What Are The Qualifications Of A True Preceptor ?

Swami Chinmayananda

oi-Staff

By Staff

Wednesday, September 9, 2009, 14:30

From the Bhagavad Gita's descriptions of a man of perfection (Chapter II), we know that a man firmly established in wisdom is tranquil and his equipoise is never disturbed even when he is investing his entire energies in the service of mankind.

The Upanishads summarize the qualifications of a teacher in two terms: Srotriya (one who is a master of the scriptures) and Brahmanista (one who is well established in the experience of Truth).

Without the knowledge of the scriptures, the teacher will not be able to convey his wisdom to the disciples. But a mere book knowledge is not sufficient. The words coming from an individual can gather wings only when they spring from a heart soaked with sincere subjective experience.

To be a preceptor however, he must have two more qualifications. His behaviour in the world must be perfect, since we as students when admiring the teacher will be tempted to imitate him in all his external habits. If his behaviour is not perfect, it is possible that we will copy his bad habits and thus ruin our chances. Secondly, a preceptor must have large-heartedness flowing with kindness and patience. This is necessary since in the early stages the students will revolt against new concepts that conflict with their present understanding. To weed out the mind and to replant new ideas is a most painful operation and this can be achieved only when the teacher has infinite patience, endless love, and supreme affection.

When these qualifications are not there, the preceptor is not a true one. In the last analysis, a preceptor is known by his own disciples, just as a good musician is known only by the true students of music. Students who have a spiritual urge and have practiced a little will instinctively recognize a teacher. Our preceptor is he who inspires us to live a nobler life and in whose presence we feel elevated. When we compare our life with his, we feel ashamed of our own weaknesses at times of burning passion. By remembering him, we feel cooled down.

In fact, the true preceptor to all of us is the Lord and the Lord of our heart talks to us very often through His chosen deputy among us and we revere and worship Him as manifesting through the individual. No individual mortal is ever a preceptor. The Lord alone is the Teacher. Everywhere,at all times.

About the author

Swami Chinmayananda

Swami Chinmayananda the great master's lectures were an outpour of wisdom. He introduced the Geetha Gnana Yagna. He wrote a lot of books on spirituality, commentaries to Vedantic texts, children books etc. He then started spreading His teachings globally.....