We Have To Remain In A Lifelong Learning State

Are we making an effort to learn or are we relying on others?

- Dr. Hansaji J. Yogendra

A learner has to be prepared for learning. Our scriptures strongly state that if the student is ready, the teacher arrives. The teacher may not be only in the form of a human being; it could also be in the form of an ant, a dog, cat, tree, a mountain, or any other thing. That is why we say that as long as we are alive, we should always be in a learning state. What happens though is that when a person comes to a teaching state, then his or her own learning state becomes poor and they fall back.

Let’s take the example of a person who used to live in Santa Cruz West, in the main market area. As soon as he left his house, he could see a vegetable vendor cheating somebody. So, he went over there, explained to a customer how the cheating was done by manipulating the weighing machine and how one should be careful. He even scolded the vegetable seller and started a quarrel. He did this with many other people as well. As a result, he never reached his office on time and was fired from several jobs. Ultimately, he could not even afford to feed his family. Today, his children have grown up and they are earning. But he is still the same: a quarrelsome, faultfinding person wanting to teach a lesson to others.

So, our approach always should be to be in a learning state. Be a role model: if someone speaks rudely to you, do not react but respond in a loving manner or speak to the person after he or she has calmed down.