GURU OF ALL GURUS – SADGURU

Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu,

Gurur Devo Maheshwarah,

Gurureva Parabrahma,

Tasmay Shree Gurave Namah.

This is the prayer that elaborates the stature of the Guru.  He is Brahma, He is Vishnu, He is Maheshwar. He is the embodiment of the Parabrahman, I offer my prayers to him.

What does ‘Guru’ mean ?  ‘Gu’ stands for darkness and ‘Ru’ means one who removes it.  So, just as the sun brings light to dispel the darkness of the night, a Guru removes the darkness of ignorance to enlighten his student / disciple.

Our first Guru on this earth is our mother. She is the one who teaches her infant to eat, walk, talk, and also the joy of sharing and caring. When the child grows older she teaches her child to read and write.  The school going child now has another Guru – the school teacher.  As the child grows through school and college many such Gurus come into the individual’s life.

While learning academics, the individual learns other skills like dancing, singing, sports, drawing etc. and specialized Gurus step in.

As the person progresses in life, the ups and downs in life also teach the art of coping.  Books on various subjects also impart knowledge.  One can learn from the smallest creature on earth.  Lord Dattatreya made 24 different Gurus, including an ant and a honey bee.

But, the Guru of all Gurus is the Sadguru.  

He is the one who guides us spiritually to fulfill the task assigned to us and helps us attain ultimate enlightenment and oneness with the creator.  Sai was one such Sadguru.  As Sant Dnyaneshwar rightly said, ‘‘A Sadguru is like the philosopher’s stone (Paras) who turns the iron–like disciple into gold. He also compares the Sadguru to Amrit or heavenly nectar.

Let us see, what Shri Sai Satcharit tells us about the Sadguru and devotion to him...

Brahma’s Brahmanand cannot exist without the Sadguru.  Offer body, mind and wealth completely at the feet of the Sadguru.  Spend the entire life serving the Sadguru.  The tremendous power in him after he has tested the devotee will take the devotee to the threshold of ‘Moksha’ without him being conscious of it.   The association with the Guru is like the sacred Ganges water which cleanses and makes one pure.  It also stabilizes the otherwise fickle mind on God.  Continuous observance of the teachings of the Guru and firm adherence to them brings unshakeable faith and unwavering stability.

Such is the marvel of Guru’s grace that it makes a dry and stiff plant effortlessly and profusely blossom in the most arid soil.  It is the ardent wish of the true disciple that his devotion to the Guru should grow; that he should become detached from the world; his urge to remember his Guru’s name should become intense and his mind becomes pure.

Just as the worm by constantly thinking of the bee itself becomes the bee, in the same way, when a disciple constantly contemplates upon his Guru, he becomes similar to the Guru. By using the word ‘similar’, a distinction still remains.  Even that is not tolerated by the Guru, even for a moment, because a Guru’s existence is not possible without the disciple and the disciple is not separate from the Guru. If one wishes to surrender at the feet of the Guru, one should sing the praises of the Guru or recite the life-story of the Guru or listen to the tales about the Guru with devotion.  The devotion to the Guru’s feet will develop and the well-being will tremendously increase gradually.  These were the words of Baba.

There are eight ways of worshipping God by doing Poojas of images, sacrificial fire etc.; but compared to everything, the Guru is the best.

Krishna himself was the Supreme Brahman.  Yet, he bowed at Sandipani’s feet and said, ‘‘Remembrance of the Sadguru is the surest way to please me, who is Narayana.  Singing the praises of the Sadguru rather than my praises is dearer to me a thousand-fold.’’ Such is the excellence and profound significance of the Sadguru.  He who turns his back on the praise of the Guru is an unfortunate sinner.  He endures the painful cycle of births and deaths and becomes the cause of his own ruin.

The individual soul itself is the Supreme Spirit which gives joy to the whole world. And the Supreme Spirit is the Guru himself – Shankara - the giver of bliss. Lord Shankara Himself narrates to Parvati the bliss of having a Guru in the ‘Guru Geeta’.

When the Sadguru determines, he himself will give the inspiration.  He puts into words that which is indescribable, through his chosen people.  Whether in worldly or spiritual life, whenever the Sadguru is the captain of the ship, he will steer the ship and its passengers to the opposite bank.

The Guru only is Truly Brahman

Brahman is eternal, the world transient. The Guru only is truly Brahman. After abandoning the transient concentrate on only the Guru. This constant feeling is a means of achieving spirituality. Guru and Brahman are not two separate entities.  One who has realized the oneness, he (as it were) has practiced devotion.  This realization is the easiest way to overcome Maya.  Jeeva is the Atma troubled by ignorance, while Shiva is the Atma troubled by Maya. Only the Samartha Guru is capable of eliminating the distinction between the two. Guru is actually God himself. He is Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar. Guru in reality is God Almighty. He is the Supreme Brahman.  Guru is the mother and Guru is the father.  Guru is the protector, when God’s wrath is incurred.  But, when the Guru is angry, nobody can protect you.  Remember this always.

