Washing the teacher's feet

Many years ago, a Moghul prince was studying under a teacher. In those days, the teachers were worshipped by their students. In these days, the story is different, perhaps because teachers are now afraid of their students.

Previously, it was customary for a student to wash his teacher’s feet after he had taken a lesson. One day, while the prince was washing his teacher’s feet, the Emperor came by. The prince became frightened and the teacher also started trembling. How could the prince wash the feet of an ordinary man?

When the Emperor saw the prince hesitating, he began to scold the prince. “I clearly see that you are not washing your teacher’s feet with utmost devotion and humility. Stop neglecting your duty and wash your teacher’s feet properly!” So the prince washed his teacher’s feet with utmost devotion and the Emperor was very happy. The Emperor wanted his son to learn the lesson of humility. Meanwhile, the teacher was trembling the whole time!

From:Sri Chinmoy,Illumination-experiences on Indian soil, part 4, Agni Press, 1995
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