SSSIHL XXII Convocation Discourse – 2003

Sathya and Dharma form the Foundation of Bharatiya Culture

This land of Bharat is the motherland of many great people whose name and fame spread to different continents. This sacred land was the battlefield wherefrom the foreign rulers were driven out and freedom from foreign rule attained. This land of Bharat acquired great name and fame for erudite scholarship.
(Telugu Poem)

Embodiments of Love!
Bharat has earned great reputation in all fields of human endeavour, be it material, spiritual, moral or ethical. It should be a matter of great pride for anyone to declare, “I am a Bharatiya.” Truly speaking, to be called a Bharatiya is in itself a great honour. Having earned this appellation, the citizens of this country should become role models for the rest of the world. It is really unfortunate that some people do not feel proud to be called Bharatiyas in spite of the fact that they are born in this sacred land of Bharat and have enjoyed its wealth, water and food. Many people born in this sacred land earned great name and fame. But, unfortunately, the Bharatiyas today are falling back instead of marching ahead with courage and determination. The culture of Bharat is renowned worldwide for its sacredness. It has demonstrated great ideals to the world in moral, religious and spiritual fields. Having taken birth in such a sacred land, how noble and upright a Bharatiya should be!

Glory and Greatness of Bharatiya Culture
Embodiments of Love!
The noble tenets of the culture of Bharat are widespread in every nook and corner of the country. These should be passed on from one generation to another. Every son of Bharat should live true to his name and bring glory to the motherland. He should uphold the prestige and honour of this country. But instead some are bringing bad name to the country. Even if you do not make any special efforts to bring good name to the country, its glory will keep on increasing day by day; it is enough if you lead your life in an ideal manner like a true Bharatiya.

Embodiments of Love!
Bharat is the crest jewel of all the nations of the world. Love is the very foundation of Bharat. It has demonstrated great ideals in all fields of life. One who forgets such a sacred land will surely bring himself to disrepute. Wherever you go, you should feel proud to proclaim that you are a Bharatiya. People with such spirit of patriotism and nationalism are very rare these days. Instead of bringing glory to the motherland, people are tempted to go to other countries. Forgetting their own motherland, they sing praises of others. You can very well imagine the fate of a person who forgets his mother. Mother and motherland are worthy of worship by one and all. Bharat is the land of the Vedas. The glory of Bharatiya culture cannot be described in words. You should make efforts to uphold this sacred culture and earn a good name for yourself. You should strain every nerve to uphold the culture of Bharat. But the Bharatiyas who are supposed to demonstrate ideals to others are failing in this regard. Since ancient times, Bharat has been demonstrating great ideals to all nations. The name and fame that Bharat earned has no parallels. Bharat is the centre of righteousness. It lays great emphasis on the principles: Sathyam Vada, Dharmam Chara (speak truth, practise righteousness). These great principles lend support and strength to this country as well as to others. Dharayati Iti Dharma (that which supports is Dharma). The culture of Bharat comprising such great principles is the sheet anchor of the entire world. It is unfortunate that the Bharatiyas themselves are disregarding these great principles today.

Bharatiya Culture Rests on Sathya and Dharma
Embodiments of Love!
Ancient Bharatiyas never craved for name and fame. They attained glory on account of their nobility. The culture of Bharat lays great emphasis on the spirit of sacrifice. Our ancients placed interest of the country above self-interest. They had no trace of selfishness in them. That is why their glory has not diminished a bit with the passage of time. They took refuge in righteousness. They considered truth as their life breath. Are we making any efforts to uphold the pristine glory of Bharat today? Days are rolling by but Bharatiyas are not striving for the uplift of the nation. Instead they are forgetting their own culture. He is a true Bharatiya who is prepared to sacrifice even his life for Dharma.

