Students should focus on Inner Strength, said Swami Sarvapriyananda at RV University
Bengaluru : If you want success in life, then strength is necessary, said Swami Sarvapriyanandaji Maharaj, Minister of the Vedanta Society of New York, during his address to the students and faculty at RV University on the topic of ‘Value Oriented Education’. During his talk, he emphasized the importance of faith and unlimited inner-strength in one’s life. He also referred to the current mental health crises faced by the younger generation around the world and proposed that practicing any form of spiritual activity would help people deal better with mental health challenges.
His talk was followed by a lively interactive session between Swami Sarvapriyananda and the students who raised questions around the caste system, rituals, relationships and understanding spirituality in today’s time.
Swami Sarvapriyanandaji Maharaj during his discourse said, “India has the richest heritage when it comes to spirituality but we have failed to preserve it. At least this generation should cultivate it and update it going forward. It gives me a lot of satisfaction to know about the plan RV University has for The School of Liberal Arts, because Humanities as a subject is as important as Engineering or Medicine in today’s world. Students all around the world ought to be taught about the inner art of living while universities provide them with technical knowledge.”
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. (Dr) YSR Murthy, Vice Chancellor, RV University said, “Being a proud alumnus of Sri Ramakrishna Mission educational institutions, I am deeply grateful for the values and the learning taught to me during my formative years. All of us are looking for answers to questions about our true purpose in this world and our success in life is well-knit with finding the right answers to these questions. Education is not merely an acquisition of knowledge and skills but is ‘Education for Life’.”
Dr. Sanjay Chitnis, Dean, School of Computer Science and Engineering, said that this talk made students realize the value of holistic liberal education and helped them to get started on their journey of self-exploration to live in harmony with oneself, family, community and nature.
Swami Sarvapriyananda ji has delivered talks at various platforms and international forums such as TEDx, SAND, Google Talks, including the World Parliament of Religions in Toronto, and at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. He has also been invited to speak at several universities across the world, including Harvard University.