A students humility.

[Guest guest]

I have a question that has been bothering me. I once attended a

Bhagavat Gita class in my area. It was more of a guided group

discussion. During that class we were discussing a certain passage

(the passage escapes me at the moment) and I offered my interpretation

of it. Now mind you I was very nervous about speaking in front of a

group and my words didn't exactly match what I was thinking about.

After I finished there was a moment of silence then the person leading

the group abruptly told me I was wrong and moved on to someone else. I

was embarrassed and offended by his actions. Which leads me to my

question: Is it my role as a student to humble myself and not to take

such actions to heart, or should I look elsewhere for a more sensitive

teacher? Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.

Jai Maa,

Ryan

[Guest guest]

Namaste Ryan,

 

a very warm welcome to you! Thank you for your question, which I find

very interesting. Here's what I think:

 

I can understand your nervousness in the situation you describe,

because it is very difficult in a discussion-type setting to find the

right words to express your thoughts clearly. Often there is not much

time to reflect and I think most of us have had the experience the

words that came out were not at all the words we would have liked to

have said when we think about it later (and that also happens when you

post:). Also I feel that, when discussing spritual texts, the goal is

not to express a final opinion or give a definite interpretation, but

rather to make a contribution to a group effort: members of the group

help each other to reach a deeper understanding by listening to

different points of view and learn from each other. Any leader of a

discussion group should take into consideration that it takes courage

to speak out and that every point of view deserves to be taken

seriously. So I feel the leader of the discussion group you were part

of showed a lack of appreciation and kindness. These are both

qualities which anyone who takes it upon him/herself to lead/teach

should have in abundance.

Now, about humility: I think there is a difference between being

dismissed and being corrected. Of course, we can all make mistakes and

sometimes we are simply wrong. If we read 'might' where it says

'night', chances are that our interpretation is not worth much, and

when a mistake like that is pointed out to us, we should be grateful

because it saves us time and embarassment later on. But I don't think

you would have had a problem with that. You probably also don't have a

problem with the idea that maybe your interpretation was not as

helpful as you thought it was. But if a supposed teacher tells you

you're wrong without explaining why or without offering an

alternative, he/she is not teaching you anything. Instead of making

things clearer, this person spreads confusion and darkness. When

looking for guidance, I don't think this kind of teacher is a wise

choice. Humility can also be found in the admittance we took a wrong

turn and look somewhere else. A true teacher, a true guru, is one who

'gives rise to the light by which illumination is known', not someone

who takes delight in seeing you groping in the dark or who is lost

him/herself.

Of course, it is not easy to find such a teacher. I personally think

you have come to the right address. And the best reason I can give you

for my conviction is this: more important than the student's humility

is the humility of the teacher. Because it is the teacher's humility

that is truly humbling. And the greater the teacher, the more true

this is. Swamiji is a truly great teacher because his teaching gives

rise to your own wisdom. He never dismisses an interpretation

unkindly; rather, he appreciates the contribution and suggests yet

another way of looking at the matter (which you will find is much

richer in meaning than the one you yourself thought of). From his

treasure-house of knowledge, he produces answers to all questions,

and, should he not have what is asked for, he will say so. His

knowledge is not book-knowledge which can only be repeated. His

knowledge is living experience, which can be sown and produce fruit in

people's hearts. Please allow me to share a personal experience: I

recently sent a question to the online class. When I later heard my

question, accompanied by my lengthy introduction (which was actually

an answer of my own), being read out and saw Swamiji listening with

the most gentle patience, I literally cringed in my chair. Without

saying anything (in fact he gave the question great consideration) he

taught me I could have asked with more humility. It was his own

selflessness, his own humility which taught me this. When I look at

Swamiji and Shree Maa I feel small and great at the same time:)

 

I bow to the true Teachers,

 

with love,

Henny

 

 

 

 

 

 

, "grajft" <ryangra wrote:

>

> I have a question that has been bothering me. I once attended a

> Bhagavat Gita class in my area. It was more of a guided group

> discussion. During that class we were discussing a certain passage

> (the passage escapes me at the moment) and I offered my

interpretation

> of it. Now mind you I was very nervous about speaking in front of a

> group and my words didn't exactly match what I was thinking about.

