August 22 discourse

Swami was very keen to see us today morning. he wasted no time in coming to the point and "hammering on our wavering minds". Well, it's not the hammering that teachers give to us, but one that is unique, for it shapes our mind to be steady and ultimately transforms our character.Here are many of the points that He spoke of:

"today, this meeting is concerned with business management. what is business? it's not mere transaction, exchange etc. it means the entire world

• everything in this world follows an expected procedure. our students should fully realise what's expected of them in every field
• man has 5 senses. all are constantly engaged in business. every limb follows business. a true manager is one who makes proper use of 5 senses
• reading books, studying forex, comparing foreign and indian environment is not business mgmt. Indian business is unique. you must compare deha with desha and then understand business. foreign business is based on domination and power. do not imitate them. you must design your business model based on feeling, needs, etc of this land.
• true business comprises understanding of caste, culture and country. Today, some have given up caste. but do not give up culture. what is culture? adherence to the path of tradition laid before us is culture. it's not possible to give up culture. Human activity is a blend of these three.
• culture is not obtained from relations but can be adhered through discrimination. Heart is the basis. out of discrimination, u can face changes and trasformations in environment. today, absence of discrimination has resulted in perversions. Since culture is spoilt, the country has become weak. it leads to questionable behaviour. Today, each (political) party has its own doctrine, principles etc. therefore country is weak. the best results will come only if there's unity.
• when Swami was 11 years, a certain Hanumanthappa, a communist came to Swami and requested him to compose a song for his party. the song went like this: a child was crying, mother got a swing and a rubber toy and said, "my child don't cry, people won't call you brave.men and women will together fight for independence. (it was a time when Germany was at war with russia). child, don't cry, to kill Hitler, there's the Red army lead by Stalin." the next day after this composition by Swami, Hitler died
• Since a long time, people have run after different fashions to become modern. From moustache to apparel, they haven't spared anything. these fashions are like passing clouds.
• like this,there are changes in education today. Arjun Singh has many plans. he wants to try many permutations and combinations (of science and commerce disciplines) and introduce inter-disciplinary courses. but there aren't enough qualified teachers to teach them. when teachers are good, students will also be good. So, do not run after these changes.
• because of changes in diet, we fall sick.Earlier things were made of clay (pot). Now, we use stainless steel utensils. Plastic bags, plates etc which are non-degradable cause soil pollution. Similarly, junk food causes food pollution. Thus we see that changes have resulted in pollution of various kinds. Therefore, in the field of education, do not change or imitate the west.
  
• You experience Ananda here. understand that this ananda will follow you in future too. Future is based on past. Do not worry of the future. Past is past. The present is omnipresent. Follow the present.
• Only the Sathya Sai University has got its curriculum based on the present. Do not change this system of education. It will ensure you a bright future.
• Help ever hurt never. Never hurt anyone. Thinking of the past, we ruin the present. Right now, you are in a perfect study mind. Earlier, it was dirty mind. Change in man is because of the mind. Parents also do not understand this truth. Our students came up in life in the present. They are ideals to the world. In present there is “less luggage and more comfort”
• Present means you are there in the classroom. Otherwise you are marked absent. (taken at face value, this statement very relevant to us students as we bunk so many classes. and lack of attendance results in promotion problems). Thus being present is important.
• Elders feel bad that the past days were good, young respected the old, showed courtesy. but the present (situation) is bad. People do not follow the righteous path of their elders. Today there’s no purity or unity but only enmity. Therefore, give u the six vices of kama, krodha,etc….. oly then will there be unity.. Bose was driven out of India because of this enmity and selfishness. But wherever he went he served the society and always thought of motherland.
• Instead of earning Rs 10000 abroad, it’s better to earn even Rs 1000 here. Out of Rs 10000, you have so many expenses like rent, food etc. Thus life abroad is difficult. Even a banana is costly, it costs 10 Rs! How can you afford all that and take care of your children? But you want to strain yourself and go abroad. Swami hasn’t gone abroad.
• Swami went to Africa , but only for a short while. He saw wildlife there. It was very beautiful. The animals were so majestic. The elephants there had he ears, all the mosquitoes would get blown away when those ears would flap! But those animals were harmless. They also have values. They don’t hurt you unless you intend to hurt them. Swami fed fruits to the lions. But the animals wanted more! Swami told them He shall give the next day. Animals react based on feelings. Yad bhavam tad bhavati.
• Have the feeling “I’ve studied in this great University, keep the flag flying high. To get a good name join good company. As is the company, so you are.
• The MBA boys spoke very well yesterday. Swami was touched by their talk. All of you should be good boys. Even a gold may lose its value, but goodness doesn’t. Maintain your goodness.
• First, you must have aatmavishwas. Radha, Dhruva, etc all had good thoughts, so they met with good results. People with faith in God will never fail in life. Where there’s faith, there’s love: where there’s love there’s Atma. All are formless. Love is God, live in love. Truth is God. Recognise this fundamental truth.
• Never lose faith. It is the basis of life. Have total faith. He then narrated the story of Ramdas which had the lesson of faith)
• Foreigners have so much faith and confidence. Inspite of a lower standard of life here and many troubles, they have chosen to settle here. Without self confidence and discrimination, there’s no use of vast knowledge gathering. Self realization starts with discrimination. Discrimination leads to self satisfaction.
• You are all pure gold. But sometimes, clouds do appear. Do not get carried away by the passing clouds. Be steady. Study to be steady. Preserve all this in your mind. There’s nothing great about going abroad. Money comes and goes, morality comes and grows. It is not merely the currency notes, but their use that is important. BE HAPPY.