Swami discourses on the subject of the Guru
Blessed Souls,
“Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu, GururDevo Maheswara, Guru Saakshaath Para Brahma, Thasmai Sree Gurave Namah”
Guru is Brahma, the Lord who has created the entire universe. Guru is Vishnu, who sustains the whole universe with all its creatures. Guru is Maheswara, the Ultimate Lord who destroys the ignorance and darkness of the world. Guru is verily the ParaBrahma, the absolute Almighty. We must all offer our unconditional salutations at the Divine Feet of the Guru.
Guru is the Almighty incarnated in human form, with the Divine mission of liberating mankind from the sorrowful and miserable existence in ignorance & illusion and granting them the nectar of immortal identification with Supreme Bliss. Only by worshipping those Divine Feet with absolute surrender can one attain liberation from bondage herein and hereafter.
The Guru has many forms in fact, but each one of these forms is full by itself. He is really the omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent absolute. A real Guru sees Himself in everything around Him because He is the one who has realised that everything is His own reflection and manifeststion. He never looks down upon anything or anyone and never even thinks for a moment, nor speaks a word, to belittle another, be they a Guru or an ordinary human being. In fact He may even ask His desciples to worship all other forms of Him as His own. He never attempts to impress upon others about His Divine nature by resorting to magic shows!
Each and every one of His thoughts, words and deeds and even His gestures are absolutely free from selfishness, totally unhurting and never insulting. He is really the embodiment of purity, simplicity and humility, which are in fact the one and only unmistakable signs of Divinity in human form. We must remember that wherever there is anything contradictory, wherever there is any spark of duality, wherever there is any tinge of selfishness in thoughts, words or deeds, the Guru has not manifested in reality. Every spiritual aspirant must beware of such hidden pitfalls in his journey to achieve the goal of his life.
“Gurave sarva lokanaam, Bhishaje bhavaroginam, Nidhaye saravavidyanaam, Dakshinamurthaye namaha”
Guru is for the whole world. He is the Doctor who cures the worldly maladies of humanity, and He is the treasure chest of all knowledge and skills. My humble prostrations to Him who is also known as Lord Dakshinamurthy. For all the sufferings and miseries of humanity there is only one remedy – and that is worshipful surrender at the Guru’s Divine Feet. Listening to Guru’s Divine words and faithful observance of the same in day-to-day life is absolutely essential to please Guru and earn His Divine Grace – and only by Divine Grace can one progress in life both materially and spiritually.
”Ajnana thimiranthasya Jnananjana salaakaya, Chakshurunmeelitham yena Thasmai sree Gurave namah”
Ignorance about the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of life is the root cause of sufferings in this world. We are all born out of Divinity and we all travel back to the same Divine Mother and Father through the journey of life. Everyone is in fact a spark of Divinity – and attaining that Knowledge is the goal of life. Fortunate are those very few aspirants who have attained the priceless opportunity to be in the Divine Presence of a real Guru and benefit from His Love and Compassionate guidance to remove the darkness of ignorance and attain the Light of that Knowlwdge.
One should not have any Ego or show anger to anyone.
The Guru shines like the sun –dispelling the darkness and leading everyone to the light.
A real Guru comes via a lineage (parampara). He never shows displeasure or anger to any soul.
A true Guru never teaches or advises his disciples not to see or meet any other Masters or Gurus. A true devotee wants to see the Oneness of the Guru. Do not focus on the mirror – you will only see your reflection therein. Look instead inwards and realise your true nature.
Love and Blessings,
Swami Atmachaithanya