Qualifications of a Disciple
From the Taitiriya Upanishad
1. Bow down to the Lord Naryana.
2. The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru is Mahesva (the creator, the preserver, and the destroyer). The Guru is the Universal Spirit, therefore pay homage to the Guru.
3. Speak the truth.
4. Be virtuous (Religion and virtue support, sustain, and uphold man physically, morally, mentally, and spiritually. Without them man is northing!).
5. Neglect not the stuffy of the sacred lore and of the self. (The Self is a vast field known and unknown - consisting of the body, the mind, and the soul).
6. Having brought wealth acceptable to the teacher do not cutt of the thread linking generations. (Do not cut off the thread of knowledge which has been soun by the sages of old, which has been followed from e immemorial and handed down from Guru to Guru by those who have practiced and experienced and who know what is good for humanity. Do not break this traditio.)
7. Be no neglectful of the truth. (Do not let egoism and intellectual arrogance sand in the way of truth.)
8. Be not neglectful of virtue and religion. (Do no despise any religion. That which is sacred to others should be sacred to you.)
9. Neglect not welfare. (Be extremely attentive for your own health and inner happiness for only then can you help others towards a better life.)
10. Be not negligent of prosperity. (Do not overlook your own self-support and maintenance. Work hard for have to earn your own bread, be self-reliant.)
11. Do not leave the study and teaching of the knowledge of the Self (which ahs been practiced by saints and yogis throughout the ages. Learn to know your own Self).
12. Be not negligent in your duties to God and to your fathers.
13. Treat your mother as a god (for she have you birth).
14. Treat your gather as a god (for he gave you life).
15. Treat your teacher s a god (for he initiated you in the path of knowledge and trust).
16. Treat your guest as a god (with love, warmth, respect, and dignity when he visits your home).
17. Do what is irreproachable, discard the rest. (Do what is auspicious and good, not what is merely pleasant to the senses. The good is pure and lasting, conducive to happiness and spiritual progress. The pleasant is only momentary and brings sorrow. Therefore resist temptation.)
18. Follow the path shown by illuminated souls in thoughts words, and actions. Discard the other paths.
19. Whoever is learned, whoever spiritually evolved, respect him and treat him with reverence and offer him a seat in your heart.
20. Give with faith (and love and dedication whatever you have been graced with). Do not give without faith. Give plenty. Give with modesty. Give without fear. Give with sympathy and compassion (expecting nothing in return).
And God is within you. You are illuminated and those who come to you for guidance are guided for the betterment of their lives.
The Qualifications of a Disciples from the Taitiriya Upanishad which is printed above, is taken from the leaflet published by our Parent Body, the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Institute, outlining the aims and objectives of the institute. The committee of this association decided that all members should have a copy to remind us of the basis of the art of yoga which we all practice, and the responsibilities of teaching it.
