Guru-Shishya Relationship in Indian Culture: The Possibility of a Creative Resilient Framework

Abstract

The Indian perspective says that the aim of human life is to grow by inner and outer experience till man lives in god, realises his spirit, becomes divine in knowledge, in will and in the joy of his being. In the course of achieving this transforming experience, the guru holds a special place. The guru-disciple interaction touches deep and regressed layers of the two main features of the relationship, surrender of the shishya and intimacy with the guru. Real teaching is believed to occur when the disciple has disciplined himself and is tuned to the wavelength of the guru. Teaching, example, and influence play significant roles in mentoring. One very distinctive characteristic of guru-shishya relationship is its poly-variant nature. It indicates the all encompassing quality of this relationship. Dynamics of the relationship indicate that its basis was a complete transformation of the shishya by the guru.