9. Gurparsaad - The Grace of the Guru

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Gurparsaad

The Grace of the Guru

 

In the context of the mool-mantra, Gurparsaad also means that the

Lord who is Saibangh is Himself the compassionate Guru.

 

The Guru or 'Teacher' is He who removes that darkness of ignorance.

The Lord or the Reality which is all-pervasive and ever-present in

each and every thing in this universe is veiled due to our ignorance.

 

Indeed, not only do we not recognize the Truth, but we are not even

aware that we are ignorant. So the all-compassionate Lord in His

supreme kindness manifest Himself as the Guru to inspire us, guide us

and reveal to us His true nature.

 

He who is the Kartaa Purakh, the one Doer, or Creator, Sustainer and

Destroyer, He alone takes the form of the Guru to liberate us from

the bondage of samsaara. Therefore we say, " Guru Brahmaah, Guru

Vishnuh, Guru Devo Maheshwarah, Gurureva Param Brahma, Tasmai Shri

Gurave Namah. Guru is the Creator, Brahma. Guru is the Sustainer,

Vishnu. Guru is the Destroyer, Shiva. Guru is the Lord of the

Universe. Guru alone is the Absolute Reality, the Param Brahma. Unto

that noble Teacher, my humble prostrations. "

 

Shri Guru Nanak Dev has echoed the very same idea in the " Japji

Sahib " : GUR ISAR, GUR GORAKH BARMAA, GUR PARBATI MA-EE. Guru is Isar

or Lord Shiva, for He destroys the ignorance and all the evil in us.

Guru is Gorakh, the protector of the cows-Shri Vishnu, who protects

us, sustains our aspirations for the higher and nourishes us with

noble virtues.

 

Guru is Brahmaa, who creates in us the desire to know the Truth and

inspires us to live a divine life. Guru is mother Parvati, who

fulfills all our pure desires and feeds us with the milk of Divine

Knowledge.

 

The lord is the one guru of all. In fact, He is the sole Giver of all

knowledge. Who taught the birds to fly and sing? Who taught them the

fascinating art of building nests? Who taught the animals to find

their food? He is the one Guru of all creatures.

 

It is the lord alone who is the one Knower and Revealer of all the

sciences including the knowledge of one's own nature, which brings

about liberation. He is the Aadi Guru, the First Guru. He alone

appears again and again in the form of different Gurus to bless the

seekers. He alone is our Guru.

 

What can be said about one's Guru? What words can describe His

Compassion and Grace, His Parsaad?

 

A mere side glance of His transform a sinner into a saint. The cool

stream of Ganga flowing from His lotus lips destroys the evil of

ignorance, washes away the sins of countless lifetimes and ends the

burning sorrows of samsaara.

 

His lotus feet are the one refuge in the many storms of life. They

are the mighty boat, which alone can take us across the samsaara

saagara, the ocean of transmigration. Even the devtas, the heavenly

denizens, cherish the sacred dust of His feet.

 

How can one describe or even enumerate the infinite glories of the

Guru? The Vedas become silent in Their reverence, the Rishis are

choked with emotion and the poetic saints are at a loss for words.

 

Shri Kabirdaas once said, " SUB DHARTI KAAGAZ KARO, LEKHAN SUB BAN

RAI, SAAT SAMUDRA KI MASI KARO, GURU GUN LIKHEEYA NA JA-EE. If the

entire earth were turned into paper, all the trees in all the world's

forests into pens, and all the seven oceans into ink, still they

would not suffice for me to write about the glories of my Guru. "

 

Similarly, Shri Guru Nanakji has said: " JE HAU JAANA AAKHA NAAHI,

KAHNA KATHAN NA JA-EE. Even if I knew of Him and all His glories,

still I would never be able to describe Him, for He is indescribable. "

 

The greatest Parsaad or 'Grace' of the Guru is that Supreme

Knowledge, which reveals to us our true infinite nature, shows us our

identity with God and destroys all our karmas, the bondage due to the

results of actions gathered through millions of lifetimes.

 

To surrender in devotion at His lotus feet, is the only one direct

means of salvation.... " NA GUROH ADHIKAM TATVAM, NA GUROH ADIKHAM

TAPAH, TATVA GYAANAAT PARAM NAASTI, TASMAI SHRI GURAVE NAMAH. There

is no reality higher than the Guru, there is no tapas or austerity

greater than service to the Guru, there is no knowledge higher than

knowledge of the Truth. To that Teacher who is my all, my humble

prostrations. "

 

At His feet blooms the lotus of the Scriptures. He alone can expound

the mysteries enshrined in the Scriptures. He is that brilliant sun

in whose light and warmth the lotus flower of Knowledge blooms. One

who has surrendered to Him and is in the protection of the Guru shall

certainly realize the Truth.

 

" ACHAARYAVAAN PURUSHO VEDA, " declare the Upanishads of the Vedas.

Gurparsaad is what we should seek. In other words, we should seek the

Lord in the form of the compassionate Guru. Surrender to Him, serve

Him and open our hearts to His ever-flowing parsaad or grace. The

greatest service we can render to the Teacher is obedience to His

instruction, for such instruction is given for our benefit alone.

 

The Guru requires nothing for Himself, and the greatest offering one

can make to one's Guru is to abide in the Knowledge given by the

Teacher. In this way one can fulfill the purpose of human existence,

which is a rare form of life attained after millions of lifetimes.

 

Yet, even after gaining the Knowledge, we fail to abide in the Truth.

This is because of the impressions and habits accumulated in the

past, and the countless agitations and dissipations of the mind, as

well as our constant laziness and forgetfulness.

 

Thus the all-compassionate Guru Nanakji lovingly urges us Jap (Chant).

 

9. Gurparsaad - The Grace of the Guru

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