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[Sri Ramakrishna] Choice of a Guru

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Dear Sanjay-

The Bhagavad Gita describes the Guru as the " man of

steady wisdom. " Please review those slokes for a

detailed description. I've heard it said that " When

the disciple is ready the Guru appears. "

 

RD

 

--- Sanjay Chakravarty <sanjaych wrote:

> Dear All,

>

> I wanted to get the group's responses to this

> question that I have nurtured

> for long.

>

> In the spiritual path, a Guru is a must. The sooner

> we have the benefit of a

> spiritual master, the better. And once we have a

> spiritual master in life,

> it means complete surrender, or at least a

> committment towards that. So the

> choice of a guru is an important one. I do not want

> to surrender to just

> anyone. (My ego, I know)

>

> Gurus abound around us. Some appear on the TV every

> day commanding huge

> gatherings. Some give lectures periodically in the

> country, which are very

> inspirational and clarify lot of concepts. Some

> belong to famous missions

> and organisations. How do we decide?

>

> In the shastras, we are asked to choose a master who

> is self-realised. Now,

> as human beings, our intellects are not perfect.

> Just as we cannot

> understand the truth from the Vedas because of

> limited vision and intellect,

> our choice of a Guru based on our perception is

> bound to be fragile. How can

> I decide who has realised? Vivekananda asked Sri

> Ramakrishna and got an

> answer. Am I to pursue a similar course? I am not a

> Vivekananda, and I have

> doubts that people like Sri Ramakrishna are

> accessible to me.

>

> I sometimes think that I am so ignorant that any

> Guru can help me, even if

> they are not realised. In that case, my only

> yardstick will be

> accessibility. A famous Guru will likely have very

> little time for me. He

> has so many activities, and so many disciples. So, I

> should pick up someone

> who can clarify my problems patiently. In due

> course, I will get a better

> Guru when I deserve one.

>

> What does the list think?

>

> Regards

> Sanjay Chakravarty

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

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Dear Sanjay,

 

The easiest way out is to place faith in Thakur's words. He says that if you

pray sincerely to the Divine, seeking His intervention for a Guru, the Guru will

come in course of time and take you by the hand.Allow me to state that my

experience substantiates Thakur's saying. Thakur is the embodiment of Truth. His

words will never fail. This, perhaps, is the clearest way to rise above

vacillations of the mind and place all inquiries in prayer to Thakur. The

essence of the search of a Guru is sincerity,patience and grace, I believe.

 

May your search find consummation.

 

Best regards,

Debajit

--

 

On Thu, 1 Nov 2001 14:59:33

Sanjay Chakravarty wrote:

>Dear All,

>

>I wanted to get the group's responses to this question that I have nurtured

>for long.

>

>In the spiritual path, a Guru is a must. The sooner we have the benefit of a

>spiritual master, the better. And once we have a spiritual master in life,

>it means complete surrender, or at least a committment towards that. So the

>choice of a guru is an important one. I do not want to surrender to just

>anyone. (My ego, I know)

>

>Gurus abound around us. Some appear on the TV every day commanding huge

>gatherings. Some give lectures periodically in the country, which are very

>inspirational and clarify lot of concepts. Some belong to famous missions

>and organisations. How do we decide?

>

>In the shastras, we are asked to choose a master who is self-realised. Now,

>as human beings, our intellects are not perfect. Just as we cannot

>understand the truth from the Vedas because of limited vision and intellect,

>our choice of a Guru based on our perception is bound to be fragile. How can

>I decide who has realised? Vivekananda asked Sri Ramakrishna and got an

>answer. Am I to pursue a similar course? I am not a Vivekananda, and I have

>doubts that people like Sri Ramakrishna are accessible to me.

>

>I sometimes think that I am so ignorant that any Guru can help me, even if

>they are not realised. In that case, my only yardstick will be

>accessibility. A famous Guru will likely have very little time for me. He

>has so many activities, and so many disciples. So, I should pick up someone

>who can clarify my problems patiently. In due course, I will get a better

>Guru when I deserve one.

>

>What does the list think?

>

>Regards

>Sanjay Chakravarty

>

>

>

 

 

Make a difference, help support the relief efforts in the U.S.

http://clubs.lycos.com/live/events/september11.asp

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Many thanks to all on the list who responded. I conclude that if I have the

desire, and if I deserve, I will get my Guru automatically. I must not be

anxious, but must keep trying to perfect myself, and keep wishing for divine

help.

 

I fully agree with this opinion. Its just that the course of perfecting

oneself is such a tricky one. There are many decisions that we have to take

everyday, and I do not know whether I am acting according to dharma or not.

Our relationships, our desire for acquisitions, the words that we use,

everything needs a razor-sharp intellect to do the right thing in the

context. If I had a Guru, I could have discussed with him whenever I wanted.

But it seems I will get one only when I have crossed this phase of

imperfection. Till then, I see that the only recourse is to be a devotee,

who keeps committing mistakes, and prays to the Lord to forgive him.

" Sarva-dharmAn parityajya... "

 

Thanks to everyone for showing me a path. I have to work a great deal

towards cultivating that humility of a devotee, that prayerful attitude. But

at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel, even if its long.

 

Regards

Sanjay Chakravarty

 

>Dear All,

>

>I wanted to get the group's responses to this question that I have nurtured

>for long.

>

>In the spiritual path, a Guru is a must. The sooner we have the benefit of

a

>spiritual master, the better. And once we have a spiritual master in life,

>it means complete surrender, or at least a committment towards that. So the

>choice of a guru is an important one. I do not want to surrender to just

>anyone. (My ego, I know)

>

>Gurus abound around us. Some appear on the TV every day commanding huge

>gatherings. Some give lectures periodically in the country, which are very

>inspirational and clarify lot of concepts. Some belong to famous missions

>and organisations. How do we decide?

