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Learning, education and change

A satsang discourse on the essence and purpose of true education.

"What is missing in the whole of education is love. This connection is love."

"Education is the life where there is no stress. Education is what makes a human human."

The lecturer addresses the assembly, critiquing modern education for lacking love and creating stress. He advocates for an education centered on self-knowledge (Ātmajñāna), using personal anecdotes like teaching mathematics through play and the example of the Jadan school. He contrasts this with a system that severs children from parents too early and prioritizes greed over harmony, concluding that the language of love is the ultimate education.

Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic

The type of education we are learning about here is education about ourselves. This education begins from a child's birth. After a few years, children go to nursery school because their parents must work and someone needs to care for them. This kind of education is, in one sense, important for children to grow up, to become separate from their parents, and to start thinking for themselves. But what is missing in the whole of education is love. What is missing in the entire educational process is love. When a professor lectures on any subject—be it mathematics or music—children cannot understand if there is no connection between them. This connection is love. Once, I was asked to teach a mathematics class to a fifth-grade primary school class. They were learning about circles and angles, and I wanted to say something about the number pi, a kind of universal constant. After fifteen minutes, I said to myself, "You don't know anything." I started to improvise. I had prepared very seriously for that lecture for almost a month. I had respect for the students. They began to ask me questions, and I realized I should answer them. From that moment, everything turned to the sunny side. They started raising their hands. The professor observing said I had broken five or six pedagogical rules because the children came in front of me, not sitting in their chairs. We were drawing on the floor. Finally, we were cutting oranges and eating oranges. Everything was mathematics. The idea was to understand the circle and how to measure the angle. After this play, which was governed by I don't know whom, they realized for themselves what the number pi was. I started to think: how could I start doing that at the university? I couldn't do it. I still don't know how we can make students think about themselves and experience that field. Ultimately, they are blocked somewhere very early on. This kind of education we are supporting in Jadan is, in my opinion, what I think must be good education. They are guided by love. You have all seen the photos of students in Jadan. They are smiling, they are happy. They are not asking, "Give me a five, please. I want a five. I don't need to know, but I want to have a five, the best grade." They don't just ask for a good mark; they ask about knowledge. Perhaps in the future, this kind of education will spread or come here. I think all of us have the basic knowledge to start that. We should support this school with all our heart, with our knowledge and our love. And how to support it? It should be organized in one way: a kind of hierarchical structure. We have accounts in Vienna and Hamburg. We experimented in Slovenia and Croatia by making one person in each āśrama responsible for the Gyān Putra project. This person is responsible for spreading information, answering questions, and collecting donations. This experiment in Croatia and Slovenia is almost six or seven years old, and we have good results. I think we should spread this to all Yoga in Daily Life societies. If you have any other ideas, you are welcome. A few words about those students in India. This is a school in a small village. Recently, in a bigger competition in Rajasthan, they placed their results at the top, almost at the very top. So this is a school with no tradition, like Cambridge for instance, but in a few years they are obtaining great results. These results are visible, but many more results will manifest in their lives and in how they teach their children. Thank you for listening to me. Thank you so much. So that's it, you know? Now I realize why I have so many chocolates while teaching. The professor had oranges for his students, and I have something also. So, education. Education is not only for humans. We can see education in nature too. When we observe nature, we also learn something. In Hungary, where we will be very soon—in one month, from the 14th of August, I think a three-week summer retreat will be there—I am looking forward to that. Especially at that time, Mother Nature is very gracious to us, and especially in Hungary, the Hungarian paprika is world-famous, along with fruits, vegetables, and so on. And the people also. So you are most welcome to arrange your time to come to Hungary. You can register through our webcast, Yoga in Daily Life. Můžete se nahlásit skrze internetové stránky, skrze webkást Yoga in Daily Life. A Maďarská Unie Jógy v denním životě vám pomůže. Now, in Vép, there is an agricultural school. Vép is a small village like Střílky, and you know, thanks to Mahāprabhujī, the Mahāprabhu Deep Satsaṅg Foundation, and Yoga in Daily Life, today Střílky is a worldwide known village. Over 185 countries receive several webcasts from Střílky. Many are wondering, what is Střílky? Yes, Střílky has become a world champion. So, I think we have to make a ten-minute nice video about the cultural background of Střílky, everything, you know. We could make a 10-minute video about the cultural heritage of Střílky. Similarly, in Vép, in the Hungarian Republic, the biggest city is called Sombathely, where we have had programs for the last 10 to 15 years, and that is also well known around the world now. Once I was sitting in a transit lounge at an