True education does not limit one to serve only one’s slefish ends; it elevates one to serve others. Paroparakara Punyaya Papaya Parapeedanam(One attains merit by serving others and commits sin by harming them). Wherever you see today, you find only selfishness.

Modern education is steeped in utter selfishness. It is only when man transcends his self-interest can he acquire true education and purity of heart.

Character is most important in the life of man. Truth and righteousness is the foundation of charecter. Sathyannasti Paro Dharma (There is no dharma greater than adherence to truth). The mansion of righteousness rests on the foundation of truth. If the very foundation of truth collapses, there can be no righteousness. Hence, truth and righteousness are the two most important limbs of a human being. Where there are truth and righteousness, there love manifests. Without truth, righteousness and love, there can be no peace. And there is little use of your positions of power and authority if you are without truth, righteousness, love and peace.

What are the qualities expected of a student? A

student should have good intellect, good character,

adherence to truth, devotion, discipline and duty. Only

those students who cultivate such qualities are eligible

to be called students in the real sense. One who acts

against these principles is not a student, but a stupid

being. You should not associate with such a person nor

should you call him a stupid person. Do not have any

relationship with such persons. You should hold on to your own good qualities which can ern you appreciation in the world.

Today, students are engaged in acquiring education. The education that they acquire is only secular education and not spiritual education. In fact, only spiritual education is true education. One should acquire spiritual education since it gives the knowledge of God. Secular education merely enables a person to eke out a living and thereby maintain himself and his family. The end of education is Charecter. Devoid of charecter, everything else is useless. Unfortunately, today we have distanced ourselves from this sacred goal of education. Of what use is it to acquire such an education which does not help one to attain its goal? Modern education enables one to acquire merely worldly gains. But fulfilling

one’s physical requirements is not the be-all and end-all

of education. Besides catering to one’s worldly progress, it should help one to attain inner growth.

Education should enable one to cultivate goodqualities, character and devotion. There should be balance between worldly progress and inner growth. There should be unity between one’s thoughts and actions. Only when there is unity can one realise divinity.