(photo source)
Twenty-four years ago today, I never thought I would be invited to meet the President of the United States and his family at the White House. Far from coming to the University of Miami to give students an idea of my work, getting a visa to the United States was an unrealistic fantasy. But today I am pursuing an honorary doctorate from the University of Miami. I'm really grateful.
My relationship with this university is about 10 years. There are many students here who have made my tune a part of their lives despite being the bearers and carriers of a completely different culture. I was really overwhelmed to see them. The experience here has given me the courage to set up a 'Western Classical Observatory' in India. Coming here today, I remember a lot of pieces.
First, learn from travel. I always tell the mind, whatever is found along the way, it must be seen with a generous eye, must be accepted. Before we go anywhere we have more or less an idea of everything. But we have to understand that every human being has his own characteristics, thoughts and uniqueness. There are many underlying mysteries of a place, which we can never grasp unless we observe them physically, with our own eyes, with an open mind. There is no substitute for real experience in knowing these truths.
Second, never come to a hasty conclusion. This is especially important when we think of human beings. There is a different story behind all the stories, just like the back and forth of a coin can be completely different. The same is true of human beings. We must always look for the inner beauty of man and evaluate it properly. This policy even applies to any place, institution or art. If we learn to look a little deeper with the eyes of the mind, without taking the external appearance as final, and make a little slower decision, then I believe that half of our problems will not exist.