The Role of Guru

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Dear friends and devotees,

 

Bhakti is eternal.

 

The role of Guru.

 

The word Guru means he who takes you from darkness into light. A Guru gives

illumination to the student. Contact with a divine teacher and interaction with

guru clears the path of a seeker. This makes self-realization easier. A guru is

one who practices the following four fold precepts at all times, the following

are also the guidelines for all those on the path of spiritual seeking.

 

A Guru embodies all these precepts in person and shows us that it is possible

for us too.

 

All three broad paths-Karma, Bhakti, Jnana all have only one ultimate end-the

vision of god, the merging with the self within. To be on any of the paths we

have to submit our activities and our thinking to these broad precepts.

 

The fourfold precepts (purusharthas) are (1) Dharma (2) Artha (3) Kama (4)

Moksha. An understanding of these and living according to them is the

precondition of any Sadhana.

 

(1) Dharma:

 

Generally it is translated as righteousness. The exact interpretation of

Dharma of course depends upon place, time and station in life. But to generalize

it one can say that Dharma means, nonviolence (Ahimsa), truthfulness (Satyam),

non stealing (Asatyam), cleanliness (Soucham), sense restraint (Indriyanigraha).

 

Ahimsa - Must be understood in relation to natures laws of killing and

preservation.

 

Satyam - speak what is true.

 

Asatyam - Do not takeaway from people what is theirs or refuse them what is

theirs.

 

Soucham - Cleanliness is external i.e. physical but mental and of the heart

too.

 

Indriyanigraha - is senses restraint. The senses create either of two basic

reactions-desire and hate, raga and dvesha.

 

The right way (Dharma) consists in the constant effort to keep away desire and

hate.

 

(2) Artha:

 

The wealth you acquire out of your own direct effort. This is the best that

is uttama. Next is that which is bequeathed to you. This is second best. Third

kind is adhama which you gain by virtue of your marriage.

 

(3)Kama:

 

(Desire) has been the object of your pursuit. You are bound by these.

Ultimately you must free yourself from this bondage. Seeing the temporariness of

the body and what it creates should be enough to set the efforts for freedom in

place.

 

(4) Moksha:

 

It means freedom. What is this freedom? Is freedom from earthly desires?

 

You must live well but you must be able to leave it too. The ultimate

contentment shall come from your own self. Live your life with a view to abandon

it in the end. Foster desires and fulfill them with a view to dispensing with

them altogether in the end.

 

Do work always but with a view to renouncing it, Court bondage with the sure

object of cutting it finally. Keep the primary tenets of righteousness (Dharma)

in mind, always match your deeds with these and see how far they are right or

wrong. Correct yourself constantly and see that you progress towards

fulfillment. Cultivate virtues like compassion, love, forbearance and

forgiveness.

 

From the changing to the changeless, from ignorance to knowledge, from bondage

to liberation, from misery to happiness - these should be your watchwords.

 

A guru embodies all these qualities and urges the same for the disciples.

 

With love and regards,

 

Sastry.

 

 

 

 

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