Importance of Guru

Importance of Guru in Life has been illustrated in Shri Ramcharitmanas

Guru or a Teacher has been given the highest stature in Shri Ramcharitmanas

Shri Ramcharitmanas teaches us that to achieve success at any stage of life—whether as a child, a student, a youth, a professional, a retiree, or someone in the quest for spiritual enlightenment—one requires a guru. Despite being the incarnation of God, Lord Ram, during His earthly existence, sought guidance from gurus, emphasizing the indispensable role of mentors in one’s journey.

Importance of Guru

It is the Lord himself who, in His benevolence, connects us with a good Guru. In fact, the position of Guru is considered higher than that of God, as it is only through a Guru that one can reach the Almighty.

गुरु गोविंद दोऊ खड़े काके लागू पाय बलिहारी गुरु आपकी गोविंद दियो बताए

This couplet, attributed to the revered saint Kabirdas ji, underscores the profound reverence for the Guru in spiritual practice. Kabirdas ji expressed that if faced with the presence of both His Guru and the Lord, he would first bow to His Guru, as it was through the Guru’s guidance that he attained connection with the Divine.

Before embarking on the composition of the holy scripture Shri Ramcharitmanas, Tulsidas ji initiates with paying homage to the Trinity – Lord Hari, Lord Shiv (His first Guru), and Brahma ji. Subsequently, he acknowledges the Saints and the Brahmins. It’s important to note that “Brahmins” in this context refers not to a specific clan but rather to individuals who are deeply immersed in contemplation of the Divine (Brahm). These saintly souls engage in constant chanting and meditation on the Lord in all aspects of their lives, whether working, eating, or sleeping.

Guru is considered above the Lord in the Hindu Sanatan Dharam (Eternal Religion) philosophy.

According to our scriptures, Lord Krishna is described as the universal guru, while Lord Shiv is hailed as the guru of the three worlds. In essence, there is no distinction between Lord Shiv and Lord Narayan (Lord Krishna or Lord Ram, who are avatars of Narayan).

In the journey of life, one encounters various gurus. Initially, the mother and father serve as the first gurus of a child, guiding and nurturing them. As the child grows, teachers at school become gurus, imparting knowledge and wisdom. Similarly, in the professional sphere, a boss can also play the role of a guru, providing guidance and mentorship. In essence, a guru is always someone who leads and inspires a student to excel in their endeavors.

One of the avatars of Narayan bhagwan is Lord Dattatreya who made 24 gurus in His life from nature’s creation.

In Shri Ramcharitmanas, the role and blessings of gurus are mentioned extensively. Lord Ram’s gurus, Vashishth ji and Vishwamitra ji, are revered for their guidance. Additionally, the guru of Goddess Parvati, Narad ji, and the gurus of other notable figures such as Kak Bhasundi ji, Sage Sutikshan, Rishi Agastya ji, and Mata Shabri, are also highlighted, emphasizing the significant influence of gurus in the lives of devotees.

Finding a Guru in Life

Finding a good guru in life is indeed a blessing bestowed by the Lord. While it’s true that one may actively seek out a guru, it’s also possible for a guru to come to a disciple. The belief that Krishna and Shiv are universal gurus suggests that the Divine facilitates the connection between a seeker and a guru. Therefore, it is believed that the almighty manifests as a guru in the lives of devotees, often appearing in the form of a person to guide and enlighten them.

The Universal guru

Hindu scriptures have described Lord Krishna (an avatar of Lord Narayan like Lord Ram) as a universal guru and Lord Shiv as a guru of three worlds. Krishna is the teacher who taught, in Bhagavad Gita, the basic principles of life.

कृष्णं वन्दे जगत गुरुं

Meaning: Salutations to Sri Krishna, the Guru of the entire universe.

Guru of the Three Worlds

Lord Shiv is revered as the Guru not only of this world but also of all three worlds in our universe. He was pleased by the innocent inquiries of Goddess Parvati when she sought to understand the nature of Lord Ram and how He could embody both Nirgun (formless) Brahm and Sagun (as an avatar of Lord Narayan in human form). In response to Her questions, Lord Shiv began narrating the entire Ramcharitmanas to provide Her with answers and insights.

