Some Thoughts on The National Teacher's Day, 5th September

Every year, India celebrates September 5, the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, as National Teachers’ Day. 

According to media reports, it is believed that while Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was serving as the second President of India in 1962, his students approached him to seek permission to celebrate his birthday – September 5 – as a special day. To this, he instead made a request to observe September 5 as Teachers’ Day, to recognize the contribution of teachers to society.

This is the genesis of the Teacher’s Day in India.

Hindu Sanatana culture is filled with teachings that help enlighten students and teachers alike to follow paths that can help a civilized society.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A STUDENT:

In Shrimad Bhagavat Gita, Shree Krishna, in one of the verses (4:33) tells Arjun that it is good to do physical acts, ritualistic ceremonies, fasts, mantra chants, holy pilgrimages, but if they are not performed with knowledge, they remain mere physical activities. Such mechanical activities are not sufficient to purify the mind.

श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञ: परन्तप |
सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते ||4:33||

[1.1] The point now is how to achieve knowledge. Shree Krishna says to learn the Truth by approaching a master. Inquire from him with reverence and render service unto him. Such an enlightened Saint can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the Truth.

One of the most magnanimous graces of God is when he brings the soul in contact with a true Guru.. Serve the Guru with a pure mind, giving up doubts. He will then bring you great happiness by bestowing knowledge of the scriptures and discrimination.” Jagadguru Shankaracharya stated: yāvat gururna kartavyo tāvanmuktirna labhyate[v32] “Until you surrender to a Guru you cannot be liberated from the material energy.

तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया |
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिन: ||4:34||

[1.2] Having achieved enlightenment from a Guru, the disciple will no longer fall into delusion. In the light of that knowledge, the student will see that all living beings are but parts of the Supreme.

यज्ज्ञात्वा न पुनर्मोहमेवं यास्यसि पाण्डव |
येन भूतान्यशेषेण द्रक्ष्यस्यात्मन्यथो मयि ||4:35||

[1.3] Even those who are considered undisciplined can cross over this ocean of material existence by seating themselves in the boat of divine knowledge.

अपि चेदसि पापेभ्य: सर्वेभ्य: पापकृत्तम: |
सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि ||4:36||

 

[1.4] As a kindled fire reduces wood to ashes, O Arjun, so does the fire of knowledge burn to ashes all reactions from material activities.

यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन |
ज्ञानाग्नि: सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा ||4:37|| 

[1.5] Those students whose faith is deep and who have practiced controlling their minds and senses attain knowledge. Through such transcendental knowledge, they quickly attain everlasting supreme peace, and they become civilized humans with high moral characters..

श्रद्धावान् लभते ज्ञानं तत्पर: संयतेन्द्रिय: |
ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति ||4:39||

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A TEACHER:

[2.1] A teacher should have serenity of thought, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of purpose.

मन: प्रसाद: सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रह: |
भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ||17:16||

 

[2.2] The austerity of the mind is higher than the austerity of body and speech, for if we learn to master the mind, the body and speech automatically get mastered, while the reverse is not necessarily true. Factually, the state of the mind determines the state of an individual’s consciousness, as also is spoken by Shree Krishna in one of the verses (6:5)

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् |
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मन: ||6:5||

 

[2.3] When devout persons with ardent faith practice these three-fold austerities without yearning for material rewards, they are designated as austerities in the mode of goodness. They become the Gurus.

श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरै: |
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तै: सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ||17:17||

[2.4] But austerity that is performed with ostentation for the sake of gaining honor, respect, and adoration is in the mode of passion. Its benefits are unstable and transitory. Teachers filled with such qualities are practicing teaching for material gains.

सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत् |
क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम् ||18:18||

[2.5] And, austerity that is performed by those teachers with confused notions, and which involves torturing the self or harming others, is described to be in the mode of ignorance. No one with such qualities should practice teaching as a profession.

मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तप: |
परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ||17:19||

 

IN CONCLUSION

Try to be a good human being by following the teachings of a teacher in the true sense.