acharyas

[Guest guest]

On following the thread on respect for the acharya etc. I feel compelled to

make the following points:

 

I do not think it is wrong to inquire humbly from learned acharyas. However,

asking questions to either discomfit them or in order to demonstrate learning

is not appropriate.

 

Here is one translation from Sri Ramanuja's Gita Bhashya (Verse 4:34) that I

have come across:

 

.......So engaged in appropriate actions, you can learn, according to the

maturity

of your competence, this wisdom from the wise, who will explain it to you,

if you

attend on them through prostrating and questioning and by serving them. The

wise are those who have immediate apprehension (or vision) of the true nature

of the self. Having been honored by you through prostration (etc) and observing

your mental disposition characterized by desire for knowledge which you have

evinced by your questions, they will teach you this knowledge.

 

I have also known a person who was chastised by Azhagiya Shingar for getting

too close to him during the performance of Samasrayanam. The person accepted

this thinking it was justified because he was indeed not worthy. That

very afternoon on going back to meet the Jeer, he got the privilege of close

association with the Jeer. The persons understanding of these two incidents

was that Lord Narayana had tested the strength of his desire on his first visit.

 

Of course, time and again I have been reminded of how difficult a virtue

humility

is, to practice

 

regards

srini kuthalam