HINDU RESOURCES >> GURU: THE SPIRITUAL TEACHER

by Shri Prakash Gossai

Guru means spiritual teacher or master. The importance of a teacher: “making easy that which is difficult”. If we are serious about understanding the science of God, a Guru is required to help us on our spiritual path and obviously the best person to accompany us on this journey is someone who has successfully traveled the path. He/she is able to open our eyes with the torch of knowledge, therefore illuminating a path into the spiritual world. A true Guru has attained a high degree of spiritual development, well versed in scriptures and practice the absolute truth of the scriptures in his daily life. The Guru must be able to teach the spiritual doctrine to everyone around him and relate to all types of manas-minds that may come to him. A fully realized Guru will have knowledge of God and will refer to God as his true Guru; he is a Brahma-Gyani-realized soul. He/she is a representative of God.

Brahmaanandam Param Sukhdam Kewalam Gyaan Moortim
Dwandaatitam Gagan-Sardisham Tattwamasyaadi Laksyam

Salutations to the true Guru who is the embodiment of the bliss of Brahman and the bestower of Supreme happiness, who is detached, knowledge personified and beyond duality, who is like the sky and is indicated by such Vedic dictates as “Thou art That”.

Selecting a Guru is a very personal matter. Nowadays children want to be part of the decision or have an opinion on the person that will become their Spiritual teacher. Many parents understand the importance of the relationship between a Guru and his Chela (disciple), which is why they involve their children in the decision making process. In some cases, the Guru is chosen by the Chela at a later stage in life. The Chela must be willing to fully trust and follow the advice of his/her Guru. The disciple must be open-minded, willing to learn, practice and experience the teachings of his/her spiritual master.

We should always offer respects to our spiritual master because when we offer respects to the Guru, we are offering respects to a representative of God. A Guru will understand your problems, help you to overcome the sufferings arising from the material body and mind, from other entities, from the forces of nature and assist you in finding the most loving and peaceful path to God. It is often said that when a disciple is ready, the teacher will appear. You will recognize your Guru when you feel the love and extraordinary energy flowing between you and your Guru. The relationship between a Guru and his Chela is a Divine love.

As mentioned earlier, a Guru teaches the path to God; therefore he must have traveled this path to fully know it before he can lead his Chelas to achieve God realization. He transfers his enlightenment to his disciples, which makes it easier for them to understand and progress spiritually. A true Guru can guide all his disciples without physically being present, simply because he represents the Supreme Guru, God. A God-realized Guru will teach many spiritual paths leading directly to God. He can help us to attain the highest perfection of life. A Guru brings his disciples from darkness to light and from ignorance to bliss.

Guru Govinda dou khade kake lagu paya
Balihari Guru apane Govinda diyo batay

Suppose one day God and your teacher stands before you, whom should one give the first reverence. One should revere the teacher first, because through him, you will find God.

Having a physical Guru is an old custom in many countries and spiritual traditions, particularly in Hinduism. A physical Guru is of great benefit to anyone seeking God; we can associate with him through his physical presence and through his instructions. In addition, the Divine love between a Guru and his Chela awakens our consciousness and our connection with God and makes spiritual progress much easier and faster than traveling the path to God on your own. The spiritual master transmits timeless knowledge that opens up the secrets of the Supreme self within, nature, the Universe and us. He helps us to clarify just how relevant the science of self-realization is to our modern world and our own lives.

We are born in the darkness of ignorance and we have to be enlightened. If we were born learned, there would be no need for us to go to school. We go to school to receive knowledge for our life to be successful. Without the study of authoritative books on science, literature, and philosophy, we cannot acquire knowledge. Similarly, the Guru puts ways of experiencing God in a development sequence, showing that God consciousness unfolds in a series of stages, each important and remarkable in itself, yet each getting us closer to the Source. He leads us into the mysteries and joys of true spirituality and helps us to understand who we really are: infinite, immortal and eternal. According to Vedic philosophy, the objective of human life is self-realization and our relationship with God.

Goswami Tulsidas wrote in the Ramcharitamanas: “Those who reverently and unreservedly follow the advice of their Mother and Father, Guru and Master have reaped the fruit of their birth, otherwise their coming into this world is of no avail”.

Everyone has a purpose in life. Dharma is a Sanskrit word that means “purpose in life”. We have taken manifestation in this physical form to fulfill a purpose. Each of us is here to discover our true Self, that essentially we are spiritual beings and our higher self is spiritual. In order to fulfill our Dharma, we must seek our higher self, which is beyond our ego, through spiritual practice. A Guru helps us to remove the obstacles in our path by providing direction and guidance on our spiritual journey to God realization; thus fulfilling our purpose in this life. The Guru identifies the various paths to God:

KARMA YOGA - Action
GYAAN YOGA - Knowledge
BHAKTI YOGA - Devotion

Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word “Yoke” or “join together”. Essentially it means union. It is the science of uniting the Individual Soul with the Cosmic Spirit through physical disciplines (postures) and mental disciplines (meditation).

Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word “Yoke” or “join together”. Essentially it means union. It is the science of uniting the Individual Soul with the Cosmic Spirit through physical disciplines (postures) and mental disciplines (meditation).

ADORATION TO THE GURU

Akhand mandalaakaaram vyaaptam yena charaacharam
Tat padam darshitam yena tasmai shree gureve namah
Salutations to the Guru who has made it possible to realize Him, by whom the Universe
of movable and immovable objects is pervaded.

Agyaam timiraan dhasya gyaanaam jana shalaakyaa
Chakshurun militam yena tasmai shree gureve namah
Salutations to the Guru, who with the stick of knowledge has opened the eyes of one blinded by the disease of ignorance.

Chidr-Roopen Pari-Vyaaptam Yena Krit-Sanam Charaacharam
Tatpadam Darshitam Yena Tasmai Shree Gureve namah
Salutations to the Guru who has made it possible to realize Him, who as consciousness pervades the three worlds with their movable and immovable objects.

Sarv- Shruti Shiro Rama Samud-Bhaasit Moortaye
Vedant Aambuj Sooryaaye tasmai Shree Guruve Namah
Salutations to the Guru whose form is radiant with the jewel of Vedanta and who is the Sun that casues to blossom the lotus of Vedanta.

Bandau Gurupada Kanja Kripasindhu Nararupa Hari
Mahaamohan Tama Punja Jaasu Bacana Rabikara Nikara
I revere the lotus feet of my Guru, ocean of grace, Hari in human form, whose words are like a flood of Sunlight on the deep darkness of powerful ignorance.

Om Namah Shivaya