Introduction

The Sri Sathya Sai System of Integral Education aims at the physical, mental, emotional, intellectual and spiritual development of every student. Baba wants every student to be an ideal student having the rare combination of the head of Shankara (symbolising the the path of wisdom), the heart of Buddha (symbolising the path of devotion, love and compassion) and the hands of Janaka (symbolising the path of detached action). He says that in His colleges, the medium of instruction should be Discipline; Love, Service and Sadhana should be the first, second and third languages. To achieve this end, He has incessantly given all His time and energy for the sake of His students, in order to mould them into integrated and balanced personalities that He wants them to be.

The My Dear Students series of books are a humble attempt of compiling 108 Discourses from the many discourses given by Baba to His students on various occasions in the Hostels, Colleges and Mandir – at Prashanti Nilayam, Brindavan and Kodaikanal. Some of these discourses are very rare and have not been released hitherto. Across the 5 Volumes, these have been divided into numerous themes which are of great relevance to the youth and the student community and on which Baba has delved in great depth.

In these discourses, He has covered practically all aspects of students’ lives both within His University as well as of the students studying elsewhere. He highlights in no uncertain terms what He expects from students, what is good for students and what they should be doing in order to fulfill their role as ideal students. He has very lucidly, through stories, anecdotes and examples from the scriptures and from the lives of various saints, sages of India and of heroes of various Indian epics communicated His message to the students. The discourses have a rare mix of humour, wisdom, caution and appreciation which only He is capable of. The discourses reveal His love and concern as a mother, the discipline and authority as a father, the proximity and frankness as a friend and the supreme benediction and grace as God Himself. These are actually not discourses but conversations which His students have been fortunate to receive from Him.

These Discourses contained in the My Dear Students series form an ideal reading for students of the Sai educational institutions in India and abroad and also for the members of the youth wing of the Sri Sathya Sai Organisations. It is also an ideal reading for students of the Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas Programme, the Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) Programme and the Sri Sathya Sai Education in Human Values (SSSEHV) Programme. It can act as a very good material for ‘Study Circle’ discussions among youth members and would make very good reading for the various moral class and spiritual awareness class sessions that are conducted in various Sai Educational Institutions in the country and even abroad. Infact, the Discourses cater to students and youth of all regions and all times.

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