Tuesday, October 28, 2003 to
Thursday, October 30, 2003
The Inaugural Session of the UGC Golden Jubilee Seminar of Vice-Chancellors at Prasanthi Nilayam
The University Grants Commission (UGC) Golden Jubilee Seminar of Vice-Chancellors on the them ‘Values Education and Ethics’ was hosted at Prashanti Nilayam at the request of the University Grants Commission, between 28th to 30th October 2003. Bhagavan, the Revered Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), inaugurated the seminar on 28th morning with His inaugural Address. The inaugural function was addressed by Dr. Arun Nigevekar, Chairman, University Grants Commission, Sri S.V. Giri, Dr. G. Venkatraman, and Justice Ranganath Mishra, former Chief Justice of India. The seminar was attended by 25 Vice-Chancellors from reputed universities across the country from Himachal Pradesh in the north to Kerala in the south and from Orissa in the east to Maharashtra in the west. Notably, the participating Vice-Chancellors represented women's universities, universities of distance education, deemed universities, agricultural universities, central and state universities spread across the length and breadth of India. Justice Malimath, former Chief Justice of Kerala High Court, Prof. V.S. Prasad, Director, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), senior officials of the UGC and the Higher Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, were the other invitees.
On the morning of 28th, Sri S.V.Giri started the proceedings with his address where he touched upon the concept of integral education at the SSSIHL which incorporates values in all aspects of learning. After Sri S. V. Giri, Dr. G. Venkataraman, former Vice-Chancellor of the SSSIHL addressed the audience on the crisis facing modern education and how to overcome it. He said that the power of morality was greater than any other power and that one need not feel diffident in talking about it and practicing it. The next speaker was Sri Arun Nigevekar, Chairman of UGC. He pointed out the inadequacy of mere Higher education and stressed the need for Values and Ethics. Sri Ranganath Misra, Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, speaking on the occasion agreed with the earlier speakers on the importance of values in education, right from the primary school level and prayed for the Grace of Bhagawan in bringing about this transformation.
Giving his inaugural address, Bhagavan said that the most important of all values is love and that the fundamental knowledge lies in asking oneself “Who am I?”. He said that contrary to popular belief spirituality is easy and one just needed to have faith to start with. He said:
"Today, a number of discussions and deliberations are being held in the field of education. First and foremost, we must try to recognize the true meaning of education. One may read all the available books and elucidate the meaning contained in these books. But, that does not entitle one to be called an educated person. There are several highly educated people today in the world. But, what transformation and discriminatory power have they achieved on account of their education? What benefit has accrued to the world on account of these so called educated people? None tries to understand and evaluate this aspect. It is only when an educated person looks inward that he will be able to realize the true meaning and philosophy underlying education. In contrast to this situation, people are applying their intelligence in worldly matters.
There are, however, some who enquire into the nature of Atma Tattwa. Realising the importance of an enquiry into the nature of Atma Tattwa, we have introduced this concept in the M.B.A. course in Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. The letters M.B.A. stand for understanding the nature of the mind (M), the physical body (B), and the Atma (A). It is easier to understand the nature of the mind and body. But, to understand the nature of the Atma is not that easy. No one can understand what Atma is. It has no form. It is pure consciousness. Even the educated people are unable to understand that the Atma Tattwa is consciousness.
Most of them are able to go up to the stage of conscious. Some others are able to reach the next stage of conscience. The sum and substance of all this is that man today is unable to understand the Atma Tattwa, The pure consciousness. It is only when one is able to understand the conscious, he can understand what conscience is. Again, it is only when, one is able to understand conscience, he can really understand the principle of consciousness. Thus all the three categories of conscious, conscience and consciousness are interlinked.
Dear Students! You may feel that spirituality is too abstract and not easily understandable. The Atma Tattwa cannot be understood and realized by merely developing material knowledge. In fact, Atma Tattwa is beyond the scope of material knowledge. It is transcendental. It is fundamental knowledge. It is at the base of all physical, material and secular knowledge...
