Skip to main content

The Meaning and Significance of Guru in Hinduism: 3 Important Things You Need to Know Right Away

In Hinduism, the 'Guru' is a most sacred bond that a spiritual seeker has with an Enlightened One. A question that every seeker is likely to ask - ''Who is a Guru?'' There are many interpretations to this. In a simple way, I find this to be based on my experience - a Guru is the One who helps you navigate from untruth to Truth, from darkness to Light, and from mortality to Immortality. 

                                                                           [Image: Pixabay.com]
  
The toughest part of a spiritual aspirant's life is not the constant mockery and disbelief that one faces from loved ones or friends - it is the ability to hold on with steadfast faith that the Guru appears when the disciple is ready. 

This simple truth is absent from the lives of most spiritual seekers. Of course, the easiest thing to do is to google on the Internet, find a suitable Guru, sign up for different meditation and pranayama packages, pay up hefty amounts for these holistic packages and come back thrilled or unhappy after the experience. 

Dear friend, do you actually believe that this is all there is to the spiritual path - that you can just sign up, go shopping from one Guru to the other, play a game of musical chairs only to find that by the end of the game, you are fed up and you feel cheated? The worst part is then you are totally confused about the Path itself.

In one of the old Charlie Chaplin flicks, there is a scene where he keeps looking backward while walking and topples down. That is exactly what happens to seekers who go shopping for Gurus, signing up for differently priced meditation and yoga packages. These 'seekers' crumble and fall apart faster than cookies dunked in milk. The problem is not with the Guru, the problem stems from their limited understanding of a Guru's purpose in their life.

Also remember this: A 'Guru' who asks you to fight others, take up violence, to hurt any one is a FRAUD. A 'Guru' who makes any attempt to touch you physically and in a sexually oriented way is a FRAUD and NOTHING justifies it.  These are not 'Gurus' - understand this!

If only the spiritual world was so easy and simple to figure out for all of us....alas, it is a razor's edge that few can walk on, without slipping down. 

The simple truth is this - The Guru Finds YOU. 
This may sound laughable at first reading but it is the Truth of the Spiritual World. It destroys all egocentric notions of ''I'' - which is why many have missed it earlier and no one may have pointed it out to you before.

You don't need to Google to find your Guru. 

Then, what do you need to do? 

I have an answer that you will probably hate me for: Wait.

If your for attaining progress on the spiritual path is sincere and steadfast, your Guru will find you. Study the lives of the spiritual Masters - it will prepare you for the tough life that a seeker can expect on the path. You will also get an intuitive idea of how a true Guru reaches out to a disciple.

Don't shop for Gurus. Your Guru will find you. Have faith and wait. 

And when your Guru finds you, keep these beautiful words of wisdom of shared by the medieval monk Fra Giovanni close to your heart:

'There is nothing I can give you which you do not have, but there is much that while I cannot give it, you can take. No heaven can come to us our hearts find rest in today. Take heaven. No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present instant. Take peace.

....Everything we call a trial, a sorrow or a duty, the angel's hand is there, the gift is there, and the wonder of an overshadowing presence. Our joys too, be not content with them as joys. They too conceal their divine gifts.' (Source: Eknath Eashwaran's book 'Discover Your Hidden Spiritual Resources.)

Have faith. Your Guru will find you at the right time, just as Swami Vivekananda was found by Sri Ramakrishna, Mother Mirra was found by Sri Aurobindo, Sri M was found by his Guru Maheshwaranath Babaji and so many many others. When that happens, you won't need to search on Google, Facebook or Twitter. You will know it with the divine awareness that suddenly embraces and brings to life every cell in your body.


Till the Guru appears, here are 3 things you can do:


1. Keep chanting or meditating on the name and form every morning in a way that brings you joy. [Do READ: Meditation - Signs of Progress]

2. You can also begin your day by visualizing the AUM in Devanagari script, in colors of gold or electric blue, a highly recommended spiritual practice revealed to Sri M by the great Yogi, Sri Maheshwaranath Babaji.

3. Serve humanity with love - start your day with love, spend your day with love and end your day with love - as my Guru tells us to do.


Step into your Light, your Divine Power - the Guru will find You.

