A neglected thing - Being a Disciple ~!

[Guest guest]

People Get a Guru but neglect their duty towards a Guru.

To be a Guru we first must learn how to be a Great disciple...Once one

asked Mata Amritanandamayee "Maa, whom do you think is the best Guru?" to

which Maa replied :- "One who is a great Disciple only can be a Great Guru".

Most of the youth today neglect this foremost duty of first being a great

disciple...a disciple seeing whom the Guru should feel deep joy, Guru should

feel peace. Being such a disciple is a great challenge before us all.

Gorakhnath had gouged his eye for getting food for his hungry Guru

Matchindranath.

Vivekananda had drank the vomitting of Ramkrishna Paramhansa when other

disciples of Ramakrishna were making faces at the diseased state of

Ramakrishna.

Shankaracharya also sang "Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam..."

Gorakhnath is considered to be the epitome of a great Disciple and he has

laid down the following rules for how to be a great disciple...I know many

of you are really devoted to your Guru, but still some young minds still

question the need of a Guru.

GORAKHBANI (http://www.gorakhnikhil.org.np/)

Twelve Signs of a Disciple

 

*(Excerpts of a prabachan, which the revered Gurudev Dr Narayan Datta

Shrimali gave on Shree Shree Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath)*

 

Gorakhnath was the first Rishi to define a disciple, to recognise him and,

most importantly, to lay down norms on how a disciple can attain fulfilment

and to prepare them accordingly. He brought into light the rules, facts and

features, which make a person a disciple in true sense. He stated that to

become a true disciple is the foremost requirement for every human being,

for, by being a disciple only can you proceed to *sadhana*, sit down on

Guru's feet, move ahead and rise to the highest level of life and

prosperity. No other Rishis dealt with the subject with such preciseness and

subtlety as Gorakhnath did.

 

Gorakhnath has said that every sentient being has two inherent traits. First

of these traits is represented by ego, dishonesty, falsehood, easily

influenced by others, lying to Guru, deceiving others and serving vested

interests. This is not a sign of a disciple. A person who indulges in these

characteristics is not a disciple at all. These are signs of an inferior

being and the person who dwells in these features is an inferior being,

irrespective of what he may call himself. Second type of person is one who

vows not to lead a common man's life. He is determined: *"*If I am to live

life, I must touch the pinnacle of prosperity, become a human being in real

terms, attain true fulfilment and achieve success and *Siddhi*. Unless *

Siddhi* is attained, this life and physique will continue remaining

destructible. Today it exist, tomorrow it will be gone. There will be no one

to remember me because name cannot live forever. What survives through time

is my deeds, knowledge, consciousness, wisdom and, most of all, the signs

and attainment of these signs of being a disciple.*"*

 

There are twelve signs of a disciple. If one remains determined and put all

his efforts to adopt these signs in his life he will definitely reach that

pinnacle of success where all the *Sadhanas* will bow down to him with

folded arms. Then, it will not happen that he will start a *sadhana* and

fail to master it. Then, it will not happen that he will move forward and

victory deny putting garland on him. Then, it will never happen that he will

fail in any field and area. These twelve signs of the disciple are:

 

1) Anger, fraudulence, lies, deception to Guru and leading two-faceted

(contradictory) life - behaving one way in front of Guru and leading the

life the other way when out of his sight - are five major ill-behaviour that

leads people's life to a downfall. No matter whatever they try, such people

cannot progress in life. Hence, everyone must first castaway this dual way

of living and harmonise it in a single (uniform) form. Either he be a bad

disciple or a good disciple. Disciple should be just like a lotus that does

not retain even a single droplet of water even if it rain or someone pour

water on it. Others should not influence him. Irrespective of problems and

others' efforts, he should remain free and pure.

 

2) Secondly, a disciple must completely surrender himself to Guru's feet. He

must think: *"*Now that I have dived in an Ocean, either I will drown or

swim across, either I will be *Kalpabrikshhya* that fulfil wishes of hundred

thousands of people or remain a common tree. Either I will be Ganga that

flows out of Himalayas and purify others, or become a stinking

drain.*"*There is no third option for a disciple and he must choose

one of these two

options. And to do that, you must shed dual living - physically, mentally

and emotionally. If you have doubts on any matters or if negative thinking

engulf you, the best way to act is: prostrate on the Guru's feet and spell

out all your feelings, pray to him that you are trying your best to act as

per his advise but finding it really difficult to cope. When you speaks out

your heart and mind with sincerity, you will become pure. Once purified, you

must start afresh the process to become the 'lotus' again.

