THE TRUE GURU RESIDES WITHIN US

[Guest guest]

prof laxmi narain (prof_narain)

 

Source and courtesy: Sri Ramana Kendram, Hyderabad

This article was published in Sri Ramana Jyothi,

monthly magazine of the Kendram.

 

THE TRUE GURU RESIDES WITHIN US

Adi Sankara's greatest work Vivekachudamani opens with a verse in

invocation to his Guru, Govinda Bhagavadapada, whom he describes

as " bliss incarnate " . The Master, when likened to eternal bliss,

becomes part of the cosmic consciousness of which sat-chit- anada is

the essence and the goal of every human being's desire to attain self-

enlightenment.

The Guru plays a seminal role in the spiritual unfolding of the

sadhaka. The Guru is a source of energy and inspiration, though he

may or may not exist in physical form. He could even be a body of

ideas or a codified anthology of sermons such as the Guru Granth

Sahib.

Ultimately, the Guru has to reside within ourselves, since the source

of energy has to be located inside us. In the course of discovering

our real Self, we discover our true Guru.The Sadguru resides within

us, not only as a part of our consciousness but also as a constant

guide to our actions in daily life.

The Upanishads say, when the sishya is ready, the Guru appears

before him. This readiness denotes the utmost spiritual evolution

which forms the base within the disciple to receive the Guru's grace.

(Source: Malay Mishra in The Economic Times)

Regarding the Guru and the Self, Sri Maharshi has said the following:

" Guru is necessary so long as there is laghu.[ Pun on Guru = heavy;

laghu = light.] Laghu is due to the self-imposed but wrong

limitation of the Self. The Guru, otherwise God, guides the devotee,

saying that God is in you and He is the Self. This leads to

introversion of the mind and finally to realization. " (p.80)

" Because of the false identification of the Self with the body the

Guru is considered to be with body. But from Guru's outlook, the Guru

is only the Self. The Self is one only. He tells that the Self alone

is. Is not then the Self your Guru? Where else will grace come

from? It is from the Self alone. Manifestation of the Self is a

manifestation of the Grace and vice versa.All these doubts arise

because of the wrong outlook and consequent expectation of things

external to oneself. Nothing is external to the Self. " (p.136)

" Isvaro gururatmeti……God is the same as Guru and Self… … A person

begins with dissatisfaction. Not content with the world he seeks

satisfaction of desires by prayers to God; his mind is purified; he

longs to know God more than to satisfy his carnal desires. Then God's

grace begins to manifest. God takes the form of a Guru and appears to

the devotee; teaches him the Truth; purifies the mind by his

teachings and contact; the mind gains strength, is able to turn

inwards; with meditation it is purified yet further, and eventually

remains still without the least ripple. That stillness is the Self.

The Guru is both exterior and interior. From the exterior he gives a

push to the mind to turn inward; from the interior he pulls the mind

towards the Self and helps the mind to achieve quietness. That is

Grace. Hence there is no difference between God, Guru and Self. " (p.

165)

" Guru is the Self. Take Guru to be the Real Self and your self as the

individual self. So long as the duality persists in you the Guru is

necessary. Because you identify yourself with the body you think the

Guru, too, to be some body. You are not the body, nor is the Guru.

You are the Self and so is the Guru. " (p. 240)

:Does the Guru hold you by the hand and whisper something in your

ear? You imagine him to be like yourself. Because you are body you

think that he is also a body in order to do something tangible to

you. His work lies within. How is Guru gained? God in his Grace takes

pity on the loving devotee and manifests Himself as being according

to the devotee's standard. The devotee thinks that he is a man and

expects relationship as between the bodies. But the Guru, who is God

or Self-incarnate, works within, helps the man to see the error to

his ways, guides him in the right path until he realizes the Self

within. " (p.368)

(All quotes are from the Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi, available

at the Kendram's bookstore.)