Graduation Day - Dismissal Blessings to the Graduates XII Grade 2023

Dear children, dear young men and women of Rajagiri,

As you complete one critical foundational phase of your education, we are proud to graduate you as Rajagirians

I hope you enjoyed this travel together where we traversed the domains of knowledge - hand-in-hand the student, the teacher, the parent walking together.

I am reminded of another graduation ceremony of the ancient Indian tradition.  Brhdarnyaka Upanishad 5.2.3 gives the dismissal mantra of the great guru and father, Prajapati to the disciples - humans, gods and asuras – on the completion of their training with him. To each of them, individually, he gives the final departing lesson. Da, Da, Da. (T.S. Eliot, in his famous work 'Wasteland', cites this in the concluding session as the thunderous revelation to humanity.)

The human understood Da as Datta - You have been given gifts, in turn share your goods, your talents, time. This is the mantra of 'charity', or more specifically, sharing. 

The deva (god) understood Da as Damyatam – You  are led by passions. Be self-controlled and disciplined – conquer yourself, and not others. This is the lesson of temperance. 

And the asura (demon?) understood Da as Dayadhvam – Over come your beastly nature and show daya. Be compassionate to those around you in this world.  Thus transcend your limitations and passions as humans.  Promote peace.

Understand that you are humans, you have unearthly cravings and bestial passions within you.  It is through sharing with others, caring compassionately for others and bearing oneself within limits that you become a true seeker, a human being of intellectual, humanitarian and aesthetic excellence.

Have good memories of the school and do come back. Be the ambassadors of what Rajagiri Stands for!

I have borrowed the blessings the Guru gives to his disciples after 12 years of training is completed and they are being sent out to face the world through the graduation ceremony named ‘Samavartanam’ or ‘Snana’ which means a ritual bath. It is from Taittiriya Upanishad, and I have tried to fit the same within Rajagiri value framework as departing blessings for you all :

As rightly pointed out in the graduate rajagirian’s oath you took, we hope you will live up to that everywhere, always

May you all, With trust in the All Powerful, the Merciful & Compassionate,

Never stop seeking knowledge, nay, wisdom, with passion,  

Being Rajagiri family, but also global family

While you care well for your family, may you care also for the larger family of the planet, vasudhaiva kutumbakam.

And especially, be compassionate for the suffering segments of that family.

May you walk in integrity of thought and action, accepting others as they are,

And yourself as you are, with accomplishments and inadequacies.

May you keep fitment with self, fellow human beings, the planet and God

And always trying to think beyond the box to make things better for all, but with a cheerful countenance.

May you speak the truth and do your duty (satyam vada, dharam cara)

And may your mother be god-like to you, may your father be god-like to you, and may your teacher be god-like to you; and may the unannounced stranger (guest) be god-like to you!

And may you have peace within you, and may you flourish peace around you!

Let there be peace, salaam, shanti!!

 

Speak the truth, do your duty, never swerve from the study of the Vedas, do not cut off the line of descendants in your family, after giving the Guru the fee he desires. Never err from truth, never fall from duty, never overlook your own welfare, never neglect your prosperity, never neglect the study and the propagation of the Vedas. Taittiriya Up. 1.11.1

शिष्यानुशासनम्
वेदमनूच्याचार्योन्तेवासिनमनुशास्ति ।
सत्यं वद । धर्मं चर । स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः ।
आचार्याय प्रियं धनमाहृत्य प्रजातन्तुं मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः ।
सत्यान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । धर्मान्न प्रमदितव्यम् ।
कुशलान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । भूत्यै न प्रमदितव्यम् ।
स्वाध्यायप्रवचनाभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम् ॥ १॥

 

May you Never swerve from your duties towards Gods and towards the departed souls (Manes). May the mother be, to thee, a God. May the father be to thee a God. May the Guru be to thee a God. May the guest be to thee a God.

Let only the actions that are free from blemishes be done – and not others. you must follow only those virtuous actions which are irreproachable – and not others.  Taittiriya Up. 1.11.2.

 

देवपितृकार्याभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम् । मातृदेवो भव ।
पितृदेवो भव । आचार्यदेवो भव । अतिथिदेवो भव ।
यान्यनवद्यानि कर्माणि । तानि सेवितव्यानि । नो इतराणि ।
यान्यस्माकꣳसुचरितानि । तानि त्वयोपास्यानि ।नो इतराणि ॥ २॥