 

3) Thirdly, if you are attached with Guru, remain attached forever - with

all your heart, mind and a total surrender. You must have no other reality,

but Guru and only Guru. Speak out your weaknesses and bad dimensions openly

and win his confidence through action. Make him feel that *"*I am your right

hand, your shadow…wherever you stand I shall be beside you…people will need

to attack me first before attacking you…test me in every possible way and I

shall not be disturbed…. take my examinations, set me on fire, heat me and

prepare me in your own style - I am a pure gold and can become a pure gold

in front of you.*"* When such a condition arises, Guru will test you. He

will examine you in such a way that you will never know it. But then, he

will be in no doubt that you are his truly and can be believed. When you

attain such height, maintain it, for deception will destroy everything.

Duplicate life damages life itself. Attaching yourself in a certain groups

or surrendering to others or deceiving Guru is a sign of downfall. Rather

than doing so, it is better you never become a disciple. If you want to be a

disciple, be like Hanuman who is remembered generation after generations,

who had none other word on his lips but Ram, and whose cells spelled out

nothing but Ram.

 

4) Fourthly, a disciple must always think of Guru. He must be watchful if

someone is trying to attack Guru, or if someone is creating an environment

of falsehood around him because the Guru is always very simple and very

decent. Guru does not understand deception, trickery, falsehood, ill

intention and ego. If you are his shadow, be alert from Guru's viewpoint so

that no one hurts him, no one deceives him, no one engages him

unnecessarily, no one conspires against him, no one act against him. This is

one prerequisite of a disciple, for he stands at a point between Guru and

the mundane world. He understands the worldly affairs and hence, must

prevent Guru from these. Through such actions, the disciple performs his

real duty, virtue and follows *dharma* of a disciple. To fulfil it, the

disciple must keep open his eyes and ears and report what's happening to

Guru. He must tell the Guru: *"*Gurudev such and such is going on. Please be

alert because you are simple and decent and someone can take advantage of

you.*"* This is the virtuousness and uniqueness of a disciple.

 

5) Fifth trait that Gorakhnath has pointed out of a disciple is that he must

never become angry. It is true that anger is a part of life and it rises.

But there is one place where your head bows down and anger never comes. Once

you accept someone as Guru there is no backing off. You have surrendered

yourself to him and that is final. Once grasped, you cannot let go Guru's

hand irrespective of his behaviour. When anger come or when the Guru become

furious on you for nothing hold your tranquillity and once he calms down,

join palms and pray: *"*Gurudev! You went furious on me, but I had done

nothing wrong. The truth was such and such. You became angry, perhaps you

had some misunderstanding or someone informed you about me (it) in a wrong

way. The reality was this and you can check it. If I made any mistake I am

ready to accept any punishment you give because I have to earn disciple-ness

and its traits.*"* A disciple must never become angry in front of or with

Guru, even if Guru turns angry with him for nothing or due to

misunderstanding. Rather than replying anything, wait for 5/10 minutes, then

stand in front of him and say: *"*Gurudev! Reality was this. You say and

judge things for yourself. You understand everything and are wise. I have

nothing more to say.*"* This is the virtue, *dharma*, prominence and

excellence of disciple-ness and this is the way to gain Guru's confidence.

 

6) Gorakhnath has added that a disciple must always surrender the reign of

his life on Guru's hand. *"*Gurudev this is my life and my goal is to reach

that place where forthcoming generations will always remember me - for my

deeds, thoughts and sentiments. What should I do? My life is on your hand.

You use it, experiment it as you like because you are protector of this

life. If you are not there, it is useless and aimless for me to be a

disciple. Therefore, torment me now and again, hit me, make me aware and

pinpoint my faults, for I am not quite aware where I am making mistake. When

you show me my mistakes, anger does not fill me. Instead, I feel happy that

Gurudev is mine and he is constantly watching and reminding me.*"* Embracing

whatever Guru says in life is the Dharma of a disciple. Changing the mind

repeatedly is an inferior act. Repeated interaction with wrong persons can

make even a good man fall down. Stay away from such inferior people - it is

the dharma and virtue of life. It is sensible to surrender yourself to

someone and save yourself from deadly storms that arise in life. It is not

wise to stand on tornado. Always maintain distance with the people who try

to hurt you, create misunderstanding, lead you to mess and harm your

thinking and stand firm as though you heard nothing. This is the biggest

service that a disciple can do to his Guru.

