ITHACA, N.Y. -- Drawing from her life's journey and from ancient Indian scriptures, Uma Saini offered five simple lessons, from developing a positive attitude to living in unity, to the 2005 graduating class in her baccalaureate address before Commencement ceremonies on Sunday morning, May 29. 

The interfaith baccalaureate service, held this year in the Statler Hall auditorium, honors graduating students, especially those who have achieved academic excellence and have provided community service. In past years, speakers of various beliefs and ethnic backgrounds have addressed the students. This year's baccalaureate service speaker was the first with a background in Eastern religions. 

Saini, who was introduced by President Jeffrey S. Lehman, is an ordained minister in the Vedic faith, the author of five books on the faith and the Hindi language and a Vedic Friend at Johns Hopkins University's Interfaith Center. She also is director of the Language Teacher Center and instructor in Hindi at Johns Hopkins. 

Saini began her address, "From One to Many, and From Many to One," by translating her favorite mantra from the Vedas, the ancient scriptures of Hindu teachings: "Just as the sun and the moon are beneficial to mankind without wanting anything in return, so may I be helpful to others by seeking the company and friendship of learned and good people." 

Reflecting on the number of responsibilities people gain and lose in life as they grow older, Saini told the graduates, "No longer will your own happiness be the most important thing in your life. The happiness, comfort and joy of many other individuals will become paramount." She urged the graduates to embrace their new roles in society.

To prepare the graduates for their new responsibilities, Saini offered five lessons: Cultivate virtues of a good human being, choose a profession that you love, maintain a positive attitude, count your blessings and live with each other in unity.

She advised the graduates to practice patience: "It is the key to all other virtues. Patience will lead you to compassion and forgiveness. Listen to your inner voice and answer to your own conscience. Truth in thought, word and deed." Again quoting from the Vedas, she noted that the cultivation of good virtues "will separate you as human beings."

Emphasizing the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, Saini recounted a story, told by her father, about putting carrots, eggs and coffee beans in boiling water. "Each of the objects faced the same adversity of being in the boiling water. However, each had reacted differently," said Saini. The carrots that went in strong became weak; the fragile eggs became hardened; and the coffee beans "changed the water instead of being changed themselves." Comparing the coffee beans to an indefatigably positive attitude, Saini urged the graduates, "when the hour is the darkest and the hardships seem insurmountable, elevate yourself to another level. Change the situation around you."

She said, "By whatever name you call the highest power, you must be connected to it. And she asked the graduates to praise their blessings every day. In particular, she stressed the importance for making time "to savor the simple things that cost nothing, but bring one such joy."

Finally Saini talked about living in harmony regardless of society's many differences. "How wonderful this world would be if we could live with each other in unity without needing such calamities to unite us," from the 9-11 attack to the December tsunami in Southeast Asia, she said.

Alex Kwan is a writer intern at the Cornell News Service.