Guru, God and Self are Synonymous

Guru, God and Self are Synonymous : Guru Poornima

published in Times of India July 12, 2003

An acharya (teacher) gives shiksha, which means knowledge; Guru gives diksha, which means heightened awareness.A guru does not simply stuff you with knowledge but he kindles life force in you.

In the presence of the guru you become more alive. The pinnacle of intellect is awakened intelligence. The guru invokes not only intelligence but also the intellect in you. Knowledge may not invoke intelligence, but in intelligence, knowledge is inherent.

Whether you like it or not, the guru principle pervades your life. Your mother is your first guru and then from science to spirituality, from birth to death, guru principle permeates your life.

There is a guru for every discipline - a religious guru (dharma), a family guru (kula), a rajguru (guru for
the kingdom), a vidya guru (guru for a particular discipline) and a sat guru (spiritual guru).

In the Upanishads five signs of sat guru are mentioned. In the presence of the sat guru; Knowledge flourishes (Gyana raksha);

Sorrow diminishes (Dukha kshaya); Joy wells up without any reason (Sukha aavirbhava); Abundance dawns (Samriddhi); All talents manifest (Sarva samvardhan).

Mind is connected with the moon and full moon is a symbol of completion and pinnacle of celebration.
Among the 12-13 full moons in a year the vaishakha full moon is dedicated to Buddha (his birth and
enlightenment), jyeshtha full moon to mother earth and the aashadha full moon is dedicated to the memory of
masters. This is Guru-poornima.

Gurupoornima is also called Vyasa Poornima. Vyasa is the embodiment of scriptural knowledge as well as
experience. When a guru or acharya delivers a talk the seat is called Vyasa peetha. Vyasa is familiar with
every avenue of existence, both material and spiritual. There is a saying Vyaso chishtam jagat
sarwam that means there is nothing under the sun that Vyasa has not touched upon.

As no sanchita karma is left in an embodied guru, self shines through, which becomes very obvious in the
presence of the guru. But all those qualities that you appreciate in a guru are also in your very nature.
Being with the guru is like being with one's higher self. Guru, God and one's own self are synonymous.

Often one recognises wisdom but sees a gap between wisdom and one's own life. The purpose of becoming a
disciple is to bridge that gap. Being with a guru means spontaneous integration of
life and wisdom. Respecting the guru simply means honouring your innermost nature.

Gurupoornima is the day when the disciple wakes up in his fullness and in the wakefulness he can't be but
grateful. This gratitude is not of dwaita (you andme), but of advaita. It is not a river moving from
somewhere to somewhere, but is the ocean moving within itself. So, gratefulness on Guru-poornima symbolises
that fullness.

The purpose of the Guru poornima celebration is to turn back and review and see in this
last one year how much one has progressed in life. For a seeker, Guru poornima is a day of significance.
It is the day to review one's progress on the spiritual path and renew one's determination
and focus on the goal. As the full moon rises and sets, tears of gratitude arise and repose into the
vastness of one's own self.

Guru Poornima 06 Talk

A city without streets, a king without treasure, a merchant without business, a life wihout wisdom, a life without Guru, are all considered the same.

There are two aspects:
1. To have a Guru
2. To play the Guru

Why there is so much emphasis on Guru, especially in east? What is the role of a Guru? Why do you need a Guru?

Life is not simple. Its complicated. Opposites make life. There is pleasure and pain, happiness and suffering, generosity and greed, passion and dispassion. Life is full of opposite values. Mind is unable to handle these complications. It just breaks down. It needs support, a
breather. So wisdom, light, Guru is available.

When life and wisdom is inseparable it is called Satguru (true Guru).
When is this possible? You know when somebody is in trouble you give them great advices but same advices do not come to your mind when you yourself are in trouble. This is because wisdom dawns when you are out of the mess. If there is wisdom there cannot be mess. Guru is one who is
out of the mess. He watches the chaos. Sometimes creates the chaos. Have you heard of
circuit-breakers. They are used in equipments. It stops excessive flow of electricity and thus safe-guarding the equipment from damage. Guru is a circuit-breaker. When you cannot handle life Guru comes and saves you.
Whatever you cannot handle in life, give it to Guru. If there is some compelling desire that bugs you it will become botheration. Guru is someone who has unconditional love towards you. You offer your desires and pains to him. So having a Guru is to be able to SMILE :-) all the time,
walking with confidence, being fearless and to have a vision. And, that is wisdom.

You cannot say I've a Guru and still I'm worried/unhappy. That means you are not utilising Guru. Its foolish to say I'm in the drivers seat and I don't know how to steer or paddle the accelerator. Having a Guru means, job is done.

The other aspect is, to be a Guru. To be a Guru, is to be uninvolved and yet being full of love and compassion. Guru is uninvolved and yet full of caring and compassion. Can't you play Guru to one another person in the world? Can't you love one another person unconditionally without
expecting anything in return? If not, your life is incomplete. Play Guru to as many people. Anyways you give advice, now be wise. Wisdom is being centred, being I'm not the body, I'm the spirit, light and love. Don't wait for sometime in future for this to happen. Just start. Start
playing the role. Life needs both these aspects. Having a Guru and doing service.
Whenever criticism comes your way, it becomes botheration. And, when adolations come it becomes a pain. Many people breakdown due to praises and adolations. It becomes so difficult. Praises or criticisms can make you go crazy. And, Guru is the way, the skill, to unload your burdens, and keep mind sane.

Mother is your first Guru, then at different stages and field different Guru's come. Even your football coach is your Guru, then there is spirituality and the Guru who teaches you spirituality is Satguru.

Gurupurnima is to review your growth. How much I've grown in the last 1 year. How much stronger and wiser have I become. This review will give you encouragement. If you think you haven't grown enough in last 1 year then review last 2 years.... 3 years. If you still feel otherwise
then you have not utilised the knowledge. You have definitely grown and moved on! If you feel you are stuck somewhere, even that is growth.

Gurupurnima is to check your ego. People who follow righteousness get angry on other people and make themselves wrong. Their anger shows how unwise they are. From pride to anger to jealousy to greed, grow out of them.

On Gurupurnima, review yourselves, how much knowledge have you imbibed.
How much more to imbibe. Its a day if self-reflection. If there is some shortage, Guru is there to fill the shortages. This confidence brings fullness. Its a full-moon day. Heart is full. Life is full.

Today, make a wish. But only 1 wish and a specific wish, before you go to bed. Better is not to have any wish. Leaving everything to the divine. But when mind wants to make a wish, you can ask. You need to ask and ego cannot ask. Even to ask divine, ego comes in the way. When you make a wish, you feel you are nobody, nothing is in your hand, your inner
state is like a flower. It feels free. It doesn't feel inhibited. its delicate like feather.

(Couldn't capture the below in its entirety) In Patanjali, a father answers his son. Son can you see that house. What was there before the house? The son says, "Space". And what will be there if the house is not there, asks father. Son says "Space". Similarly you are not the body
you are the space. Its not the body in which the space is. Its the body in space.

(answering to something, he said) Only way to freedom is Yoga.