 

7) Seventh quality of a disciple that Gorakhnath mentioned is that a

disciple goes on receiving continuously from Guru his thoughts, emotions,

actions, thinking and methodology. Do whatever Guru asks you to do. It is

not necessary to do what Guru does, but it is very necessary to do what he

says. This is one basic fact that all needs to know. It is not needy for a

disciple to wear whatever Guru wears, or know where Guru is going, or

understand what Guru is doing and why. All we have to do is follow Guru's

words. Let Guru handle *lilas* he is doing. It could have been done because

it is a special act or because it has a special purpose or special

underlying meaning or it is his way of taking a disciple to the state of

realisation. We cannot understand what Guru does and why he is doing so.

Therefore, do not try to do what Guru does, but follow what he says. A

disciple must consider Guru's words as ultimate reality and must have a sole

aim and objectives to fulfil these words at a right pace and time.

 

8) A disciple is one who decorates Guru's picture on his eyes and keeps

Guru's words in his ears. If your mind is in doubt or at loss, start hearing

Guru's wise words. Try to hear a *prabachan,* or his recorded words or his

sentences so that your doubts and dirt of mind is washed away. When wrong

emotions engulf you, play on Guru's cassettes and hear his words. If someone

tries to gain control over you or your feelings or when others' voices start

resounding in you, immediately turn on to Guru's words. This will nullify

others' influences and you will be pure, relieved, peaceful, detached and

tranquil again. You will start feeling: *"*I am fully pure, updates and

conscious.*"* This is the best act, which will save you from external

influences and problems.

 

9) Highlighting the ninth quality of a disciple, Gorakhnath has said that if

we become a real disciple, it will not be necessary for us to perform any

other sadhanas. If we truly wash Guru's feet with our tears, we need not

bathe in the Ganges. If Guru dwells on our eyes, we need not keep any gods

and goddesses there. If we have kept Guru's words in our ears, we will not

feel the need to hear other mantras, or if our lips cite Guru's name, we

will not need to recite any mantra. For, the very meaning of Guru is the *

sadhana*, *tapasya,* service, fulfilment, success and attainment of a

pinnacle. If Guru's name is on our lips, his words in our ears and his

thoughts in our mind, what *sadhana* is left there or what mantra and

consciousness is left there for us to perform, recite and know! All we know

is: *"*Guru is my caste, he is my ancestral name, he is my everything.*"*

 

10) Clarifying the tenth signs of a disciple, Gorakhnath has stated that a

disciple alone can attain the best state of life - a place where even Guru

has not reached. He can move farther ahead than Guru, if he treads Guru's

path and take help of his guidance. Play this game for once or think of it

for once, and you will realise that there will not be any thought in us

except that of Guru. When we are completely surrendered to him, and when our

each and every cells and words are surrendered to him, no external

misunderstandings, storm, problems and misfortune can affect us for once and

throughout the life. Then satisfaction will fill Guru's eyes: *"*there is

one person, one disciple, whom I can trust and on whom I can fully

rely.*"*When this happens, all the

*sadhanas* will surely confluence in you. When can you perform hundred and

thousands of *sadhanas?* Surely, not in a life. However, the ultimate theme

of all these *sadhanas* is that neither we need to hear nor think nor

reflect nor aim others, except the Guru. This is the state of the best *

sadhana* itself.

 

11) Defining a disciple, Gorakhnath has said that a disciple is that who

protects Guru's interests all the time. Guru has hundreds of works to do,

thousands of activities to perform. He is simple, naïve and does not

understand falsehood, deception etc. Therefore, the disciple must act like a

shield to Guru. Whenever you come across such incidents, tell him: *"*Gurudev!

Here is a mistake, this is how things are going wrong, here is the need to

be cautious. It is not appropriate for me to indicate these things, but I am

telling you what I am feeling.*"* You can make him aware with your wise

judgement. Or, if you are going through wrong emotions immediately tell him:

*"*Gurudev! Such and such evil thoughts are coming in my mind, sour words

are coming in me for you, distaste is arising, I feel like deceiving you.

Please tell me what should I do? I am trying hard, but my efforts are not

working.*"* As soon as you speak, the evil feelings will automatically fade

away. This is the highest stage of being a disciple, a stage of fulfilment

of life.

 

12) Citing the twelfth and the final objectives of a disciple, Gorakhnath

has noted that it is easier to prosper, earn name and fame, become a

satisfied father and a husband, powerful etc. But to become a disciple is

the most difficult act. Because, a disciple can grasp the whole universe in

his palm. He who is a disciple can travel anywhere in the universe, behold

it, become the *Bramha* himself and testify *Purnamadah Purnamidam.* He can

reach the highest plane of life and live for thousands of years. But he

needs to constantly recite, relive and reflect on these twelve qualities of

a disciple. He must always think of these twelve rules and observe which one

of these is weak on him or where he is am lagging behind. When he identifies

the weaknesses, he must relate these to Guru, so that Guru can bestow on him

his blessings, grant him the portion of his *tapasya* and cleanse him, for a

disciple cannot do it himself.