Bharat is the motherland of many great people who acquired name and fame in all the continents of the world. Bharat Matha (Mother India) was adorned with the garland of such righteous people. This garland is fading today. But the culture of Bharat will never fade with the passage of time. It is eternal and immortal. Ancient Bharatiyas adhered to Sathya and Dharma even in small matters. Sathya and Dharma were their guiding principles. That is why their lives continue to inspire people even after many generations and aeons. But today the Bharatiyas are running after money. How long will the money last? Money comes and goes, morality comes and grows. You can be called a Bharatiya only when you develop morality. Only those who adhere strictly to morality are fit to be the leaders of Bharat.

True Education Inculcates Selflessness
Students – Boys and Girls!
Remember always that your education is not merely to amass wealth or to eke out a livelihood. Money cannot confer true happiness on you. Do not deviate from Dharma for the sake of Dhana (money). Dharma is your life, truth is your breath, good reputation is your wealth. You should not crave for worldly name and fame. Once you practise Dharma, you will naturally attain good reputation. Dharma is related to the heart. Practice of Dharma is termed as Ritam which will make you immortal. But today we do not find anybody adhering to Ritam. Bharat has given birth to many great scholars, poets and men of sacrifice who demonstrated great ideals. We should always remember those who sacrificed their life for a noble cause and try to emulate them. It is the spirit of sacrifice that has protected and sustained this country for many ages and generations. Sacrifice is the Dharma of the Bharatiyas. You should be ready to sacrifice your life for the protection of Dharma and not for Dhana. Bharat is the birthplace of many noble persons who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Dharma. Thyagaraja said, Endaro Mahanubhavulu, Andariki Vandanamulu (there are many great souls; I offer my salutations to all of them). They never craved for name and fame. They led a life of Thyaga (sacrifice). Thyaga is true Yoga. You should practise this Yoga and become deserving of Divine grace.

Embodiments of Love!
Love is the eternal principle that is present in all. There is no human being without love. But man today uses his love for selfish purposes. Eschew selfishness and self-interest, develop the spirit of sacrifice and inculcate the qualities of courage and valour. How can you become courageous? It is possible only when you practise Dharma. Recognise this basic truth that education is not meant to earn money. It should develop the understanding of Manas (mind). Today wherever you see, money is given prime importance. Even music has become a business enterprise to earn money. The divine quality of music enraptures the heart. M.S. Subbulakshmi is a renowned musician of India. She never used music for earning money. She dedicated her music to uphold the glory of Bharat. Everyone should strive for the honour of the country. No doubt, there are many talented people today in the fields of music, literature and fine arts but they are using their talent to earn money. Modern man has become business minded. Music and other arts lose their true quality if they are used for business purposes. Instead of developing business acumen, man should develop the spirit of sacrifice through self-enquiry. Only then can there be a transformation of the heart. First of all, man should develop self-confidence. Where there is Self-confidence, there is Self-satisfaction. Where there is Self-satisfaction, there is Self-sacrifice. And, through Self-sacrifice comes Self-realisation. So long as you do not give up selfishness, you cannot achieve anything worthwhile in life. Fish is better than one who is selfish. Fish cleans the water in which it lives, while a selfish man pollutes the very society which nourishes him. Leave selfishness and cultivate selflessness. Only then can you earn a good name in society. Students today acquire the knowledge of many subjects. But all their education is useless if they do not give up selfishness.

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 worldly education if it cannot lead you to immortality? Acquire the knowledge that will make you immortal. (Telugu Poem)

Acquire the knowledge of the Self. Consider it as your very life. This knowledge is your true energy. But man is wasting his energy due to his selfishness and self-interest. Give up selfishness and self-interest. Only then can you be truly called the children of Bharat.

Aspire for Divine Love
Students – Boys and Girls!
Never become selfish in your life. Develop the spirit of sacrifice. Be prepared to sacrifice even your life for the sake of Sathya and Dharma. Today people are afraid to speak truth. Why should one be afraid of speaking truth? In fact, one should be afraid to utter falsehood. One who adheres to truth is always fearless. You become fear stricken when you do not follow the path of truth.

