Gurus

[Guest guest]

All this talk about "gurus" who drink and molest children reminds me of a

story I once heard about Adi Shankara. As the story went, he was walking

along some distance ahead of his disciples when they saw him stop and drink

something. When they got to the spot, they saw that it was beer and drank

some themselves. They continued walking a while and saw him stop and drink

something else. When they got to the spot they saw that it was molten glass.

I needn't elaborate the lesson implicit in the story.

 

The Yoga Vasishta says that there are enlightened beings throughout the

universe in all sorts of bodies, even insects. But I think that in choosing

a master, one should set certain standards. For instance, Maharishi's master

was born and raised in a wealthy, pious Brahman family. He left home at the

age of 9 to find a master and traveled up the Ganges for 5 years until he

reached Uttar Kashi, where he found a master who had attained the goals he

had set for his own life: he was fully realized, fully versed in Vedic

Knowledge, and was a life celibate. I suppose we all have different

standards, but I, for one, would steer clear of any teacher who drank,

womanized, or worse. Sure, his words may contain some wisdom. I said some

pretty profound things on LSD. But words and concepts are the least of what

a true master conveys. The essential nature of a master - the universal

spirit - is what really needs to be transmitted to the disciple.

Nisargadatta was and is an inspiration to many, including me. But he smoked

and sold cigarettes. Some people wouldn't have a problem with that. But my

preference would be to align myself with a master who at least lived up to

the ideals I hold for myself.

[Guest guest]

Om Guruve namah, om Amriteshwariye namah!

 

I'll give you example of Two very well known personalities,

Ramakrishna Paramhamsa and Adi Shankaracharya. They learnt from

everyone they could and they didn't go by the looks of the person.

Thakurji being in Calcutta had received many many travellers

(visiting mostly Orisa's Jagganath Puri Temple) including ascetics of

all the different calibres. There were all kinds of people and

eventuall three important people came in His life from whom he learnt

very open heartedly. He listened, learnt and taught from everyone, he

was always eager to learn new things. Those three Gurus of Thakurji

were very ordinary people but had lot to exchange with Thakurji. I

don't remember their names, one of them was Lady Maina, third one was

a tall punjabi man (who never believed in God of form), ... It's

written that Thakurji adapted several religions to understand their

message.

 

We all know about encounter of Shankaracharya with Shiva in the guise

of real ugly dude (Chandal) with few mean dogs. Adi asked Him to move

out of the way so that he and his followers can pass. Upon that

question, Shiva (in the disguise) asked Shankara, who is he asking to

move away this body or the soul hidden, .... ! That was lesson to Adi

Shankara and he did complete pranaam to that shiva in the guise of

chandaal.

 

So bowl of a seeker is always empty to accept more knowledge.

 

Guru / saint / god doesn't come always in the form you want to see

and that's the test we all have to go thru sometime or other.

 

Talking about that, I'm sure lots of devotees of Amma have felt Her

presence in someone or ... right?!

 

Just look within, one within you will be one outside you also.

 

 

Thanks, Amma, for lighting this lamp hidden in the ashes,

:Ekanath

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ammachi, Rick Archer <rickhome@c...> wrote:

> All this talk about "gurus" who drink and molest children reminds

me of a story I once heard about Adi Shankara. As the story went, he

was walking along some distance ahead of his disciples when they saw

him stop and drink something. When they got to the spot, they saw

that it was beer and drank some themselves. They continued walking a

while and saw him stop and drink something else. When they got to the

spot they saw that it was molten glass. I needn't elaborate the

lesson implicit in the story.

>

> The Yoga Vasishta says that there are enlightened beings throughout

the universe in all sorts of bodies, even insects. But I think that

in choosing a master, one should set certain standards. For instance,

Maharishi's master was born and raised in a wealthy, pious Brahman

family. He left home at the age of 9 to find a master and traveled up

the Ganges for 5 years until he reached Uttar Kashi, where he found a

master who had attained the goals he had set for his own life: he was

fully realized, fully versed in Vedic Knowledge, and was a life

celibate. I suppose we all have different standards, but I, for one,

would steer clear of any teacher who drank, womanized, or worse.

Sure, his words may contain some wisdom. I said some pretty profound

things on LSD. But words and concepts are the least of what a true

master conveys. The essential nature of a master - the universal

spirit - is what really needs to be transmitted to the disciple.

Nisargadatta was and is an inspiration to many, including me. But he

smoked and sold cigarettes. Some people wouldn't have a problem with

that. But my preference would be to align myself with a master who at

least lived up to the ideals I hold for myself.