WHAT IS HINDUISM?
asymmetries in adult-to-adult or peer relationships –
differences in maturational levels of awareness. In peer
relationships these differences may be felt by the more
aware as isolating in themselves – or lead to them to act or
be perceived as distant or haughty by the less aware.
Parents or teachers, on the other hand, accept awareness
asymmetries in relationships from the very start. They do
not expect their children or their students to be cognizant
or aware of all that they are aware. They not only ‘make
allowances’ for their children’s or students’ lack of
awareness, but relate to them with the aware intent to
gently ‘educate’ and ‘draw out’ a greater awareness (e-
ducare). This acceptance of asymmetry in the parent-child
and teacher-student relationship comes to a different type
of expression in the guru-disciple relation. For this is a
relation in which the Guru unites the role of teacher with
that of spiritual parent to another – albeit often younger –
adult. The aim of the Guru in fulfilling this role however, is
precisely to offer a model to the disciple of how they
themselves can relate to other adults on a basis of total
equality and respect, whilst at the same time acknowledging
asymmetries or inequalities of awareness – not in order
to accommodate to these, but rather to intentionally use
‘skilful means’ to overcome them – to heighten and expand
the awareness of the other. This requires a deep capacity on
the part of the Guru to meditate the other – that is to say
to meditate and identify with a specific human other as well