Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

‘Education sans spirituality meaningless’

Graduation day: Students at the 28th convocation of Sri Satya Sai Univeristy at Puttaparthi on Sunday.

Anantapur: The Satya Sai University stands taller than other universities in India going by the multiple awards it bagged from the Central government and other prestigious bodies apart from the quality of education coupled with spirituality, observed Prof. Samuel Sandweiss of California University.

Delivering the key note address as the chief guest at the 28th convocation of Sri Satya Sai University at Puttaparthi near here on Sunday, Prof. Samuel exhorted the students against developing selfish tendencies as they produce great suffering to their fellow human beings. He advised students to imbibe qualities of service and sacrifice by emulating the teachings of Satya Sai. The teachings of purity should be put into practice in order to gain wider acceptance. He said that nuclear war, terrorism and regional conflicts including the Palestine issue can be solved if one pursued the path of love shown by the Baba.

Earlier, addressing the students and devotees at the jampacked auditorium, Sri Satya Sai Baba opined that education devoid of spirituality was meaningless and added that realisation of self and the god within is the real education which encompasses the spirit and intellect of human beings. He asked students to rise above bookish knowledge and discover the spiritual side of education. Possessing degrees and wealth is of no value if one does not help the poor. The spiritual town of Puttaparthi wore a colourful look with thousands of devotees and foreigners thronging Prashanthi Nilayam. Government officials, political leaders and the general public made a beeline to listen to the discourse of Baba and have a glimpse of him. The frail looking Baba was ushered into the auditorium amidst chanting of mantras and tunes of music bands. His age was telling on him even as he struggled to speak with clarity in Telugu and his interpreter into English having a difficult time grasping the speech of the Baba.

Later, Baba distributed 21 gold medals and certificates of commendation to meritorious students of the Satya Sai University . The week long celebrations would conclude with the 84th birthday celebration of Sri Satya Sai Baba on Monday.

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‘Education sans spirituality meaningless’

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