Matha, Pitha, Guru, Daivam

I end my training session for the day. "That's it for today" I say to my students, as I proceed to pack up my laptop.

No one moves.

"We're done for the day - see you tomorrow!"  Still, they sit quietly, looking at me.

This has happened at previous training sessions, so I finally ask:  "Why does everyone just sit there when I say class is over? I know I'm a fabulous trainer and all,  :o)  but I'm pretty sure it's not 'cause you all want to stay here any longer than you have to..."

"Matha, pitha, guru, daivam, they chant in unison.  Mother, father, teacher, god, someone translates from Sanskrit.

It's a doctrine that's drilled into every Indian child from birth. In the status and respect hierarchy, a teacher is one notch above god. So no one leaves the room until teacher has left the room.

I'm OK with being one notch above god - but I'm a little disappointed to find that it's not my enthralling training that's keeping them glued to their seats... 

Really, ya'll can go home now! Go!

Comments

[Vijay]

''I know I'm a fabulous trainer and all, :o) ''

Hi Basia,

As someone who has attended your training, I can definitely vouch for that! :) Thanks.

If I may indicate a couple of corrections, 'Matha Pitha (not 'Patha') Guru Daivam' is Sanskrit. It literally means 'Mother Father Teacher God'.

There are different interpretations to this. One interpretation is that that represents the order of significance and respect to be accorded to these people: so, this puts one's Mother ahead of one's Father, Teacher, and even God.

Another interpretation is that that represents the sequence of people who aid in an individual's spiritual evolution. Supposedly, the child instinctively knows its mother, but its Father has to be identified to it by its Mother. This way, the Mother and Father form the first two steps when one is in one's infancy and adolescence, respectively, in terms of knowledge and spiritual growth. The Father identifies a Teacher (in this context, 'Teacher' is but a poor substitute for 'Guru') and stops there, and the Teacher takes over. So, the Teacher takes a person to the next level, and rests after identifying God, the ultimate goal.

In this interpretation, as you would see, each person identifies the next in line, and rests when the next person takes over.

[Basia]

Thanks for the very interesting interpretation, Vijay! So, this means, at the end of the training, I can turn my students over to God, and I can rest easy, yes? ;o)

I've also corrected the spelling error - thanks for pointing it out - I need a Sanskrit-speaking editor for my entries!

[Samantha]

The two interpretations are so different. Though I have trouble seeing God as being at the bottom of the rung, it was nice to see the mother above the father.

[Basia]

Samantha - yes, I rather liked that part myself!

[anisha]

yes, in sanskrit literature, mother is usually given a higher place than father or god. even in the gita, sri krishna says that he is 'maata, dhaata, pitaamah' of the universe.
and an art of living song goes like this:
guru maat pita
guru bandhu sakha
tere charno me swami mere koti pranam.
(i rever my guru as i rever my mother and father. my guru is also my best friend, and i offer my respect to the guru :-)
guru means teacher, of course :-)