The Eternal Teacher - Finding the Guru within Ourselves

This month is special – one of the days I deeply cherish – Teachers’ Day, when we pause to honor the guiding lights of our lives.

For me, like for many of us, my first teachers are my parents. It was from them that the earliest lessons of life began. But as I grew, I realized that simply receiving lessons is not enough; following them with discipline, seeking deeper wisdom, and navigating life successfully requires the blessings of a guru in all walks of life.

A teacher, or a guru, is not just someone who teaches in a classroom. A guru is someone who shows light to a person lost in darkness. Someone who, even though a small truth, shows the way forward in life.

And that is why, for me, my divine guru has always been Lord Ganesha. We worship Ganesha as Vinayak – the symbol of leadership – and as Vighnahara – the remover of obstacles. But Ganesha is much more: he is the embodiment of wisdom, intellect, and mindfulness, the guardian of parental values, and a timeless teacher of life.

On this Teachers’ Day, I want to share with you how the features of Ganesha symbolize qualities that every true teacher holds, and how we can reflect them in our own lives.

Also note that when I speak of Ganesha, I don’t mean it only in a religious sense. I see him as a symbol of wisdom, resilience, and guidance—qualities that anyone can reflect upon while thinking of their own teachers and mentors.”

Ganesha’s Features as Life Lessons

• The big head – a reminder to think big and hold a broad vision. Teachers see beyond today; they glimpse the future for their students.

• The small eyes – to focus deeply, notice details, and stay attentive to what truly matters.

• The large ears – to listen more, because a true teacher understands the unspoken words of a student’s heart.

• The small mouth – to speak less, but when they speak, their words carry weight. A teacher’s single sentence can transform a life.

• The large belly – to symbolize patience, the ability to digest questions, doubts, mistakes, and still convert them into wisdom.

• The single tusk – a symbol of holding on to truth and values, no matter how difficult it gets.

• The mouse as his vehicle – a reminder of humility, showing that no matter how great you are, a teacher respects even the smallest.

These aren’t just divine symbols; they are living lessons on how to walk the path of a teacher – and also how to embody the guru within ourselves.

Overcoming Obstacles – Ganesha’s Way

All of us dream – of meaningful careers, loving families, good health, and fulfilling goals. But no path is free of obstacles. We face self-doubt, fear, laziness, failure, criticism, or lack of opportunities. Also the great leader - Satya Nadella rightly points out, waiting for the ‘perfect working condition’ to perform is futile—because such a world simply doesn’t exist.”

Here, Ganesha’s lessons guide me deeply. He doesn’t merely remove obstacles – he teaches us how to face them.

• With his ears, he reminds us to listen to our problems with openness.

• With his head, he shows us to find opportunities hidden inside difficulties.

• With his eyes, he teaches us to notice small solutions that we often ignore.

• With his belly, he tells us to digest failure and turn it into learning.

• With his tusk, he inspires us to hold fast to our goals.

So Ganesha is not just a god who clears the path – he awakens in us the inner strength to clear our own path.

This Teachers’ Day, let’s take a pledge:

·       To see every obstacle as a teacher.

·       To learn from every challenge.

·       To share our experiences and inspire others.

Remember – no obstacle is there to stop you. It is there to shape you, to make you stronger, to prepare you. Today, let the teacher within you rise. Be the light not only for yourself but also for those around you. And this is the truest respect we can offer to our teachers.

To conclude, Teachers’ Day is not just about saying “thank you” to our teachers – it is also about recognizing the guru within ourselves. Every word you speak, every action you show, every patience you hold – it can inspire someone. You can be a teacher to your family, your friends, your colleagues.

I once read a beautiful story: A student once asked his teacher, “When will I become a teacher?”  The teacher smiled and said, “The day your words or actions change someone’s life for the better, you have already become a teacher.”

Friends, as we celebrate Teachers’ Day, let us begin every new journey with courage, preparation, humility, patience, and vision. Lord Ganesha is the symbol of auspicious beginnings, but the true beginning happens in the very first step we take in our own hearts.

Teachers are the light on our path. And you, too, can be that light. Inspire someone today.

||Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu

Gurur Devo Maheshwarah |

Gurur Saakshaat Parabrahma

Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah ||

“May the blessings of the guru tradition shine on all of us!