One of the most important and integral activities of the Organisation is the Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas which is undertaken by the Education Wing
Sri Sathya Sai Baba says, “True Education is not for mere living, but for a fuller and meaningful life” He further says, “Education is not acquisition of burdensome information regarding objects and men. It is the awareness of the immortal spirit within, which is the spring of joy, peace and courage.” He emphasises that True education does not mean imparting of bookish knowledge alone. It is a process of blossoming of human excellence which is reflected in form of character of the educated.
Thus, character is the most precious gift of education and virtues alone reveal the outcome of true education. Unfortunately, modern education disregards this aspect of education and concentrates merely on the head of the pupil while forgetting the heart!
It is with this objective of inculcating values by cultivating the hearts of innocentchildren that Sri Sathya Sai Baba started the Bal Vikas program, the ideal of which as proclaimed by Him is “to raise a generation of boys and girls who have a clean and clear conscience”. Expounding the bigger motive behind the Bal Vikas, he declared that “the Bal Vikas is the primary basis of the great movement to restore dharma (righteousness) in the world. The elders are far gone in their ways, and it is difficult to expect change in their habits and attitudes.Children have to be led into good ways of living, into simplicity, humility and discipline.”
Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas classes are conducted in a non-formal environment by trained individuals who are normally referred as the Bal Vikas Gurus. These classes have the main objective of initiating the child into a course of character building by developing self-discipline, providing healthy association and inculcating the five basic human values of truth, righteousness,peace, love and non-violence in children.The course is spread over a duration of nine years with three groups of three years each.The classes are generally held weekly for a duration of 60 to 90 minutes.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba also stated that the Bal Vikas is equally beneficial for the Guru as well. He said that “the Bal Vikas is devised not merely for the education of the children but also of the Gurus. The Bal Vikas chores are bound to elevate and sublimate the thoughts and emotions of the Gurus far better than any other saadhana (spiritual discipline) can. Remember that as Gurus, you too have a Guru guiding you and overseeing your seva (service). So you too are pupils, and you too learn the lessons of equality, equanimity and selfless love while acting as Gurus.”•