 

If we adopt these twelve qualities in our lives, we will become *Bramha,

Paraatpar*, *Tatwamasi*, we will reach the complete stage of worshipping (*

sadhana*), we can go ahead of Guru and attain completeness and fulfilment

and become Guru-like. To become a Guru-like is the attainment of the highest

plane, completeness, uniqueness and a special state, which is described in *

Isyavasyopanishad* as '*Purnamadah Purnamidam Purnaatpurnamudachyate,

Purnasya Purnamaadaaya Purnamevaavasisyate*'. This hymn is completely

represented in these twelve signs. Whoever adopts these qualities in his

life will truly attain the *Gurutwa.*

 

May you attain completeness! This is the objective, dharma, goal, fulfilment

and highest attainment of your life. This is what I bless to you all.

 

*Courtesy: Gorakhshya-Nikhil Vani (Shrawan, Bhadra 2061 issues) *

 

 

--

Humanity is one's only Religion

Breath is one's only Prayer

Consciousness is one's only God

 

Ishaan

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Importance of Guru in Dnyaneshwari...Saint Dnyaneshwar/Gyaneshwar was a

Nath-Yogi (known as Gyandeva or Gyan-nath) also, and in the Nath Tradition

Guru is considered to be equal to God or even greater than God.

Following are the excerpts from Dnyaneshwari/Gyaneshwari :-

*Devotion to Guru: *Now I shall tell you about the method of devotion to

one's Guru. This service of the Guru is the birth- place of all fortunes and

makes an individual even in sorrowful state to attain Brahman. Listen with

complete attention. (13:369-371).

 

He who has dedicated his mind and body to the Guru-tradition is the

storehouse of Guru-devotion. His thoughts are about the place of abode of

his Guru. He rushes to welcome even the wind blowing from that region and

requests it to visit his home. Out of the mad love he has for the Guru he

likes to talk only about the direction in which his Guru lives. He considers

Guru's home as his own legacy but being bound by Guru's orders he has to

live in his own place. Then he longs for the release from Guru's orders and

an opportunity to meet him and in this mood a moment feels like a thousand

years to him. If somebody arrives from Guru's village or Guru himself sends

someone then he feels like person revived from death. (13:374-380). He feels

elated even by the name of his Guru's tradition. If you find anybody with

this kind of love for the Guru tradition then understand that Knowledge is

always at his service. (13:382-383).

 

Then with great love in his heart he meditates on the form of his Guru. By

installing that form in his pure heart he himself becomes the articles of

worship or he installs his Guru like Shivalinga in the temple of bliss

situated in the premises of Knowledge and bathes with the nectar of

meditation. Then when the sun of Self-realisation rises he fills the basket

of intellect with flowers of pure feelings and offers them to the Guru as

Lord Shiva. He considers all the three times i.e. morning, noon and evening

as auspicious for this worship and burns the myrrh of ego and ever waves

Arti with the lamp of knowledge. He offers his Guru the food of non-duality

and taking him to be Shivalinga serves like its priest. (13:385-390).

 

Sometimes his intellect imagines his Guru to be the husband lying on the bed

of life and experiences his loving admiration. Sometimes there is such

strong waves of love in his mind that he calls the love as the ocean of milk

and the limitless bliss experienced by meditating there same as the bed of

the Great Shesha the serpent where his Guru is relaxing in the form of Lord

Vishnu; and he himself becomes His consort Laxmi serving Him. He stands

before Him becoming Garuda as well and becomes Brahmadeo created from His

navel and with the love for his Guru he experiences the bliss of meditation

within his mind. (13:391-395).

 

Sometimes on the strength of devotion he fancies his Guru as his mother and

lying on her lap enjoys the breast milk. Or imagining his Guru to be a cow

under the tree of Knowledge becomes its calf. Sometimes an idea that he is a

fish in the waters of his Guru's benevolence flashes in his mind. He

imagines the Guru's benevolence to be a shower of nectar watering the plant

of attitude of service. (13:396-399).

 

See how limitless his love is! Sometimes he considers himself to be just

hatched chick without eyes or wings of his Guru and imagining him to be the

mother bird gets fed by her beak. Thus, just as at high tide waves arise one

after another, he goes from one state of meditation to the next, overcome by

the love for his Guru. (13:400-402).

