Role of Guru

September 23, 1998

Greetings List Members:

Let me join Sadananda to welcome Swamiji Atmananda to this list. His

thougths on the "Role of Guru" has inspired all of us and we are all

looking forward to hear more from him.

The Hindu saying: "Matha, Pitha, Guru, Deivam" contains the subtle

message that "Guru" is an integral part of the path of

"Self-realization." We have experienced the services of the "GURU" in

our "apparant" transition from human to Divine. From childhood,our

parents, relatives, friends, teachers provided us spiritual guidance.

Life is an experience and self reliance is possible after certain stage

of maturity! Spiritual maturity requires guidance for most of us. We may

witness few exceptions to this general rule. They don't prove that the

general rule is inappropriate. Sankara describes in greater details in

Viveka Chudamani, the Role of Guru, Guru's qualifications, and the

students' responsibilities. With the modern technological revolutions

in the communication industry, we do have additional avenues for

spiritual growth through books, audios and videos. These are secondary

but the primary source is necessarily a Sat Guru (a realized soul).

Finding a Sat Guru is definitely a difficult task, but is not an

impossible task. Swami Vivekananda was able to recognize his "GURU"

when he met Sri. Ramakrishna Paramahansa at the very first time. The

acceptance of the Guru mostly depends on "faith" rather than "just

Logic."!

Ram Chandran

Burke, VA

>sadananda <sada

>

>>"Swami Atmananda" <atma

>>

>>Dear list members,

>>

>>Hari om !

>>

>>I joined the list some time back and was trying to get a feel of the

group.

>>I read the views on the topics of jnana & bhakti, and the latest on

the role

>>of Guru. Regarding the latter I seem to entertain different view and

>>convictions. I am presenting some of my thoughts on the topic for all

>>members.

>

>Welcome Swamiji to the discussion group and thanks for sharing with us

your

>wisdom. For those in the group, I would like share my knowledge of Sri

>Swamiji. He was inspired by my Guru, Pujya Swami Chinmayanandaji, a

>graduate of the vedanta course at Chinmya Mission's Sandeepany

Sadhanalaya

>in Bombay, he, himself was the acharya of the Sandeepany Sadhanaalaya

in

>Sidhabari, Himachala Pradesh, training many brahmacharies, and

travelled

>extensively as parivraajaka spending time with many mahAtmAs and now

>started Vedanta Mission in Indore, teaching the knowledge of the

Rishies to

>the seekers.

>

>Swamiji, we are all happy that you joined the list and willing to

share

>your knowledge with us. We all look forward to your active

participation in

>the list.

>

>Hari Om!

>Sadananda

>

>K. Sadananda

>Code 6323

>Naval Research Laboratory

>Washington D.C. 20375

>Voice (202)767-2117

>Fax:(202)767-2623

>

>------

>Help support ONElist, while generating interest in your product or

>service. ONElist has a variety of advertising packages. Visit

>/advert.html for more information.

>------

>Discussion of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy, its true meaning,

profundity, richness and beauty with the focus on the non-duality

between mind and matter

>

September 23, 1998

Dear list members,

Hari om !

I joined the list some time back and was trying to get a feel of the group.

I read the views on the topics of jnana & bhakti, and the latest on the role

of Guru. Regarding the latter I seem to entertain different view and

convictions. I am presenting some of my thoughts on the topic for all

members.

Just as a lamp can be lit only with a lightened lamp, so also self-knowledge

can take place only with the help of a Sat-guru.

It is indeed the extremely blessed ones who find company and association of

men with true wisdom and love to help us awake from this realm of ignorance.

Knowledge takes place in an atmosphere of love and egolessness, which is a

natural by-product in our relationship with our Sat-guru.

Those who say that there is no necessity of a Guru in life, do not

apparantly know what is the real 'means of knowledge' (pramana) for

Self-knowledge. They can neither imagine the joy of relationship with a

truly enlightened soul.

If you really seek self-knowledge then you will have to show some extra

initiative & enthusiasm to look out for a true teacher, who is not only

contented with & in himself, but is also a knowledgeable person; well aware

of the secrets & traditions Upanishads.

Guru-upasadana or approaching the teacher, is a very important indicator of

the state of the mind of a student. It reveals various things about the

student. The initiative on the part of the student reveals his intense

desire to know the truth of oneself, it also reveals his or her egolessness.

