Cultivate Love to Achieve Fullness
Dear readers, on July 18 of this year falls the sacred festival of Guru Poornima. It is the day on which the Guru, or the preceptor, is adored and worshipped. Marking the first festival in the academic calendar of Sri Sathya Sai University, this festival is much awaited for by both Swami’s students and His devotees. For one, this day, Bhagavan Baba, the Supreme Teacher, has always blessed His students and devotees with an enlightening discourse. Below are extracts from His message delivered on this occasion way back in the year 1983.
Even when the Divine appears in human form, moves freely amongst men and women, and is near in various ways to people, only a few are able to recognize Divinity in its physical form. Remember it is not easy to recognize the nature of the Divine through the corporeal form alone. You need a true guru (spiritual preceptor) to reveal the real nature of Divinity. And such a guru has been equated with the Trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
The devotee who regards God Himself as his guru will not have any difficulties. Today, many who are looked upon as gurus utter the manthras (sacred formula) in the ear, but they also stretch their palms for money. In everything they do, they expect money. Such gurus are “baadha” (harmful) gurus and not “bodha” (enlightening) gurus.
The true guru is like an ophthalmic surgeon. The surgeon removes the film in the patient’s eye and restores his natural vision. In the same way the guru should also remove the veil of ignorance and attachment that blurs the vision of his disciples and restore their natural spiritual vision.
What is the reward one should give to such a guru? On Guru Poornima day, it is the practice for disciples to offer Padha Puja (offering worship to Guru’s holy feet) and give Dakshina (thanksgiving offering) to the Guru. But for this you should understand the significance of the Full Moon. It is a day on which the Moon shines in all his fullness, without any blemish. It is a day of purity when the Moon sheds its cool rays on the earth.
What is the reward one should give to such a guru? On Guru Poornima day, it is the practice for disciples to offer Padha Puja (offering worship to Guru’s holy feet) and give Dakshina (thanksgiving offering) to the Guru. But for this you should understand the significance of the Full Moon. It is a day on which the Moon shines in all his fullness, without any blemish. It is a day of purity when the Moon sheds its cool rays on the earth.
