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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
82
teacher's preaching is a tonic which makes the spiritual life of a disciple full, perfect and mature. On account of the teacher's precepts man becomes great and can walk upon the path shown by the Lord; and he can also attain the place of Lordship spiritually. The divinity that lies latent in a man manifests itself on account of his contact with a teacher. Even in the absence of the teacher, the disciple's devotion for his teacher keeps carrying out its task of giving light to him.
Dronacharya could not accept Ekalavya as his disciple because he was a forest-dweller and not a Kshathriya; but Ekalavya was not disappointed by Dronacharya's refusal to take him as his disciple. He made an image of Dronacharya out of clay and erected it in the forest. He began learning the art of archery guided by the voice of his soul deeming it the voice of his teacher. The result was that Ekalavya became a greater archer than Arjuna, the favourite disciple of Dronacharya. When Dronacharya witnessed his skill in archery, he was greatly amazed.
This incomparable story from the Mahabharatha illustrates the point that we can perform wonders and miracles by virtue of our devotion for our teacher.
But no one should have the illusion that he can achieve spiritual progress in life by means of shallow devotion. In addition to having devotion for the
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