तुम्ह त्रिभुवन गुर बेद बखाना। आन जीव पाँवर का जाना॥
प्रस्न उमा कै सहज सुहाई। छल बिहीन सुनि सिव मन भाई॥

Meaning: The Vedas have proclaimed you as the guru of the three worlds. What sinful being would be aware of this? Lord Shiv’s heart was greatly pleased to hear Parvati’s beautiful and sincere question, devoid of any deceit.

Guru (Teacher) has been Glorified throughout Shri Ramcharitmanas

Here are some instances:

Lord Ram as Shiv ji’s Guru

After the loss of His is first wife, Sati, Lord Shiv became an ascetic for many years. Sati was later reborn as Goddess Parvati. Lord Ram appeared before Lord Shiv and requested Him to marry Parvati ji, who was undergoing penance to win Lord Shiv’s hand in marriage. Despite being perpetually devoted to asceticism and meditation on His supreme Lord Ram, Lord Shiv initially showed reluctance to marry. However, upon Lord Ram’s insistence, Lord Shiv uttered the following words:

मातु पिता गुर प्रभु कै बानी। बिनहिं बिचार करिअ सुभ जानी॥
तुम्ह सब भाँति परम हितकारी। अग्या सिर पर नाथ तुम्हारी॥

Meaning: The words of mother, father, guru, and master should be regarded as auspicious without any hesitation. You are my ultimate benefactor in every aspect of life. Lord, Your command rests upon my head.

Goddess Parvati ji and Her Guru Narad ji

Narad ji, who is Goddess Parvati’s guru, instructed Her to undertake penance and meditate upon Her beloved Lord Shiv in order to win His acceptance as His wife. Parvati underwent rigorous penance for more than four thousand years in the Himalayas. At the culmination of Her penance, the great Seven Sages approached Parvati and, to test Her devotion, began dissuading Her from Her primary goal, urging Her to not marry the ascetic Lord Shiv. Despite hearing their harsh words about Lord Shiv, Parvati remained steadfast in Her penance, refusing to give up Her pursuit of Her guru Narad’s advice. She conveyed Her determination to the great Seven Sages with these words:

नारद बचन न मैं परिहरऊँ। बसउ भवनु उजरउ नहिं डरउँ॥
गुर कें बचन प्रतीति न जेही। सपनेहुँ सुगम न सुख सिधि तेही॥

Meaning: Therefore, I shall not abandon the words of Narad ji, whether my home prospers or falls into ruin, I fear it not. For those who lack faith in the words of their guru, happiness and success are not easily attained, not even in their dreams.

King Pratap Bhanu glorifies Guru

Then King Pratap Bhanu also emphasized the power of Brahmin (one who is constantly immersed in thoughts of Brahm) and Guru in the following verse:

सत्य नाथ पद गहि नृप भाषा। द्विज गुर कोप कहहु को राखा॥
राखइ गुर जौं कोप बिधाता। गुर बिरोध नहिं कोउ जग त्राता॥

Meaning: Pratapbhanu grasped the feet of the sage and spoke, “O’ Lord, indeed that is true. Who can shield a person from the wrath of a Brahmin or a guru? When the creator is angered, it is the guru who provides protection. However, if one opposes a guru, there is no one on this earth who can save them.”

King Dashrath and his Guru Vashishth ji

One should withhold no secrets from a guru. The guidance of a guru assists a devotee in overcoming any challenging situation in life. King Dashrath, who had been childless for a long time, sought the counsel of his guru Vashishth. Through the blessings and the application of both scientific and spiritual methods recommended by his guru, Lord Dashrath was blessed with four beautiful sons: Shri Ram, Shri Lakshman, Shri Bharat, and Shri Shatrughan.

निज दुख सुख सब गुरहि सुनायउ। कहि बसिष्ठ बहुबिधि समुझायउ॥
धरहु धीर होइहहिं सुत चारी। त्रिभुवन बिदित भगत भय हारी॥

Meaning: King Dashrath confided in Guru Vashishth about all his joys and sorrows. Guru Vashishth provided him with solace in numerous ways and reassured him, saying, “Please be patient. You will have four sons who will be renowned in all three worlds (earth, heaven, and the subterranean region). They will alleviate the fears of devotees.”

Lord Ram and His Guru Vashith ji

Lord Ram when growing up was an ideal son. He and His brothers bow to parents and guru ji every day and do all acts after taking their permission.