>

>In the shastras, we are asked to choose a master who is self-realised. Now,

>as human beings, our intellects are not perfect. Just as we cannot

>understand the truth from the Vedas because of limited vision and

intellect,

>our choice of a Guru based on our perception is bound to be fragile. How

can

>I decide who has realised? Vivekananda asked Sri Ramakrishna and got an

>answer. Am I to pursue a similar course? I am not a Vivekananda, and I have

>doubts that people like Sri Ramakrishna are accessible to me.

>

>I sometimes think that I am so ignorant that any Guru can help me, even if

>they are not realised. In that case, my only yardstick will be

>accessibility. A famous Guru will likely have very little time for me. He

>has so many activities, and so many disciples. So, I should pick up someone

>who can clarify my problems patiently. In due course, I will get a better

>Guru when I deserve one.

>

>What does the list think?

>

>Regards

>Sanjay Chakravarty

>

>

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what i feel is that we are no one to choose a

guru..just pray to the divine to have one and one will

come to you.you will find a feeling in your heart that

this is the person who is my guru..all the great

spiritual masters didn't use their intellect to choose

a guru.a guru is beyond the intellect...if you are the

right pupil a guru will be sent to you..also it is the

feeling of surrender which is developed through

devotion to a guru..a guru can be anyone..what matters

is your feeling of respect and surrender to him...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--- Debajit Das <debajit> wrote:

<HR>

<html><body>

<tt>

Dear Sanjay,<BR>

<BR>

The easiest way out is to place faith in Thakur's

words. He says that if you pray sincerely to the

Divine, seeking His intervention for a Guru, the Guru

will come in course of time and take you by the

hand.Allow me to state that my experience

substantiates Thakur's saying. Thakur is the

embodiment of Truth. His words will never fail. This,

perhaps, is the clearest way to rise above

vacillations of the mind and place all inquiries in

prayer to Thakur. The essence of the search of a Guru

is sincerity,patience and grace, I believe.<BR>

<BR>

May your search find consummation.<BR>

<BR>

Best regards,<BR>

Debajit <BR>

--<BR>

<BR>

On Thu, 1 Nov 2001 14:59:33 & nbsp; & nbsp; <BR>

Sanjay Chakravarty wrote:<BR>

& gt;Dear All,<BR>

& gt;<BR>

& gt;I wanted to get the group's responses to this

question that I have nurtured<BR>

& gt;for long.<BR>

& gt;<BR>

& gt;In the spiritual path, a Guru is a must. The

sooner we have the benefit of a<BR>

& gt;spiritual master, the better. And once we have a

spiritual master in life,<BR>

& gt;it means complete surrender, or at least a

committment towards that. So the<BR>

& gt;choice of a guru is an important one. I do not

want to surrender to just<BR>

& gt;anyone. (My ego, I know)<BR>

& gt;<BR>

& gt;Gurus abound around us. Some appear on the TV

every day commanding huge<BR>

& gt;gatherings. Some give lectures periodically in the

country, which are very<BR>

& gt;inspirational and clarify lot of concepts. Some

belong to famous missions<BR>

& gt;and organisations. How do we decide?<BR>

& gt;<BR>

& gt;In the shastras, we are asked to choose a master

who is self-realised. Now,<BR>

& gt;as human beings, our intellects are not perfect.

Just as we cannot<BR>

& gt;understand the truth from the Vedas because of

limited vision and intellect,<BR>

& gt;our choice of a Guru based on our perception is

bound to be fragile. How can<BR>

& gt;I decide who has realised? Vivekananda asked Sri

Ramakrishna and got an<BR>

& gt;answer. Am I to pursue a similar course? I am not

a Vivekananda, and I have<BR>

& gt;doubts that people like Sri Ramakrishna are

accessible to me.<BR>

& gt;<BR>

& gt;I sometimes think that I am so ignorant that any

Guru can help me, even if<BR>

& gt;they are not realised. In that case, my only

yardstick will be<BR>

& gt;accessibility. A famous Guru will likely have very

little time for me. He<BR>

& gt;has so many activities, and so many disciples. So,

I should pick up someone<BR>

& gt;who can clarify my problems patiently. In due

course, I will get a better<BR>

& gt;Guru when I deserve one.<BR>

& gt;<BR>

& gt;What does the list think?<BR>

& gt;<BR>

& gt;Regards<BR>

& gt;Sanjay Chakravarty<BR>

& gt;<BR>

& gt;<BR>

& gt;<BR>

<BR>

<BR>

Make a difference, help support the relief efforts in

the U.S.<BR>

<a

href= " http://clubs.lycos.com/live/events/september11.asp " >http://clubs.lycos.com\

/live/events/september11.asp</a><BR>

<BR>

</tt>

 

 

<br>

<tt>

Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah<BR>

Vivekananda Centre London<BR>

<a

href= " http://www.vivekananda.co.uk " >http://www.vivekananda.co.uk</a></tt>

<br>

 

<br>

<tt>

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<Gurus abound around us. Some appear on the TV every day commanding huge

>gatherings. Some give lectures periodically in the country, which are very

>inspirational and clarify lot of concepts. Some belong to famous missions

>and organisations. How do we decide? >>

 

 

I found the following to be very true regarding the guru. I wish I could

remember where I found this little piece, but, unfortunately I don't.

 

The first meeting

between teacher and student

is crucial.

In the first instant,

you recognize

each other.

Not with your eyes

or through a formal

introduction,

but rather

with your hearts.

Two hearts meet

and know each other

at the level of

feeling.

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