Review: My greatest teacher

Hay House documentary series, Tales of everyday magic, shows us that ‘magic’ is possible in everyday life. It doesn’t have to be some momentous event that changes the course of the entire world. It is magic even if it changes the course of one life, your life, my life.


Dr. Wayne Dyer’s ‘My greatest teacher’ is the second documentary in the series that I got a chance to watch. I was thrilled to get the opportunity to not just watch the documentary but also to review it. So here’s my two cents.

For most of us, the word ‘teacher’ brings forth the image of someone who taught us in school or college. For those of us on a spiritual journey, it may bring to mind a guru who has guided us along our spiritual path. Many would consider Dr. Wayne Dyer himself one of their greatest teachers. But how many of us would consider our parent(s) to be our greatest teacher(s). And yet, they are. This particular creation by Dr. Dyer tells the viewers of his own story of his longing for his father whom he had never seen in his entire life, except on one occasion. Yet, he was obsessed with finding and getting even with him. He wanted his father to know how it felt to never have a father or never experience the fatherly love his whole life. He felt that his father was the greatest culprit of his life. Although the story is semi-autobiographical, it would make each one of us think. Our story might be the same or might be different. We may have ‘issues’ with our mom and not with dad. However, the documentary compels us to introspect and see whether we are living our life from the place of love or fear. Are revenge and getting even the drivers of our lives?

The end shows the son finding out that his dad’s no more and visits the graveyard where he’s buried. After the wave of anger and loathing for this man he never saw or experienced, comes the clarity in which he sees his dad for who he really was … his greatest teacher. The documentary also brings in the flavor of comparison between the eastern philosophies (which Dr. Dyer has studied in depth, follows in his daily life and propagates to his readers and listeners) and the western way of thinking. Forgiveness is the answer. However, before one can forgive, one needs to acknowledge and feel the nasty feelings one has about a person or a situation. Then, from the depth of fear and anger, springs forth spontaneous clarity and forgiveness.

Director Michael Goorjian has once again done a fabulous job in showing all shades of emotions in his lead character. The forgiveness that the son feels for his father and the acknowledgement that he was the greatest teacher brings about profound change in his entire demeanor and the way he lives his life. It is truly a tale of magic that can happen every day in everyone’s life.