SRI SATHYA SAI EDUCATION

Foreword I

Sathya Sai Education in Human Values fulfils the ultimate mission of education. He, who has inspired this educational programme, Sri Sathya Sai Baba, goes directly to the essence of the institution of education and its role in human civilization, as he does with other social institutions and, indeed, with human life itself. He distinguishes between, "the really real and the relatively real", between the universal and the parochial, between that which is lasting and that which is transient.

Most educationists acknowledge that an important part of the mission of education is to transmit the knowledge and skill necessary to navigate through this journey of life safely, effectively, and with a modicum of happiness. However, too often in our modern educational systems, overwhelming emphasis is placed on the acquisition of skills and knowledge that will enable the student to find a job or practice a profession. Too often the educational process becomes a procession of students who pass through a perfunctory exercise. Worldly education in many places has become an assembly line in which 'educate' means 'matriculate, inculcate, and then graduate'.

Preoccupation with this aspect of education obfuscates the deeper and most important role of education. Sri Sathya Sai Baba has said, "The end of education is character." He has declared that the attributes of character are found in one who practices the universal human values of Love, Truth, Right Action, Peace, and Nonviolence. Finally he has assured us that these values are inherent in all of us and will emerge and prevail in our being as we come to know ourselves. The Sathya Sai Education in Human Values Programme is based on these universal principles.

The Sathya Sai Education in Human Values Programme is presented directly as a separate lesson plan unto itself, indirectly by incorporating the principles and values into the lesson plans in the various school subjects, and it is practiced in all extracurricular activities as well. The teachers must strive to exemplify the human values at the heart of the programme. They must strive to be exemplars. This brings to mind the great philosopher-teachers of ancient Greece, like Socrates, who taught not only by speaking and explaining, but, more importantly, by demonstrating the lofty ideals that they espoused through their noble characters. It also brings to mind the great saints and sages of all religions who taught and inspired, who instructed and transformed.

The ultimate mission of education, according to the Sathya Sai Education in Human Values Programme, then, is to contribute toward our knowledge of ourselves, so that we can have a sense of the purpose of human life, and the qualities necessary to apply ourselves to the fulfilment of that purpose. In this manner, true education, as inspired by Sri Sathya Sai Baba, becomes a transformational, life-long process. Students seek and find answers to the perpetual and perplexing questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What must I do to obtain lasting, profound happiness? How can I achieve the highest good for myself and for the world?

This book is the most comprehensive attempt to elucidate the origin, development, history, philosophy, pedagogy, accomplishments, current status of programmes all over the world, and future plans for this great and most needed programme of education.

The Sathya Sai Education in Human Values Programme stands by itself: It is universal. It results in the most profound transformation and greatest happiness for student and teacher alike.

Foreword II

Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas has evolved over the years to Education in Human Values (EHV), then to 3HV, and now to Educare. Through all this development, the message of SriSathy Sai Baba has remained the same — simple enough for each of us to understand, yet profound enough to transform ourselves. The message is: first, go within and know ourselves; then bring out the Human Values that lie dormantin each one of us; and finally, live these values in our daily lives. This process of Educare can transform us individually, then the family, the society, the nation, and finally the whole world. The peace that Educare confers on us, individually, is the ultimate building block of world peace.

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba tells us first to be, then to do, and only then to tell. The thousands of educationists who have dedicated themselves over the years to taking Sathya Sai Education to every part of the world have always remained focused on their mission of bringing light and love to the world through Educare. As a result, little effort has been made so far in documenting the richness and diversity of Sathya Sai Education practiced in diverse cultures and regions. Yet, the time has perhaps now come for educationists the world over to know what Sathya Sai Education is and what contribution it can make to help mainstream education fulfil its promise of making a man of wisdom and character, while being fully competent in daily living.

The Global Overview of Sri Sathya Sai Education is an important step in this direction. It covers the whole ground — beginning with the historic development of Sathya Sai Education, its philosophy, a comprehensive account of how it is being practiced in different parts of the world and how it has contributed to the fulfilment of the goals of education. I can clearly see that this book will become a regular source book not only to Sathya Sai educationists the world over but also to all those engaged in educational policy making and research in education.

I congratulate Sri Sathya Sai World Foundation for this noble effort to the making of this book.