Celebration of guru purnima falls on the full moon of Aashaad of the popular Indian Calendar (June-July of Western Calendar; Mithunam-Karkitakam of Malayalam Calendar). The phrase was not unfamiliar to me, but it was never an experience in my life, till one of the students of my first batch of teaching career, greeted me on the day, soon after passing out. Since then occasionally, someone or other used to greet me on the occasion, and I too started the practice of greeting some of my 'gurus' on the day.
Today, to my mind, the day appears very significant and inspirational, as it is said to be the day on which a great guru who walked this land proclaiming a path of liberation (mukti, moksha), gave his first discourse to a bunch five disciples, after his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Gaya (Bodhgaya). I had the good fortune of having visited the marvellous structure built in the name of this great 'denouncer' of all possessions in the quest of mukti (the classical-typical contradiction of institutional religions, especially with reference to Christianity, Jainism and Buddhism). I am glad to learn that from Gaya (now in Bihar, India) he moved to Saranath (now in Uttar Pradesh, India), taking almost five weeks, to have done this. Yes he had been a peripatetic Guru (as is my Guru, Jesus Christ). I believe he might have walked the 250 odd kilometers, learning further from the environment, growing further in karuna and maitri (compassion and friendship), with the humans and all the elements of the cosmos. That adds to my argument for travelling around - a teacher and a learner should travel, stretching one's physical and intellectual limits and reach, to the extent possible.
I regret I missed Saranath on my all-India-ride 'seeking Trust-Green-Peace on the Indian Roads'. From Gaya, I went to Patna, and from Patna, via Vaishali to Lucknow. However, I could stop over and relish the presence of the 'great walker' at Kushinagar, said to be his place of 'nirvana'.
Gautama Buddha, after whose first discourse post-buddhahood this day is dedicated, is described often as tathagata (तथागत:). Interpreted as 'the one who has thus gone' (तथा गत:); or 'the one who has thus come' (तथा आगत:); or the one who has thus not come (तथा अगत:) - making him above and beyond all coming and going, the transcendent. However, I prefer him as 'tatha gata' , the one who has 'thus gone', gone in such a soft manner, that no one realised that he was even gone! But that very soft treading (walking) on the planet did create its resonance in many, that they tried to tread the middle path of the right, which in spite of being middle, was extreme for common standards.
The disciples are invited to tread the planet so softly engendering maitri all around and radiating karuna all around, leaving not even footprint, or being more realistic, leaving as light a 'footprint' as possible. I don't delve into the debate of how the disciples defeat the purpose of the teacher!! Perhaps, I too am a case in example, as far a 'travelling around' is concerned; treading softly - yet to be achieved!
Now I learn that the day is observed in Hindu mythology as the birthday of the great Guru, Maharshi Vedavyas, recognized as the author of epic Mahabharata. This also appears fitting.
In the cloudy skies of Ashad, the full moon, is attractive, and symbolic of the 'guru act' of bringing to light what is hidden (in darkness) or the formless into the light of knowledge and form (transformed). Thus we have 'guru' as the derivation from gu and ru (guhyam/guptam/gudham & rupyate respectively). So, salutations to those who guide the process of bringing to light the hidden potential, or helping the process of attaining the right/best form. This would be a very suitable day to celebrate teacher's day in India.
I have no quarrel with Sep. 5, when we recognize a tall teacher of independent India, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. However, having had this tradition we could have banked on a teacher of a larger stature than Prof. Radhakrishnan, whom I too admire.
Today, the greatness of a Guru will lie more in the ability of the Guru to walk (than talk) - walk the path, walk the talk, and walk with the disciples. The element of accompanying seems well fitting with Tathagata, and all the more with Guru Jesus. The usual picture of a 'guru' is more of an 'ex cathedra' status, whether with a chair or without. But walking, walking... the Guru also continues to seek and learn - and retain the ability of not being the last word! Perhaps, Siddhartha in becoming Buddha, did that. And Jesus, definitely did that - walking around, and accompanying the disciples, in times of severe constraints.
I tried to find a befitting picture - it is all male - but the traditions, across the world, in general, are about the male master and the male disciple(s). Even the term 'guru' is of masculine gender. I wonder if there is an equivalent in feminine gender. Some say it is gurvi; Usually, there is only guru-patni treated also as gurumata, all the same implying that guru is male. Glad to note that Buddha and Jesus are said to have had female disciples! But the great teacher has always been a male. Gargi, Maitreyi figures stand in the Indian tradition as consoling exceptions. Today, I feel great gurus are springing from among women, form all parts of the world - leading universities, schools and people, in spite of the fact remaining - it is still a man's world! But the possibility is being wide open to all seekers, irrespective of their sex.
(copy left - from WhatsApp message shared by someone who took me for a guru!)
Ultimately, guru is God, the source of all wisdom, all knowledge, as somewhere it is hopefully stated: They will all be taught by God (Is 54:13), the all-knowing (omniscient). That guru is described in Visvasara Tantra, in Gurugitam:
Om..Brahmanandam Paramasukhadam Kevalam Jnanamoortim
Dwantatitam Gagana Sadrushyam Tatvamasiadi Lakshyam
Ekam Nityam Vimalam Achalam Sarvadheem Sakshibhutam
Bhavadeedam Trigunarahitam Sadgurum Tamnamani
द्वान्तादीतं गगनसदृश्यम् तत्वमस्यादि लक्ष्यम् ||
एकं नित्यं विमलं अचलं सर्वाधीसाक्षिभूतम्
भावादीदं त्रिगुणरहितं सद्गुरु तं नमामि ||
I bow before the true guru, who is the universal happiness, the ultimate bliss, the absolute knowledge, transcending duality, like the sky expansive, the goal of sayings like 'thou art that', the only, the eternal, the unblemished, the immovable, the one who functions as the witness of the intellect, the one above all feelings and types (qualities) of mind! (free translation)
गुरु गोविन्द दोउ खड़े काके लागूं पाय
बलिहारि गुरु आपणै जिनि गोविन्द दियो बताय||
If guru and God, both stood before me, I would rather offer myself in sacrifice before the guru, for he showed me God!
लोचन अनंत उघाड़िया अनंत दिखावण हार||
Great is the glory of the true guru, for he has done great good. He opened the eyes of eternity, and manifested the eternal!
I am fully in agreement with him. I hope that we who don the role of 'gurus', daily grow into the likeness of the ultimate guru; and impart, among the STEM and STEAM that we do, definitely a particle of that ultimate bliss, supreme happiness, cosmic knowledge, transcending duality and all changing minds and moods.
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