Embodiments of Love!
Consider love as your very life and truth as your breath. There is an intimate and inseparable relationship between love and truth. Today people talk of love without understanding its meaning. They use the term love for their attachment at mundane level. They are under the mistaken notion that worldly and physical attachment is love. True love is completely free from selfishness. It blossoms when man develops the spirit of sacrifice. Love is God, God is love. God is the embodiment of love. Love is the very form of Brahman. Connect your love with divine love. Intensify your love for God and sanctify your life. What man craves for is worldly love which is lifeless. He should aspire for divine love which is his very life.

Today there are many highly educated people in the world. But what is the help they are rendering to society? Practically nothing. They are acquiring high degrees just for their selfish ends and for earning money. Bereft as they are of any spirit of sacrifice, they do nothing to serve society. They even lack love for their country.

Embodiments of Love!
Students today are taking to wrong path in the name of love. They do not understand what true love is. Love is the eternal gift of God to every man. It should be utilised for the service of society and community. What is community? Unity is the basis of community. Where there is unity, there is community. This unity is possible when people share their love with others and serve the community selflessly.

Only Love for God is True Love
Embodiment of Love!
Love may appear to be a small word but it is pregnant with profound meaning. However, people use it in a cheap worldly sense. They keep saying, “I love you, I love you …” in a mechanical way without understanding its true meaning. True love presupposes that you are prepared to sacrifice all that is dear to you. Love for God is true love. Love is God, live in love. Try to understand the true nature of love. Do not misinterpret love in the worldly sense. You should be prepared to sacrifice your life for love. But today nobody is prepared to sacrifice his life for love. Rather people are ready to take others’ life to meet their selfish ends.

Students!
You might have acquired high educational qualifications. But all these will prove futile if you do not earn the love of God. Only God’s love is true and eternal. Worldly love is transient. It attracts you like a twinkling star for a moment and vanishes. Acquire divine love which is the fundamental principle of your life.

Students!
You should love all. All of you should live like brothers and sisters. All are the children of God. When you realise this truth, you will experience true love. You are born to different parents but the life principle in each of you is one and the same. Consider love as your life. Only then the knowledge acquired by you will be meaningful. If you forget love, your life itself will become meaningless. Live for the sake of love. Share your love with your fellowmen and become deserving of divine love. What you have to share with others is not worldly love. Worldly love is not true love. True love is related to the heart. Share divine love with one and all. What is this divine love? Divine love has no trace of selfishness in it. People talk of divine love but get intoxicated by the deep wine of worldly love. Love everybody without selfishness. You can attain the Divine only when you develop divine love. Lead your life spreading the message of love. Love is the goal of your life. Once you become the recipient of God’s love, you will be loved by the whole world. Such is the power of God’s love. Hence, always pray for His love.

Embodiments of Love!
Love God wholeheartedly. Love God, live in God. Only then can one be called a true student. Otherwise one is not a student but stupid. Do not harbour cheap worldly love. True love is heart to heart and love to love. Do not have love for money. Money comes and goes. Love is not related to material things either. It is related to the heart. Fill your heart with true love. The heart bereft of love becomes dry and barren. Keep your heart always pure and fresh with love. I am prepared to do anything for you if you develop true love. I am ready to sacrifice even My life for you. Therefore, develop true love more and more.

Students!
What is Vidya (education)? It is not merely the study of matter. True education provides the learners the experience of effulgent love. No other light can match the effulgence of love. Hence, develop love, Bangaru! Only then will your education be fruitful. Knowledge is God’s gift. It should be shared with others.

Embodiments of Love!
Love is your life. Love is your goal. The Bhagavad Gita also lays great emphasis on the principle of love. Having studied here for a long time, you should fill your life with love. You have immense love for Me. It cannot be described in words. Love others as you love Swami. Give Me your love. Take My love in turn. There is no trace of body attachment in Me. Doctors said they would perform surgery on Me. I told them, “You can do whatever you want. I am not the body. This body is yours.” Your love becomes worldly in nature when you have body consciousness. You should develop such love which transcends body consciousness. Only then can you understand the eternal truth. When you truly experience divine love, you will not lead a worldly life. Your love will then flow incessantly towards God.