The path of the world is full of confusion and dim.  The words of the Guru shine like rays from a lamp to make it smooth and perceivable. Guru is the guide for worldly behavior, the rituals and pilgrimages to holy places.  He is the guide, to what is right and what is wrong, and to practice non-attachment.  He is the exponent of the Vedas and the Upanishads. A living being enjoys the worldly experiences (good or bad) and God grants them to him. But, Sadguru is the only one who grants salvation. He is the store of all the Atmas who have oneness with him. When the Sadguru is pleased, he grants us celestial perception, by which the whole creation is seen in one divine vision.

The root cause of worldly existence is ‘Agyan’; and when the Anjan of Guru’s grace is put in the eyes, then the veil of Maya will be removed and what remains is the real ‘Gyan’.  The Guru knows better than us, from head to toe, our stage of development, our part in life and our own inclinations. He is the means of the final salvation. What the Guru says is the holy book as well as the ‘Puran’. Give attention to his chief advice. That is the word of the Vedas.

Qualities required to please the Gururaya

A disciple should be modest, able, free from envy, unselfish or disinterested, always ready to serve the Guru, eager to have spiritual knowledge and of steadfast temperament. He should have no hatred, nor engage in loquaciousness. These are the qualities required to please the Gururaya.  Develop companionship or association with those who are well-known, virtuous and divine, have selfless love at the feet of the Guru; have inclination to tell stories about the virtues of the Guru.  He who keeps himself away from the sinful life, who humbles himself at the feet of the teacher and the Guru, who has given up the longing for the fruits of action, can only attain the Atman. He who discards the fruits of action and expectations with the help of full concentration of mind and surrenders to the Guru whole-heartedly, then the Guru accepts him.

Who is the Sadguru ?

Know that he is the Sadguru who does not, even in his dreams expect any service or profit from his disciple. On the contrary, he wishes to serve the disciple.  Only such a Guru is beneficial who does not consider that a disciple is insignificant and is egoless. He believes that the disciple is ‘Purna Brahman’, treats him as his own son, and does not expect anything from him for his maintenance. Such a Sadguru is the best in the world.  He is the abode of Supreme Peace, has no pride of learning, does not distinguish between the young and the old and the rich and the poor.

Sadguru has no desires of his own always; therefore what can a disciple do to fulfill his wishes ?  It is he who serves his disciples and makes them desireless.  In all the three worlds there is not another generous giver than the Guru.  Surrender to him and only to him by being the humblest of the humble.

If we compare him to the Chintamani, the Chintamani only gives that which is wished for; but the Guru gives something which is not even imagined, to the astonishment of the devotee.  If we compare him to the Kalpataru, the Kalpataru only fulfills the wishes that are asked for; but the Gururaya will grant the Nirvikalpa unexpectedly.  The Kamadhenu fulfills the wish that is expressed; but the Guru-dhenu is still greater. He is famous as ‘He, who gives that which is inconceivable’. Who else can deserve this title?

Faith in the Guru

We may try hundreds of means or Sadhanas to attain the spiritual goal, but without the grace of the Sadguru, it is not possible to achieve the goal of life. Constant and eternal remembrance of the benefits conferred by the Guru is the ornament of the disciple. He who tries to repay that obligation, loses his happiness.  He, who with complete faith engages himself in the service of his Guru, the Lord is indebted to him always. No one can view him with evil intentions.  He who does not waste even a moment and has a liking for the worship of the Lord and the Guru, they will give him infinite or perpetual happiness and enable him to cross over to the other shore.

Those who desire to end the cycle of birth and death, this wearisome coming and going should enjoin themselves to the Guru’s feet and constantly remember and chant his name with devotion. Ultimately, remembering the Guru, constantly at the time of leaving the body, the disciple will be absorbed in Brahman, undoubtedly goaded by the Guru.

Love your Guru, whole-heartedly surrender to him. Just as there is no darkness before the sun, there is no sea of mundane existence for you to cross.

As Hemadpant says in the Sai Satcharita, “The very word Sadguru immediately brings to mind Sai, as he stands in front of me and blesses with his hand on my head.’’

Om Sai ! Shri Sai !! Jai Jai Sai !!!

 – Jyoti Ranjan Raut

jyotiraut53@rediffmail.com

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