Thou and That

Discourse of Sathya Sai Baba, Brindavan, 16 Mar 1972
Published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust
Web posted at Feb 17, 2002

Everyone engaged in teaching or learning or administering this institution, where these three processes are carried on, must try to know for what purpose they should be done and how best they can be done. After years of steady and impartial research, the sages of India have said that education has as its goal the realisation of the Aathma (divine self) and the manifestation of its inherent attributes of Sath-Chith-Aanandha (being, awareness and bliss). Apart from instincts, impulses, emotions and passions which man shares with the bests, he has some unique attributes like the urge to renounce and to serve, to attach himself to truth, and to cultivate the qualities of tolerance, and forbearance. The Sathya Sai Colleges are endeavouring to encourage the manifestation of these and related traits of the higher character, and thereby to re-establish the spiritual renown of India.

The very endeavour gives these young men a sense of joy and happy enthusiasm. You heard Sathish of the second year B.Com. class speak form his heart on the equanimity, peace and calm that the practice of the Saadhana of the constant presence of God has given him. The Aanandha the boys have will certainly inspire their parents, their kith and kin and others. The youth of India will turn towards the path leading to Aanandha with as much alacrity (or even more) as they are now evincing in moving along he path leading to anxiety, fear and destruction. Therefore, there is no room for despondency. When these students become teachers, the number who can voyage happily on an even keel through the turbulent sea of life will increase. Injustice, untruth, unrighteousness will all be recognised as disgraceful, demeaning social evils, instead of being tolerated as necessary evils. Truth, justice, love and peace shall soon return to earth.

The first Step in the lifelong Pilgrimage

The reorganisation of education is one of the many means towards this end. The foundation stone for the college buildings that was laid now by the governor of Mysore state is a step in this process, during which colleges engaged in preparing the new generation, on proper lines will come up in every state of India. This day is celebrated as Yugaadhi (Telugu New Year day), the beginning of a new era. Every era or span of time is called Yuga. The first Yuga according to the Puraanas was Kritha, when truth reigned supreme. Next the Thretha age or Yuga appeared - when the ideals of righteous living were upheld. In the Dwaapara Yuga that followed, the cleansing and sharpening of the intellect (Jnaanadheva thu Kaivalyam) in order to realise the reality was propagated as the means to save mankind. In this Kali Yuga, the paths of devotion, of righteous deeds and of the acquisition of wisdom are all declared equally effective, so that people of different dispositions and temperaments can have the fortunate chance of the truth being revealed to them.

Education must open these paths before the children. When the child is first initiated into the alphabet, this ceremony is called Akshara-Abhyaasa - Practice of the indestructible! Kshara is the material, objective, created, seen, and experienced. A-kshara is the non-material, subjective, creator, witness, experiencer. The letter A is the first step in this lifelong pilgrimage to the source of life, light and love, the divine, the truth. It is a pilgrimage that ends when the emerged is merged in that from which it has emerged, when 'Thou' realises that it is 'That', when 'Thwam' knows that it is 'Thath'. The story of billions of births and deaths is summarised in the three words 'Thath Thwam Asi'.

The true Guru is Thath ('That') and he reveals to Thwam ('Thou'), the fact of Asi ('art'). The true pupil is the Thwam thirsty for Tath and anxious to acquire the Asi wisdom.