Integration of Human Values in Education at Sri Sathya Sai University

Today the world is afflicted with seven kinds of diseases.

Business without morality
Politics without principles
Education without character
Sustenance without sacrifice
A harvest without labour
Humanness without virtue
Devotion without faith
… Today the above mentioned seven diseases are causing all the troubles to the
nation… Everyone should resolve to rid the country of these seven grievous ills.
- Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Discourse at Prashanti Nilayam, March 7, 1997

Right from its very inception, the Sri Sathya Sai University has always believed in integrating
ethics and values as the undercurrent of every subject. Conventionally, educational institutions
consider themselves as value neutral and restrict their scope by narrowly defining themselves as
places of mere intellectual pursuit; thus moving away from the responsibility of moulding the
character of students. It is to fulfil this need and engage in the character formation of young
students that the University has laid stress on values education. Values education is universal in
its nature and scope and is relevant for all people irrespective of the geography, creed, caste or
the stream of learning. The University adopts the integrated approach of values oriented
education that aims at inculcation of values through all academic programmes and activities The
teacher integrates the relevant values in the daily lessons and in other activities outside the class
room – both curricular and co-curricular.

“The purpose of real education is to initiate a learning process that transforms students into
good human beings with knowledge and value systems. Is values-based education possible?
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning has given an answer in the affirmative. I would
like to congratulate the Institute for this noble education.”
Bharat Ratna Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, President of India
Address at the 21st Convocation of the Sri Sathya Sai University, 22.11.2002

The best way to teach values is by practice. Therefore, teachers have to inspire students to
practice values in their daily life by living as role models for them to emulate. Hence, the
professional life and personal life of the teacher have to be well integrated and exemplary.

Values oriented education fructifies only when teachers have faith in it. As the teacher, so the
taught. It is to be recognised that in all educational activities and particularly in the area of values
promotion and dissemination, what counts most is the teacher. Faith can move mountains and
more so when it is the faith of committed teachers who can be the best guides, friends and
philosophers to students.
Holistic Perspective to Education

“Blessed indeed are the students who have had the privilege of going through an education
programme which combines deep appreciation of the method of modern science and
technology and the ancient Indian knowledge and wisdom accumulated over the centuries.
This type of education can be a powerful means of self-perfection and social redemption.”
- Dr. Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister of India (Currently Prime Minister of India)
Address at the 14th Convocation of the Sri Sathya Sai University, 22.11.1995

Conventional education typically focuses on accumulation of knowledge and skills. However the
Chancellor of this University states that in order to skill the knowledge and apply the same for
benefit to the society, it is essential to have an appropriate balance. This balance is provided by
the component of the ‘heart’ which is generally not catered to in the required measure in the
conventional system. The diagram shown below (Figure-1) depicts the interface between the
three components of knowledge, skill and balance. Whereas conventional educational
institutions, focus on providing knowledge (head factor) and skill sets (hands factor), the Sri
Sathya Sai University attempts to integrate these two with a sense of balance (heart factor). As
stated by the Chancellor, ‘Knowledge when skilled leads to balance which in turn provides insights about the
application of knowledge for the benefit of the society.’ Victor Frederick Weisskopf, the famous physicist
from MIT, USA also makes an observation on similar lines. He says, “Compassion without knowledge
is ineffective; knowledge without compassion is inhuman.” The interface of the three circles representing
the balance between the head, heart and hands is the niche that this University has created for
itself. This concept has been crystallised by the Chancellor through the examples of Shri Adi
Shankaracharya, Shri Janaka Maharaj and Shri Gautam Buddha. He says, “An ideal student should posses
the ‘Head’ of Shankara, the ‘Hands’ of Janaka and the ‘Heart’ of Buddha”.

Figure-1

Head of Shankara Hands of Janaka

Knowledge Skillls
Ability
SSSU
Student

Nobility Balance

Heart of Buddha
Following are the programmes at the University which are used to facilitate this process of
Holistic Education.

Awareness Programme

The Awareness Course is a multifaceted Course for both the Under Graduate and Post Graduate
classes, aiming at purposeful cultivation in the students of a very broad view of the human
condition. This view is interdisciplinary, cutting across all academic lines and cross-cultural,
including the great contributions of cultures spanning a vast range of space and time. It is also
inter-faith in content and intent, bringing out the unity of all the great world religions and
transpersonal, providing a link of understanding that reaches up to the highest plane of spiritual
experience. At the same time it is practical and fosters the development of skills that are directly
applicable to relieving human misery and distress wherever they may be found. As Swami
Vivekananda emphasises, “So long as the millions live in hunger and ignorance, I hold every man a traitor
who, having been educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them.”