प्रातकाल उठि कै रघुनाथा। मातु पिता गुरु नावहिं माथा॥
आयसु मागि करहिं पुर काजा। देखि चरित हरषइ मन राजा॥

Meaning: Lord Ram wakes up early in the morning and humbly bows His head before His parents and His guru, seeking their blessings before attending to the affairs of the kingdom. He respectfully seeks permission from them before proceeding with His duties. King Dasharath is deeply pleased by Ram ji’s exemplary character and conduct.

Lord Ram and Lakshman and their Guru Vishwamitra ji

Lord Ram and Lakshman ji exemplify the qualities of devoted disciples. Throughout Their journey with Guru Vishwamitra, They would massage Their guru’s feet after a long day of travel and service, and They would only retire to Their quarters once Their guru had fallen asleep.

तेइ दोउ बंधु प्रेम जनु जीते। गुर पद कमल पलोटत प्रीते॥
बार बार मुनि अग्या दीन्ही। रघुबर जाइ सयन तब कीन्ही॥

Meaning: Both the brothers (Lord Ram and Lakshman ji) who are won by selfless love are lovingly pressing the lotus feet of Their Guru. When the sage gives orders repeatedly, only then finest of Raghu dynasty, Lord Shri Ram, finally retire to rest.

Lord Ram and Guru Vishwamitra ji

Lord Ram ji, following in the footsteps of His father King Dashrath, never hesitated to inform His gurus of any significant events occurring in His life. When He first beheld His prospective wife, Goddess Sita, He promptly shared all the details with His guru. The guru serves as a guiding star for all the events, whether good or bad, that unfold in a disciple’s life.

हृदयँ सराहत सीय लोनाई। गुर समीप गवने दोउ भाई॥
राम कहा सबु कौसिक पाहीं। सरल सुभाउ छुअत छल नाहीं॥

Meaning: Ram ji appreciates Sita’s beauty in His heart, later both the brothers went to Their Guru. Lord Ram told everything to Sage Vishwamitra, because He has a simple nature, deceit does not even touch Him.

When Sita ji’s marriage event, where a competition was held to find a suitable groom, was underway, Lord Ram ji rose to break Lord Shiv’s bow only after receiving instructions from His guru. This underscores the belief that seeking the blessings and guidance of one’s guru is essential for the success of any auspicious act.

सुनि गुरु बचन चरन सिरु नावा। हरषु बिषादु न कछु उर आवा॥
ठाढ़े भए उठि सहज सुभाएँ। ठवनि जुबा मृगराजु लजाएँ॥

Meaning: Hearing the words of the Guru, Lord Ram bowed His head at the guru’s feet. There was neither joy nor sadness in His heart, and He stood up naturally and gracefully that would put even a young lion to shame.

Lord Ram talks about importance of Guru to His devotee Mata Shabri

When Ram ji met mata Shabri, upon asking about Navda bhakti (nine-fold devotion), Ram ji explained that serving once guru’s feet is one of the nine-folds bhakti.

गुर पद पंकज सेवा तीसरि भगति अमान।
चौथि भगति मम गुन गन करइ कपट तजि गान॥

Meaning: The third devotion (of the nine types of devotion) is to serve the lotus feet of the guru without any pride and the fourth devotion is to give up deceit and sing of God’s virtues.

Lord Ram glorifies Guru to Vibhishan

To Vibhishan ji Lord Ram explains the importance of devotion in the feet of a guru and a Brahmin in the following verse:

कवच अभेद बिप्र गुर पूजा।
एहि सम बिजय उपाय न दूजा॥

Meaning: Prayers to Brahmin and Guru is like in piercing armour that protects a person. There is no other way for a person to win in this battle of life.

Kakbhashundi ji explains importance of Guru to Garud ji

Even Kakbhashundi ji explain the importance of Guru to the King of Birds, Garud ji, in the following verse:

बिनु गुर होइ कि ग्यान ग्यान कि होइ बिराग बिनु।
गावहिं बेद पुरान सुख कि लहिअ हरि भगति बिनु॥

Meaning: Can there be any knowledge without a guru? Or can there be knowledge anywhere without detachment? Vedas and Puranas proclaim this. What happiness can be attained without devotion to Shri Hari (Lord Ram)?

