Pujya Ramsukhdasji Maharaj

[Guest guest]

Can There Be No Liberation Without a Guru?

 

That which we wish to attain, that Supreme Essence, That

Consciousness is not concentrated in one particular place. It cannot

be captured or captivated by any one. If that was the case, then how

would That Eternal and Supreme Essence benefit us ? That Supreme

Soul (Consciousness) is ever attained by all beings. Those great

souls that have realized this Supreme Essence, neither become Gurus,

nor take any fees (gifts). In fact, they openly share their

learnings with all. Rather, those that do not become Gurus, are able

to reveal about the Supreme Essence in a manner that those who

become Gurus are unable to share.

 

Individuals that transact or trade their teachings are not Gurus.

Those that say - first become my disciple (student), then I will

reveal to you the path towards God Realization, are like traders of

God. It is a principle that the price that a particular item is sold

for, the actual value of the item is less then the listed price.

Just like a watch which is available for Rs 1,000, it would cost

lesser than Rs 1,000 for the shopkeeper to purchase that item for

resale. If by making someone a Guru, something is attained, then the

thing attained will be less value than the Guru himself has. Then

with that weaker thing, how can God be attained? God is priceless. A

priceless thing is only attained without a price, and that which is

attained for a price, is weaker than the listed price. Therefore if

anyone says, I will reveal to you the real essence, if you become my

disciple then, kindly join your hands in gesture " no thank you " and

keep a distance! Understand this to be some Kaalnemi! Kaalnemi, the

demon, the false Guru came to Hanumanji and said -

 

" Ser majjan kari aatur aavahu; dicchaa devu gyaan jehi paavahu. "

(Manasa. Lankaa. 57:4)

 

On hearing this, Hanumanji said - first take the gift, thereafter

give the secret mantra, and immediately thereafter Hanumanji by

wrapping his tail around the demon, lifted him and threw him down.

 

God has clearly stated in the Gita -

" Uddharedaatmanaatmaanam naatmaanamvasaadayet

Aatmaiva hyaatmano bandhuraatmaiva ripuraatamanah " (Gita 6:5)

 

" A man must raise himself by his own effort. He must not degrade

himself; for the Self is his own friend and the Self is also his

own enemy. " (Gita 6:5)

 

The point is that man alone is responsible for his own spiritual

upliftment or downfall. No one else is. God has bestowed this human

body, and with it, he has given all the necessary tools to attain

salvation. Therefore, one does not need anyone else for one's

salvation.

 

Guru (spiritual guide), Saints and God, uplift the soul only after

man himself has trust and faith in them. Only after man accepts them

(Guru, Saints, God), comes to them, and follows their directions. If

man does not accept them, then how are they to do anything for man's

salvation? They simply cannot do anything. If you do not become a

student, then what can a teacher do for you? Just like some other

person can come and drop off a meal at your home, but the hunger

must come from within. If there is no hunger within, than what use

is there of delicious food preparations that are placed in front of

you?

 

Guru, Saint and God are never non-existent. There have been many

great Saints, Teachers, Gurus and Avatars (God's manifestations on

Earth), but until now we have not attained salvation ! It becomes

clear from this, that we have not accepted them. Thus, in our

upliftment or downfall, we alone are responsible. Those who believe

that someone else is responsible for their upliftment or

degradation, they will never be uplifted. They can never be

benefited with this belief.

 

In reality, man himself is his own Guru - " Aatmano Gururaatmaiyva

Purushasya Vishehataha. " (Srimadbhag 11:7:20). Therefore discourses

are for your own self. Knowing this, see faults in your own self and

seek to remove them, instead of seeing faults in others.