“Oh Guru, Thou didst lift me out of the land of bewilderment into the paradise of peace. My slumber of sorrow is ended and I am awake in joy.” - Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda
Many people perceive the word ‘guru’ to refer to someone who teaches, guides, or instructs. However, a spiritual guru is so much more than just that. The term ‘guru’ consists of two components: ‘gu’ meaning darkness, and ‘ru’ meaning to eliminate or disperse. In simpler terms, the ‘Guru’ is one who helps us overcome our spiritual darkness and guides us towards enlightenment. He is the satguru who has realized God and leads us to the ultimate truth.
When our longing for true knowledge and connection with God intensifies, God responds by sending us a Divine channel or Guru to guide us along the challenging journey of self-realization. Such a Guru is God-ordained, no less. He is one with God and has divine sanction to speak as His representative on earth. Guru is the speaking voice of silent God.
Such a Guru was Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, a revered spiritual teacher who authored the timeless spiritual classic, “Autobiography of a Yogi” which has transformed millions around the world. Within the pages of this magical book, he narrates his path to attaining God-realization under the loving but strict guidance of his divine Guru, Swami Sri Yukteswarji.
He says, “The relationship between Guru and disciple is the greatest expression of love and friendship; it is unconditional divine friendship based on a shared, singular goal: the desire to love God above all else.”
The Guru teaches his chela to cultivate love, peace, and joy by overcoming ego-driven habits on the spiritual path. Through scientific meditation techniques, such as Kriya Yoga, he raises the devotees’ consciousness to higher levels, ultimately guiding them to God in this life or in future incarnations. He is the devotees’ best friend and well-wisher and loves them unconditionally, whether they are on the lowest mental plane or at the highest plane of wisdom. To such a Guru we owe the deepest love, devotion, loyalty and surrender on this sacred day of Gurupurnima.
Yoganandaji established the Yogoda Satsanga Society of (YSS) in 1917 at Ranchi, and the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) in 1920 at Los Angeles to disseminate His teachings on Kriya Yoga, the most advanced path to self-realization, and on the art of balanced living. Interested seekers can apply for the home-study lessons in self-realization, through Yogoda ashrams.
Yoganandaji said an average devotee cannot find God without a Guru. The devotee will have to put in 25% of the effort through Guru-taught meditative practices, 25% effort is the blessings of the Guru and 50% comes with the grace of God.
Even if a Guru is no longer in his physical form, He will be just as deeply concerned for the spiritual welfare of His followers. His teachings will then serve as the Guru, and followers can stay in touch with Him through them. The Guru will always watch over His chelas forever and will be there for them should they ever call Him with deep devotion. Further info.: yssi.org
