Sri Sathya Sai Value Based Integral Education

All students at our Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions, spend 60% of their time on intellectual activities (primarily on their studies). The rest of the 40% of their time is spent almost equally on activities related to the Integral education; dimensions of Devotional, Cultural, Physical and Service, as highlighted below.

The diagram forms the basis of the system of Values-based Integral Education at our Institutions.
The base is the concept of a modern gurukula that sustains all relationships and activities at Saicharan Campus. It is responsible for creating and sustaining the congenial environment necessary for the teacher-student interaction to grow and develop.
Adherence to discipline and appropriate behaviour are the two important aspects that encompass all interactions.
The +ve human values of Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love and Non- violence form the undercurrent of all the dimensions of integral education.

These dimensions are: Intellectual, Physical, Cultural, Devotional and Service. The key activities for each of these dimensions form the basis of most of the time that students spend at Saicharan Campus.
The outcome of the system of Values-based Integral Education at Saicharan Campus is threefold. It prepares all students to be:

• Spiritually aware

• Socially responsible, and

• Professionally sound

During the inauguration of His first Educational institution at Ananthpur in 1968, Baba said in His Divine Discourse, “Educational field is like a bank that provides good citizens to the society. Providing good citizens to the society is the responsibility of the bank. If it fails to do so, then the bank goes
bankrupt. If the bank called education system turns bankrupt, it is a national tragedy.” If this bank is to be safeguarded from bankruptcy, it is possible only through Education in Human Values, the concept given by Swami.

What is education? What is the meaning and the purpose of education? What actually is to be taught in education? What is Education in Human Values? How to give it to children of all levels? How should the educational institutions be operated? What are the roles of teachers, students and parents? How to coordinate spiritual education with today’s modern education? Baba has mentioned such matters in His discourse. He has also penned an invaluable work Himself, called the ‘Vidya Vahini’ in His Vahini series.

Devotional Dimension

Bhajans (Sankirtan), Vedic chants and stotrams , Meditation & Silent sitting, Assembly ( School & colleges prayer). The activities of the devotional dimension enable a student to connect to his/her Divine inner Self. This inner connection opens the heart and brings forth the feeling of love, compassion and empathy for fellow human beings

Bhagawan has propogated many such universal and timeless messages. He laid the concept of holistic education to enrich our students physically, mentally, intellectually, emotionally, morally and spiritually through school education.

Swami advocated a holistic education that combines both basic education and modern education from Kindergarten (KG) to Post Graduate (PG) level. Instead of just speaking about them, He Himself set up model educational institutes at Brindavan, Puttaparthi, Anantapur and Bangalore. These institutions are functioning as exemplars for the world by providing free education from KG to PG.

He founded not only schools and colleges but also a Deemed University. Through His educational institutions, He set an ideal not only for schools and colleges, but also how the universities should operate. That is why the NAAC committee has openly commended in its report that Sri Sathya Sai Deemed University is the model for all the universities in the country. All these institutions are being managed by the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust in an
excellent manner.

This system of education blessed by Sri Sathya Sai Baba is called Ideals of Sri Sathya Sai Education. Jnanpeeth Awardee litterateur Dr. V.K Gokak has written a book on this and introduced the ideals of Sri Sathya Sai to the world.

All these messages are the beacons to the education sector of the world. In this light, hundreds of Sri Sathya Sai schools were opened not only in India but also in many parts of the world with the blessings of Bhagawan Baba. Baba’s guideline is that every Sathya Sai school should function as an exemplary lighthouse.

During the inauguration of His first Educational institution at Ananthpur in 1968, Baba said in His Divine Discourse, “Educational field is like a bank that provides good citizens to the society. Providing good citizens to the society is the responsibility of the bank. If it fails to do so, then the bank goes
bankrupt. If the bank called education system turns bankrupt, it is a national tragedy.” If this bank is to be safeguarded from bankruptcy, it is possible only through Education in Human Values, the concept given by Swami.

What is education? What is the meaning and the purpose of education? What actually is to be taught in education? What is Education in Human Values? How to give it to children of all levels? How should the educational institutions be operated? What are the roles of teachers, students and parents? How to coordinate spiritual education with today’s modern education? Baba has mentioned such matters in His discourse. He has also penned an invaluable work Himself, called the ‘Vidya Vahini’ in His Vahini series.

Physical Dimension

Sports, Games, Jogging, Exercises and Yogasanas, Annual Sports & Cultural Meet Sports and games are a part of the daily routine of all students. From yoga classes to fitness training, from team sports to individual sports, students are encouraged to overcome their limitations and excel in these activities. The Sai Charan Campus has excellent sports facilities.

Bhagawan has propogated many such universal and timeless messages. He laid the concept of holistic education to enrich our students physically, mentally, intellectually, emotionally, morally and spiritually through school education.

Swami advocated a holistic education that combines both basic education and modern education from Kindergarten (KG) to Post Graduate (PG) level. Instead of just speaking about them, He Himself set up model educational institutes at Brindavan, Puttaparthi, Anantapur and Bangalore. These institutions are functioning as exemplars for the world by providing free education from KG to PG.

He founded not only schools and colleges but also a Deemed University. Through His educational institutions, He set an ideal not only for schools and colleges, but also how the universities should operate. That is why the NAAC committee has openly commended in its report that Sri Sathya Sai Deemed University is the model for all the universities in the country. All these institutions are being managed by the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust in an
excellent manner.

This system of education blessed by Sri Sathya Sai Baba is called Ideals of Sri Sathya Sai Education. Jnanpeeth Awardee litterateur Dr. V.K Gokak has written a book on this and introduced the ideals of Sri Sathya Sai to the world.

All these messages are the beacons to the education sector of the world. In this light, hundreds of Sri Sathya Sai schools were opened not only in India but also in many parts of the world with the blessings of Bhagawan Baba. Baba’s guideline is that every Sathya Sai school should function as an exemplary lighthouse.

Intellectual Dimension

Apart from academics and research, the activities in this dimension include: Awareness Courses These mandatory courses are designed to cultivate a broad view of the human condition in students. The course content helps trigger self-reflection and enquiry and sensitises students to the concerns of society, and gets them to think about practical solutions to these problems. Thursday Bhajans and Moral Class At each Institution, regular inspiring and ennobling talks by speakers focusing on their personal spiritual experiences, messages from sacred scriptures and other elevated and socially relevant themes. It is also used to highlight students’ talents in music, dramatics, elocution, debates, quizzes, etc. Silent Sitting Classes every morning before classes commence at the school and Prayer at Hostel and all students and teachers gather for the morning assembly in all Institutions.

During the inauguration of His first Educational institution at Ananthpur in 1968, Baba said in His Divine Discourse, “Educational field is like a bank that provides good citizens to the society. Providing good citizens to the society is the responsibility of the bank. If it fails to do so, then the bank goes
bankrupt. If the bank called education system turns bankrupt, it is a national tragedy.” If this bank is to be safeguarded from bankruptcy, it is possible only through Education in Human Values, the concept given by Swami.

What is education? What is the meaning and the purpose of education? What actually is to be taught in education? What is Education in Human Values? How to give it to children of all levels? How should the educational institutions be operated? What are the roles of teachers, students and parents? How to coordinate spiritual education with today’s modern education? Baba has mentioned such matters in His discourse. He has also penned an invaluable work Himself, called the ‘Vidya Vahini’ in His Vahini series.