|
|
|
Guru
Guru is a commonly used word in all Indian languages, now accepted in the English language as well. It is generally used to denote a person with higher level of knowledge and expertise in a certain field, who teaches or guides students, colleagues and others. The word is also used to refer to a spiritually evolved person who may initiate and guide seekers on the path of spiritual liberation, which is considered to be the ultimate goal of all mortals. Literally, the Sanskrit word Guru means one who leads from darkness to light or from ignorance to knowledge. Therefore, all our teachers starting with mother, father, siblings, uncles and aunts to academic teachers, professional guides, senior colleagues, peers and friends may fall in the category of a Guru at various points in time. Nevertheless, they could only be called teachers and not real gurus. Then how can we distinguish a real, spiritual Guru from the others who play the role of teachers, guides and mentors in our lives?
The state of mind of a Guru is incomprehensible to common people, because their own minds are seated in ego which experiences the passions as stated above. A Guru guides seekers in cleansing their minds of the six passions and experience the egoless state. Note that, to recognize a Guru one has to attain the state of Guru Consciousness himself, and until then the Guru remains a mystery! This is the main reason why there is so much confusion in the society about spiritual Gurus. There are hoards of gurus available all over the world claiming to liberate seekers. They may be ascetics or hermits, wear ochre, white or specially styled robes, engage in yoga, meditation or any other practices and be surrounded by a bunch of followers. Some may guide seekers with certain spiritual practices, ask them for donations or perform expensive rituals. But alas, all these may go in vain or give a false sense of spiritual advancement to seekers, as a Guru cannot be recognized by his /her outward appearances like whether he is a sanyasi (one who renounces worldly life of materialistic achievements), or a family man, his attire, mannerisms, eating habits etc. It is the state of the mind alone that separates a true Guru from the fakes! The process of cleansing one’s mind does not require any physical exercises, particular type of food, style of robes, or the like. As the process is entirely mental, it requires one to become aware of one’s nature, its shortcomings, tensions and suffering. Having done this, one can overcome the shortcomings by learning to modify the way of transacting in the world and experience contentment. The Guru functions as a mirror by showing the true face of a seeker to himself so that he can improve his ways. This process is to be gone through diligently and persistently to attain a state of peace and happiness. The Guru is with the seeker providing guidance when required and helping to solve problems faced. The seeker needs to have full faith and confidence in his Guru and carry on the road to mental peace and joy. We saw that the state of the Guru’s mind is incomprehensible to ordinary people. Then, how is a common man to recognize and approach a Guru for guidance? As we have seen earlier a true Guru is devoid of ego and its passions. He is genuinely interested in guiding other seekers and not in being financially or materially compensated in any way for this guidance. He only wants those who come to him to experience the real joy of an egoless state as he himself has done. This is his true compensation! Spreading the joy he enjoys to the entire world! The Following Qualities may be of help in recognizing a Spiritual Guru:
|
The qualifications of a real, spiritual Guru are completely different. Years of research carried out by H.H.Bhanudas on mind, on which Spiritual-Science is based, has uncovered the concept of Guru. It is nothing but a form of universal energy that emanates from the source of the universe or the Supreme Being and pervades the entire universe. Speaking for our planet alone, it pervades the atmosphere surrounding the earth and is therefore available to every human being on it. However to experience it, the human mind has to be suitably tuned and a link established. This energy is known as Gurutattva or Gurushakti or Guru Consciousness. It combines all the three attributes (gunas) of universal energy viz. creation (sattva), sustenance (rajas) and destruction or dissolution (tamas). It is egoless in the sense, it is devoid of the concept of doership and hence devoid of the six common passions like lust, anger, greed, craving, conceit and envy. When a human mind attains a pure state devoid of these maladies it automatically gets linked to this energy and is said to be in Guru Consciousness. The physical form embodying such a pure mind is acknowledged as the Guru. It is important to understand that the physical form of a Guru is like that of any other human being and merely incidental. However, people mistake the physical form or the person to be the Guru and develop attachment to him /her. They try to ape the Guru’s ways of living emulating his physical appearance, style of clothing, mannerisms, eating habits etc.
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|