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When the teacher is a shepherd
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A teacher is likened to God. Does the teacher meet the expectations?
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PHOTO K.K MUSTAFAH
LEAD KINDLY LIGHT Education for the soul
The sonorous Sanskrit chant, Acharya devo bhava is heard from everyone who speaks at the `Teachers' Day' celebration today (September 5). The teacher thus had a unique place in ancient India. He is likened to God. Quite logically so. Two things contributed to his luminous and lofty image. Firstly, he was held as a spiritual intellect and a leader. The number of books in those days was small. Probably, no one scholar had with him as many books as a primary school child carries in his heavy bulging bag! The ancient Indian teacher was then a thorough master in the knowledge available at the time. And most of it was religious. His students were sishyas, disciples who were taught the best of disciplines Brahma charya. Gandhiji considered brahmacharya as synonymous with `Satyagraha'. He said a satyagrahi is almost `a perfect man' who meticulously followed `God's Constitution'. The ancient Indian guru taught his sishyas, brahma charya which literally means God-action. He taught doing and being like God, wherein lies the soul's perfection. The end result of this was not merely spiritual orientation, but a dynamic spiritual preoccupation and aspiration, which from the ashram spread to all society.
The aims of education as well as the mission of the teacher today are far different and somewhat diametrically opposed to the earlier days. The present day aims are valid in themselves. The pragmatic aims of economic well-being and social uplift through education are necessary and laudable for the earthly good of humanity. Today's teacher has to achieve formation for the student for various arts and professions. But the teacher will be a mere robot if he limits his teaching only to this mundane aim without inspiring and helping the student to the love and pursuit of excellence. Sages down the centuries have identified this greatest good as realising oneness or union with god. One can stretch its limit much higher. Said the great intellectual and theologist St. Augustine, referring to Jesus, "God has become man, so that man can become God." Today's teacher may feel like an alien to this mission, but nothing should prevent him/her from lighting a spark and igniting the spirit of the students. He should not be content with merely feeding and filling the mind of the pupil. The pupil should be fostered in the ability to integrate all the knowledge at his command and integrate it with the greatest good he is after.
On the Teachers' Day, society should extend encouragement and support to the teacher to succeed in this aspiration.
B.F. SHOWRAYYA
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