Is a Guru really necessary?

[Guest guest]

GuruRatings , " Gene Poole " <gene_poole@q...>

wrote:

>

> > " Susan " <skylarkwalk> wrote:

>

> [...]

>

>

> > Hello Mark and Durga ~~

> >

> > I also am in the 'guru/teacher' camp.

> >

> > Attempting to be a seeker without

> > a teacher would be like...

> > wanting some kind of transportation,

> > and beginning by reinventing the wheel!

>

> As I see it, it is more like trying

> to re-landscape your yard, without

> moving any items, dirt, etc.

>

>

> > There is benefit from learning from

> > those who have gone before, whether

> > or not you accept all their ways.

>

> Learning may occur, yes; but more

> likely, an event such as Durga wrote

> of, when Papaji's brain was

> 're-landscaped' by mere exposure to

> an actual living functional 'sage'.

>

>

> > I believe there are chemical changes

> > in the body of a seeker in the presence

> > of a teacher which are probably close

> > to those hormonal rushes one experiences

> > in the state of 'being in love'.

> > Of course, that isn't necessary or

> > constant among all seekers, but I do think

> > that explains some of the overwhelming

> > feelings experienced.

>

> Seeking 'changes' via 'learning' is

> a common enough approach; sometimes, the

> 'seeker' will be subject to 're-landscaping'

> of the brain, via 'grace', which is in

> this example, simply the imprint of

> the living universe in 'real time', as

> opposed to 'learning'.

>

> Make no mistake; it is my opinion that

> exposure to the living true 'sage' will

> result in physical changes to the brain.

>

> This has occurred for me, on a number of

> occasions; memorably, once during a chance

> face-to-face meeting with a young Vagrayana

> monk, and later, upon peering at Swami

> Satchitananca as he sat in his ornate

> tent during a festival in Hawaii, in 1970.

>

> Pay attention to the intense research that

> is being conducted now, in regards to

> how the brain can be 'read' as to its

> various functions. MRI and CAT are being

> used to 'map' the brain before and after

> such changes, the findings are quite

> interesting to say the least.

>

> I will yet again suggest to read the book

> 'Stalking the Wild Pendulum', by author

> I. Bentov. This continues to be the premier

> accessible source-book for understanding

> of all of this, for the intelligent lay-

> person. The section on 'how to meditate'

> is priceless; and if followed carefully,

> astonishing proof can be had.

>

> Recent research has revealed that the

> human brain does not 'take a set' until

> around age 25; until that time, it is

> quite fluid, able to reconfigure

> significantly as demanded by conditions

> physical or social.

>

> After this 'set' has set-in, changes

> can still be had. I have experienced it,

> as have many others, however variously it

> is described and defined.

>

> * * *

>

> Finally; IMO, most people are guilty of

> 'taking the scriptures the wrong way'.

>

> By this I mean, that excessive attention

> paid to scriptural expression, too often

> submerges the intended teachings beneath

> a pro-forma, rigid method of transliteral

> interpretation.

>

> Most often, I find that the actual message

> intended to be transmitted by the 'sage',

> is so simple as to be lost within the body

> of text which is stated as the words of

> said sage; and this is not only a problem

> of translation, but also, and especially

> in the case of Ramana, a product of

> an inordinate reverence for the person,

> as opposed to actually paying attention

> to what was 'said'.

>

> I ask not for any arbitrary division be

> drawn between reverence and understanding,

> merely that one comprehend how one may

> blur the other.

>

>

> ==GP==

>

Namaste,IMHO,

 

I don't think that for everyone a human Guru is necessary. Many have

phoney useless ones, some have genuine ones. Unfortunately the only

Gurus that are really any good according to most teachings are

Jivanmuktas and Sadgurus, who are few and far between. They are in

fact the Self.

 

Some people probably need a teacher in the early days, so they can

use their belief system to follow the teachings and study the

scriptures etc.

 

Essentially as Ramana says the Guru is the Self, it is a tool again

for concentration I suppose. If you can learn to go inwards then you

find the True Guru, your own higher self.

 

With regard to brain changes and all that, well watching my dog

everyday perform an action will no doubt change the brain. But the

brain is just a hardware instrument for the 'Mind'.

 

All these other Blisses and Brain Changes in the presence of people

are in fact one's own brain slowing down, relaxing and allowing the

Higher Self to come through. Again as Ramana says the Guru is the

Self.

 

In my own experience it seems reading, studying and meditation will

take you as far as you want to go.

 

So yes a Guru is necessary but he doesn't have to be embodied of any

kind. The 'Inner Guru' is enough and all.....ONS..Tony.