Education for earning and education for living
Today, communicating through machines has become standard practice. It helps us feel that people who are physically far away are actually very close. However, when there is no heartfelt connection, even those who are physically close feel far away.
It is important to carefully listen to what others are saying. In the world we see and hear a lot of things. However, unnecessarily meddling in other's affairs often ends in disaster. It is essential to ruthlessly discriminate between information we need to know and information we do not need to know. A man was walking along the road when he heard someone repeating: "Thirteen… thirteen… thirteen..." The sound was coming from behind a high wall. Curious to know what was going on, he pressed his ear against a hole in the wall, upon which he was immediately bitten.
The man jerked his head away and screamed in pain. Instantly, from the other side of the wall, he heard the voice begin again: "Fourteen… fourteen… fourteen..." The wall was the outer boundary of an insane asylum. We are like this. We have developed the habit of communicating superficially and meddling unnecessarily. This needs to change. We must cultivate the habit of listening carefully to what others say. Once, there was a computer that could answer any question-science, history, geography, politics, art. People asked it about everything under the sun. In an instant, the correct answer would flash on the screen. Then a clever little boy came forward and asked: "Hello, Super Computer, how's it going? Are you doing well?" That was his question.
The computer screen blinked and then went blank. There was no answer. The computer that could answer every question in the world could not answer a simple question about itself. Most of us are like this. We lack awareness and knowledge about our own self. Education for earning a living and education for life are two different things. We learn to make a living in order to survive. We want to become an engineer or a doctor, and we go to college to study for that purpose.
But education for life is spirituality. Spirituality is understanding the nature of the mind and the nature of the world and then moving forward. It is not enough for us to master the language of machines. We must learn the language of the heart. For this, a spiritual foundation is essential. It is not enough for parents to give their children only wealth and luxuries. The wealth that they really need to impart to their children is culture and dharma. Even if a person buys the most expensive car and fills its tank with the highest grade petrol, a battery is needed in order to start the engine. Similarly, however much wealth and education children receive, it is the love and moral values learned from their parents that help them handle any circumstances life brings. The foundation of this is an open heart that is ready to give and receive love.
What the youth of today lack is proper judgment. Merely by dissemination of information, we cannot develop judgment. For this, we must develop faith in the cosmic power, the power beyond our mind and intellect. We should eliminate the egoistic notion that our life will become fruitful through mere human effort alone. We should bow down. Then this cosmic power will flow into us.
If we ask a guitarist or a singer where their music comes from, they will probably say, "From my heart." But, if we surgically open up their heart, will we find any music there? If they say that the music comes from their finger tips or their throat, would we find music if we searched in those places?
Then, from where does the music arise? It arises from a place beyond the body and mind. This place is the abode of Pure Consciousness, God. The younger generation should strive to understand and respect this power. Youth should be made aware of the importance of love, selfless service, humility and the necessity of giving back to society the fruit reaped from their success. For a householder, a CEO of a company or even a political leader, first one should know oneself. This is true strength. One should know and accept one's own faults, shortcomings and limitations, and try to overcome them. That is when a true leader is born.
