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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
509
By honouring the 'Guru' in this manner 'Guru' is pleased and he explains mysterious secrets of the scriptures. There is a popular saying that no knowledge can be obtained without 'Vinaya' (Discipline). One must entertain honour and respect for the teacher who imparts learning, but what is the present state of affairs? It is possible that formalities undergo change with the change of times; but respect for the teachers must be maintained. Students of good culture are not expected to fix up pins on the teacher's chair, or throw chalk sticks at the back of the teacher or make shoe noise when the teacher writes on the black-board !
You can imagine the calibre of knowledge imparted when the teacher is treated in such manner.
A learned man is also to be respected in the manner in which a teacher is respected.
A student seeking knowledge is to be respected in three ways (1) He should be given books properly edited. In modern times books were hand written and so many mistakes occurred in the manuscript hence the existence of such rule. (2) A student should be given original aphorism and usual method of interpretation. (3) A student should be given food and place of shelter. If students are respected in this manner their number would certainly multiply fast and the society would enrich with knowledge. Society wherein the learned are honoured and respected, makes appreciable progress in no time. A learned man should observe discipline in eight manners : I. He should study aphorisms and their meaning with the help
of 'upadhana' etc. We shall discuss later about Upadhana. 2. According to prescribed form, he should impart aphorisms
to others and should reflect seriously on the meaning. 3. He should observe rules and regulations as declared in the
holy texts. 4. He should write books himself. 5. He should get books written by others. 6. He should revise and correct the books written. 7. He should worship knowledge with fragrant materials like
camphor etc. 8. He should observe penance on 'Gnan Panchami' and should
perform completion ceremony to the best of his capacity.