airport, and someone was asking where I'm living and what I'm doing. It was in Singapore. I said, "Yes, Yoga in Daily Life, there, there, there." I said Hungary is that way. There is one city called Vép. I said, "Yes. In 1983, I was in Japan." I told them, "I'm living in Austria." A few Japanese people who were sitting there didn't know. Then one asked, "Is that Mozart?" Yes, I said, yes, Mozart, Salzburg. So how does a country become known? Through some person, culture, and so on. So in Vārāṇasī, I was sitting in my room, looking out the window. Outside on the window ledge, one bird made a nest out of clay. Do you know what you call this bird? The swallow. We are talking about education. I have not forgotten, no? Don't tell me Swamijī went to the side of the road. The mother bird comes and flies, sits outside on the nest, then went in. One baby, whose wings were not yet fully developed, put its backside half out and did its things outside. You see, the mother was teaching the small baby not to make inside the nest, but outside. So you may observe this: in a bird's nest, the ducks also teach their children swimming. So education is in nature. In the trees, there is education. Every tree learns how to behave with other trees, and trees are capable of living in harmony and peace, though there are many of them—but not humans. We humans still do not have that education. So, education is everywhere. Now, for humans, education has become a little different. The first thing for humans is this: to know that the aim of my life is self-realization, God-realization. It means nothing is yours. What you say is "mine" is your ignorance. And what is given to you is not yours. But in present education, we are learning "my." And this word has created great conflict among humans. Therefore, the main aim is centralization, to know the truth. Education is knowledge, many different kinds of knowledge, but the best knowledge is called Ātmajñāna—knowledge of the Self. There are many religions, but the highway or the measure of religion is known as Sanātana Dharma. So in human education, as Lakṣman Purī told us, the students need love, and the master must have love too. Many times we have problems, and we think we will try, and we will overcome, and we will try. It will never be. You will make the same mistake again and again. Therefore, it is said: change your thinking. And if you change your thinking, there comes renunciation. Quit it, but not with ahaṅkāra, not with ego, not with anger. Things which you renounce with ego, one day, that will become your sorrow. Or what you give as support or help with this pride that you are doing, has not become a donation or a help. One day, that will become a sorrow for you. You will be sorry for that. There are certain feelings that come out, and you come to competition. That's why, from time to time, you hear some pictures or something was sold for so many millions at an auction. So one said, "Let's begin it." Begin with five million dollars. Others said 5.2. A third said 5.2 and a half, and so it's increasing and increasing—a verāgī competition. And many rich people come, and one said twenty million. Others think, "What does he think? He's rich?" I took fifty million, and it... He goes to four hundred million and says, "That's it," and everybody congratulates him, and he feels proud. But at night, he can't sleep. Five hundred million. Now, if he wants to resell it, he will not get it. Similarly, when you give or renounce with your pride, one day that will be a subject of pity. Therefore, change the thought. And when you change vichāra, then you are on the right line. So the education is that we, as humans, learn human dharma. We are educated to make a better world, to make a better society, to make things easier, to make things available to every common person, and to share our knowledge with all, and so on. But many people are taking advantage of it. Again, we are present by a certain law. So nothing is free, but education should be free. At the present time, the life of young people is not easy. Students have to learn so much, and when they are about 30 years old and will have a job, good, but what they learn today they will not need because technology will be different. And the young people who were nice and good, getting a job, now they are squeezed like lemons. So much work, so much stress, little money. So, very young children, their depression, what they call burnout, nervousness, and so on. Is this important? Is that life? Is this education? Put all of your home. Come with me to the forest. And we will have our potatoes and carrots, and one cow, and that's all. Enjoy. Education is to have a comfortable life. Education is the life where there is no stress. I was sorry to hear, and I agreed with Professor Lakshman—I don't know his Croatian name—and I disagree that a child has to go to nursery school, because a child has to learn how to be independent. I disagree. You know, many children feel so sad and angry, crying and scared to go away when parents send them to kindergarten. Víte, kolik dětí se cítí smutných, vystrašených, rozhněvaných a bojí se chodit, když je rodiče posílají do školky? By natural law, one of the parents must stay home. When you observe the nest of the birds, the male bird or female bird is waiting and taking care of the babies and eggs. Or similarly in the cats, tigers, lions, and so on: one is with the chip babies; the other is searching for food. So humans have gone too far from children, this education. And that is the main factor, the reason for the restlessness, conflict, fighting, wars, and criminality in the world. Because youth have not learned love or belonging. Not belonging anywhere. Young kid, twenty-five, thirty, they have completely ruined their life. They are broken inside. Disappointment, fear, fear of existence. Oh man, this you mean the education? No. This is a destruction of the human soul. So, we have learned enough. How much research will you do? Is that necessary, that billions of dollars