Wednesday, July 08, 2020
Calling a Teacher By His Name
Manu's Code of Law 2.199 (tr. Patrick Olivelle):
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Even out of sight, he must not refer to his teacher by just his name or mimic his walk, speech, or mannerisms."By just his name," i.e. without an honorific title. See the translation of the same passage by Wendy Doniger and Brian K. Smith, with their note:
He should not utter his (guru's) mere name alone even when he is out of sight, nor imitate his gait, speech, and movements.Cf. Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, I (The Book of Knowledge), Study of the Torah 5.5 (tr. Moses Hyamson):
[199] The commentators say that he should not mention his guru's name without adding a term of respect.
A disciple is forbidden to call his teacher by name, even when the latter is not present.