After gaining the prime knowledge of love for the lotus feet of Guru and Lord Shri Ram, Kak Bhasundi says:

गुर बिनु भव निध तरइ न कोई। जौं बिरंचि संकर सम होई॥
संसय सर्प ग्रसेउ मोहि ताता। दुखद लहरि कुतर्क बहु ब्राता॥

Meaning: Without a Guru, no one can cross the ocean of birth and death, even if they possess qualities like Lord Brahma or Lord Shiv. Garud ji lamented, stating that he had been bitten by a snake in the form of doubt. Just as venom causes painful sensations, Garud ji experienced numerous agonizing sensations in his body in the form of illogical and sorrowful thoughts.

A Word of Caution when choosing a Guru in life

A word of caution here, when choosing a guru in life you have to be very careful. There are many cheaters and impostors posing as gurus out there in our present age of Kaliyug and instead of giving any benefits can give a lot of pain and agony.

This has also been seen in Shri Ramcharitmanas when one of the kings Raja Pratap Bhanu chose a wrong guru and had to suffer not only in this but in his next life also.

In Shri Ramcharitmanas Uttar Kaand, Kakbhashundi talks about the present age of Kaliyug. If we read some of these verses, we can see that so much of this is already ringing true in our present day world.

If you are looking for an ideal guru in today’s world, tread carefully and choose one carefully. Even a guru should keep vigilant when dealing with his disciples.

Learn more about the Importance of Guru as described in the Baal Kaand.

A guru who should be discarded

Having unwavering faith and trust in the words of the Guru is paramount for attaining success in life. Similarly, it is the Guru’s foremost duty to guide their disciple along the path of righteousness at all times, serving as the intermediary between the disciple and the Divine. A Guru who opposes the Divine should be respectfully released from their role.

There are many examples of this in the Ramcharitmanas. Bharat ji let go of His mother Kaikeyi (who is considered as the first Guru in life), when she went against Lord Ram and instructed Him to go to the forest for 14 years. Vibhishan let go of his Guru-like elder brother – Ravan, when Ravan refused to acknowledge Lord Ram as God, refused to respectfully release Sita ji whom he had kidnapped, and instead chose to go to war with Lord Ram. There is one other example of demon King Bali, who let go of his Guru – Shukracharya, when he stops Bali from worshipping Lord Vishnu.

Importance of Guru by Sri Paramhansa Yogananda

The Role of a Guru

God is invisible, but He becomes visible through the intelligence and spiritual perception of one who is in constant communion with Him. There may be many teachers in one’s life, but there is only one guru. In the guru-disciple relationship a divine law is fulfilled, as demonstrated even in the life of Jesus, when he acknowledged John the Baptist as his guru.

He alone who is God-realized, and who has been commanded by God to redeem souls, is a guru. One cannot be a guru merely by thinking he is. Jesus showed that the true guru acts solely at God’s behest, when he said: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” He gave all credit to the power of God. If a teacher is without egotism, you may know that God alone resides in his body temple; and when you tune in with him you are in tune with God. Jesus reminded his disciples: “Whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but Him that sent me.”

The teacher who accepts personally the adoration of others is merely a worshipper of his own ego. To find out whether a path is true, discriminate according to what sort of teacher is behind it, whether his actions show that he is led by God, or by his own ego. A leader who has no realization cannot show you the kingdom of God, no matter how large his following. All churches have done good, but blind belief in religious dogma keeps people spiritually ignorant and stagnant. Many times I have seen vast congregations singing God’s name, but God was as far away from their consciousness as the distant stars. No one can be saved just by attending church. The real way to freedom lies in Yoga, in scientific self-analysis, and in following one who has traversed the forest of theology and can lead you safely to God.

A Living Embodiment of Truth

Such a guru, ordained by God to help individuals in response to their deep prayers, is not an ordinary teacher; but is a human vehicle whose body, speech, mind, and spirituality God uses as a channel to attract and guide lost souls back to His home of immortality. We meet various teachers in the beginning, through our vague desire to know truth. But a guru is a living embodiment of scriptural truth and an agent of salvation appointed by God in response to a devotee’s incessant petitions for release from the bondage of matter.

