Dear Friends,
Namaste!
We have now resolved to map Yoga types to people types so that we know which Yoga type is more suitable for a person. This is just as well because we have come across people trying a Yoga type which is either too difficult or too easy for them and then getting disillusioned with Yoga! This is just like a kindergarten student trying to learn quantum physics or a doctorate in mathematics learning tables up to ten!! Doesn’t work. But this also does not mean that Education is useless and hocus-pocus!!!
So, here we are. Let’s map Yoga types to people types now and what better way to do this than through the entertaining medium of a story? But unlike the short stories we have enjoyed in the past, this story is going to be a bit lengthy and spanning across multiple articles. Brace yourselves…
This story is from ancient times. In those times, Northern India was known as “Aryavarta” or “Brahmavarta” (abode or haven of Aryans). One very powerful king owned a huge kingdom in Aryavarta. However, the king was getting old. Therefore he decided that in a few years he would hand over his kingdom to his six sons and spend the rest of his life in retirement.
But he was a wise king. Well did he know that the princes would have to be imparted adequate know how before being given this huge responsibility. They should succeed him in the throne not merely because of their birth but by qualifications as well. They would have to be well-groomed.
But who would have the wisdom to take up this mammoth job? Training the princes to take over a kingdom was no mean task. The king went through an elaborate process of selecting the ”Guru” (Mentor). Finally, he managed to choose a very wise old Guru. The King was satisfied. It was a long-winded and an arduous process. But he knew after having evaluated and selected the Guru that his effort was indeed well-spent!
The Guru first thanked the King for choosing him for such an important mission. Then he said further, “O King, we all know too well that each person is unique. Therefore each person’s learning requirements would also not be the same. Although the princes have been born of the same parents and brought up in the same environment, they are individuals having very different temperament, very different ‘personality’. I will not commit the mistake of teaching them the same things. Let me judge for myself what type of individuals they are. What their needs are. Then I will impart specific knowledge to them.”
The King, further impressed by the Guru’s approach, readily conceded, “If there is anything that you wish me to do in this regard, please let me know.”
“Yes indeed,” the Guru continued, “I would like to conduct a small experiment first. It goes like this. As you are aware, I live in a large cave in the mountains nearby. I am going to arrange a few things in my cave – not in any particular order. I want all the six princes to visit my cave one by one – again, not in any particular order. All each prince has to do after entering the cave is to select one and only one item upon entering the cave. The item that he likes the most. The item that he most relates to. The item that he thinks is most useful, important and relevant to him. The item that he would choose above all the others! Then he has to explain to you and I, who would be standing there watching, as to why he chose that particular article and not the others. What is so special about that article…”
The King was quite interested and intrigued. “This sounds exciting,” he said, “but how will that help you?”
“I will come to know what type of a person each of the princes is upon seeing the choice he makes and hearing out his explanation. Accordingly, I will explain to you his type and I will also inform you about what sort of education I plan to impart to him.”
Fascinated, the King agreed to follow suit. Together they travelled in the King’s chariot to the Guru’s cave. The cave was quite dimly lit and virtually empty except for some articles addressing the Guru’s bare necessities. The Guru welcomed the King in his cave and lit a small lantern (although it was a sunny day outside) for the King’s convenience.
“I would now like to arrange the articles that I have brought with me from the palace.” He told the King after the King had settled down in this unusual new habitat.
What happened next? Find out next week.
Enjoy yourselves….
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