When does the Guru help the disciple

[Guest guest]

When does the Guru help the disciple

 

(Sri Swamiji's speech in Kamareddy Ashrama on 22-3-1996)

 

 

Some people boast that they know everything in spiritual field. `I

can chant the entire Bhagavad-Gita. I have been doing so since my

childhood'- boast some people. Some of the devotees of Swamiji boast -

`I have visited Mysore Ashrama more than 15 - 20 times'. The fact

is, those who claim to know everything in the spiritual field know

nothing. Those who really know will never boast. Did not saint

Tyagaraja, the great composer - singer say in his old age, `my tune

has not yet synchronised?'

 

 

Even though we wish to undertake virtuous acts, our karma might come

in the way. Just as we are about to begin Pooja, a relative or friend

will come and our attention gets diverted. When we want to begin our

spiritual pursuit, our business starts going down. Those who have

firm mind may not be endowed with strength. Some people have

concentration of mind, but lack knowledge. Some people may possess

knowledge, but lack experience. The spiritual path is not an easy

one. One must learn to overcome or avoid such defects and should

engage one's self in the service of the Sadguru.

 

 

For this, one should cultivate dedication and steadfastness. Once,

Sanatkumara started praising the Almighty. The Lord was not satisfied

however much Sanatkumara praised Him. Even after exhausting all the

praises found in the Vedas, the Lord said, `praise me more'.

Sanatkumara did not know what to chant and said, `haa! hoo!'. They

were words of exclamation. Finally, he took refuge in Mouna (silence)

and thought, `everything is dedicated to you'. One should try to

reach that state in bhakti too.

 

 

As a result of merit earned over many births, one will get a Sadguru.

It must be remembered that if one stops performing meritorious acts,

the Sadguru will leave the disciple. Therefore, one should not give

up the regular austerities even after meeting one's Sadguru. In fact,

one should increase such acts.

 

 

Once upon a time, there lived a king called Puru. It is said that he

once went to the heaven with his physical body. Once he had a

conversation with Indra.

 

Indra : What meritorious deeds have you performed?

 

Puru : I have performed all kinds of meritorious deeds.

 

Indra : Which are the different worlds that you have seen?

 

Puru : I have seen the Brahma Loka, I have seen the Vishnu Loka and I

have also seen the Shiva Loka.

 

Indra : I want to station you in a Yaksha Loka (a celestial world

where semi-divine beings live)

 

Puru : I wish to go to such a world where I can continue my

meritorious acts - acts which have made me eligible to see the divine

worlds.

 

Indra : Attaining higher worlds is an end in itself. Even after you

have attained that status, why should you continue to perform

meritorious deeds? Why don't you accept the lordship of the Yaksha

Loka?

 

Puru : It will not make me happy. I would like such an environment

where I can perform such deeds. I want to elevate some of my fellow

beings too.

 

Because of such magnanimity, Puru became a great soul. Nama Deva is

another example. When the Lord appeared in front of him and told him

to ask for a boon, he did not ask for moksha. He said that he wished

to take human birth again and again, so that he could chant the

divine names of the lord. Such will be the attitude of great men.

 

On the other hand, human beings are full of selfishness. If their

desires get fulfilled by the grace of the Guru, their ego bloats. If

they are not fulfilled, they start blaming the Guru. Roughly 80% of

human beings never acknowledge the help they receive. 10% are those

who are born with good Samskara. The remaining 10 % are swinging from

here to there. They are somewhere in the middle. I sometimes push

them in both directions. Sometimes I show them miracles and attract

them. Some times I show anger and drive them away. The 80 % category

exhibit pretending Bhakti. I do not bother about them at all! The 10%

of those who are born with good Samskara are safe and do not really

need my help. The remaining 10% who are swinging from here to there

need my help most. It for the sake of these persons that Swamiji

conducts Nama Sankeertana, discourses and other spiritual practises.

 

Some of the persons belonging to the last category feel that they are

superior to others. But the Sadguru knows their worth. They do not

express satisfaction unless the disciples really achieve the goal.

When Swamiji was studying in high school, Swamiji once scored 99%

marks in maths. Satyanarayana (Swamiji's childhood name) was very

happy about his own performance. The teacher, Srinivasa Iyangar

called Swamiji and slapped on the face. Satyanarayana was very angry.

He somehow controlled his anger and in the evening, went to his

teacher's house. There, much against his assumption, his teacher

welcomed him and talked sweetly. Satyanarayana did not know what to

do now because, he had gone there to vent out his anger. However, he

said `you did not punish those boys who have scored less than me. Why

did you have to slap me in front of them?' The teacher smiled and

said, `look Satyanarayana, even if I slap them, it is not going to

make any difference. On the other hand, if I slap you, it will make

you work harder and you will then score 100%.

 

Similarly Swamiji will subject the devotees to severe tests. You

should try to understand why Swamiji is insulting you and should try

to correct yourselves.

 

We are living in the world of Karma and should therefore discharge

our duties promptly. It is not enough if you acquire knowledge. You

must perform karmas. Those who say `I do not want to perform any

Karma' are simply lazy people. It is like saying `grapes are sour'

just because they can not reach that height. Even he who says `I want

to meditate, I do not want anything else', also breaks his penance to

have his lunch. He is also careful about his bank balance.

 

Those who read scriptures superficially will always bring themselves

to such situations. Unless one reads scriptures many times, one will

not be able to grasp the real meaning. Only when one understands the

real meaning, one will be able to understand the concept of Karma and

the need to discharge one's karma.

 

When you go to a doctor, he will conduct many tests before

prescribing medicines to you. Similarly, a Guru will subject the

disciple to several tests before giving him Jnana. The guru will make

the disciple to go through the Karmas. This is what sage Vasishta

told Trishanku. Trishanku wanted to go to heaven directly. Vasishta

asked him to perform certain Karmas. Trishanku did not want to

perform the necessary karmas, but he wanted to go to heaven. When

Vasishta refused to help him Trishanku went to Vishwamitra.

Vishwamitra said that he would take care of Trishanku's karma and

also said that he would send him to heaven. You all know what

happened after that. I do not want to be another Vishwamitra. I want

all of you to discharge your duties.

 

Spiritual Sadhana is like a scientific process. There is a method. It

is not possible to give moksha overnight. The guru should subject the

disciple to various processes just as a scientist follows different

steps during the course of his experiment. The disciple should

faithfully follow whatever the Guru says.

 

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