Spiritual Quotes
5/05/2015
Ramana says
Engage yourself in the living present. The future will take care of itself.
..........
The Seeing Self is the Eye, and that Eye is the Eye of Infinity.
~ ramana
Nature of the guru
NATURE OF REAL GURU
. What is the significance of the saying that the nature of the real Guru is that of the Supreme Lord (Sarvesvara) ?
In the case of the individual soul which desires to attain the state of true knowledge or the state of Godhood (Isvara) and with that object always practises devotion, when the individual's devotion has reached a mature stage, the Lord who is the witness of that individual soul and identical with it, comes forth in human form with the help of sat-chit-ananda, His three natural features, and form and name which he also graciously assumes, and in the guise of blessing the disciple, absorbs him in Himself. According to this doctrine the Guru can truly be called the Lord.
How then did some great persons attain knowledge without a Guru?
To a few mature persons the Lord shines as the light of knowledge and imparts awareness of the truth.
source: Spiritual Instruction
Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya!
How to identify ones guru?
The Great Upanishads
How to identify one’s Guru?
When you have identified the siṣyā in you, everyone becomes a Guru. – Kṛṣṇa was always there, but only as a sakha (friend) of Arjuna, and became a Guru, when Arjuna discovered the siṣya in him.
Definiton of SDSji – “One who makes you see – that you are the whole”.
Guru is one who handles śāstra as a pramāṇa, and creates a context for the words that he uses and makes sure that you understand his words (which are the words of the śāstra), the way he intended it (which is the way the śāstra also intended it).
Upaniṣad defines Guru as śrotriyam brahmaniṣṭham – but we cannot call him wise, for that means we are judging him based on our own understanding of what wisdom is.
Some additional pointers given by PSDSji in his commentary on verse 4.19 from Bhagavad Gītā.
i. A Guru teaches not because he wants to teach, but because someone wants to learn.
ii. A Guru should not suffer from a burning desire to teach.
iii. A Guru should teach only because he wants to contribute and share what he has, and that too with someone who needs it only.
iv. A Guru should teach only because there are some people to listen; that’s all. Not for any other reason.
v. A Guru should not teach thinking that he has to save the world. It is Īśvara’s job to save the world, and he should not appoint himself as an intermediary for Īśvara. If we ever find him talking about saving the world and people from delusion, and Vedānta is the means to save the world, then he is not your Guru.
vi. A Guru is free from any kind of saṁkalpa (resolve). He should not be making big plans about teaching, reaching the mass, correcting the world etc.
vii. A Guru should teach not expecting anything at all in return, even your understanding.
viii. A Guru is characterized by no guilt, hurt and self-condemnation.
ix. A Guru will be totally free – free from will and wants – characterized by leisure and happiness – at no time you will see him under pressure.
x. A Guru should be free in the midst of people, and also without them. There should be no lonliness. He should not be at a loss for want of something to do.
xi. A Guru should be some one who can be trusted – no negative reports about him.
xii. A Guru should be one who does not judge you – you should be able to be totally free with him, in exposing yourself, as you are, your weaknesses et al, without the fear of being judged.
xiii. A Guru must be one who understands you – one who is able to relate to you, empathize with you.
xiv. A Guru is one who accepts you totally as you are – he has no complaints even if you don’t change, even if you make the same mistakes, even if you are adamant.
xv. A Guru’s words have to ring true to you. His words should not be self-contradictory, and his conduct has to be aligned with his words.
~ via Sugavanam
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