Mentoring had a great role in the development of a person in olden days. With relationships breaking down, people always in a hurry, even potential mentors becoming self centred and having no time for others, this particular aspect of personality development is being pushed to the background.
The finest mentor one has seen is perhaps Lord Krishna. And his ward Arjuna. The two had a very special relationship.
Arjuna was a very fine warrior. But he was also mentally fragile. He was vain and was extremely sensitive. This is where he differs from Sri Rama, who as strong mentally. Arjuna needed someone to guide him and baby sit him. There was a gap in his life and this was filled beautifully by Krishna, who was friend, philosopher, guide and companion for Arjuna.
There was a distinct method to Krishna's mentoring. He was never shy of telling the world that Arjuna was his friend, disciple and everything. This went a long way in instilling confiurdence in Arjuna. Arjuna, in turn, reciprocated the sentiments (This is important. I have, in my life, had students who were close to me and whom I had tried to mentor. But somehow, most of these students, made it a point to hide from their classmates that they were close to me). Krishna and Arjuna spent too much quality time together, which is an essential element of mentoring.
Though Arjuna would do anything Krishna, the latter ensured that he allowed his ward Arjuna to lead his own life. He never interefered in Arjuna's personal life and gave him the space to grow as a person. He never controlled Arjuna by taking his decisions for him, but limited to offering advice, and that too at a philosophical level. In short, Krishna never micro managed Arjuna.
Krishna stepped in firmly when Arjuna was in a state of confusion. Remember Arjuna putting down his bow and refusing to fight his relatives in the Kurukshetra. Krishna stepped in and told him what his duty as a Kshatriya is. Even before that Krishna had happily chosen the role of a charioter so that he can be with Arjuna at all times, allowing him to fight his war but stepping in when required. Krishna's advice during critical periods in war was instrumental in Arjunas victory, be it asking to fight with Shikhandi in the Chariot against Bheeshma, taunting Karna and reminding Arjuna how Karna along with others trapped Abhimanyu when Arjuna had a moment of doubt as to whether he can kill Karna when his chariots wheels were sunk in mud, blocking the sun with his disc to bring out Jayadradhan, thus helping Arjuna to fulfil his vow.............. the list is endless.
Finally, Krishna allowed Arjuna to have his way even though he did not agree with him always and whole heartedly supported him, even at the risk of Arjuna failing. This is an important part of mentoring. The ward has to learn the hard lessons on his own.
Slowly, but slowly the mentors are being phased out, whether at educational institutions or at work place or in the family. People are left to fend for themselves, which need not happen.
For want of a mentor.......................................................... !!!
The finest mentor one has seen is perhaps Lord Krishna. And his ward Arjuna. The two had a very special relationship.
Arjuna was a very fine warrior. But he was also mentally fragile. He was vain and was extremely sensitive. This is where he differs from Sri Rama, who as strong mentally. Arjuna needed someone to guide him and baby sit him. There was a gap in his life and this was filled beautifully by Krishna, who was friend, philosopher, guide and companion for Arjuna.
There was a distinct method to Krishna's mentoring. He was never shy of telling the world that Arjuna was his friend, disciple and everything. This went a long way in instilling confiurdence in Arjuna. Arjuna, in turn, reciprocated the sentiments (This is important. I have, in my life, had students who were close to me and whom I had tried to mentor. But somehow, most of these students, made it a point to hide from their classmates that they were close to me). Krishna and Arjuna spent too much quality time together, which is an essential element of mentoring.
Though Arjuna would do anything Krishna, the latter ensured that he allowed his ward Arjuna to lead his own life. He never interefered in Arjuna's personal life and gave him the space to grow as a person. He never controlled Arjuna by taking his decisions for him, but limited to offering advice, and that too at a philosophical level. In short, Krishna never micro managed Arjuna.
Krishna stepped in firmly when Arjuna was in a state of confusion. Remember Arjuna putting down his bow and refusing to fight his relatives in the Kurukshetra. Krishna stepped in and told him what his duty as a Kshatriya is. Even before that Krishna had happily chosen the role of a charioter so that he can be with Arjuna at all times, allowing him to fight his war but stepping in when required. Krishna's advice during critical periods in war was instrumental in Arjunas victory, be it asking to fight with Shikhandi in the Chariot against Bheeshma, taunting Karna and reminding Arjuna how Karna along with others trapped Abhimanyu when Arjuna had a moment of doubt as to whether he can kill Karna when his chariots wheels were sunk in mud, blocking the sun with his disc to bring out Jayadradhan, thus helping Arjuna to fulfil his vow.............. the list is endless.
Finally, Krishna allowed Arjuna to have his way even though he did not agree with him always and whole heartedly supported him, even at the risk of Arjuna failing. This is an important part of mentoring. The ward has to learn the hard lessons on his own.
Slowly, but slowly the mentors are being phased out, whether at educational institutions or at work place or in the family. People are left to fend for themselves, which need not happen.
For want of a mentor.......................................................... !!!
