प्राचीन भारत में शिक्षा (डॉ. ए.एस. अल्तेकर - गुरुकुल एवं बौद्ध विहार शिक्षण इतिहास)

III] THE TEACHER AND THE STUDENT 53 scholarship and cultured life should be able to exercise a subtle and permanent influence over the young students sitting at his feet for their lessons. High Code of the Teaching Profession : The teach- ing profession had a very high code in ancient India. There was often competition for getting more students ; but if one teacher was found to be less well grounded than his rival in his subject, he was expected to close down his school and become a disciple of his rival in order to get full knowledge.¹ The teacher was to begin the education of the student as soon as he was satisfied that the latter was sincere and possessed the necessary calibre ; he was not to postpone instructions unnecessarily.² 1 G. Br., I. 1. 31 shows how on being defeated in debate with Maudgalya, Maitreya at once closed his school and became the pupil of his vanquisher in order to become better grounded in his subject. The debate between Śaṅkara and Maṇḍana Miśra was also held on the usual condition that the vanquished should become the disciple of the vanquisher. 2 Usually teachers were allowed to watch the conduct and calibre of the new entrants for about six months or a year: but after that period they were bound to start instructions. If they did not do so, they were saddled with all the sins of the students they were keeping in suspense; cf. संवत्सरोषिते शिष्ये गुरुर्ज्ञानमनिर्दिशन्। हरते दुष्कृतं तस्य शिष्यस्य वसतो गुरुः॥ Kūrma P. in VMS., p. 515 Ashṭāṅga-hṛidaya, Sūtrasthāna, chap. 2, allows only a six months' period of waiting for medical students. Longer periods of waiting like 5 or 32 years that we sometimes come across in Tantras (e. g Tantrarāja-tantra, II. 37-8) and Upanishads (e. g. Ch. Up. VIII. 7. 2. 3.) were intended for those who aspired to be initiated in secret and esoteric philosophical doctrines, and not for ordinary students.