Having a quest to know about something beyond our mundane lives is a
blessing. If there is no quest, it is said that one is so unfortunate. And, to
know something that is beyond our purview, we need a Guru, a spiritual master
who can guide us.
At least in India, until a few decades ago, it used to be mandatory
that everyone had a Guru and people used to be so restless until they found
their Guru.
The Fear
In the recent past, because of the media showing up about fake Gurus
and the easiness with which negative information can spread, it has become a
little scary to get into a spiritual path. Many movies are also centered on
belittling the Guru parampara
concept. And there are some who also fear that they might end up being in a
“cult” if they follow a Guru. But, little do they know about this ancient
saying, which is so true - “Guru binagathi nahi” (there is no progress in life without a Guru). In the ancient times, a person without a Guru
was called ‘anaatha’, which also
means an orphan.
The Quest & The Good Karma
Even to have this question, “Howdo I find a real guru?” needs a lot of merit or good karma. And to find
one, needs even more merit. Karma has a big role to play when it comes to
having a Guru. It simply doesn’t happen unless you are blessed with a lot of
good karma. The luckiest ones get to be born into a family that already has a
Guru. This can again happen only with one’s own good karma in the past
lifetimes.
Of the 7 billion people on this planet, only a few lucky ones get to
tread their lives with their Guru. Many get caught up in different things like
name, fame, money, family, and they live in their own small world.
If you are in the quest of finding your Guru, you are blessed. But,
you definitely need to be careful too. If we recollect, the so called fake
Gurus have their presence felt right from the ancient times of Ramayana and
Mahabharata. How Sita devi got duped by Ravana in the disguise of a ‘sadhu’ (saint)
is a classic example. It just shows that it is not just now, but there have
been different instances since thousands of years. It is just one’s own karma
that gets one trapped with a ‘fake’ one or gets to be with a ‘real’ Guru.
What Happens In The Presence Of A Real Guru?
Only a person who has money can help others with money, only a
person who has knowledge can teach others and only a person who is free from
within can make others free. A real Guru is one who makes you feel completely free
from within and realize who you really are.
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Biography of
Life of Gurudev
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You’ll see that around a real guru, knowledge flourishes, sorrow
diminishes, joy wells up without any reason, lack diminishes, abundance dawns
and all talents manifest. To the degree you feel connected to the Guru, these
qualities manifest in your life.
Handling The Skepticism Once You Find A Guru
If you thought finding a real guru was tough, being on the path set
by the guru might be a little testing too. Even after finding a real Guru, the
Guru can put you on a drill. All your concepts about a Guru might be broken. He
might just make you feel, ‘Oh why does he do this? Why does he do things like
that?’ He might put a lot of doubts in you, so it becomes almost like a test
for your faith.
Once, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had shared a story about a prince
who went to stay with a saint. The prince thought “Let me go, see and assess
for myself why this saint is glorified so much.” So, the prince went to the
saint and asked if he can stay with him for a few days. The saint agreed. During
his stay there, the prince observed the saint, whom people keep praising so
much, was but a very simple man. He also took bath in the mornings, ate food,
worked like common man, slept at night like a normal man and seemed very simple.
The prince even observed him through the night to see if something
extraordinary might happen, may be some light might emit out of this saintly
man. But, nothing happened. The prince had come there with many fantasies. A saint
would be like this and like that, things around him should be so and so, etc. Sometimes,
the saint would even search where he kept his vessels. This made the prince
wonder, “He should know where he kept his things, why is he searching?” So,
suspicion sprouted in his mind. Once he even thought, “He is just a common man,
let me leave from here and go back”. But something about this seemingly common
man was heart touching. The heart said, “No, there is something special” and
made him stay back. When suspicion arose
in the mind of this prince, the saint came to know about it. He used to smile
and act in such a way that the suspicion would rise even further. Skepticism
prepares you very well. So the work of the Gurus is not to satisfy your doubts,
but to instill deeper doubts. One day, the prince could not resist anymore. He
surrendered at the feet of the saint. He wanted to ask about whatever he was
going through, but when he met the saint, he forgot what he wanted to ask. Then the saint said, “Only heart can recognize the matters of the
heart. Ears can’t see and eyes can’t hear. In the same way, brain can’t understand
the matters of the heart! Sit, become silent and meditate for a while. Then the
truth will unveil itself to you!”
Every Guru has his way. But to have the one who shows you how to be
free, you are the luckiest. Hold on to him and you’ll see that whole life
becomes so beautiful. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, “Legendary is the
faith that withstands a million chances of doubt.”
Now, coming back to the question, how do I find a ‘real’ guru? It is said that it is not you who can ever find
your Guru. The scriptures say, “When it is time, your Guru will find you!”
And, if you have read this
article, may be your Guru has already found you!
* Based on talks given by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
