The Harsh Gift of a True Guru

It’s Thursday Tales Time (36/2024).

Today, I will be sharing a story from Osho's book called "Astravakra Geeta."

It happened that you may have heard of Nandlal Bose, a famous Indian painter! He was a student of Avindranath Thakur, who was Rabindranath's uncle and also a great painter. One day, Rabindranath was sitting with Avindranath when young Nandlal came in with a painting of Krishna. Rabindranath wrote in his memoirs that he had never seen such a beautiful painting of Krishna. Rabindranath himself was a talented painter, so there was no doubt in his opinion. He wrote that he was spellbound. But what happened next surprised him. Avindranath looked at the painting once, then threw it outside the door! He asked Nandlal, “Do you think this is worth showing? The Bengali painters who sell Krishna paintings for two paise during Krishnashtami do better than you. Go and learn from them.”

This appeared to be harsh, unfriendly, and unpleasant. Rabindranath wanted to stop his uncle, thinking this was too much and beyond limits. He had never seen a painting so beautiful.

Rabindranath wrote that he almost wanted to say, "You’ve painted Krishna too, but your work doesn't compare to this." But it wasn’t right to interfere between a Guru and his student. The Guru knew best. So Rabindranath stayed quiet and calmed himself.

Nandlal touched Avindranath's feet and left. For three years, no one heard from Nandlal. Avindranath grew worried and asked around, wondering where Nandlal had gone. Rabindranath often told him that his harshness had gone too far, that he had hurt Nandlal deeply. Avindranath cried, not knowing where Nandlal was.

After three years, Nandlal returned. His clothes were old and worn, just like when he had left. His face had changed and darkened, and he was hard to recognize. But he brought new paintings with him. He touched Avindranath's feet again and said, "You were right. I’ve learned so much from the painters in these three years. Famous painters often get trapped in ego. But the unknown ones, though flawed, have a natural beauty in their work – I learned this from them. You showed me great kindness and compassion by sending me.

" Rabindranath then asked Avindranath, "Can I ask now why you did it? I thought the painting was beautiful."

Avindranath replied, "Yes, painting made by Nandlal was really beautiful. And to tell you the truth, I have made paintings, but none compared to Nandlal's. But I had to throw it away, I had no choice. I had bigger expectations for Nandlal. If I had said 'Beautiful, well done!' that day, Nandlal would have stopped growing. When the Guru says, 'It’s done,' the student’s progress ends. If Nandlal’s talent wasn’t greater, I would have praised him. But I knew he had more in him. He could still reach a higher peak."

What insights can we gather from this story?

Avindranath knew that praising Nandlal's beautiful painting would lead him to become complacent, and so he criticized it to drive Nandlal to further development.? A true mentor sees the hidden potential in their disciple and is willing to give harsh feedback to push them beyond their current abilities. Nandlal's response to the criticism shows his perseverance and dedication. Instead of giving up, he spent three years learning from lesser-known painters, showing that true mastery requires time, humility, and relentless effort. The story highlights that often, what is visible or good may not be the ultimate potential of a person. A true guide sees beyond the current abilities and pushes the individual to achieve what lies hidden. Avindranath's actions reflect the responsibility of a mentor to guide a disciple, not just through praise but also by challenging them. He withheld praise because he knew Nandlal could achieve much more, highlighting that the true purpose of a teacher is to bring out the best in their student, even if it requires temporary pain.

Ultimately, the story conveys the message that true progress comes from continuous learning, even when the path is tough or the feedback harsh. A great mentor will push you toward your highest potential, even if it means temporarily hurting your ego.