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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
SHRUTSAGAR
January-2020 Awakening
Acharya Padmasagarsuri (from past issue...)
The Teacher and the Disciple 'गु' शब्दस्त्वन्धकारस्याद 'रु' शब्दस्तन्निरोधकः। अन्धकार निरोधित्वाद् गुरुरित्यभिधीयते ॥ ‘Gu’ sabdastwandakarsyad “Ru’ sabdastannirodakah AndhakaranirodhithwadGururityabhidhiyate
The sound “Gu” means darkness; and the sound, “Ru” means one who dispels it. We give the title Guru to a person who expels the darkness of ignorance
What does a blind man want? If anyone can give eye-sight to a blind man, he will be grateful to him throughout his life. The teacher performs the task of opening the mental eyes of his disciples. Hence he deserves the highest veneration.
अज्ञान-तिमिरान्धानाम् ज्ञानाञ्जन शलाकया। चक्षुरुन्मीलितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥ Ajnana timirandhanam Jnananjana salakaya Chakshurunmilitam yena Tasmai Sri Gurave namah
We worship him as our teacher who opens with the collyrium-stick of knowledge the mental eyes of one who is mentally blind or ignorant.
The teacher must possess knowledge. Moreover, his actions and conduct also should be noble. He must act in accordance with his precepts; otherwise, he is not a true teacher according to the exponents of Shastras. He may feel happy and elated thinking that he is a teacher because he can deliver pompous discourses, but if he does not act according to his precepts, he cannot occupy the high place of a teacher.
Such teachers would repent in future. Mahatma Kabir has given a warning to such people in these words:
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