The First Combined Annual Sports and Cultural Meet of the Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions

Sri Sathya Sai watching the Annual Sports Meet programme from the Shanti Vedika at the Hill View Stadium, Prasanthi Nilayam

Monday, January 11, 1988 

The first Annual Sports and Cultural Meet of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning was held at the Hill View Stadium on 11th January 1988. Bhagavan arrived at the stadium at 7 am, escorted by four pilot riders on motor bikes. He was heralded with a 21 gun salute. The Vice Chancellor welcomed Bhagavan to the Sports Meet. Bhagavan accepted the salute offered by the students during the March Past. He unfurled the Institute’s flag, released pigeons and lit the Olympic torch to inaugurate the Meet. He spent over three hours taking keen interest in every event and giving Padanamaskar to the participants after the conclusion of every item. On the same evening, He witnessed a ‘Tolubommalaata’ presented by the Anantapur Campus students in the Institute Auditorium at Prashanti  Nilayam. 

Thursday, January 14, 1988 to 
Sunday, January 17, 1988 

Bhagavan distributed the prizes and certificates to the winners of various events of the Sports Meet at Prashanti Nilayam on the 14th, 16th and 17th to the Institute Students, the Higher Secondary School students, and to the Primary School students and the girl students of the Higher Secondary School respectively. Bhagavan addressed the Institute students in the Institute Auditorium at Prashanti Nilayam on the 16th. Highlighting the rile of the 5 Ds of Dedication, Devotion, Discipline, Discrimination and Determination, Swami said,

“Discipline is most essential for students. From the moment you wake up, you have to carry out your morning ablutions, meditate on God and then do your prescribed duties in an orderly manner without deviating from the regular routine. Variations in the routine from day to day are undesirable. You should not wake up at one hour on one day and at a different time on another day. The day's activities should be regulated by the same schedule. Immediately after finishing the morning chores, one should devote, in the calm and serene atmosphere of the morning, at least for a few minutes to loving meditation on God. The human estate is based upon regulation and self-control. These have to be strictly adhered to in daily life… 

… Young people in their tender years tend to follow the inclinations of the mind. They do not rise to the level of their intelligence. Consequently, they are subject to various agitations and frustrations. They have, therefore, to learn to use their powers of discrimination. "I am a human being. In this condition how should I conduct myself so that I may win the respect and regard of others?" These are the questions which each student must ask himself. He should enquire on every occasion as to what is the right course and what is to be avoided. He should decide on what he should do and where he should go after due enquiry. Having acquired knowledge, he should not behave like an illiterate, uneducated person. His conduct should be in keeping with his learning. Humility is the index of true education. Without humility, scholarship will lack lustre. Discrimination is essential for every student and educated man…

… Love is of two kinds: One related to the physical and the other related to the Divine. All the fears and delusions afflicting the world, all the chaos and violence prevalent today, are due primarily to physical attachments. These are also responsible for the falsehood, corruption and other evils rampant in society. Divine love knows no differences among individuals and nations. Egoistic attachments and selfishness are at the root of all human troubles and conflicts. Physical love should be confined to strict limits. If the Divine consciousness were not present within, of what use would the body be? It would be as useless as a school without teachers, a farm without water, a temple without a deity. You must develop Divine love. You must be resolute in striving to achieve what you aim at. Only then will your devotion and discipline bear fruit. There is no meaning in parading one's devotion. The external human form has no significance. You must be human in your actions and feelings. By reforming your conduct and purifying your thoughts and actions, sanctify your lives. That alone is true education, which will lead to Self-realisation.”



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