The meaning of 'teacher'

I have not written in along time. This post came about after spending a couple of months in Malaysia teaching yoga. This is a 'Thank You' post to the students who taught me a very valuable aspect of my profession.

I would like to Thank Ron for offering his place for my words. 

The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called "truth."  ~Dan Rather

All good things must come to an end as new beginnings are being created. The last two months in this quaint little town of Malaysia has been a growing experience for me not just for my ‘being’ but also for myself as a ‘teacher’.

The word ‘Teacher’ amongst the Asian culture reflects a deeper meaning. It is a title that one earns through one’s qualities, knowledge, experience and actions. It is more than just a title or label. It is respect and regard to your inner most being. It is a person to whom they turn to for questions and support.

What a teacher writes on the blackboard of life can never be erased.  ~Author Unknown

In the past I have used the term Yoga ‘Teacher’ loosely and as a way of defining myself but since being here that meaning has changed. I have now come to understand its real value. As days went by each student would address me as ‘teacher’. I would be introduced to their friends as ‘teacher’. Their interactions, humbleness, dedication and respect that they have shown towards me are something I am in awe of. What I take away from them is not just their names, smiles or the gifts that have been given but more importantly their qualities. Neither book nor teacher can ever instruct or show me the true nature of each pearl except for the students I have met here in Malaysia. As a teacher I have much to learn from them. You see teaching requires on going learning and seeking for experiences that will add value to any classroom, session or studio.

Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.  ~John Cotton Dana

Teaching for me is more about imparting knowledge learned and shared from others, through personal experiences, by reading books, through actions and much more. It is about empowering others. Encouraging others to connect within their inner being. I personally believe that to have an exchange of wisdom from teacher to student or vice versa one’s heart must be open and ready to offer and receive. Without this then the exchange becomes one of total emptiness and will add no substance to one’s teaching.

The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book.  ~Author Unknown

What I have taken away from them and from the simplicity of this place is that ‘Life’s treasures are not wrapped up in fancy gift boxes or ribbons but in simple human kindness and the depth of each action and word that is bestowed upon me with respect and acknowledgement’ ~ Savira Gupta.

They have led me to the threshold of my mind. They have encouraged me to seek deeper within my own self. Empowered me with their eagerness to learn more. They have taught me the significance and importance of this very word, something I would not be taking lightly or be throwing around. A word that deserve respect and comes with responsibility.

To them I say ‘Thank You’ for teaching me the most important aspect of being a teacher. Namaste

The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.  ~Kahlil Gibran