What is the difference between Education and Educare?
Education is information-oriented, while educare is transformation-oriented. Education is limited to physical and mental Levels. Just as the rivers like Krishnaa and Godaavaree have their sources in the ocean, Education has its roots in Educare. Educare is related to our inner feelings and purity of heart. Our speech, song and way of life should originate from the heart. That is the essence of Educare. Only those endowed with the practical knowledge and wisdom will be able to understand and appreciate the concept of Educare. Even if you acquire a number of degrees, if you lack purity in your heart, you cannot be called truly educated.

Why should we always believe and see Unity everywhere at all times?
Divinity is One. The names and forms may vary, but the inherent Divine Principle is One and the same. For example, this hall is decorated with a number of bulbs. But the electric current that flows through them is the same. Similarly, sweets may be many, but the essential ingredient in them, that is sugar, which gives the sweetness to the sweets is the same. Often times, we merely go by the names and forms, forgetting the reality. That is why we should believe and see unity everywhere all the time.

What are the signposts to know if we are good or not?
Every human being should essentially have three qualities - Nish-chalatwa, Nir-malatwa and Nir-mohatwa (Steadiness, Purity and Detachment). One who has these three qualities is verily God Himself. You need not enquire from others, whether you are good or otherwise. Your conscience is your own judge. You should always think of God. People worship God, sing His glory, thinking that He is present in some distant place. There have been many Divine incarnations in the past, but the inherent Divine Principle in all of them is one and the same. Your heart is really the temple of God. Hence, fill your heart with Love. And when it is filled with love, you yourself will feel good.

Cleverness and Wisdom
The human mind has two distinct capabilities. They are (1) the capacity to acquire worldly skills, and (2) the capacity for Spiritual Discrimination. These two faculties are called Medhaa Shakti and Buddhi respectively. People do not have a clear idea of the difference between (worldly) cleverness and (spiritual) Wisdom, and often mistake Buddhi to mean cleverness. This is not correct.

Being exclusively related to the phenomenal world, Medhaa Shakti would help a person to be shrewd in worldly matters and achieve success in Society. However, this is no blessing. A clever man is restless, does not enjoy peace, and often goes through mental conflicts. He is a slave to his ego, which casts a veil over the Self and renders Buddhi ineffective. Cleverness is not an attribute of the Wise but unfortunately in this Kali age a clever person alone is regarded as great and accorded much respect.

Modern education lays great stress on the sharpening of the brain and can certainly help people to become clever. But it has no positive effect on Buddhi or the spiritual intellect. Our ancients, on the other hand, were unanimously of the view that Buddhi is superior to Medhaa Shakti, and is any day to be preferred.

Buddhi is essentially the combination of Shraddhaa (earnestness) , Satyam (Truth), Yog (power of control), and Mahat Shakti (Divine Power). Shraddhaa is the product of yearning and steadfastness. The Satyam aspect implies a proper judgment and perspective, with Truth as the central focus. The third aspect Yog connotes a mastery over the senses. One cannot speak of a person being with blessed with Buddhi, if he lacks sense and mind control. Shraddhaa, Satyam and Yog together manifest as Mahat Shakti, the power of the Divine. In short, all the aspects of Buddhi are verily Divine.

Students should understand clearly the difference between Medhaa Shakti and Buddhi. Cleverness would help one in securing good grades in examinations, and in scoring victory in debates. It is associated exclusively with worldly skills. Buddhi, on the other hand, is spiritual in nature and close to the Aatmaa. Thus, one must never confuse a Wise person (Buddhimaan) with a clever person.

The hierarchical relationship of the various entities related to Medhaa Shakti and Buddhi is as follows: At the bottom of the totem pole is the physical plane. Above it are the senses; then comes the mind or Manas. Buddhi comes above the mind and last of all is the Aatma or the Self. Buddhi is thus just a "stone's throw" away from the Aatmaa and is verily a reflection of the latter. It is thus the height of ignorance to equate Wisdom (Buddhi) with cleverness (Medhaa Shakti). The latter is associated to the senses and is thus intimately related to the phenomenal world. It promotes ego, and as long as ego dominates you cannot understand anything about the Self. A clever person would never be able to achieve Self-realization; only a Wise person can.

How to deal with uncertainty?
Some people are constantly immersed in worldly thoughts. Some consider themselves very intelligent and accumulate their bookish knowledge. In fact, these types of pedantries are like an allergy. Once the allergy starts spreading, their energy is sapped. Unfortunately today, we are developing allergy, not energy. Do not keep deliberating whether something is good for you or not. Everything is good. Whatever happens, consider that it is good for you. When you develop such an attitude, everything will turn out to be good for you. Be loving and cheerful always. It is only love that protects and sustains you!

What is the duty of every aspirant on the path of loving devotion to the Lord? Every aspirant must strive to keep their self away from the turmoil, falsehood and cruelties of the world, and practice truth, righteousness, love and peace at all times. This is truly the path of devotion. Those who seek union with God must discard as worthless both praise and blame appreciation and derision, prosperity and adversity. No great soul or even Avataar (Divine Incarnation) can ever escape criticism and blame. In such instances, they do not bend but hold on to the truth. With this realization, immerse yourself in holy books and in the company of the devotees of the Lord. Desist from discussing your belief or conviction with the ignorant. When you are rich with the experience of realization and devotion, then you can mix freely and even endeavor to direct others to the truth you have seen and experienced.

How can we lead a life like a flower that blossoms and smells sweetly?
Service is the blossom of Prem (Love), a flower that fills the mind with rapture. Harmlessness is the fragrance of that flower. Let even your little acts be suffused with compassion and reverence. Be assured that your character would thereby shine greatly. The highest happiness is contentment. Where there is no harshness, holiness will thrive and virtue will flourish. Where greed exists, there, vice will breed thick.

What is the watch we must wear and practice on our own intellect to attain Union with God?
Do not barter away the means of achieving permanent and complete happiness, deluded by attachment and attractions of temporal joy. You must carry on your spiritual duties with full devotion. The Divine cannot be known without faith and steadfastness (Shraddhaa). Only through Love (Prem) comes faith and dedication. Through faith and dedication comes wisdom (Gyaan). Through wisdom, you get transcendental devotion to God. Only through such loving devotion, you will achieve union with God.

What are the three instruments we must acquire and if kept clean, will enable any one to experience God?
Kinship with the Lord can be realized by every single person, who acquires these three chief instruments: (1) A mind unsullied by attachment and hatred (2) Speech unsullied by falsehood and (3) a body unsullied by violence. Discriminate at every stage, keep your instruments pure. Accept what is true and discard the rest. You cannot escape sorrow if you have worldly desires. Joy and Peace do not reside in external objects; they are in you. Endeavour to experience the Love, that is Divine itself.

What is the similarity between a medicine and singing the glory of the Lord?
The scriptures (Ved and Puraan) deserve to be read and heard. God's Name should be recited and listened to. For some ailments, medicines are prescribed for external application or consumption. However, for this universal ailment of Bhava Rog (the cycle of birth and death), Shravan (Listening to the Glory of God) and Keertan (Reciting or Singing the glory of God) are the medicines prescribed for internal and external use. Every aspirant must utter as well as listen to God's Name to receive His Grace.

REFLECTION
Sai Baabaa's lecture - from a Divine Discourse