The Hindu : Everyone needs a mentor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 04, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Everyone needs a mentor

CHENNAI, FEB 4 . It is often said that an individual can succeed in any endeavour only if allowed the freedom to progress at his own pace. This is equally true of the spiritual quest. The extent of success rests on a particular person's temperament and ability. Offered the right environment, individual effort will fructify in a gradual manner over limitations that hinder one from getting closer to God. To a large extent, proper guidance is crucial to achieve one's stated objective.

In her lecture Smt. Sudha Seshian said that all human beings need a mentor in order that the lacuna in a seeker may be filled. Sage Sukha was universally hailed as having been blessed with true insight from his very birth. So pure was his nature that when he walked past the river, women continued bathing without inhibition. At the same time when Sukha's father and the doyen of wisdom, Sage Vyasa, walked along the banks women quickly turned modest and clothed themselves. The explanation by women that Sukha's mind was always turned towards higher things was very pleasing to the father. However, he did not desist from seeking out a worthy tutor for him — thus Sukha became a student of the seer, Janaka.

Only men of wisdom can be a tempering force for those starting out on their spiritual journey. The methodology of applying what is learnt to practical living has a bearing on the success quotient. When Ravana coveted Sita his behaviour became abhorrent. When he entered Sita's forest abode in the guise of a mendicant, Poet Kamban in his Ramayanam says the aversion was palpable. "The birds grew dumb, while beasts in terror crouched; and cobras stole away with shrunken hoods." Sita alone was unaware of his calumny, until he showed his true colours. His knowledge and devotion, which helped him in earlier escapades, deserted him.

When the demon king lifted Mount Kailash an incensed Siva pressed the mountain down. Entrapped by his own arrogance, the quick-witted Ravana immediately played his veena. An enchanted Siva gifted him with a sword. The ruler of Lanka was also the recipient of Brahma's grace, but his blind arrogance was his undoing. While asking for a boon from God, he unwittingly desired that none except man should defeat him, confident that no man on earth was equal to him. This paved the way for his annihilation and the establishment of the moral order by the Supreme Being, who manifested as Rama to vanquish him.

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