Delusion is destroyed by good company, by the company of saints, and by devotion to the messengers of God. Even the thought of saints will help you to remove delusion. It is not personal association so much as attunement of thought with the messenger of God that destroys delusion. The true guru has no desire to place himself in the hearts of others, but rather to awaken in their consciousness the consciousness of God. Master [Swami Sri Yukteswar] was like that: he was one with us — never any show of his greatness. If anyone in the ashram wanted recognition or a high seat of authority, Master would give him that position. But I wanted the heart of Master, the divine consciousness he had within; and as a result, he is forever here in my heart. That is the attunement you want with the great ones.

My Master said to me: “I will be your friend from now through eternity, no matter whether you are on the lowest mental plane or on the highest plane of wisdom. I will be your friend even if you should err, for then you will need my friendship more than at any other time.”

When I accepted my Master’s unconditional friendship, he said: “Will you give me the same unconditional love?” He gazed at me with childlike trust.

“I will love you eternally, Gurudeva!”

“Ordinary love is selfish, darkly rooted in desires and satisfactions. Divine love is without condition, without boundary, without change. The flux of the human heart is gone forever at the transfixing touch of pure love.” He added humbly, “If ever you find me falling from a state of God-realization, please promise to put my head on your lap and help to bring me back to the Cosmic Beloved we both worship.”

It was only after we had made this spiritual pact that I began to understand fully the significance of a guru to a disciple. I never found complete satisfaction, comfort, and God contact until I attuned myself with unconditional loyalty and devotion to the divine consciousness of my Guru.

The Best of Givers

To the world God speaks only through His enlightened devotees. Therefore, the wisest of all actions is to tune in with the will of the guru who is sent to you by the Lord as a response to your soul’s desire. He is not a guru who is self-proclaimed as such; he is a guru who is asked by God to bring others back to Him. When there is a little spiritual desire, the Lord sends books and teachers to further inspire you; and when your desire is stronger, he sends a real guru….

There are teachers who expect their followers to be always at their beck and call, ready to obey instantly; and if they don’t, the teacher becomes angry. But a spiritual teacher who knows God and is truly a guru never thinks of himself as a teacher at all. He beholds God’s presence in everyone, and feels no resentment if some students disregard his wishes. The Hindu scriptures say that those who tune in with the wisdom of a true guru make it possible for the guru to help them. “Comprehending that (the wisdom from a guru), thou, O Arjuna! wilt not again fall into delusion.”

The friendship that exists between guru and disciple is eternal. There is complete surrender, there is no compulsion, when a disciple accepts the guru’s training.

THe tries to feed the hungry God in the destitute, to stir the sleeping God in the ignorant, to love the unconscious God in the enemy, and to waken the half asleep God in the yearning devotee. And by a gentle touch of love, he instantaneously arouses the almost fully awakened God in the advanced seeker. The guru is, among all men, the best of givers. Like the Lord Himself, his generosity knows no boundaries.

The Guru’s Promise

Importance of Guru by Swami Chinmayananda

The Role of Guru – By Swami Sivananda Maharaj

Ajnana-Timirandhasya Jnananjana-Salakaya;
Chakshurunmilitam Yena Tasmai Sri Gurave Namah.

Prostrations to that Guru who, by the collyrium-rod of Knowledge, opens the eyes of those who are rendered blind by the darkness of ignorance (Guru Gita).

The Guru is God Himself manifesting in a personal form to guide the aspirant. Grace of God takes the form of Guru. To see the Guru is to see God. The Guru is united with God. He inspires devotion in others. His presence purifies all.

The Guru is verily a link between the individual and the Immortal. He is a being who has raised himself from this into That, and thus has a free and unhampered access to both the realms. He stands, as it were, upon the threshold of immortality; and bending down, he raises the struggling individuals with his one hand, and with the other lifts them up into the empyrean of everlasting joy and infinite Truth-Consciousness.

The Satguru

Mere study of books cannot make one a Guru. One who has studied the Vedas and who has direct knowledge of Atman through Anubhava can only be enrolled as a Guru. A Jivanmukta or a liberated sage is the real Guru or spiritual preceptor. He is the Satguru. He is identical with Brahman or the Supreme Self. He is a Knower of Brahman.

Possession of Siddhis is not the test to declare the greatness of a sage or to prove he has attained Self-realisation. Satgurus do not exhibit any miracles or Siddhis. Sometimes they may exhibit them in order to convince the aspirants of the existence of super physical things, give them encouragement, and instil faith in their hearts. A Satguru is endowed with countless Siddhis. He possesses all divine Aisvarya, all the wealth of the Lord.