 

Now I shall tell you how he serves the Guru externally. He resolves, "I will

serve my Guru in the best possible way and Guru will become pleased by it

and tell me affectionately to ask for something. Once my master is pleased

with my service I shall pray to him thus: 'Oh Master, let me be your entire

entourage. I shall be the articles you need.' And you will see the wonder of

my service. Guru is a mother to many he will be mother to me alone and I

shall make him say it on oath. (13:403-410). I shall arrange such that the

Guru will be obsessed with me and will be dedicated only to me and will

shower his love only on me." (13: 411)

 

Thus runs his mind in fanciful thoughts. He says, "I shall be the place of

abode of my Guru and serve him becoming his servant. I shall be the

threshold which my Guru crosses and I shall also be the doors of the house

as well as the doorkeeper. I shall be his sandals and I myself will make him

wear them. I shall be his umbrella too and I myself will hold it over him. I

shall be his vanguard and warn him of the ups and downs of the ground before

him. I shall be the fly whisk, the valet, the server of water-jug for

washing hands and mouth and I shall be the clean basin to receive the

mouthwash. I shall be the server of the betel leaf and also the residue

which is spitted out. And I shall be the one to serve him in giving bath.

(13:412-420).

 

"I shall be the seat, ornaments, clothes, applications like sandal paste

etc. of my Guru. I shall become the cook and serve him food and wave the

lamp round him in worship (*Arati* - a ritual of worship in which a lamp is

waved around the object of worship.) When the Guru sits for his meals I

shall sit with him and later I shall come forward to offer him the betel

leaf. I shall remove his dish, spread his bed and massage his legs. I shall

be his throne and the Guru will sit on it. Thus I shall fulfil my vow to

serve him. (13:421-425).

 

"There will be a miracle by which I shall be whatever Guru's mind turns to.

I shall be the countless words that enter Guru's ears and I shall become

everything that touches his body too. I shall be the forms which my Guru's

affectionate eyes see. I shall be the eatables which his tongue will savour

and shall serve the nose by becoming a fragrance." (13:426-429).

 

Thus he feels that he should pervade all things to serve his Guru from

outside as long as he lives. But he feels that even after death he should

serve his Guru. Listen to how he thinks. (13:430-431).

 

He thinks, "Wherever the feet of my Guru touch, I shall mix the Earth

principle of my body into that earth and where he will touch water I shall

mix the water principle of my body into it. I shall mingle the Fire

principle from my body into the light of the lamps used for waving around

the Guru and those lighted in his temple. I shall merge the life principle

into the fly-whisk and the fan of my Guru and be the breeze that comforts

his body. Whichever space my Guru goes with his entourage I shall introduce

the part of my sky (space) principle in it. But on no account I shall allow

the service of my Guru be interrupted whether during my life or after death

and neither shall I let other people to serve my Guru. Eons will pass while

I serve my Guru thus." (13:432-437).

 

He who holds such courage and serves his Guru with limitless devotion does

not count days or nights nor the extent of burden, on the other hand he

feels happier if Guru asks him to do more. Even if the tasks Guru tells him

to do are bigger than the sky he carries them out single-handed. In this

respect his body competes with his mind and completes the task. Sometimes he

stakes even his life in order to fulfil Guru's commands even made in jest.

He strains his body in Guru's service, gets strength from Guru's love and

becomes the mainstay of Guru's orders. He derives respectability from his

Guru's tradition and is polite to his brother disciples and is addicted to

Guru's service. He considers the rules of his Guru's tradition as the

prescribed duties for his caste and devotional service to his Guru as his

daily duty. To him, Guru is the place of pilgrimage, Guru is the deity,

mother and father and there is nothing other than Guru's service. Guru's

door is his everything and he has brotherly love for all who serve his Guru.

He has the Mantra given by his Guru always on his tongue and except for his

Guru's words he does not touch any Shastras. To him the water which his

Gurus feet have touched are superior to all other holy waters from the three

worlds. If by chance he gets leftover food from his Guru he prefers it to

the bliss of Samadhi. Even a particle of dust raised when his Guru walks is

like the bliss from liberation to him. There is no end to how much one can

talk about his devotion to his Guru. (13:438-452).

 

Dnyaneshwar Maharaj says,

 

"I am saying all this because I am overcome by the feelings of devotion

towards my Guru. One who likes this feeling of devotion does not find

anything sweeter than to be of service to the Guru. Such a person is the

abode of Self-realisation and because of him, Knowledge itself gets

respectability and becomes his devotee considering him to be God. In such a

person lies Knowledge sufficient for the whole world and to spare. I am

extremely anxious about service to the Guru and therefore I have described

it extensively but I am handicapped in all respects in this regard. However

the extreme love I have in my heart for my Guru compelled me to expand on

this topic. I am praying him to accept it and give me an opportunity to

serve him so that I shall be able to explain this book further in a better

way." (13:453-460).