The principal objectives of the Awareness Programme are:

• To provide students a practical orientation to application of spirituality in daily life.
• To help students develop a holistic and all-inclusive approach, with a widened
perspective and broader understanding of life.
• To provide a platform for students to present, debate and clarify their views and
opinions about values and their applicability.
• To inspire students to walk on the righteous path, through examples and experiences of
great leaders, wise men and women of eminence.
• To trigger self-reflection and enquiry in students, sensitising them to the current day
concerns and problems in society at the national and global level, and facilitating the
search for feasible and practical solutions to these problems.

Experiential learning is the pedagogy used for teaching the awareness course that includes
debates, symposia, discussions, role plays, quizzes, skits and the like. The Awareness Programme
is a part of the curriculum. The course content of this Programme at the Under Graduate level
constitutes – philosophy of education, unity of religions and faiths, ethos and values and their
relevance in the current milieu, life and its quest, study of Indian classics: Ramayana and
Bhagavatam. At the Post-Graduate level, the focus is on exposing the students to the practical
aspects of spirituality enabling them to use the spiritual principles as stated in the ancient
scriptures for dealing with problems of the modern global society such as global warming and
climate change, poverty, illiteracy, terrorism, religious fundamentalism and the like.

Morning Prayer Session

Collective chanting of prayers and devotional songs at the start of the day, uplift the soul and
channelise the mind and intellect in the right direction thus creating the right ambience for the
day. The Vice Chancellor, other officials of the University and all members of the faculty join the
students in the morning community prayer meetings. This not only adds solemnity to the
occasion but also highlights the importance of prayer not only through precept but actual
practice. One of the most important features of the morning community prayer meeting is
observing silent sitting. This is followed by group singing of multi-religious prayers or a talk by
one of the students / faculty on topics related to morals and values. Similarly all tests and
examinations – formal and informal, monthly and end semester also start with prayers.

Moral Class

Thursday morning begins with an hour of inspiring and ennobling talk by eminent speakers
stressing on their personal spiritual experiences, messages from our sacred scriptures and other
elevated and socially relevant themes such as patriotism, societal service, professional values,
Indian culture and heritage and the like. The speakers not only include learned scholars from the
University but people of all ranks including eminent educationists, judges, engineers, doctors,
business executives, diplomats and scientists from all parts of the world. The moral class is also
used to highlight students’ talents in music, dramatics, elocution, debates, quizzes, etc. All of
these are based on themes highlighting the rich Indian culture and heritage. On specific occasion,
the Chancellor also addresses the students and staff on topics such as importance of education,
qualities of leadership, role of students and teachers in society and the purpose of life in the
wider context. He also highlights the glorious message of ancient Indian and world scriptures
and epics.

Summer Course in Indian Culture and Spirituality

This is generally conducted prior to the commencement of the academic session in the last
fortnight of May at the Bangalore Campus of the University. Students from all the 3 Campuses
gather and participate in its proceedings. It exposes the students to the grandeur and glory of
their eternal Indian heritage. Its highlights are talks by eminent speakers and Discourses by the
Chancellor on a variety of topics which are of great relevance to the modern youth. The
extensive coverage of the chosen subjects and perspectives provided during these discourses
leave a lasting impact on the students and faculty. Above all, it provides a very good orientation
to the new students to the unique philosophy of the education system at the University. Some of
the themes dealt with during these Summer Courses include the Ramayana, Bhagavatam,
Bhagavad Gita, Bhaja Govindam, role of spirituality for youth, Educare and the like.
Highlighting the importance of such an orientation, the Chancellor says, “Education must enthuse
youth to understand the precious heritage of Indian culture and spirituality, and to evoke the higher powers they
possess. Though there are perennial sources and springs of strength within them, they behave like weaklings and
ignoramuses. Patience, tolerance, tranquillity and calmness have to be implanted in the heart.”

Currently, the orientation programme on these lines is conducted in a decentralised manner at

the respective campuses during the first week of the commencement of the academic year every
June.