You encounter several appointments (expectations) and disappointments in life. When you have an appointment, you will have a disappointment also when it is not fulfilled. Therefore, do not have appointments (desires) at all. Then, there is no scope for disappointment. Do not give importance to the form. In fact, your Atma Tattwa represents your true form. Do not confine Divinity to a particular name and form. The names like Rama, Krishna, Govinda are only names attributed by man to God. They are not innate. Not much of importance can be attached to them. However, one has to take a particular name in the initial stages of his spiritual quest. For instance, it is necessary to acquire different types of education. It is also necessary to realize the essence of all the education. That is, of course, the Truth. But how long? Until you experience that essence. Once you experience the essence of knowledge, even that vanishes. Hence, do not depend upon the name and form. Truth is Truth. That is the only Truth. It has no form. Love is God. Love has no form. Cultivate such Divine Love. God exists. There can be no doubt about it. If God does not exist, there is no scope for nature to exist. From an experience of Prakruti (Nature) emerges apprehension of Paramatma (the supreme self). From Paramatma, the realization of Para Tattwa (Supreme Reality) springs. That Para Tattwa is Atma Tattwa. Therefore, always love that Para Tattwa. Do not confine your love to the particular, which is always susceptible to change. Time permitting, I will delineate on this Prema Tattwa (Principle of Love) in greater detail. When students are able to understand the nature of this Divine Love, there can be no scope for disappointment. They are always engrossed in appointment and disappointment. Love has only a name, but no form. You can direct that love towards any form... There is Divine Love in you which has neither birth nor death. You direct your love towards that Divine Love. That love is always with you. If you cultivate such love, you will always remain as embodiments of love. Have firm faith in this Divine Love. Do not believe the worldly love, lest you should be deceived. The worldly love is like passing clouds. Such clouds come and go. They are not permanent. Love the eternal love. That is the Atma Tattwa. Love that Atma Tattwa. People who wish to enter the spiritual field and to know the path that leads to Divinity, please come to Me. I will explain. Do not be deceived by worldly love that causes only disappointment. Cultivate such type of love that will not cause disappointment. Pursue any type of education; but, understand the inner meaning of education. Then put it into practice, experience and enjoy that essence of that education. Do not be disappointed by directing your love towards all and sundry. Several students are being disappointed in that manner. In the end, they are unable to love anybody. That is not the right way. Love the principle of Love itself, which is Divine and Eternal. The more you love that Divine Love, the more it grows." The deliberations of the seminar were spread over seven business sessions in addition to the inaugural session on 28th October morning. Various themes related to the main topic were discussed. They included: Policy framework and operational model, integral approach to education and educational philosophy, science technology and value inculcation, management education and value orientation, service orientation and responsible citizenship, etc.
During the Evening Sessions in Sai Kulwant Hall
Every evening, all the delegates of the conference would assemble in the Sai Kulwant hall in the Divine presence when the summary of the day's deliberations would be read out to the vast gathering. On 28th and 29th, the Institute students gave presentations based on the curriculum of the Institute.
The Grama Seva Presentation by the StudentsThe presentation on 28th focused on the Grama Seva projects, was made by Sri G.S. Srirangarajan, Sri Jaipreet Singh, Sri Deepak Anand and Sri Sanjay Mahalingam. The 29th afternoon witnessed a multilingual presentations by Sri Shashank Shah, English; Sri Ranganath Raju, Telugu; Sri Jagannadan, Sanskrit; Sri Jagadish Chandra, Hindi; and Ms. Deepti Bhagya, English; all highlighting the glory of the Institute under the benign grace and guidance of Bhagavan, the Revered Chancellor of the Institute.
With Students from the Multi-lingual Presentations
On the evening of 30th October, the concluding day of the seminar, all the delegates once again assembled in the Kulwant hall in the Divine Presence. Prof.V.S.Prasad, the director of National Assessment and Accreditation Council, placed before Bhagavan the recommendations emerging out of the seminar deliberations. All the delegates felt that imparting human values in higher education was the need of the hour and came up with various suggestions on how to do it. Above all, they were unanimous in their appreciation of the SSSIHL and expressed gratitude to Bhagavan for giving them an opportunity to come to be in His Divine Presence. They said that the SSSIHL was a practical and ideal example of successfully imparting value education to students and recommended that it be declared as a 'National Centre for Excellence' in value education.
Prof. Jaya Shankaran, the Vice-Chancellor of Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Mahavidyalaya summed it up all in his eloquent speech when he said that it is from institutions like SSSIHL, that the country looked forward to future leaders. He said that the only solution of transforming all the 300 Universities was for Bhagavan to take those many multiple forms and guide each one of them personally. The Vice Chancellors expressed their unanimous view that the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning should be recognised as the National Centre of Excellence for Values Education.
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