Comments

Most Popular Posts

The Ugly Truth about Caste in Kerala

Many years ago, when I wrote this post on Kerala's caste system, I had not considered that people would start sending in abusive comments about one caste over the other. It baffles me that this is how Indians, all of us, continue to judge each other on account of caste differences.  [ READ: Guru Kripa: Powerful Lessons at the Lotus Feet ] My question is - why do you ABUSE any caste or community? I suggest that you read about the lives of great Masters and their stories - none of them judged anyone on the basis of caste.  You can read the life stories of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada, Tulsidas, Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, Shirdi Sai Baba, and many more Gurus in Sanathana Dharma. NONE of them endorse these caste hierarchies in Bhakti Marga. Assuming that Guru Sampradaya does not appeal to your sensibilities, do read this  new book 'Ants among Elephants' written by Sujatha Gidla, who writes about herself as being born

How do you light Deepam at home?

How do you light deepam at home? As a child, I loved watching the ritual of my grandmother lighting the deepam or the traditional lamp at home in the evenings. A sense of serenity accompanied her frail figure as she would carefully straighten every wick, dip it into the tiny puddle of oil and light the lamp. As my grandmother would read out the scriptures and chant the prayers, the fragrance of incense sticks and flowers added depth to the experience. In many Hindu homes nowadays, the lighting of the lamp (or the nilavilakku, as Malayalis refer to the traditional lamp in their homes) is not a regular practice. A lot of people have many questions around how to light deepam at home and which oil to use and so on. An important point to keep in mind - Maintain physical cleanliness and hygiene while lighting the lamp. Wear clean clothes while lighting the lamp. Frequently Asked Questions About Lighting Deepam at Home Collating most queries related to how to light the deepam at home, I'v

Gayatri Mantra as Panchamukhi: Get it right or let it go

Most people do not understand the importance of chanting the Gayatri mantra because they are not aware of its power. It is only when I began to read Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's teachings that I learned how sacred and powerful the chanting of the Gayatri mantra is.    The Vedas represent the breath of God. The Gayatri mantra is the very basis of the Vedas. Try not to undertake chanting the Gayatri mantra as a light endeavor or as a hobby. It has to be chanted with faith, discipline and purity of mind and body. Be steady with your sadhana if you want to reap the spiritual dividend associated with the Gayatri mantra  and never once hesitate once you decide to do it.  Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba said that the Gayatri Mantra is referred to as Pancha Mukhi, the Goddess with five faces that represent the five pranas or life forces. Here's more on it. .  Also read: The Power of OM   Chant the Gayatri Mantra correctly: Pause Five Times Here are some important thi

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra: Meaning, Benefit of Chanting and Who can Chant the Mantra

Mahadmrityunjaya Mantra: Benefit of chanting this mantra There are very few mantras that are as powerful as the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. Do read my post: Does Mahamrityunajaya mantra really work?       Mahamrityunjaya mantra is believed to have the power to remove all sufferings, diseases and bestow the one who chants it with good health and long life.   It is also believed that constant contemplation of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra can help spiritual aspirants to overcome the cycle of birth and death. What got me fascinated about this mantra is something personal.  I learned this mantra from my father but it is my maternal grandmother who chanted it all the time and repeatedly told me of its tremendous power to protect. However, I did not chant this mantra regularly.  At the age of two, my son was taught some mantras by my mother who explained what it means to him and he became very enthusiastic about chanting the mantras. Following this, my mother taught him the Maha Mrityun

Saree Woes 2

Our earlier discussion on Saree Woes really perked up my spirits. A big thanks to all of you for pepping me up. Okay, here's the good news. There was an unexpected late night party that I had to attend in Gurgaon. To be honest, I haven't had the time or energy to attend any such parties after Adi was born. I was sure I wouldn't have the confidence to make conversation with the glitterati, let alone feel confident to carry off wearing a saree. This is one of those parties where you have to be dressed very formally. Well, at the end of a working woman's day, you hardly feel ready to attend one of these parties looking like a moron, right? So, with very little preparation and very few hours left, I called on all the gods in Heaven to help me look a little younger and prettier since I don't have the magic to look young all on my own. Although I was tempted to wear one of my awesome Kancheevaram treasures, I knew it would be very difficult to drape it without any h