How fake Guru's take us for a ride.

February 17, 2006

Dear Friends, Buffetted by the problems of the world, the increasingly competitive workplace, failing health, increased stress, decreased performance, failed personal relations, more and more people are feeling insecure. The common man feels that increasing his monetary income and acquiring assets will solve his problems. However they only increase it. Troubled and frustrated at not finding a solution and mentally weak from the experience men tend to fall at the feet of any person who offers a quick cure-all. The entire fake Guru industry is based around this insecurity. The Guru's (why I am writing the word Guru with a capital G is that the word has spiritual connotations and should not be mistreated) have their own followers who spread the word of personal miracles so that the gullible may fall into a trap. Guru's do not belong to any particular religion. We have Guru's of all shades

ranging from the fake pundit, the fake fakir to the fake father. They all offer relief from poverty and disease if donations are made or conversions are agreed upon. They play upon the religious beliefs of the people and take the names of the Prophets to swindle people. They often succeed. Many people ask, why do we need a Guru at all? Can't we depend upon our individual intelligence? For those engaged in intellectual activities and who are sheltered from some of the problems of the world this is applicable. They are immensely capable of taking care of themselves. But for the others mired in the world, it appears like a whirlpool of fears. They desparately seek assistance. They can go to their school or college teachers, important persons in society, government authorities, parents and elderly for help instead of visiting these fake Gurus. But we must be aware that corruption, apathy and selfishness has gripped all

sections of the society today. It is very difficult to find a good teacher, a good politician, a good government servant. The parents are often busy with their own problems and have little time for their children. A genuine Guru should fill up the gap. Who is a genuine Guru? Sri Ramakrishna states, "Observe a sadhu at both day and night before believing him". What this means is that we should critically examine both the public and private life of a holy man before accepting him/her as a Guru. The real Guru makes few demands of his disciple. He gives good advice and ensures that the disciple sincerely follows it. His decisions are impersonal and without favour. He believes that it is the duty of God to feed him and take care of his few needs. He is impervious to worldly criticism and does not fear to do what he thinks is right as per the scriptures. Clearly the job of a Guru is not so easy as is made out to be. Even in

this age of falsehood there are many Institutions that stand out as a beacon light. The discriminate person should ferret out such institutions so that he is not deceived. A Guru cannot make problems disappear with the wave of a magic wand. He can only show the way, it is for the disciple to walk the path. The Guru is the dispeller of darkness, a way out of the world, a way to tackle the world, a way to make the world a better place. The world and society are not made out of indulgences. They are made out of intense personal sacrifices. The mythical Indian master weapon, Vajra, was made out of the bones of a sacrificing holy man. Such is the power of self sacrifice. I think we have the power to choose a Guru. If we choose the wrong one and suffer, we ourselves are to blame. Love & Regards, Jagannath. "Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest of life by the power of the spirit." - Aurobindo.

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