are your crowns to fly to Mars or Jupiter? What will you do there? We don't belong there. Even now, I have heard that they have money, money for the moon or something. Already. And when you come to Mars, your bones will go back. If you are 180, you will come back like 140. No gravity. We belong to this beautiful planet, Mother Earth. And if you want to know what is on Mars, read with us. How it looks, and how Mars was created. See the Mahāśivapurāṇa, everything is there. But human greed, you cannot satisfy. So good to have research work in the medical field and some certain things which we need, and quit all others. You know? 85% of education in the schools and universities is boring. Don't go. 85% of education in the universities and schools is boring. Learn how to speak, write, and read. Learn how to talk, read, and write. And that's it. Education is what makes a human human. You will not learn for that, that you will manipulate the entire nature. Is there necessity? Now, in the tomatoes, there are fish genes inside, you know that? Someone told me it is true. That one lady, she was very allergic to fish in England, and she got an allergy, so she quit the fish; she was not eating fish. But one day she came to the hospital because of an allergy, and they asked her, "Is she allergic?" Yes, to fish. Did you eat fish today? No, I haven't eaten in a long time. What did you eat today? Good tomato salad, very clear. Then said, "That kind of tomatoes?" Said, "Yes." There is a fish generally inside. So, is that necessary? For what do you study that? No, not for that you study. So education is the best to live happy. Harmonious and loving heart with all, and keep our planet clean, nice, and happy. This education will not give you self-realization. You have to change your thought again to come to simplicity. There were two brothers. One went to school, university, had a high education. The other one was a little simple man. And he went to the forest and became a sādhu yogī. The other brother, who was studying, was so sorry for his brother. How stupid he is. He went to the forest, meditating. What will he get? He should learn to become human and realize something, become something. After 35 years, that man decided to visit his brother in the forest. He had to cross a lake with a ferry. So he came to the lake and asked if he could bring the captain to take me to the other side. So he said, "Oh, it's so much money, it is too much." The captain said, "Okay, make it yourself, one boat, and go." He said, "My friend, I learned everything, but today I see that I didn't learn all. I wish I could make a boat, and I will be independent. I don't know how to make a boat. Okay, here's money, bring me to the other side. And wait for me, I will come back in one and a half hours. Waiting charge. And then go back." He wanted to see his friend. His friend was sitting under a tree. "Brother, brother." And a small Śiva temple. And, of course, he came and hugged him. After that, his youngest brother said, "Dear brother, it's time for prayer. I must have the midday prayer to Lord Śiva," so he made prayer, Abhiṣek. "Oṁ Tryambakaṁ Yajāmahe Sugandhiṁ Puṣṭivardhanam, Urvārukamiva Bandhanān Mṛtyormukṣīya Mā'mṛtāt." Now, another one, 30 years, and he doesn't know one mantra. He should have gone to school. Why didn't you go to school? He said, "My brother, you have been in school. That's enough for me." But you sang the mantra wrong. Oh, I'm sorry. Can you tell me how it's correct? He said, "Oh, Sogandhim Amṛtat." He said, "Not like this. Write me, please." So he wrote, but he cannot read. So ten times he repeated. Brother said, "Now I have to go." So he accompanied him till the lake, and the ferryman came and drew him to the other side of the lake. 30 meters left, the ferry will reach the deck. And the younger brother forgot the mantra. And the brother is 300 meters away, and very soon he will go away. So he holds his lungī like Avatāra Purī is doing and runs on the water. The other brother was looking on the ferry. And he said, "Wait, I'm coming, brother, I'm coming," walking on the water. The other brother got off, and the youngest one came closer. And others said, "Yes, please. I've forgotten the mantra again. Can you teach me?" He said, "You don't need any mantra. Can you tell me through which mantra you got siddhi that you can walk on the water?" He said that I don't know, only Śiva Kṛpā, blessings of Śiva. That mantra which I was chanting. So he said, "How was it?" He said, "Is this correct?" He said, "Yes." So, the other one began to sing wrong, and came at home. Morning, I had to make Śiva abhiṣek, and he was singing wrong. And his wife said, "Did you sleep well tonight? Why? You are singing wrong, chanting." So, love was missing. So when your small child can't speak properly, cannot make a proper sentence, and only first one or two words can be spoken, how happy you are and how much you love that one. And another one: visitors come and can't understand. But you understand, you tell what he or she means. So the language of love is the best education and the best language. So try to learn, go to school, do university everywhere. But there are many other different kinds of professions. Hand work is the best work. And that's why handmade things are more expensive than machine-made. So learn how to be a plumber, how to be an insulator, how to be a builder, how to paint the house, how to work in the field, and so on. Now, people don't even know what an onion plant looks like. Many think the onions are hanging on the trees. Knowledge is gone. And such knowledge we are learning, which we will never use in life. So the young children, their biggest problem is that all big companies are sucking their energy. Education, next lesson for education, Jaitra. Tomorrow, Jaitra, I wish you all the best. Good appetite, and then you will have a satsaṅg at 8 o'clock in our beautiful field.

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:

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