In my view it is only those people who cannot keep aside their ego, who

cannot go to someone and reveal their ignorance. Guru-upasadana is rightly

seen as a great leap forward in our tradition.

If you don’t find someone who is truly an embodiment of knowledge, love &

contentment, then pray to God for association of such a truly blessed soul,

seek him, go to him, establish relationship with him, and initiate

discussions with him on the secrets of life. Don’t waste your time, words or

energy elsewhere. Life is too precious to be wasted in the midst of egoistic

people whose knowledge is yet to help them also. You have desperately prayed

& craved for lesser things in life, why not show the same will & intensity

for better things.

The factors responsible for our inability to take initiative to go & look

out for a guru are the factors which are responsible for our inability to

break open our shell.

It is obvious that as the subject matter of self-knowledge is our very Self,

the whole inquiry has to be conducted in & by our own mind. The truth too

will be revealed as our very Self. These things are never a point of doubt

or contention. This is also a fact that Guru in his true essence resides in

all of us, but by itself this has never been of any help to us, we continue

to suffer inspite of that 'guru' within us. What is required is not the

essence of Guru, but Guru in flesh & blood with whom we can discuss, talk

and find a way out of the mess in which we ourselves have brought ourselves

to. Truth is right there in front of you - revealed in all its glory, it is

just that there is ignorance about it. Having identified the problem, why

should there be any hesitation in taking help of someone who has already

undertaken this journey. It is indeed funny to see what all excuses the ego

thinks about, what all logic it discovers, just to avoid the possibility of

its surrendering at the feet of someone who is nothing but an embodiment of

true knowledge & love.

With love & om,

Swami Atmananda

September 23, 1998

>"Swami Atmananda" <atma

>

>Dear list members,

>

>Hari om !

>

>I joined the list some time back and was trying to get a feel of the group.

>I read the views on the topics of jnana & bhakti, and the latest on the role

>of Guru. Regarding the latter I seem to entertain different view and

>convictions. I am presenting some of my thoughts on the topic for all

>members.

Welcome Swamiji to the discussion group and thanks for sharing with us your

wisdom. For those in the group, I would like share my knowledge of Sri

Swamiji. He was inspired by my Guru, Pujya Swami Chinmayanandaji, a

graduate of the vedanta course at Chinmya Mission's Sandeepany Sadhanalaya

in Bombay, he, himself was the acharya of the Sandeepany Sadhanaalaya in

Sidhabari, Himachala Pradesh, training many brahmacharies, and travelled

extensively as parivraajaka spending time with many mahAtmAs and now

started Vedanta Mission in Indore, teaching the knowledge of the Rishies to

the seekers.

Swamiji, we are all happy that you joined the list and willing to share

your knowledge with us. We all look forward to your active participation in

the list.

Hari Om!

Sadananda

K. Sadananda

Code 6323

Naval Research Laboratory

Washington D.C. 20375

Voice (202)767-2117

Fax:(202)767-2623

September 23, 1998

Hari om !

I thank Sri Sadananda and Sri Ram Chandran for their warm welcome and also

their kind introduction about myself. I had the privilege of not only

studying under Swami Chinmayananda but also was fortunate to be initiated

into sanyas by him. A rare privilege. My scriptural studies were handled by

Swami Viditatmanandaji, who is at present with Arsha Vidya Gurukulam. I was

also blessed with the close association with Jagadguru Sankaracharya Swami

Swaroopanandaji (who also gave me mantra deeksha while I was in college

doing my graduation) and finally Mahamandaleshwar Swami Ramanandaji (who

taught me Brahma Sutras), It is because of these first hand associations I

wrote that it is indeed a divine experience to be associated with men who

are embodiment of knowledge & love. Any one blessed with this will very

vocally declare that 'Try your best to get any such opportunity.'

I am at present exploring & learning about his this new media of Internet

and am trying to see what role this media can play in propogating and

communicating about the vision of great Rishis. I am still learning and am

indeed happy to see this use of the Net.

With the blessings of my guru I am propogating the message of Vedanta mostly

in the central & western parts of India. I run a Gurukula called 'Vedanta

Ashram' here at Indore to teach students the Prasthan traya, Sanskrit etc.

