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The divine relationship between a teacher and a student is beyond comparison.
Teachers affect their students' lives in a number of ways. They not just provide
the academic knowledge to their disciples, but also groom them to become a
better person, a responsible citizen and dig out all their inborn talents.
Teachers take it as a challenge to nurture their students in a protected and
caring atmosphere. This is the reason, why in the midst of celebrations, a day
known as Teacher's Day, is especially dedicated to them. People in different
countries celebrate the auspicious occasion in myriad ways.
Partying, having lunch or dinner with their teacher, organizing cultural
programs at educational institutions and bestowing gifts upon them have become a
customary for Teacher's Day. If you are searching for a useful gift for your
teacher, books would best serve the purpose. Since teacher is a person who
demands more respect than the expression of love, you need to choose a book that
best expresses the divine relationship between you and him/her. Make sure that
the book you present to him/her is based on the theme of the relationship
between teacher and student.
One such book is "Dangerous Friend", which offers an in-depth exploration of
this mysterious and complex bond. Written by Rig'dzin Dorje, 'Dangerous Friend'
is a popular Teacher's Day book, includes discussions on meeting and recognizing
an ideal teacher, understanding the seriousness of entering the teacher-student
relationship, shifting one's approach from spiritual materialism to genuine
Buddhist practice and accepting the challenge of being truly kind, honest and
brave. Go through the synopsis of the book 'Dangerous Friend', given in the
following lines.
The book 'Dangerous Friend' gives a comprehensive explanation of the importance
of understanding and living the role of a student as well as teacher. The author
also explains the crucial relationship of a teacher and student, by providing
quotes from the beginning of Tantra in Tibet to Padmasambhava in the eight
century. The author also includes anecdotes from his own life, and expresses his
relation with his teachers - Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen. The
references to his teachers clearly convey his own devotion to them.
'Dangerous Friend' leaves a message to the reader. It highlights the
responsibility of a teacher to transmit a student positively. On the other hand,
as a student it is one's moral responsibility to meet the challenge of carrying
on the lineage of teachings. The book upholds the Tibetan Buddhist tradition,
according to which, a student should have complete faith on his/her teacher, if
he/she wants to achieve anything in life. As a book, 'Dangerous Friend' imparts
knowledge about the relationship between teacher and the student to the reader.
Thus, the book can serve as a gift for your teacher, to cherish for the
lifetime.
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