The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Hallmark of a true teacher

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 20, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Hallmark of a true teacher

CHENNAI, DEC. 20. In the course of one's life there comes a stage when the desire to attain `moksha' takes root in a person. However, such a spiritual quest for a direct vision of God, subsequently leading up to an eternal state of divine service, is not an easy task. It calls for intense devotion, adherence to prescribed daily rituals and other modes of worship, acquisition of knowledge and detachment from sensory attachment. Not all can experience God the way the Azhwars did. Their mysticism was of such a high order that they often expounded their devotional philosophy throughpowerful imagery. One may ask why these divine bards often imagined themselves as a maiden, mother, father and lover? Scholars state that such references go back to the Vedas, and epics and puranas, which are replete with examples of loving portrayal of God as if he were a relative. Envisioning their separation from God, saints such as Nammazhwar often conveyed their pathos through birds and other objects of nature as their couriers, said Sri. K.B. Devarajan. Such lyrical imagery, however, represents preceptors who act as a bridge between man and God. While there are many ways to reach Him — devotion, knowledge, duty and surrender — one can also attain one's goal through a preceptor. A scholar, after a study of Vibhishana's total surrender to Rama, wondered at his own fate since the refugee met with strong opposition from others in the camp, despite the fact that he had relinquished everything. However, he was consoled by a wise manadvising him to follow his guru — who was himself walking the path delineated by his teacher — with the lineage going up to Goddess Lakshmi, who is held to be the prime teacher of them all. Acharyas are not merely dispensers of knowledge, nor do they show the way to unwilling or unprepared students. Their own humility is a lesson in itself. A true teacher, while holding himself as nothing more than a tool of his own guide, will always refer to the pupil as the school's (asrama) student and not as `his.' It does not behove a man of wisdom to say, "I am serving the Lord.'

How do teachers guide? Our ancestors have shown us the wisdom by making examples of human folly. A young boy was once caught by his teacher while he was trying to knock down the moon with his stick. The teacher advised him to first raise himself up (literally and metaphorically) before attempting such feats. The spoken commandments of a guru may appear hard initially but despite hardship it will result in victory.

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