An devotee of Mata Amritanandamayi talks about what it's like to have a guru

[Guest guest]

A musician who follows Amma, the " Hugging Saint, " talks

about what it's like to have a guru

by David Ian Miller [interviewer]

San Francisco Chronicle [California, USA]

June 18, 2007

 

Google the word " guru " and you get a list of technology

wizards, stock experts, religious teachers, freelance writers

and even a rap singer. The mixed bag of results actually

makes sense -- according to the Oxford dictionary, in the

West a guru is either a spiritual teacher or an expert in a

particular field.

 

[....]

There are plenty of sad stories about gurus gone bad, but

there are also many people who say they've benefited

greatly from their association with a guru. Prashant Michael

Rao is one of the latter. Since 1996 Rao, a musician who

was raised in Pakistan and now lives in Vancouver, has been

a follower of Mata Amritanandamayi, who is also known as

" Amma " (Mother) or the " Hugging Saint. "

 

For the past 35 years, Amma has dedicated her life to giving

people big hugs -- she's embraced more than 25 million

people throughout the world. Rao, 56, says Amma is a

constant inspiration, a miracle worker and a very down-to-

earth woman. I spoke with him about what it's like to follow

a guru, his conversion from Catholicism to Hinduism and

how his spiritual beliefs manifest in his music.

 

--------------------------

Q: You are visiting the Bay Area this week to see your guru.

What do you do -- what happens -- when you see her?

A: She gives darshan, which literally means the gaze of a

saint considered to be holy. But with Amma, things are not

traditional. She not only looks into the souls of visitors but

she also hugs them, which is highly unusual. We sit in her

presence and meditate while she does this. Being with her

helps me achieve more stillness of mind. And for me, that is

the whole point.

 

Q: Your meditation experience is different when you're near

her?

 

A: Yes. It is said that in the presence of someone who is

realized your soul awakens. [That is] a catalyst for spiritual

growth.

 

Q: When you say she is " realized, " what does that mean to

you?

 

A: Someone who has transcended the ego and the body.

Most of us think we are just a body or our thoughts because

we experience things through our senses and analyze it with

our minds. Only a saint realizes that this is not the case.

They live from their essence and know they are one with

everything.

 

[....]

Q: [The guru helps you to move beyond the ego] And how

does that happen?

 

A: The guru inspires you and points the way. But you still

have to do the work. It's a dance, a dance of grace -- the

guru knowing what you need, what is blocking you and

what can help you in your transformation. But you still have

to exert some energy and effort to look within. The guru can

give you the food, but you have to lift it in your hands and

eat it.

 

[....]

Q: A lot of people, especially in America, bristle at the idea

of a guru. To them, it sounds like you're turning over your

will -- and sometimes your money -- to someone else. Do

you have any of those concerns?

 

A: No, because I understand why I'm doing this. I think

most people misunderstand what it really means [to follow a

guru]. Perhaps there have been many charlatans posing as

gurus and that's messed it up. But a guru is not someone

whom you give everything up to. The guru is a mirror to

guide your inner self, but [that mirror is] encased in another

human being who has realized himself, who has realized the

truth and can point the way to you. So you are really just

surrendering to yourself. You are surrendering your ego --

your sense of " I-ness " -- the idea that I'm contained only in

this body. That's all.

 

Q: In certain ways, it's a very intimate relationship, isn't it?

 

A: It is and it becomes very deep. In fact, it becomes deeper

than the relationship between lovers because you sense

limitations in your companion or your beloved, your

partner. But with a guru these limitations do not exist ...

because they are one with you.

 

Q: How do you know that a guru is really an enlightened

being?

 

A: Traditionally, you are supposed to check the guru out for

a long time to see how authentic he or she is. In the case of

Amma, most of us have been shown something that

convinces us of her power. [such as powerful inner

experiences, visions, or evidence of a miracle.] [....]

 

One thing I value more than those experiences is the feeling

-- and many others have said this -- of love. I know that's a

vague concept, but there is a certain feeling I've had, mostly

in meditating around her during sessions for three or four

hours. Sometimes she's giving hugs and the music is playing

late at night, and I have this extra energy. Instead of being

tired while sitting, I get this strong feeling of love. It's very

subtle. Your thoughts slow down, and you go into such a

charged state where you can feel what it means to embody

love. It's very hard to describe, but I think that is what

people keep coming back for. I have never felt this kind of

love any other place.

 

[....]

 

Q: Pursuing a spiritual path can sometimes become very

self-centered. People can use it to detach from the world

around them. How do you avoid that?

 

A: I think real spirituality is about embodying the teachings

in everyday life. The ideal is that you don't change anything

in your outer life. All the changes happen inside and in your

attitude outward about what you are already doing in the

world. You start to offer your work in service to others and

the living planet.

 

Q: Keeping that worldview and caring about the world is

very integral to your spiritual path.

 

A: Yes! I believe that if you aren't striving to be one with

everyone and everything, then you've really missed the

point of any spiritual practice.

 

Full story:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-

bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2007/06/18/findrelig.DTL

or

http://tinyurl.com/24lvyf