“Ihamanu Sukhyimpa Hemataraka Vidya, Paramanu Sukhyimpa Brahma Vidya”:

One needs to acquire the secular knowledge to earn one’s livelihood, and one needs to imbibe the spiritual knowledge to earn divine bliss hereafter. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is one of the few educationalists of our times who not only professed this holistic principle of education but truly transformed these words into an institution for everyone to see, study and emulate. 

Bhagawan first started the Veda Pathashala at Prasanthi Nilayam in 1960s for teaching the Vedas and rejuvenating Sanathana Dharma. But He did not stop with that. He then founded the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning for conferring degrees in arts, humanities, sciences and management. Is this not an apparent contradiction, one would hasten to ask, that spiritual knowledge of the Vedas has been overlooked for promoting worldly knowledge? 

The answer is a resounding “No”. In fact, this misconception during the medieval ages may have probably contributed to India’s backwardness that we see today. We read in history books that India was very advanced in both spiritual and material sciences during the Vedic Age. We also read how Varahamihira, Aryabhatta, Shushruta and Charaka were highly knowledgeable in their field of science and were trailblazers for the entire scientific fraternity. 

Why could we then not build on our rich legacy and achieve quick advancements in science and technology? The answer probably lies in the following verses from Ishavasya Upanishad:

अन्धं तमः प्रविशन्ति ये अविद्यामुपासते  ।
ततो भूय इव ते तमो य उ विद्यायाꣳ रताः ।।

अन्यदेवाहुर्विद्यया अन्यदाहुरविद्यया  ।
इति शुश्रुम धीराणां ये नस्तद्विचचक्षिरे ।।

विद्यां चाविद्यां च यस्तद्वेदोभयꣳ सह  ।
अविद्यया मृत्युं तीर्त्वा विद्ययामृतमश्नुते ।।

“Into dense darkness they enter, who worship Avidya, into greater darkness, as it were, they enter, who worship Vidya. The results achieved through the worship of Vidya and Avidya are different from each other. One who knows Vidya and Avidya together crosses over death through Avidya and becomes immortal through Vidya.” [Source: Essays on the Upanishads by Swami Krishnananda, The Divine Life Society].

Therefore, one must realise that both secular and spiritual knowledge are essential to achieve the four Purushaarthas of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. They are like the two legs required to walk towards the ultimate destination. If one of the forms of knowledge is compromised in the interest of the other, then we lose balance, stumble and fall into material poverty and spiritual decadence. 

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba said, “Spiritual education is not a distinct and separate discipline; it is part and parcel of all types and levels of education. In fact, it is the very foundation on which a lasting edifice can be built. Secular and spiritual educations are like the two halves in the seeds of pulses; the germ that sprouts is in between; it is fed by both.”

As students of Bhagawan’s educational institutions, all of us are so fortunate that we could derive the benefit of the ‘Integral Education’ that the Supreme Lord Himself designed and administered through His institutions. As Bhagawan would always emphasise, we are not one, but three: body, mind and soul. Be it the Suprabatham, jogging, classes at the School/College, Vedam and Bhajan sessions at the mandir – all of these were carefully chosen and designed into the educational system, handcrafted by Bhagawan in all His love and wisdom. Every component of this wonderful system is equally significant, and they help mould the individual into a well-rounded personality possessing good character. Life at Bhagawan’s educational institutions is a synthesis of all forms of Yoga, steadily unravelling the truth of one’s identity with the Chancellor of the University, nay, the Universe!

Once Bhagawan asked me which course I was studying. When I replied, “Swami, B.Com”, promptly He responded, “Be calm!” I smiled admiringly at Bhagawan’s play of words. Only later, I realised its true importance. While His University conferred academic degrees, Bhagawan directly showered on us, His students, the precious pearls of wisdom from His subject: Adhyatma-Vidya Vidyanam!

We were blessed to imbibe both the Apara Vidya and the Para Vidya at the Lotus Feet of the Jagadguru.

N. Sudhindran B. Com (Hons.) in Brindavan, MBA in Prasanthi Nilayam, 1997 – 2002. He served in the Finance & Accounts Dept. of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust at Prasanthi Nilayam from January 2003. Swami blessed him to lead the Vedam chanting group in Mandir. Currently Head of Finance & Accounts at AMTZ (Andhra Pradesh Med Tech Zone Limited), Visakhapatnam.