The Satguru is Brahman Himself. He is an ocean of bliss, knowledge and mercy. He is the captain of your soul. He is the fountain of joy. He removes all your troubles, sorrows and obstacles. He shows you the right divine path. He tears your veil of ignorance. He makes you immortal and divine. He transmutes your lower, diabolical nature. He gives you the rope of knowledge and saves you when you are drowning in this ocean of Samsara. Do not consider him to be only a man. If you take him as a man, you are a beast. Worship your Guru and bow to him with reverence.

Guru is God. A word from him is a word from God. He need not teach anything. Even his presence or company is elevating, inspiring and stirring. The very company itself is self-illumination. Living in his company is spiritual education. Read ‘Sri Granth Sahib’. You will come to know the greatness of Guru.

Man can learn only from a man, and hence God teaches through a human body. In your Guru, you have your human ideal of perfection. He is the pattern from which you wish to mould yourself. Your mind will readily be convinced that such a great soul is fit to be worshipped and revered.

Guru is the Moksha-Dvara. He is the gateway to the transcendental Truth-Consciousness. But, it is the aspirant that has to enter through it. The Guru is a help, but the actual task of practical Sadhana falls on the aspirant himself.

The Need for a Guru

For a beginner in the spiritual path, a Guru is necessary. To light a candle, you need a burning candled Even so, an illumined soul alone can enlighten another soul.

Some do meditation for some years independently. Later on, they actually feel the necessity for a Guru. They come across some obstacles in the way. They do not know how to obviate these impediments or stumbling blocks. Then they begin to search for a Master.

Only the man who has already been to Badrinath will be able to tell you the road leading to it. In the case of the spiritual path, it is still more difficult to find your way. The mind will mislead you very often. The Guru will be able to remove pitfalls and obstacles, and lead you along the right path. He will tell you: “This road leads you to Moksha; this one leads to bondage.” Without this guidance, you might want to go to Badrinath, but find yourself in Delhi!

The scriptures are like a forest. There are ambiguous passages. There are passages that are apparently contradictory and others that have esoteric meanings, diverse significance and hidden explanations. There are cross references. You are in need of a Guru or Preceptor who will explain to you the right meaning, who will remove doubts and ambiguities, who will place before you the essence of the teachings.

A Guru is absolutely necessary for every aspirant in the spiritual path. It is only the Guru who will find out your defects. The nature of egoism is such that you will not be able to find out your own defects. Just as a man cannot see his back, so also he cannot see his own errors. He must live under a Guru for the eradication of his evil qualities and defects.

The aspirant who is under the guidance of a Master or Guru is safe from being led astray. Satsanga or association with the Guru is an armour and fortress to guard you against all temptations and unfavourable forces of the material world.

Cases of those who had attained perfection without study under any Guru should not be cited as authoritative against the necessity for a Guru; for, such great men are the anomalies of spiritual life, and not the common normality. They come into existence as spiritual masters as a result of the intense service, study and meditation practised in previous births. They had already studied under the Guru. The present birth is only its continuative spiritual effect. Hence, the importance of the Guru is not lessened thereby.

Some teachers mislead their aspirants. They say to all: “Think for yourself. Do not surrender yourself to any Guru.” When one says, “Do not follow any Gurus,” he intends to be the listeners’ Guru himself. Do not approach such pseudo-Gurus. Do not hear their lectures.

All great ones had their teachers. All the sages, saints, prophets, world teachers, incarnations, great men have had their own Gurus, however great they might have been. Svetaketu learnt the nature of Truth from Uddalaka, Maitreyi from Yajnavalkya, Bhrigu from Varuna, Narada from Sanatkumara, Nachiketas from Yama, Indra from Prajapati; and several others humbly went to wise ones, observed strict Brahmacharya, practised rigorous discipline, and learnt Brahma-Vidya from them.

Lord Krishna sat at the feet of His Guru Sandipani. Lord Rama had Guru Vasishtha who gave Him Upadesa. Lord Jesus sought John to be baptised by him on the banks of the river Jordan. Even Devas have Brihaspati as their Guru. Even the greatest among the divine beings sat at the feet of Guru Dakshinamurti.

A neophyte must have a personal Guru first. He cannot have God as Guru to begin with. He must have a pure mind. He must have ethical perfection. He must be intensely virtuous. He must be above body-consciousness. Then alone can he have God as Guru.

