Guru Dakshina is not an honorarium. It is a spontaneous expression of gratitude in a student who has been trained and equipped to meet the challenge of life, whose mind and heart have been shaped by the Guru, and in some instances whose soul has been awakened by his touch. The principle behind it was that no price can be set for such a gift given by someone. If you look deeply, it implies a psychic transaction wherein the Guru freely gives what he has earned through great tapasya and the student freely gives as an expression of gratitude and not as a fee. Thus teaching and learning both become an act of love rather than business. The Guru never compelled anyone to give. It is only when the student gave voluntarily or asked what does the Guru want that he would say what he wanted. And then there could be no limit because of the same logic that one cannot fix a price tag for a knowledge that liberates and equips one for life. It is like giving a new life to a student whose body has been shaped by the parents, the life energy by the material nature but whose mind and soul have been brought to life by the Guru. The process of this psychological and spiritual awakening and moulding was called as a New Birth, dwij. Can one pay money to a mother for giving birth to the child and nurturing and nourishing him. A Guru’s role is no less though at another level.
Honorarium is a fixed amount, and there was provision for that as well. But the honorarium was generally the responsibility of the King or the State so that money did not become a consideration in education and the transaction of love between a teacher and a student.
Presently, in an extremely materialistic society this may seem not only idealistic but chimerical. Yet it was once a way of life in ancient India and since the Ideal never dies, it will be a way of life in the future. In her own way the Mother already initiated this change in the Ashram and Auroville where Education is not sold. We hope one day not only Education but healing and more importantly (and urgently) spiritual teaching and methods of practice will also be freed from the distorting influence of money in fields that are high, noble and divine.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
