Teacher and Students

This is a prayer from the Upanishads. The students are advised before every session that education is a shared experience and the slightest tinge of anger between the teacher and the taught contaminates the gift, the giver and the receiver.

We (teacher and the taught) pray that we should grow together in spiritual wisdom, and spread together the light that we have gained from our studies. We also pray that we should live in harmony without discord and promote in harmony, the use of our talents and skills.

Teachers and Students must have mutual respect

The training of the senses and emotions (sikshana) is a process in which the teacher and the taught cooperate, and it must be a pleasant experience for both, a useful and a heartening endeavor. Kshana means a second, and I want you to learn a good lesson every second of your life. For Example, when the teacher enters the classroom, children should salute him, that is a lesson in humility, in respecting age and scholarship, in gratitude for services rendered. The teacher too should decide to deserve the salutations of the children entrusted to his care by sincere work and selfless service.

The student should not respect the teacher through fear, but be moved more by love. The teacher should avoid all methods that frighten or terrorize. Education is a slow process like the unfolding of a flower, the fragrance becoming deeper and more perceptible with the silent blossoming, petal by petal of the entire flower. The unfolding will be helped if the teacher is a fine example of wisdom (viveka), humility, discipline and discrimination, rather than a person engaged in the task of mere repetitive teaching and coaching for examinations. Example, not precept, is the best teaching aid.

[Ref:Sathya Sai Speaks vol 1]