It was in 1918-19, the first days of Sabarmati Ashram. Gandhiji desired to study the Gita in the original Sanskrit. He was looking for a teacher. First he thought of Mahadev Desai. But Mahadev, though he knew some Sanskrit, did not feel confident that he could teach Gandhiji. He suggested the name of Vinobaji.
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Vinobaji agreed to teach the Gita to Gandhiji on one condition. Gandhiji had to be regular - no discontinuity in the classes. It was decided that ten minutes after the evening prayer would be spent in the study of the Gita. Afterwards Gandhiji would go to sleep.
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Vinobaji was a very earnest teacher. Once somebody asked him, 'Who is an ideal student?'. Vinobaji answer, 'Whoever wants to learn'. He could teach anybody! So here Gandhiji was the student, Vinobaji the teacher and the subject, Bhagavad Gita.
***
They sailed through the first chapter easily. It was just the narration of the preparations for war. Gandhiji had no problem in following these lessons.
***
In the second chapter, Arjuna's doubts and Krishna's efforts to clear them in various ways are there. No problems there either. They had cleared the first hundred verses of the Gita. Then came the 54th verse of the second chapter, 'Prajahaati yadaa Kaamaan sarvaan partha manogataan'. Vinobaji explained the meaning of the verse.
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Then Gandhiji started playing truant. The next day he put off the class on some excuse. This went on for about a month. The teacher was there, but the student made some excuse or the other to skip the class.
***
One day Gandhiji told Vinobaji, 'Let us have the classes from tomorrow'. Vinobaji asked the reason for absence for so many days.
***
Gandhiji gave an amazing reply. He said humbly, 'Vinoba, I did not neglect the classes. But I wanted to practise what I learnt. In the verse that we took up last time, it is said that all desires in the mind are to be controlled and one should be contented within. I was trying to practise this in my life for one month. I struggled hard within myself. Now I have achieved some control, so I have the confidence to learn further'.
***
It is such learning that makes a Mahatma out of a man!..... WISDOM
***
Vinobaji agreed to teach the Gita to Gandhiji on one condition. Gandhiji had to be regular - no discontinuity in the classes. It was decided that ten minutes after the evening prayer would be spent in the study of the Gita. Afterwards Gandhiji would go to sleep.
***
Vinobaji was a very earnest teacher. Once somebody asked him, 'Who is an ideal student?'. Vinobaji answer, 'Whoever wants to learn'. He could teach anybody! So here Gandhiji was the student, Vinobaji the teacher and the subject, Bhagavad Gita.
***
They sailed through the first chapter easily. It was just the narration of the preparations for war. Gandhiji had no problem in following these lessons.
***
In the second chapter, Arjuna's doubts and Krishna's efforts to clear them in various ways are there. No problems there either. They had cleared the first hundred verses of the Gita. Then came the 54th verse of the second chapter, 'Prajahaati yadaa Kaamaan sarvaan partha manogataan'. Vinobaji explained the meaning of the verse.
***
Then Gandhiji started playing truant. The next day he put off the class on some excuse. This went on for about a month. The teacher was there, but the student made some excuse or the other to skip the class.
***
One day Gandhiji told Vinobaji, 'Let us have the classes from tomorrow'. Vinobaji asked the reason for absence for so many days.
***
Gandhiji gave an amazing reply. He said humbly, 'Vinoba, I did not neglect the classes. But I wanted to practise what I learnt. In the verse that we took up last time, it is said that all desires in the mind are to be controlled and one should be contented within. I was trying to practise this in my life for one month. I struggled hard within myself. Now I have achieved some control, so I have the confidence to learn further'.
***
It is such learning that makes a Mahatma out of a man!..... WISDOM