> After I finished there was a moment of silence then the person

leading

> the group abruptly told me I was wrong and moved on to someone else.

I

> was embarrassed and offended by his actions. Which leads me to my

> question: Is it my role as a student to humble myself and not to

take

> such actions to heart, or should I look elsewhere for a more

sensitive

> teacher? Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.

> Jai Maa,

> Ryan

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Ryan,

 

Welcome!

 

Well, I think it depends on the situation. Without having been there

myself, I can't really advise you properly.

 

There may be many reasons the teacher answered you as he did. He may

have misunderstood your intentions and thought you were being

egotistical; he may have been rushed to get through the rest of the

text; he may have been caught off guard and unable to quickly relate

your comments to the flow of the discussion; he may have simply not

understood what you were saying. You will have to search your own

heart and mind for the truth.

 

There are not many spiritual teachers who can see into the hearts and

minds of their students. Shree Maa and Swamiji are of those who can,

but most are nearly as blind as the rest of us. To those we must make

some allowance, giving them the benefit of the doubt that they are

doing the best they can. However, if the teacher is simply rude and

filled with egotism, I think we should still accord them the

compassionate respect that they are doing their best, but we should

also get away as quickly as our legs will carry us.

 

Jai Maa!

Chris

 

 

 

 

 

, "grajft" <ryangra wrote:

>

> I have a question that has been bothering me. I once attended a

> Bhagavat Gita class in my area. It was more of a guided group

> discussion. During that class we were discussing a certain passage

> (the passage escapes me at the moment) and I offered my interpretation

> of it. Now mind you I was very nervous about speaking in front of a

> group and my words didn't exactly match what I was thinking about.

> After I finished there was a moment of silence then the person leading

> the group abruptly told me I was wrong and moved on to someone else. I

> was embarrassed and offended by his actions. Which leads me to my

> question: Is it my role as a student to humble myself and not to take

> such actions to heart, or should I look elsewhere for a more sensitive

> teacher? Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.

> Jai Maa,

> Ryan

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for such a thorough response! I feel much better about the

whole situation and no longer blame myself for his reaction. Thanks

for the boost I am glad I asked.

 

, "henny_v_i" <henny_v_i wrote:

>

> Namaste Ryan,

>

> a very warm welcome to you! Thank you for your question, which I find

> very interesting. Here's what I think:

>

> I can understand your nervousness in the situation you describe,

> because it is very difficult in a discussion-type setting to find the

> right words to express your thoughts clearly. Often there is not much

> time to reflect and I think most of us have had the experience the

> words that came out were not at all the words we would have liked to

> have said when we think about it later (and that also happens when you

> post:). Also I feel that, when discussing spritual texts, the goal is

> not to express a final opinion or give a definite interpretation, but

> rather to make a contribution to a group effort: members of the group

> help each other to reach a deeper understanding by listening to

> different points of view and learn from each other. Any leader of a

> discussion group should take into consideration that it takes courage

> to speak out and that every point of view deserves to be taken

> seriously. So I feel the leader of the discussion group you were part

> of showed a lack of appreciation and kindness. These are both

> qualities which anyone who takes it upon him/herself to lead/teach

> should have in abundance.

> Now, about humility: I think there is a difference between being

> dismissed and being corrected. Of course, we can all make mistakes and

> sometimes we are simply wrong. If we read 'might' where it says

> 'night', chances are that our interpretation is not worth much, and

> when a mistake like that is pointed out to us, we should be grateful

> because it saves us time and embarassment later on. But I don't think

> you would have had a problem with that. You probably also don't have a

> problem with the idea that maybe your interpretation was not as

> helpful as you thought it was. But if a supposed teacher tells you

> you're wrong without explaining why or without offering an

> alternative, he/she is not teaching you anything. Instead of making

> things clearer, this person spreads confusion and darkness. When

> looking for guidance, I don't think this kind of teacher is a wise

> choice. Humility can also be found in the admittance we took a wrong

> turn and look somewhere else. A true teacher, a true guru, is one who

> 'gives rise to the light by which illumination is known', not someone

> who takes delight in seeing you groping in the dark or who is lost

> him/herself.

