By Shreyas Bansal
A 12th grader’s note from his personal diary on Guru Purnima!
I had a short and sweet rendezvous with my Principal Mam a few days ago which completely blew my mind and opened many new vistas in my thought process. I had always perceived her to be a tough task maker, but her loving gesture and kind demeanour changed my whole perception. What I assumed to be a ‘shikyaton ka pitara’ turned out to be a ‘beautiful bouquets of precious and priceless words’. Like a true guide and mentor, she made me realise my strengths and weaknesses at the same time without being rude and impolite, which I thought she would be. Sometimes we build the castles of our perception for a person without knowing the true nature and real self of the being concerned. After our short but profound camaraderie, I was no longer the same.
Since then, I was in deep thoughts and realised how insignificant is our race to blind materialistic perceptions and preoccupations and how significant our life can be, when loaded with deep intrinsic virtues and values, stemming from the roots of divine knowledge and wisdom gained through plethora of books, scriptures around us!
But the most important self-realisation that happened to me is the presence of a Guru in one’s life. How beautifully a Guru can transform and transmute the disciple’s inner weaknesses and inhibitions into impeccable and impressive strengths. Today when I ponder over the past few years of my life, I feel how blessed and fortunate I have been. The teachings I have gained, have played an immense and significant role in shaping my mindset and thought process, which I truly feel that even many adults yearn for.
It is not a statement made just out of ambiguous pride but a genuine and careful observation. The energy which has been infused into my being has made me realised the true essence and meaning of how amazing one’s life could be, if well-groomed and nurtured with right values and right knowledge.
What I have learnt is that the whole life revolves around one major principle or the simplest phenomenon of life – कर्म ही सच्ची पूजा हैं।
Lord Krishna has strongly emphasised on the importance of doing the right task in the Holy Book Bhagwad Gita. Through Arjuna, he taught the whole world that one should do one’s work with utmost efforts and actions but at the same time should not get attached to results and rewards. What I have understood is that we should not get deviated from our path of karma and be a puppet in the hands of materialistic obligations and pursuits. Whatever good you deserve in the form of rewards and recognition will happen on its own, but one shouldn't become enslaved to all these petty things.
Here comes the most important question? When it comes to doing the right task and catching the right vibration; whom should we look up to?
The only answer that flashed into my mind is – The Guru! Guru is the one who introduces and infuses the art of innovation and creative imagination in our life so that it weaves and unfolds the magic that lies within our self. Undoubtedly, teachers are not only nation builders but also soul stirrers and morale boosters.
गुरूर्ब्रह्मागुरूर्विष्णुः गुरूर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरूर्साक्षात परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः।।
(अर्थ: गुरू ही ब्रह्मा हैं, गुरू ही विष्णु हैं। गुरूदेव ही शिव हैंतथा गुरूदेव ही साक्षात् साकारस्वरूप आदिब्रह्म हैं ।)
Today on this auspicious day of Guru Purnima, I dedicate this write-up to all my Gurus!
First and foremost are my parents who have nurtured and empowered me so that I could believe in myself and do where my joy and happiness lies! They never forced me for anything which my heart was not willing to pursue. They always guided me in their best possible way so that I could take right decisions for my wellbeing whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual.
Next comes all my school teachers and all the amazing people with whom I had the chance to learn so many other things in life which has contributed significantly in building my life towards a holistic and compassionate one! They have made me rightly observe both my strengths and weaknesses so that I can capitalise on my capabilities and improve upon my follies simultaneously.
Teaching is the biggest blessing that happens in our life, and we must accrue the best benefits gained from it in our lives and move ahead so that we can be path breakers and torch bearers in building our society and nation at large.
गुरु ही सब कुछ है। आपके रचयते भी, इस दुनिया के संचालक ऐव इस धरती के पालनहार ही। गुरु नहीं तो कुछ नहीं।
We must respect our Gurus as they are the creators of a happy and healthy life because they sow the seeds of knowledge in our mental body which we reap as the fruits of success later in our life. Their vast knowledge, deep insights and understanding of any subject can upon the doors of magic in our subtle mind. What makes the teaching more unique sometimes is the way it is imparted, full of love and compassion. The art of giving is so magical that sometimes it proves to be miraculous in one’s life. An empowered Guru will never shy down in transferring his or her complete knowledge to its ward and rather will ensure that his protégé not only outshines and outperforms others but also oneself.
From the bottom and core of my heart, I am really thankful to every teacher of mine for being a guiding light and true mentor in my life. Their unwavering commitment, faith, and trust in me has made me believe that ‘Teaching’ as a profession stands out of all the other professions. The other professions have their existence because of the presence of respective teachers in those fields.
Let us pay our heartfelt gratitude and utmost obeisance to them on this momentous day so that we raise ourselves to such a high vibration, where we connect with them at the divine level and express how beautiful and blessed our bond is with them.
By concluding this short article, I would like to state that visiting my principal’s office opened a new dimension to me – a beautiful rendition which was put up there that made me firmly believe that “We all have wings; it depends on us when we choose them to fly above the Sky!”
Gratitude to all my mentors! Happy Guru Purnima! May you continue to weave magic in the world!
I would also like to express my sincerest gratitude to my mother in helping me edit this short piece which poured out of my heart. I am really blessed to have her in my life! Love you Maa!
Jab Dil se Nikle 'Maa'!
Shreyas Bansal
Student at Akshara International School,
Pune