(Strange
sight indeed! Under the banyan tree, there are aged disciples around the young
Guru. He teaches them in the language of “Silence”, but the doubts of the
disciples are all dispelled)
The glorification implied in this verse
is self-explanatory. In today’s culture, it is not often that we see a young
teacher with elderly students.
This is a rare sight indeed. It also
conveys the prevailing tradition, wherein age was immaterial to one’s learning.
Old did not mean ‘more learned’, nor did young mean ‘less learned’.
It is amazing that at the root of the
Banyan tree students are old and teacher is young. Typically, teacher is
expected to be elderly.
This is a conventional idea, not only
in the modern times but in the ancient times as well. It is however based on
logical reason. We acquire wisdom as we grow older – at least we hope to
acquire.
So, we give the benefit of doubt to
seniors that they must have gained wisdom over the time. The longer and wider
the beard grows the more evidence of wisdom. This is where the origin of the
idea is, that the teacher would have white beard.
However, that is not the picture
painted here in this mantra. Here teacher is young. But students are old.
That is not the only amazing thing.
Another amazing thing is that the teaching of the guru take place in silence.
Interestingly if we sit and teach in
silence, what would be the result? Nothing. But when Shri Dakshinamurti is
teaching in silence, surprisingly, the doubts of the students are destroyed.
Therefore, this is astonishing.
The Mudra
or “sign language” is again a topic of discussion around this verse. There are
numerous Mudras each having a
specific meaning. Those interested in the subject can obtain all the details
and will realize that by just using a hand sign, a whole instruction is taught
to the student.
Sometimes a sign would be tailor-made
to give an instruction to one particular student amongst a whole group; only
that student would know what was meant! Such were the ways of the great Masters
of spiritual science.
Spiritual instruction is a one-to-one
communication, especially at the highest level. This is another reason why the
instruction is done in “Silence”. Each student is given the instruction that is
needed by him. Students need not know what another student is being instructed.
In this way, the doubts of every disciple are individually cleared.
There are some requirements, certain
pre-qualifications for the disciples so that all their doubts are cleared
through their master’s instructions.
Ashtavakra says,
Yatha tatha upadesena krtarthah sattva budhimaan
Ajivam api jignasuh parah tatra vimuhyati
(A person of pure intelligence realizes
Self even by instructions casually imparted. A man of impure intellect is
confused in trying to realize the Self, even after enquiring throughout his
life)
(Chapter 15, V1, Ashtavakra Gita)
A person of pure intelligence is the
one who has evolved from Tamas to Rajas and then from Rajas to Satvic. With a sattvic mind, his desires and passions
have reduced and come to almost zero level.
Whatever instructions are imparted by
his Guru, the disciple receives it from his utmost sattvic intellect, with
none of the limiting factors – vasana or desires or passion playing in his mind
when the transmission of knowledge takes place.
Such a disciple can get greatest
revelation even from a casual conversation with his master or a casual line
spoken by his master while the master passes by the student.
Whereas, a person engaged in Self
enquiry, but not rendered his intellect pure, still continuing with vasanas,
desires, passion, attachment, aversion etc, does not get a glimpse of
SELF, even if he spends his entire life in contemplation of his guru's
instructions/revelation by mother shruti.
(In fact, such sadhakas do not spend
their life time in self-enquiry. They leave sadhana very soon, as they do not
get a taste of success in sadhana, they do not get glimpse of SELF which is the
core subject/ essence of Shrutis. They leave the path of sadhana even more
intensely than the intensity with which they had started their sadhana)
The picture painted in mind through
these verses is a poetic representation. What is being taught is beyond words,
beyond language, beyond concepts, beyond ideas.
This is the symbol Shri Dakshinamurti
signifies through his hand gesture. The symbolism is provided in these initial
three mantras.
The remaining two versus of Dhyana
Mantras praise Shri Dakshinamurti. It is a prayer / worship.
Love.