> Of course, it is not easy to find such a teacher. I personally think

> you have come to the right address. And the best reason I can give you

> for my conviction is this: more important than the student's humility

> is the humility of the teacher. Because it is the teacher's humility

> that is truly humbling. And the greater the teacher, the more true

> this is. Swamiji is a truly great teacher because his teaching gives

> rise to your own wisdom. He never dismisses an interpretation

> unkindly; rather, he appreciates the contribution and suggests yet

> another way of looking at the matter (which you will find is much

> richer in meaning than the one you yourself thought of). From his

> treasure-house of knowledge, he produces answers to all questions,

> and, should he not have what is asked for, he will say so. His

> knowledge is not book-knowledge which can only be repeated. His

> knowledge is living experience, which can be sown and produce fruit in

> people's hearts. Please allow me to share a personal experience: I

> recently sent a question to the online class. When I later heard my

> question, accompanied by my lengthy introduction (which was actually

> an answer of my own), being read out and saw Swamiji listening with

> the most gentle patience, I literally cringed in my chair. Without

> saying anything (in fact he gave the question great consideration) he

> taught me I could have asked with more humility. It was his own

> selflessness, his own humility which taught me this. When I look at

> Swamiji and Shree Maa I feel small and great at the same time:)

>

> I bow to the true Teachers,

>

> with love,

> Henny

>

>

>

>

>

>

> , "grajft" <ryangra@> wrote:

> >

> > I have a question that has been bothering me. I once attended a

> > Bhagavat Gita class in my area. It was more of a guided group

> > discussion. During that class we were discussing a certain passage

> > (the passage escapes me at the moment) and I offered my

> interpretation

> > of it. Now mind you I was very nervous about speaking in front of a

> > group and my words didn't exactly match what I was thinking about.

> > After I finished there was a moment of silence then the person

> leading

> > the group abruptly told me I was wrong and moved on to someone else.

> I

> > was embarrassed and offended by his actions. Which leads me to my

> > question: Is it my role as a student to humble myself and not to

> take

> > such actions to heart, or should I look elsewhere for a more

> sensitive

> > teacher? Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.

> > Jai Maa,

> > Ryan

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Those are some good points. I guess it would be impossible to know for

sure what was going on inside his head without asking him. Maybe he

did think I was being egotistical, I do tend to raise my voice when I

am nervous. Either way I was left feeling less than, and although I

can forgive him for his actions, I don't want to subject myself to it

again. You brought up a good point that he was doing the best that he

could at the moment and I will keep that in mind. Thanks

 

, "Chris Kirner"

<chriskirner1956 wrote:

>

> Hi Ryan,

>

> Welcome!

>

> Well, I think it depends on the situation. Without having been there

> myself, I can't really advise you properly.

>

> There may be many reasons the teacher answered you as he did. He may

> have misunderstood your intentions and thought you were being

> egotistical; he may have been rushed to get through the rest of the

> text; he may have been caught off guard and unable to quickly relate

> your comments to the flow of the discussion; he may have simply not

> understood what you were saying. You will have to search your own

> heart and mind for the truth.

>

> There are not many spiritual teachers who can see into the hearts and

> minds of their students. Shree Maa and Swamiji are of those who can,

> but most are nearly as blind as the rest of us. To those we must make

> some allowance, giving them the benefit of the doubt that they are

> doing the best they can. However, if the teacher is simply rude and

> filled with egotism, I think we should still accord them the

> compassionate respect that they are doing their best, but we should

> also get away as quickly as our legs will carry us.

>

> Jai Maa!

> Chris

>

>

>

>

>

> , "grajft" <ryangra@> wrote:

> >

> > I have a question that has been bothering me. I once attended a

> > Bhagavat Gita class in my area. It was more of a guided group

> > discussion. During that class we were discussing a certain passage

> > (the passage escapes me at the moment) and I offered my interpretation

> > of it. Now mind you I was very nervous about speaking in front of a

> > group and my words didn't exactly match what I was thinking about.

> > After I finished there was a moment of silence then the person leading

> > the group abruptly told me I was wrong and moved on to someone else. I

> > was embarrassed and offended by his actions. Which leads me to my

> > question: Is it my role as a student to humble myself and not to take

> > such actions to heart, or should I look elsewhere for a more sensitive

> > teacher? Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.

> > Jai Maa,

> > Ryan

> >

>