It’s very rare; I complete a book once I start it. This book kept me alive every moment. It pricked every cell in my body and my tear glands could not stop watering till the last page.
It’s a beautiful conversation between an old dying teacher (Morrie Schwartz) and his middle age student ( Mitch Albom) about the meaning of life. I wonder how many of us are lucky to have such wonderful teachers sparing their precious time to teach us lessons of life. A teacher who would guide you through the light of their knowledge without making you feel obligated to them. A teacher who would be more of a friend than a mere symbol of knowledge. We all are somewhere looking out for teachers in our lives to give clarity to our confused and tortured souls. On a second taught, I don’t see such a teacher surviving in Indian context. I may sound a little pessimistic on this one but there are reasons why I am saying this.
First is the issue of respect--> In our country a teacher is often revered and looked up towards. He or she is considered to be superior and not equal. Thus if a student were to be friendly with their teacher it could be interpreted as disrespect. In this book Tuesday with Morrie, Mitch often addresses Morrie by his name “Morrie” or in a friendly term as “Coach”. In our culture it would be almost considered a sin to call our teachers by their first name.”Maam” or “Sir” is more appropriate.
The issue of sparing their personal time--> Why would anyone want to spare their personal time for the personal growth of other. Also most teachers may not consider the other person’s personal growth as important, as it is not tangible. It is something that happens within a person which one can not see and thus they may consider the conversation as futile.
But on a more positive note, I am sure there are teachers who are waiting to teach their students to learn lessons of life.
In this touching book, Morrie is suffering from a life threatening illness called ALS, a detoriating neurological condition which has no cure. So when Mitch comes to know about his teacher’s illness through a television channel, he can’t keep himself away from his old teacher.
Morrie speaks about different aspects of life like love, forgiveness, family, marriage, culture, and death. With regard to Adult life crisis morrie speaks about the tensions of opposites.
He says” life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else. Something’s hurt you, yet you know it shouldn’t. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted.”
“A tension of opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. And most of us live somewhere in the middle”.
With regard to love and emotions-->
“Love wins. Love wins all”.
“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in..”
“Sometimes you cannot believe what you see; you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them, too-even when you’re in the dark. Even when you’re falling.”
“Without love we are birds with broken wings”
“Don’t cling to things, because everything is impermanent. Learn to detach”
“Wash yourself with emotion. It won’t hurt you”
“Don’t let go soon, but don’t hang on too long”
The most beautiful thing in this book is the chemistry between Morrie and Mitch. On the last Tuesday when Mitch meets Morrie, Morrie’s last words to Mitch are “ love…you”, and Mitch replies “ I love you , too, Coach”. I wonder how many teachers may have ever told their student that they love them. It very common for students walking up to their teachers and displaying their love but not many teachers are sensitive enough to value their student’s emotions. That’s what I think is special about Mitch and Morrie.
“ A teacher affects eternity; she can never know where her influence lie”
It’s a beautiful conversation between an old dying teacher (Morrie Schwartz) and his middle age student ( Mitch Albom) about the meaning of life. I wonder how many of us are lucky to have such wonderful teachers sparing their precious time to teach us lessons of life. A teacher who would guide you through the light of their knowledge without making you feel obligated to them. A teacher who would be more of a friend than a mere symbol of knowledge. We all are somewhere looking out for teachers in our lives to give clarity to our confused and tortured souls. On a second taught, I don’t see such a teacher surviving in Indian context. I may sound a little pessimistic on this one but there are reasons why I am saying this.
First is the issue of respect--> In our country a teacher is often revered and looked up towards. He or she is considered to be superior and not equal. Thus if a student were to be friendly with their teacher it could be interpreted as disrespect. In this book Tuesday with Morrie, Mitch often addresses Morrie by his name “Morrie” or in a friendly term as “Coach”. In our culture it would be almost considered a sin to call our teachers by their first name.”Maam” or “Sir” is more appropriate.
The issue of sparing their personal time--> Why would anyone want to spare their personal time for the personal growth of other. Also most teachers may not consider the other person’s personal growth as important, as it is not tangible. It is something that happens within a person which one can not see and thus they may consider the conversation as futile.
But on a more positive note, I am sure there are teachers who are waiting to teach their students to learn lessons of life.
In this touching book, Morrie is suffering from a life threatening illness called ALS, a detoriating neurological condition which has no cure. So when Mitch comes to know about his teacher’s illness through a television channel, he can’t keep himself away from his old teacher.
Morrie speaks about different aspects of life like love, forgiveness, family, marriage, culture, and death. With regard to Adult life crisis morrie speaks about the tensions of opposites.
He says” life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else. Something’s hurt you, yet you know it shouldn’t. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted.”
“A tension of opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. And most of us live somewhere in the middle”.
With regard to love and emotions-->
“Love wins. Love wins all”.
“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in..”
“Sometimes you cannot believe what you see; you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them, too-even when you’re in the dark. Even when you’re falling.”
“Without love we are birds with broken wings”
“Don’t cling to things, because everything is impermanent. Learn to detach”
“Wash yourself with emotion. It won’t hurt you”
“Don’t let go soon, but don’t hang on too long”
The most beautiful thing in this book is the chemistry between Morrie and Mitch. On the last Tuesday when Mitch meets Morrie, Morrie’s last words to Mitch are “ love…you”, and Mitch replies “ I love you , too, Coach”. I wonder how many teachers may have ever told their student that they love them. It very common for students walking up to their teachers and displaying their love but not many teachers are sensitive enough to value their student’s emotions. That’s what I think is special about Mitch and Morrie.
“ A teacher affects eternity; she can never know where her influence lie”
1 comment:
hey umme
May God bless you with lot's of love and happiness....
For a child,in early stages of his life, after his parents, the only one human being inspires him to be a good human being is " A Teacher" and if u get a friend in ur teacher, then what more u could ask for?
This book is so much close to my heart...that I would love to read it again and again...
It taught me the most important value of my life "Love unconditionally"..where morrie Quotes "The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in."
because "Love is the only rational Act"
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