A Guru Enlightens…

on the pious day of Guru Purnima, here is an extract to understand the true meaning of GURU and delve deep into the realm of enlightenment through a Real GURU in your life. 

We do not find any proper definition of GURU in English. Though the term "Teacher" has been vividly explained in English as someone who teaches, who educates and who instructs.  A "master" is one who has done specialization in specific fields while a "GURU" is one who does the most significant task of elevating the individual from the physical level to that of spiritual. It is therefore said that while a teacher explains, the Guru enlightens. It is the Guru who makes the individual realize his true identity, encourage the person to discover his own self while a teacher shows him to the realm of things outside of himself. In other words, the guru provides the individual with the vision to know, to comprehend, and to digest, while the instructor presents the varied visions of the world. Although there is a misconception that guru imparts information, this is untrue.

Knowledge cannot be handed to you or stolen from you. An individual inherits the knowledge, a Teacher Educates and Guru Enlightens wisdom from the moment of his birth. Every individual possess "wisdom or vivek"- the ability to distinguish between reality and illusion. But there may arise certain situations or at times, when this ability to distinguish becomes disabled. It may be possible that the mind blocks the eyesight just like the clouds that covers the shining sun. A that time, the individual may mistake even a rope on the road for a snake. When the guru gives him an object, the man sees it differently from what he had ordinarily viewed it, based on what his mind urges him to do. The guru lifts that veil and enables the individual to realize the knowledge he already possesses.

A person could have extraordinary abilities. Despite being gifted or well-educated, he still needs some more assistance which is beyond its own capacity. This is called "Grace" which is an outside push that enables him to fulfil his life's purpose. The guru continuously pours out grace. The person does not need to seek out a guru. The guru finds him and favours him for so long that he qualifies himself with the traits of humility and dedication.

Ramana Maharshi asserts that the Self, which is the reflection of Brahmin, is already radiant as the guru within. It suffices if one examines and ponders oneself. However, because the mind has a tendency to be outgoing, it reacts to outside influences more strongly. The Self manifests externally as a human guru, to which the mind reacts, in order to draw the outgoing mind to the source inside.

The internal guru, the Self, sets the right ground to reach him to the centre, while the external guru creates conditions to push the person inward. Both inside and outside make up the guru. The Guru pushes from outside and simultaneously pulls the person inwardly so that they are positioned at the centre.

The guru is a representation of excellence and virtue. When a father and son who had come to take a dip in the Ganga, the son asked, "When so many people immerse themselves in the River Ganga, does it become an accumulation of all dirt?" where is the purity? The father retorted, "Along with all others, the renounced saints also take a dip, and by the simple touch of a saint, the entire water gets purified,"

On the birthday of great sage Ved Vyas, this Guru Poornima blesses with an opportunity for us to show our respect for the Guru who has helped us to walk the path of perfection and achieve greater heights.

It is Guru Purnima today.