Editorial:

The socio-cultural dimension of man's existence is not
inherited genetically, but acquired in the course of
social living. It is culture and social awareness that
distinguishes man from the animal.

The process of acquiring this culture is education.
The person who helps the transmission of culture
is called Guru. Culture is a wide term which
includes a vision of life, corresponding values,
behavior patterns, goals and expectations in life.
It sets the standards by which success or failure is
measured. To some success is the increase
in the quantity of desires entertained and
fulfilled, whereas to others success is
freedom from wants and enjoyments there of.

The Hindu Vision of life remain unchanged
from what it was 5000 years ago, say in the
times of Sage Vyasa, Sage Yajnavalkya, Gargi,
Sri Rama or Sri Krishna - the yearning for the
limitless, love for renunciation, a happy
acceptance of one's lot in life, and a deep
respect for others living and non-living.

Culture is a question of attitude, not of mere
material advancement, of harmony with nature
not of conflict and strife. Such an attitude can
be imparted only by those who live that ideal.
No amount of theorizing and pamphleteering
can achieve it. Hence the need of a teacher
who live by his convictions. His life and conduct
is the teaching. The Hindu tradition is supremely
fortunate in having a succession of teachers like
Sri Vyasa, Acarya Sankara, Swami Tapovanam et.al.

July 17th we celebrate Vyasa Jayanti
as world teachers day. Krishna Dvaipayana,
alias Veda Vyasa was the greatest of all Hindu teachers.
He collected all Vedas, edited and published them.
He devised a method of teaching and is the
first spring of Guru Sisya Parampara,
whose blessings we enjoy through our teachers.

Our salutations to Sage Veda Vyasa,
and Poojya Gurudev who blazes our path towards peace and Godhood.

Chinmaya Jyoti, Vol.3, No.1, July 1981, pg.3