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Source:The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

Guru's grace essential

 

CHENNAI, APRIL 26. Diversity is intrinsic to the world and hence

differences are bound to be there in the lives of human beings.

It is at the level of the Absolute (Parabrahman) that differences

do not have meaning as they cease to exist. Before the creation

the Absolute alone was there, like the potency in the seed to

sprout. The first sign of differentiation arose as a wave in the

Absolute and the mind came into existence and then the entire

creation.

 

Human beings presume that joys and sorrows are intrinsic to life

in the world. But, from the standpoint of the Absolute, worldly

life is sorrowful as there is bondage. Unalloyed bliss can be

attained only at the level of the Absolute and hence worldly joys

are relative. This can be better appreciated with reference to

the concept of Karma which is accrued as ``Papa'' and ``Punya'',

result of bad and good actions respectively.

 

Though we think that Papa is bad and causes sorrows, the fact

remains that even Punya earned by the performance of meritorious

deeds is binding in nature. So saints refer to Papa as an iron

shackle and to Punya as a gold one. Absolute bliss can be

attained only when one is freed from both Papa and Punya. Ramana

Maharishi has pointed out that only the state of actionlessness

beyond Papa and Punya is truly blissful.

 

In his discourse, Sri Sukhi Sivam said that it was only through

the grace of the Guru (spiritual teacher) that a spiritual

aspirant can get rid of Karma. As far as a disciple is concerned

the Guru and God are not different. Once a spiritual aspirant

comes under the guidance of a Guru he is sure to realise the goal

of liberation. Just as the prey caught in a tiger's mouth has no

chance of survival, the Karma of one who has been fortunate to be

blessed with the benign grace of a Guru is reduced to ashes.

 

Saint Tirumoolar says that great caution must be exercised while

choosing one's Guru. He must be a God-realised person himself;

otherwise it will tantamount to the case of the blind leading the

blind. Saints like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Ramana Maharishi

are Gurus whose grace continues to guide spiritual aspirants even

after their lifetime.

 

Ramana has said that liberation can neither be sought from books

as it cannot be self-taught nor from others. It has to be

realised by Self- enquiry (Vichara), a process in which one

directs the question ``Who am I?'' to oneself and through the

process of negation goes beyond the five sheaths of the human

personality (Panchakosas) and identifies with the Self (Atman),

which is the source of infinite and eternal bliss.

 

Copyrights: 2000 Kasturi & Sons Ltd.