Choosing the Guru

If you find peace in the presence of a Mahatma, if you are inspired by his speeches, if he is able to clear your doubts, if he is free from greed, anger and lust, if he is selfless, loving and I-less, you can take him as your Guru. He who is able to clear your doubts, he who is sympathetic in your Sadhana, he who does not disturb your beliefs but helps you on from where you are, he in whose very presence you feel spiritually elevated—he is your Guru. Once you choose your Guru, implicitly follow him. God will guide you through the Guru.

Do not use your reason too much in the selection of your Guru. You will fail if you do so. If you fail to get a first-class Guru, try to follow the instructions of the Sadhu who is treading the path for some years, who has purity and other virtuous qualities, and who has some knowledge of the scriptures. Just as a student of the Intermediate Class will be able to teach a student of Third Form when a professor with M.A. qualification is not available, just as a sub-assistant surgeon will be able to attend on a patient when the civil surgeon is not available, this second-class type of Guru will be able to help you.

If you are not able to find out even this second-class type of Guru, you can follow the teachings contained in the books written by realised saints like Sri Sankara, Dattatreya and others. You can keep a photo of such a realised Guru, if available, and worship the same with faith and devotion. Gradually you will get inspiration, and the Guru may appear in a dream and initiate and inspire you at the proper time. For a sincere Sadhaka, help comes in a mysterious manner.

Mysterious Help From the Lord

Just see how the Lord has helped the devotees in the following instances. Ekanath heard an Akasa-Vani, a voice from the sky. It said, “See Janardhan Pant at Deva Giri. He will put you in the proper path and guide you.” He acted accordingly and found his Guru. Tukaram received his Mantra “Rama Krishna Hari” in his dream. He repeated this Mantra and had Darshan of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna directed Namadev to get his higher initiation from a Sannyasin at Mallikarjuna. Queen Chudalai assumed the form of Kumbha Muni, appeared before her husband Sikhidhvaja in the forest, and initiated him into the mysteries of Kaivalya. Madhura Kavi saw a light in the firmament for three days consecutively. It guided him and took him to his Guru Nammalvar who was sitting in his Samadhi underneath a tamarind tree near Tinnevelly. Bilvamangal was very much attracted to Chintamani, the dancing woman. The latter became his Guru. Tulasidas received instructions from an invisible being to see Hanuman and, through Hanuman, to get Darshan of Sri Rama.

Competent disciples are never in want of a competent Guru. Realised souls are not rare. Ordinary ignorant-minded persons cannot easily recognise them. Only a few persons, who are pure and embodiments of all virtuous qualities, can understand realised souls, and they alone will be benefited in their company.

So long as there is a world, there are Gurus and Vedas to guide the struggling souls in the path of Self-realisation. The number of realised souls may be less in the Iron Age when compared with the Satya Yuga, but they are always present to help the aspirants. Let each man take the path according to his capacity, temperament and understanding. His Satguru will meet him along that path.

Siksha Gurus and Diksha Gurus

Man has a twofold duty here on earth—to preserve his life, and to realise his Self. To preserve his life, he has to learn to work for his daily bread. To realise his Self, he has to serve, love and meditate. The Guru who teaches him the knowledge of worldly arts is the Siksha Guru. The Guru who shows him the path of Realisation is the Diksha Guru. Siksha Gurus can be many—as many as the things he wishes to learn. Diksha Guru can be only one—the one who leads him to Moksha.

Stick to One Guru

From a doctor, you get a prescription. From two doctors, you get consultation. From three doctors, you get your own cremation. Even so, if you have many Gurus, you will be bewildered. You will be at a loss to know what to do. One Guru will tell you: “Do Soham Japa.” Another will tell you: “Do Japa of Sri Ram.” A third Guru will tell you: “Hear Anahata sounds.” You will be puzzled. Stick to one Guru and follow his instructions.

Listen to all, but follow one. Respect all, but adore one. Gather knowledge from all, but adopt the teachings of one Master. Then you will have rapid spiritual progress.

Guru-Parampara

Spiritual knowledge is a matter of Guru-Parampara. It is handed down from Guru to his disciple. Gaudapadacharya imparted Self-knowledge to his disciple Govindacharya; Govindacharya to his disciple Sankaracharya; Sankaracharya to his disciple Suresvaracharya. Matsyendranath imparted knowledge to his disciple Gorakhnath; Gorakhnath to Nivrittinath; Nivrittinath to Jnanadeva. Totapuri imparted knowledge to Sri Ramakrishna, and Ramakrishna to Swami Vivekananda. It was Ashtavakra who moulded the life of Raja Janaka. It was Gorakhnath who shaped the spiritual destiny of Raja Bhartrihari. It was Lord Krishna who made Arjuna and Uddhava get themselves established in the spiritual path when their minds were in an unsettled state.

Initiation—Its Meaning

A Bhakta will be initiated by a Bhakta saint in the path of devotion. A Jnani will initiate a student of Vedanta in the Mahavakyas. A Hatha Yogi or Raja Yogi can initiate another in his particular path. But, a sage of perfect Realisation, a Purna Jnani or Purna Yogi, can give initiation in any particular path. A sage or saint like Sri Sankara or Madhusudhana Sarasvati can initiate a Sadhaka, in any particular path for which the aspirant is fit. The Guru will find out by close study of the aspirant his tastes, temperaments and capacity, and decide for him the most suitable path. If his heart is impure, the teacher will prescribe selfless service for a number of years. Then the Guru will find out for what particular path the student is fit and initiate him in that.

Initiation does not mean reciting a Mantra into another’s ears. If Rama is influenced by the thoughts of Krishna, the former has got initiation already from the latter. If an aspirant treads the path of truth after studying the books written by a saint, and imbibes his teachings, that saint has already become his Guru.

Sakti-Sanchara

Just as you can give an orange to a man, so also, spiritual power can be transmitted by one to another. This method of transmitting spiritual powers is termed Sakti-Sanchara. In Sakti-Sanchara, a certain spiritual vibration of the Satguru is actually transferred to the mind of the disciple.

Spiritual power is transmitted by the Guru to the proper disciple whom he considers fit for Sakti-Sanchara. The Guru can transform the disciple by a look, a touch, a thought or a word or willing.

Sakti-Sanchara comes through Parampara. It is a hidden mystic science. It is handed down from the Guru to the disciple.

Lord Jesus, through touch, transmitted his spiritual power to some of his disciples. A disciple of Samartha Ramdas transmitted his power to that dancing girl’s daughter who was very passionate towards him. This disciple gazed at her and gave her Samadhi. Her passion vanished. She became very religious and spiritual. Lord Krishna touched the blind eyes of Suradas. The inner eye of Suradas was opened. He had Bhava-Samadhi. Lord Gauranga, through his touch, produced divine intoxication in many people and converted them to his side. Atheists even danced in ecstasy in the streets by his touch and sang songs of Hari.

The disciple should not rest satisfied with the transmission of power from the Guru. He will have to struggle hard in Sadhana for further perfection and attainments. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa touched Swami Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda had super conscious experience. He struggled hard for seven years more, even after the touch, for attaining perfection.

Grace and Self-Effort

Realisation cannot come to you as a miracle done by your Guru. Lord Buddha, Lord Jesus, Rama Tirtha have all done Sadhana. Lord Krishna asks Arjuna to develop Vairagya and Abhyasa. He did not say to him, “I will give you Mukti now.” Therefore, abandon the wrong notion that your Guru will give you Samadhi and Mukti. Strive, purify, meditate and realise.

Guru-Kripa, grace of the Guru, is very necessary. That does not mean that the disciple should sit idle. He must do rigid Purushartha, spiritual practices. The whole work must be done by the student. Nowadays, people want a drop of water from the Kamandalu of a Sannyasin and desire to enter into Samadhi immediately. They are not prepared to undergo any Sadhana for purification and Self-realisation. They want a magic pill to push them into Samadhi. If you have got such delusion, give it up immediately.

Guru and Sastras can show you the path and remove your doubts. Anubhava of Aparoksha kind or direct intuitive knowledge is left for your own experience. A hungry man will have to eat for himself. He who has a severe itching will have to scratch for himself.

No doubt, Guru’s blessings can do everything. How can one have his blessings? By pleasing the Guru. A Guru can be pleased with his disciple only if the latter carries out his spiritual instructions implicitly. Carefully follow, therefore, the instructions of the Guru. Act up to his instructions. Then only will you deserve his blessings, and then alone his blessings can do everything.