Today, the heart of the educated man has become the lair of wild desires and cruel habits. Educational institutions should be nurseries for tradition, loyalty to culture and the ideals of service to society. Education is to promote wisdom. Wisdom can grow, only where humility prevails. It thrives when man is afraid of vice and sin. The crisis of character, which is at the root of all the troubles everywhere, has come about as a result of neglect of this aspect in education.
As a first step in educational progress, you must revere your parents. Students should consider that study is their first and only duty. Students should become strong physically, mentally and spiritually, imbibe as much as possible, the wisdom that has been gathered in the past; cultivate the skills by which you can serve society.
We now believe that the acquisition of knowledge is for the acquisition of wealth. But this is not right. Education should emphasize self-reliance and independent living. It should confer on the students the courage to stand up against injustice, immorality, and falsehood. Students should cultivate in their hearts the spirit of sacrifice and the virtues of charity. Men crave for a prosperous future; for positions of authority, power, care-free lives; they never desire to possess pure, clear, loving intellects and a humble disposition.
Unless knowledge is transformed into Wisdom and Wisdom is expressed in Character, education is a wasteful process. The task of education is not over by merely providing with food, clothing and shelter. It should liberate man from greed, hatred, unrest, narrow loyalties and ego impulses. Earning money is not the end all of education. Greed to earn money, by any means, has led to the evils of today. Money breeds pride, pride fosters hatred.
Students have to also revere their deeds. Deeds elevate us or drag us down. Students should try to elevate themselves by doing good, speaking good, seeking good, and having the good of others in mind. The educated man must be ready to serve his parents and his country. Students are born in society, which has helped to guard, guide and foster the students, to educate them and fill them with dreams and ideals. Students should repay the society the debt they owe to it. It is the duty of every national being to assimilate and appreciate the historical and cultural heritage. The years of life allotted to man as a result of the enormous amount of merit earned and accumulated through many lives in the past, have to be utilized for the purpose of rising higher into divinity.
Animal instincts and impulses have persisted in human nature as vistages and proper education will help man to exercise control over them.
(Gems of Wisdom, Education, pg 184)
