My 9-year-old little darling approached me saying, “I was selected to sing the lead line for Teacher’s Day ‘Pajerajariya honeti’. The teacher said I have crystal clear and very captivating voice.”
Her excitement reminded me of my childhood during Teacher’s Day ceremony. I don’t remember how much debt of gratitude we owe to teachers in that age. It was only after I had become a Dhamma teacher at the School of Life Foundation that I came to truly understand the heart of a teacher and how tired they must have been.
It involved teaching 70-80 children at a time, using so much voice for nearly 3 hours, trying to keep their attention while dealing with their innocent mischiefs so their minds could absorb Dhamma. In the early days, I was always exhausted when I got home because I used tremendous amount of the Mind Power to lift their mind, not to mention the parched and sore throat.
Since then, the genuine feeling of love and respect for this profession has grown.
Speaking of the word ‘teacher’, two teachers came to my mind. One is very strict in the eyes of a 7-year-old. Her name was Miss Sirilak, an English teacher who would punish students by digging her long finger nails into their skin if they made mistakes when reciting vocabularies. It was a nightmare having her class and I was unable to escape from her garuda-like finger nails. I didn’t understand why she had to be so strict and was too young to understand that it’s within the teacher’s nature to be strict. Otherwise, students will lack discipline.
Another teacher is Miss Pranee, who taught the Thai language and history at my secondary school. She wore a smile at the corner of her mouth and was not strict. While teaching, she would hold a book in her hand but never looked at it. Instead, she would tell fascinating and interesting stories with gestures that you could feel she really loved what she did. My heart would flutter along with whatever she was teaching. I owe her so much for cultivating my love of languages, history, and my deep appreciation for refinement.
Here’s what I said to my little girl who was so proud to sing the one and only lead line on Teacher’s Day that, “It’s such an auspicious opportunity. Even leading just one sentence but it’s the sentence that brings beauty towards the hearts of listeners, words that highly show respect and gratitude. Think about it, we’ve spoken so many words each day but they are hardly meaningful – stuff about movies, songs, playing, homework or any works, they offer no value to the mind. But this one sentence that you will be leading is a sentence so valuable because it expresses gratitude that makes listeners feel appreciated and delighted. You now have a chance to make great merit.”
Many of my Vipassana students are teachers from every level and rank. Some realized their mistakes and told me that while in meditation, the karmic code showed them their mistakes for failure to teach students attentively and for punishing the children mercilessly. “Now that Karma appeared in the Mind. I am so sorry, Master.”
I told them that it was actually a good opportunity to rectify themselves because everybody makes mistakes. “Sometimes, when we do things out of responsibility without love and faith, we could end up making mistakes.”
In being a teacher, students often forget that teachers are also fathers, mothers or children, carrying responsibilities not only to themselves but also the future of students. Even though they were weak or careless, it doesn’t mean you should forget their kindness.
Although the formal education ended, informal education in life never ends until our last breath. For every life that brought us to know the greatest teacher in the Universe, Lord Buddha, it is a life of great fortune.
Do think of the benevolence of teachers and do ask for their forgiveness from all of those whom we might carelessly have offended, made fun of, mentioned without respect, rebuked, been arrogant and shown contempt to. Those are not characteristics of Dhamma practitioners.
Your teachers, from the one in a remote village who showed you how to write letters to the one with prestigious degrees, are no difference in terms of the legacy. They all transformed their students from the uneducated to educated ones. Their benevolence is immense, particularly spiritual teachers who showed you the path to enlightenment. This is because they guide you toward the path with no dead end, a path to happiness that brings an end to karma and all sufferings.
Do appreciate the kindness of all your teachers.
Vipassana Meditation Master
Acharavadee Wongsakon
