Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 4: Knowledge and the Renouncing of Action

Bhagavad Gita 4.34

tadviddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā | upadekṣyanti te jñānaṃ jñāninastattvadarśinaḥ ||

Learn it by humble reverence, by sincere questioning, and by service. The wise, who have seen the truth, will teach you that knowledge.

Modern context

Three things are asked of a learner: humility, questions and service. Humility opens the mind, since a person who already knows everything cannot be taught. Questioning keeps the learning honest, and the word pariprashna means questioning from every side, which is far from silent acceptance. Service builds the relationship and tests whether the student is in earnest. One thing is asked of a teacher: to have seen the truth. Having read about it is not enough. The verse describes any real apprenticeship, in a craft, a science or a way of life.