The world is one of influence. Part of our energy
is used up in the preservation of our own bodies. Beyond that, our bodies, our
virtues, our intellect and our spirituality, all these are continuously
influencing others. Conversely, we are being influenced continuously by others.
This is going on all around us.
Making
Impression
Let us take a concrete example. A man comes; you
know he is very learned, his language is beautiful and he speaks to you for
hours; but he does not make any impression. Another man comes; he speaks only a
few words, not well-arranged, ungrammatical perhaps, and not fluent in speech;
and he makes an immense impression. Many of you have seen such occasions. So it
is evident that words alone cannot always produce an impression. Words, even
thoughts, contribute only 1/3 of the influence in making an impression; the man
2/3. What you call the personal magnetism of the man - that is what goes out and
impresses you. Coming to great leaders of mankind, we always find that it was
the personality of the man that counted. The personality of the man is 2/3 and
his intellect, his words, his thoughts etc. is only 1/3.
Man-making
The ideal of
all education, all training, should be this man-making. But, instead of that, we
are always trying to polish up the outside. The man who influences is a dynamo
of power. When he is ready, he can do anything and everything he likes. Though
this is a fact, no physical laws will explain this. Compare the great teachers
of religion with the great philosophers. The philosophers scarcely influenced
anybody's inner man, and yet they wrote most mavellous books. The religious
teachers, on the other hand, moved countries in their lifetime. The difference
was made by personality. In the former we touch the intellect; in the latter we
touch life.
Science of
Yoga
The science of Yoga claims that it has discovered
the laws which develop this personality. By proper attention to those laws and
methods, each one can grow and strengthen his personality. This is one of the
great practical things and this is the secret of all education. This has a
universal application. They are laws, very fine, which are behind the physical
laws, as we know. The grossest part is the body and the finest is the spirit.
And just as it is here, in the microcosm, it is exactly the same in the
macrocosm. This universe of ours is exactly like that; it is the gross external
thickness, and it tapers into something finer and finer until it becomes God.
Power of the Fine
We also know that the greatest power is lodged
in the fine, not in the coarse. We see a man lifting a huge weight; we see his
muscles swell; and we see signs of exertion all over his body. We think
the muscles are powerful things. But it is the thin thread-like things, the
nerves, which bring power to the muscles. The moment one of these nerves is cut
off from reaching the muscles, they are not able to work at all. These tiny
nerves bring the power from something still finer-thought, and so on. So, it is
the fine that is really the seat of power.
We can see the movements of
the gross. We cannot see the movements of the fine. When a little bubble is
coming from the bottom of a lake, we do not see it until it reaches and bursts
on the surface of the water. Similarly, we can perceive thoughts only when they
become actions. We constantly complain that we have no control over our actions,
over our thoughts. If we can get control over the fine movements at the root,
that is before they become thoughts and later actions, then it will be
possible for us to control the whole. Now, if there is a method by which we can
analyse. investigate, understand and finally grapple with those finer powers,
the finer causes, then alone is it possible to have control over ourselves. Yoga
teaches us to gain this knowledge of controlling the finer powers.
What is
Education
Education is the manifestation of the
perfection already in man. Knowledge is inherent in man. No knowledge comes from
outside; it is all inside. The external world is simply the suggestion, the
occasion, which sets you to study your own mind.
We say Newton
discovered gravitation. Was it sitting anywhere in a corner waiting for him? The
falling of an apple gave the suggestion to Newton, and he studied his own mind.
He rearranged all the previous links of thought in his mind and discovered a new
link among them, which we call the Law of Gravitation. It was not in the apple
nor in anything in the centre of the earth!
All knowledge therefore,
secular or spiritual, is in the human mind. In many cases it is not discovered,
but remains covered. When the covering is being slowly taken off, we say
"we are learning" . The man from whom this veil is being lifted is the more
knowing man. The man upon whom it lies thick is ignorant. All knowledge and all
power are within. All knowledge comes from the human soul. Man manifests
knowledge, discovers it within himself, which is pre-existing, through
eternity.
No one was ever really taught by another. Each of us has to
teach himself. The external teacher offers only the suggestion, which arouses
the internal teacher to work to understand things. Then things will be made
clearer to us by our own power of perception and thought, and we shall
realise them in our own souls. So is infinite power in the soul of man, whether
he knows it or not. Its manifestation is only a question of being conscious of
it.
You cannot teach a child any more than you can grow a plant. The
plant develops its own nature. The child also teaches itself. What you can do is
not of a positive nature but negative. You can take away the obstacles - loosen
the soil a little, put a hedge around for protection, plant the seed, provide
water periodically, supply earth, manure, remove weeds etc. There your work
stops. It will take all that it wants by its own nature. Same with the education
of the child. A child educates itself.. Within man is all knowledge, and it
requires only an awakening, and that much is the work of the teacher. In every
one there are infinite tendencies which require proper scope for satisfaction.
If you do not allow one to become a lion, one will become a fox.
We want
that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the
intellect is expanded and by which one can stand on one's own feet. The end of
all education, all training, should be man-making.
Concentration
There is
only one method to attain knowledge, and that is called 'Concentration'.
From the lowest man to the highest yogi, all have to use this same method. The
more the power of concentration, the greater the knowledge that is acquired.
This is true even in cooking, polishing, making money or in worshipping God. The
main difference between men and the animals is the difference in their powers of
concentration.This same power of concentration makes the difference between man
and man as well. When a professor gives a lecture, the students understand it
differently according to their respective degree of concentration. The power of
concentration is the only key to the treasure-house of knowledge. The practice
of meditation leads to mental concentration. This is the subject of study in
Rajayoga. Controlled desire leads to the highest results. What we want is this
Shraddha. What makes the difference between man and man is the difference in the
Shraddha and nothing else.
We are children of the Almighty, we are sparks
of the infinite, divine fire. We are everything. We can do everything. This
faith in themselves was in the heart of our ancestors. To preach the doctrine of
Shraddha should be the mission of our life.
The cause of all
apparent evil is in ourselves. Do not blame any supernatural being. We have
woven around ourselves the network of
Karma. Cry to all the Gods of the universe. Help will
come from within. We commit mistakes because we are weak. We are weak because we
are ignorant. Who makes us ignorant? We ourselves! We put our hands over our
eyes and weep that it is dark. Take the hands away and there is light. The light
exists always for us, the self-effulgent nature of the human soul. Continue to
exercise your will and it will take you higher. The will is almighty. What you
want is character, strengthening of the will. Bring in the light and the evil
goes in a momemt. Build up your character and manifest your real nature, the
Effulgent, the Resplendent, the Ever-Pure and call it up in every one you see.
