning of the Being, the ruler of all, subtler than the sub- words. But, in ancient times, people knew the tle, the universal sustainer, possessing a meaning of every letter that they studied. form beyond human conception, refulgent like the sun, and far beyond the darkness of Pleased with the answer, Krishnadevaraya ignorance, presented to Ramakrishna a bundle of gold He reaches verily that supreme divine Purusha. coins and precious diamonds. Ramakrishna (God). was happy to receive the precious gift from Today, people try to know the meaning of the king, but he was worried how he should sentences without trying to know the meaning safeguard it. Therefore, he asked the king for of letters and words that constitute the sen- two bodyguards so as to carry the bundle tences. Even the preceptors today give only safely to his house. Accompanied by the the worldly meaning of the sentences, but bodyguards, he carried the bundle safely to none gives the moral, ethical, and spiritual his house. import of the sentences. It is the responsibility On reaching home, the thought of keeping the of teachers to disseminate the knowledge per- bundle safe in the house caused him a lot of taining to moral, ethical, and spiritual princi- worry, since he did not have any iron safe. ples. That is true education. Today, students His wife came and saw the bundle. At that pursue their studies, but if you ask them what time, Tenali Ramakrishna noticed two they are doing, they reply, “Chaduvu- thieves, who had followed him all the way kontunnamu,” which also means, “We are and were now hiding in the backyard of his buying education.” That is no education at all. house. Then he told his wife that he was go- We have to know the meaning of every letter, ing to drop the bundle of gold coins and pre- every word, and every sentence and act ac- cious stones into the well in the backyard of cordingly. his house for its safety. He spoke loudly so Despite acquiring all this worldly knowledge, that the thieves could overhear him. Instead of one has to meet one's end, which is inevitable. putting the bundle of precious gems in the One should acquire that knowledge which well, he actually put a bag of stones in it. makes one immortal. It is the knowledge of All through the night, the thieves kept on five human values, namely, sathya (truth), drawing water out of the well in expectation dharma (righteousness), santhi (peace), of getting the bundle of gold coins and pre- prema (love), and ahimsa (nonviolence). The cious stones. All their attempts proved futile. first one is sathya. Truth is deathless. Truth is They left the place at daybreak. Tenali one, not two. Dharma is eternal. Santhi is the Ramakrishna was happy to save the precious source of bliss. Next is Prema. Right from a bundle from the clutches of thieves, and in the child to an old person at the verge of death, process they had poured adequate water in his everyone is endowed with love. But love has fields. no death. The last, but not the least is ahimsa. Where is the death for ahimsa? Buddha One who knows the meaning of every letter, propagated this principle. He declared: every word, and every sentence is a true poet. Ahimsa paramo dharma (nonviolence is the Tenali Ramakrishna was one such great poet. highest dharma). Knowledge and practice of Kavim Purana Manushasitaram Anoraniyam- these five principles is real education. samanusmaredya, Sarvasya Dhataramachintyarupam Adityavar- Speak truth, follow the path of righteousness, nam Tamasa Parastat. and experience peace. Share your love hap- 2 25th Annual Convocation 22 November 2006 pily with all and lead your life with nonvio- daily life. It is only by practising these five lence. This is the essence of education. These principles that you can know them, not are the five main human values, which should merely by reading or writing about them. Any be propagated in the world. They are eternal knowledge that is not put into practice is no and immortal. Today, we run after all that is knowledge at all. Put into practice at least one perishable, ignoring that which is immortal. or two principles in your life out of all that you have learnt,. Only then will your life be The President of India has told you many im- redeemed and you will acquire merit. Only portant things. You can achieve great heights then, you would have followed the right path. if you put his teachings into practice. Every human being is endowed with these five val- You have heard many things from Me and ues. If we promote these five values, we be- Kalam. What is the use of all your listening if come God. you do not put anything into practice? It is your rare fortune that you have got the oppor- The Vedas declare: Tat Twam Asi (That Thou tunity of listening to such sacred talks. Make Art). This profound statement of the Vedas the best use of the opportunity and attain the contains the essence of all knowledge. There- goal of your life. fore, these five human values have to be in- culcated in everyone right from childhood. Lord Krishna declared in the Bhagavadgita, When you rely on truth, you can achieve any- Mamaivamsho Jivaloke Jivabhuta Sanathana thing in life. Daivam manusha rupena (God is (the eternal Atma in all beings is a part of My in human form). God is not separate from Being). You are all sparks of Divinity. You man. All are the embodiments of Divinity. are not mere mortals. You are not separate The same principle of the Atma is present in from Me. Being an aspect of My Divinity, all. But it assumes many names. Develop self- you should conduct yourself accordingly. Do confidence. Face all difficulties with self- not waste your time in vain gossip. These five confidence. Whomsoever you see, consider values have originated from God. him as your own reflection. God is beyond all Wherever you see, there is the principle of attributes and actions.