gita found on net(part ii)

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from <a href=http://clubs./clubs/holygita

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:<br>Dronacharya is the archetypical brahmana gone wrong. A

teacher driven <br>by the desire to accumulate wealth, he

becomes a lackey to the <br>Kauravas. Instead of

confining himself to teaching, Dronacharya takes <br>up

arms and enters the battle of Kurukshetra opposing the

Pandavas.<br><br>The brahmana must teach without beholding or

suborning himself to any <br>person or institution that

could compromise his integrity. When the <br>brahmana

abandons his dharma and takes up the behaviour of another

<br>(kshatriya dharma in this case) - he enters on to the path

of <br>destruction and degradation.<br><br>The true

teacher teaches not just the subject but right

principles, <br>right values and right attitudes. The

teacher's duty is not just to <br>instruct but also to

enlighten; he is an assistant in the student's <br>spiritual

evolution. Yet, teaching is a devout sacrificial activity

<br>performed first for one's own personal purification and

only then for <br>the pupil's

enlightenment.<br><br>**Since all true learning is unconscious, it is necessary

that the <br>the instruments of faith and trust

attenuate the critical faculty in <br>the student's

conscious mind**. The disrespectful, antagonistic and

<br>captious student learns little from even the greatest of

teachers. <br><br>In Vedic tradition the teacher is not

just respected, he is venerated <br>and worshipped. He

becomes a transparent window through which we <br>glimpse

divinity bestowing learning upon us. <br><br>Indeed the

teacher is a divine symbol. He may enlighten and bless us

<br>even when he is a distant source of inspiration. **A

reverent <br>attitude opens our hearts and minds to

receive knowledge directly <br>from the Supreme - even

though we may have little or no contact with <br>the

teacher!**<br><br>Nowhere is this more evident than in the example of

Eklavya. Unfairly <br>denied direct instruction from

Dronacharya due to his humble birth, <br>Eklavya makes an

image of the Guru who rejects him. He reverently

<br>worships it even while he practices and learns archery all

by <br>himself. Ultimately, his faith and trust in

the absent Guru imbues <br>him with extraordinary

skills that outdo even those disciples in <br>constant

and direct contact with Dronacharya.<br><br>Faith,

trust, and reverence, facilitate rapid learning. They

also <br>allow the unworthy teacher to exploit the

student. Filled with a <br>selfish desire to have umatched

disciples who will take revenge on <br>his behalf and

assuage his ego, Dronacharya sees the humble Eklavya

<br>as a direct threat to his plans.<br><br>Dronacharya

demands Guru dakshina (teacher's fee) for his `grace.'

<br>When the guileless Eklavya agrees, Dronacharya asks

for his right <br>thumb! Bowing his head, Eklavya

severs his right thumb and gives it <br>to his

`teacher.'<br><br>This is the character of Guru Dronacharya who faces

his favorite <br>disciple Arjuna on the battle field

of Kurukshetra.