Apart from the traditional methods of communicating, we are also trying out

the modern ways like the satellite TV, cable network, internet etc. to

further our objective. We now have our Home Page on the Net which can be

accessed at the following URL :

http://members.tripod.com/~vedantamission/index.html

My dream is to bring about the right & positive awareness of the Vedic

heritage all over the world, specially the message of Advaita Vedanta. May

my Gurudev continue to guide & bless me to dynamically, lovingly and humbly

work for the above cause. May I come in contact with the right people

sharing similar aspirations & goals. May we all carve out of ourselves a

personality which our great ancestors would be proud of. May we all help

create a better world.

My best wishes to all.

Swami Atmananda

sadananda <sada

advaitin <advaitin >

Wednesday, September 23, 1998 5:52 PM

Re: Role of Guru

>sadananda <sada

>

>>"Swami Atmananda" <atma

>>

>>Dear list members,

>>

>>Hari om !

>>

>>I joined the list some time back and was trying to get a feel of the

group.

>>I read the views on the topics of jnana & bhakti, and the latest on the

role

>>of Guru. Regarding the latter I seem to entertain different view and

>>convictions. I am presenting some of my thoughts on the topic for all

>>members.

>

>Welcome Swamiji to the discussion group and thanks for sharing with us your

>wisdom. For those in the group, I would like share my knowledge of Sri

>Swamiji. He was inspired by my Guru, Pujya Swami Chinmayanandaji, a

>graduate of the vedanta course at Chinmya Mission's Sandeepany Sadhanalaya

>in Bombay, he, himself was the acharya of the Sandeepany Sadhanaalaya in

>Sidhabari, Himachala Pradesh, training many brahmacharies, and travelled

>extensively as parivraajaka spending time with many mahAtmAs and now

>started Vedanta Mission in Indore, teaching the knowledge of the Rishies to

>the seekers.

>

>Swamiji, we are all happy that you joined the list and willing to share

>your knowledge with us. We all look forward to your active participation in

>the list.

>

>Hari Om!

>Sadananda

>

>K. Sadananda

>Code 6323

>Naval Research Laboratory

>Washington D.C. 20375

>Voice (202)767-2117

>Fax:(202)767-2623

>

>------

>Help support ONElist, while generating interest in your product or

>service. ONElist has a variety of advertising packages. Visit

>/advert.html for more information.

>------

>Discussion of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy, its true meaning,

profundity, richness and beauty with the focus on the non-duality between

mind and matter

>

September 23, 1998

"Swami Atmananda" <atma wrote:

>My dream is to bring about the right & positive awareness of the Vedic

>heritage all over the world, specially the message of Advaita Vedanta. May

>my Gurudev continue to guide & bless me to dynamically, lovingly and humbly

>work for the above cause. May I come in contact with the right people

>sharing similar aspirations & goals. May we all carve out of ourselves a

>personality which our great ancestors would be proud of. May we all help

>create a better world.

>

>My best wishes to all.

>

>Swami Atmananda

Swamiji -

Thanks for the detailed information about you. We all share your dreams and

hopefully like to be part of creating a better world for us and for the

rest. Internet is becoming a fast growing communications vehicle and is a

convenient tool to share our knowledge and experiences for the benefit of

all.

My pranams

Sadananda

K. Sadananda

Code 6323

Naval Research Laboratory

Washington D.C. 20375

Voice (202)767-2117

Fax:(202)767-2623

September 23, 1998

Sri Atmananda ji wrote:

Dear list members,

Hari om !

I joined the list some time back and was trying to get a feel of the group.

I read the views on the topics of jnana & bhakti, and the latest on the role

of Guru. Regarding the latter I seem to entertain different view and

convictions. I am presenting some of my thoughts on the topic for all

members.

Just as a lamp can be lit only with a lightened lamp, so also self-knowledge

can take place only with the help of a Sat-guru.

It is indeed the extremely blessed ones who find company and association of

men with true wisdom and love to help us awake from this realm of ignorance.

Knowledge takes place in an atmosphere of love and egolessness, which is a

natural by-product in our relationship with our Sat-guru.

******

Swami ji

Thankyou very much . As my heart rejoyces to get your words of blessing.

My heartly salutation to you.

Raju

September 24, 1998

Hari om !

I thank Greg for his welcome mail.

It is a pleasure to be in the midst of peple with a warm heart.

Love,

Swami Atmananda

>Let me second Sri Sadananda's welcome!

>

>--Greg Goode

September 24, 1998

At 07:56 AM 9/23/98 -0400, sadananda wrote: