Guru
Whenever a discussion on Guru comes up, gurudev Sri Madhab says that it is better not to discuss about Guru. In a proper analysis Guru can never be the topic of discussion. In the state during which the activity of mind is bound within the limits of the Antahkarana – the superficial facet of mind, intellect, ego and chitta, the perception is termed as materialistic perception (Jada Bodh). Being extrovert & superficial in nature, all debate, argument and criticisms arise from this state. The topic of discussions should definitely be regarding the material world. I have heard from Sri Gurudev that the main purpose of spiritual discussion (alo-chona) is to enlighten (“Alo” means Light + “Rachana” means to Create or Spread) which is the main instrument to perceive the illuminated form or Sri Guru. As such, Guru can never be the subject of discussion. Always the topic of (spiritual) discussion should be that which shows the way to gain realization of Guru. Guru is beyond the material and, as such, He cannot be perceived through the knowledge of the material. Guru means great – so great that He is boundless. Again, He is so subtle that cannot be perceived through the powers of the intellect. Guru is nir-guna or beyond the purview of any of the primordial qualities (guna) and, as such, no one can gauge him with the help of any particular skill or quality. He has no definite shape (nirakar). Therefore, He can’t be identified with any particular shape or form. Although He is present both inside as well as outside all that has been created, Guru’s existence is veiled from the physical eye. Hence his existence stretches beyond all boundaries, infinite, unfragmented. He can only be found in the light of one’s own inner self. The inner light can be kept burning only through the realization of the Supreme. This realization dawns through expulsion of materialistic concepts and nature by proceeding along the spiritual path following Sri Guru’s advices and instructions. Although the Knowledge of the Supreme glows secretly in the core of hearts of all mankind, it remains in an inactive state, hidden from our extrovert vision. It is merely veiled behind material knowledge. He, who has transformed into an illuminated form by expelling the darkness of material knowledge in the light of Supreme Perception, he only knows how to lead from darkness to light and, that is why, he is Guru. In our life we find that since our birth, we human beings try to acquire knowledge about unknown things. One can only educate others on the subject about which one is aware. The person who educates is known as a teacher. Form this aspect parents, seniors, the teachers of school and colleges are all our educators or imparters of knowledge. All of them give us education to gain the required eligibility to lead our lives according to the norms of civilised society. The inspiration to make ourselves educated comes from their teachings and due to this they are our subjects of respect. The person who gives us the knowledge of the physical world is shiksha guru because like the spiritual Guru, he gives us knowledge about unknown things. The meaning of material or physical is that which has an end. In other words all material objects are perishable. As such, we can only learn about things that are impermanent through materialistic education. However, this type of education is limited up to a certain age. The spiritual Guru educates on how to withdraw oneself from this materialistic education. Apart from this he also teaches us how to search for the existence of the eternal within the temporal and makes us realise the eternal Truth. He is the terminator of ignorance. Through this education mankind can become free of the illusory lure of the material, unperturbed, quiet, broadminded and invulnerable to fear thus being able to attain the state of fearlessness. Hence Guru is known as the Deity, the worshipped or God because He can make a man proficient regarding the Supreme Deity. It is only God who can Awaken as the Supreme Perception within the body of the eligible and the owner of such a body can only exist as Guru in this world. We make so many classifications of guru from our limited material knowledge like, Sad guru, kul guru, my guru, his guru etc. Such adjectives applied to guru are the outcome of our ignorance. Guru has no adjective as He is perfect, One and incomparable. Many people who have gained expertise in material subjects are often heard to make adverse comments regarding guru. They even ridicule, mock and show disrespect to guru. There are mainly two reasons for such improper behaviour. The first is the arrogance arising out of the knowledge of the material and the second is due to excesses arising out of immature stage of sadhana. The person who is devoid of conceit and wise always keeps himself away from commenting upon a subject about which he does not possess substantial knowledge. These people prefer to keep quiet knowing that it is nothing but mere nonsensical babbling of an idiot if one speaks about a subject in which one does not have a clear conception. Teaching without having adequate skill in a subject or possessing the required eligibility can never bring about good outcome. Instead it results in a shameful chapter in history. If one poses as a doctor without the knowledge of medicine, can he ever treat a patient properly? Little will the student benefit if a person teaches without having the adequate academic qualifications. Sri Guru has taken up all roles, or in other words, He is intricately present in all that exists. He spends a simple life merely to mingle with us ordinary mortals. Revered Gurudev Sri Madhab says, as the duty of a primary teacher is to make the students learn about alphabets and the duty of a linguist is to teach the intricacies of a language, the subjects that a guru should teach his disciples through instructions and advice are as follows:
- To enlighten the ignorant
- To guide the uninitiated to the path of God
- To free the ignorant from ignorance
- To teach about the process of sadhana
- To make one understand about the Brahma, the Self and the material world
- To make one understand about physical, the subtle and the causative body
- To make one understand about the soul and the Supreme
- To make one understand how to lead material and spiritual life
- To make one understand the orderliness in eating, sleeping and procreating
- To make one understand how to conserve speech
- To make one understand which food should be taken and which should be rejected
- How does the mind’s involvement into the material causes hindrance or assists the sadhak in his spiritual endeavour.
- To make one understand how Awakening takes place in mankind.
- To make one understand the purpose of man’s appearance on earth.
- To make one understand how all questions can be answered
- To make one understand how by surpassing the mental state and reaching the inner self one can achieve Self
- Realisation and the Realisation of the Divinity and also to know where lies the end of the earthly life.
- To make one understand how freedom from earthly life and the life beyond the physical is achieved
- To make one understand what is the Final Reunion etc.
Sri Madhab says only those persons who gain experience of the above can become winners in the walks of life and spiritual pursuit. However, although the knowledge gained from our worldly life is merely materialistic, still it is necessary. Materialistic knowledge makes a person thoughtful and experienced in various aspects of the physical world. As we are living in the physical world it is not at all logical to disregard the material knowledge. On the other hand, the Guru enlightens the mind of the disciple in the light of the knowledge of the Supreme. Who am I? Wherefrom have I come? What should I do? What is my destiny i.e. what is my ultimate end? The answers to these queries can be gained through Self Realisation that gradually arises from proceeding in the spiritual path as directed by Sri Guru. Self Realisation is the true realisation of the Inner Self or the matured Self. This Inner Self is humanity and humanity is inseparable from Truth Absolute. In order to ascend to Inner Self the ego or the knowledge of immature Self must be discarded. It is not possible to reach the state of true humanity i.e the Inner Self or realise what is Self without complete submission to Guru. Only by following the way directed by Guru with complete sincerity can one be instated into the knowledge of the Self discarding all ignorance. Only Guru can transform the knowledge of the physical to the knowledge of the metaphysical and bring harmony, discipline and consistency into the worldly and spiritual life of human beings. It is He, who can take the sadhak beyond the realms of the physical (deha), attributes (guna) and mental plane through realisation of the Inner Self and illuminated in the burning glow of profound wisdom (pragnya), reach him to the final goal.
Thus the main purpose of human existence should be to dedicate oneself to the ideal of universal love with the realisation that Sri Guru is the ultimate goal and rising beyond all kinds of discrimination executing the work assigned by Him completely surrendering to His Will.