Role of the teacher – Part 3: The guidepost

A teacher is like a guidepost. He or she should guide the students in the proper direction. If the guidepost itself is loose, how can it point to the right direction? So a teacher should have a steady mind. Only then can he guide the students along the right path. He should impart to the students the human values of truth, right action, peace, love, and non-violence.

Many are confused as to what is the foremost value among these five. Love is of paramount importance among the human values. It is in us right from the time of our birth. Love and respect your parents, relatives, friends, and your fellow-beings. When you do not respect others, how can you expect others to respect you? Give respect and take respect. It is not one-way traffic. There are very few who would impart such sacred teachings to the students. Not only the teachers, but also the parents should monitor the behaviour and activities of their children.

Some students hide novels among textbooks and read them. The parents should take note of this and take necessary action. Parents have every right to punish their children if they take to wrong ways. The children should show gratitude to their parents as they owe their food, blood, head and money to their parents. Due to the impact of Kali Age (the Age of discord), such sense of gratitude is missing among students.

The ancient Hindu scripture, the Vedas, declare:"revere mother, father, teacher and guest as God". These teachings are highly sacred. Today, people are ready to believe all that they see on television and the Internet but do not repose their faith in the Vedic or similar sacred declarations. The Internet is like a wastepaper basket. Follow the ‘innernet,’ not the Internet.

Today, the students are developing unsacred vision, thus polluting their minds. As is the seed, so is the sapling. As is the food, so is the belch. Likewise, as is the action, so is the result. So you should think good, speak good, hear good, do good, and experience good results.

See no evil, see what is good.

Hear no evil, hear what is good.

Talk no evil, talk what is good.

Think no evil, think what is good.

Do no evil, do what is good.

This is the way to God.

Teachers should impart such sacred teachings to the students. They should inculcate the spirit of selfless love in them.

Courtesy Sai Institute of Education West Indies, St Michael, Barbados. Visit them at www.siewi.org or https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/education or email: siewibb@saibarbados.org