In the Indian religious tradition, we have a date dedicated in the annular calendar for all that is worth venerable. On these occasions, we religiously dwell upon and seek grace in a prayer mode of such virtues as would be identified with the symbolism referred to. For, it prepares you to conduct intelligently. But human memory is short. Engaged in the usual mill of life, we often lose track of the fundamentals of life, as if one would have outgrown their limits. So has such a provision been made in our annular calendar to refresh our memories at regular periodic interval.
In the above spirit, full moon day of Hindu month Ashada is marked as Guru Purnima, which falls this year on August 19. On this solemn occasion, the disciples reaffirm their faith in guru and pay gratitude seeking his grace. Reposing faith in guru does not mean submitting to his body-mind organism, rather the virtues he epitomises. Here again, seeking guru’s grace does not mean that he would play a magical wand to enlighten his disciples. Guru first shows the way. He then leads the disciples to work upon their limitations of mind themselves, and helps unfold full human potential, most part of which is otherwise lying dormant. Mind it, human potential is immense, which if fully unfolded, will know no limits. But to be beneficiary of guru’s grace, the disciple has to be receptive enough to fully absorb the lessons imparted, and pursue them in right earnest with full faith.
Why so much of importance to guruIJ Be it known that the word ‘guru’ is made out of two root syllables ‘gu’ and ‘ru’, respectively meaning darkness and light. It implies that the one who could shed light (wisdom) to dispel darkness (ignorance) would qualify to become a guru. Seen in practical terms, the one having himself realised and become conversant with the truth underlying the existential dynamics of the manifest world, would fit into that role.
This, however, would be possible only when he gets well tuned to the cosmic intelligence and transcended the sense of relative perception. In the process, guru becomes conversant with the dynamics of life in holistic terms – operative both at gross and subtle levels. He then puts them into practice himself in real terms, thus presenting himself as a living example. Only such persons are worth motivating people imbibe his virtues, and hence the importance of a Guru.
The question now is: Why man, the most empowered creature in this universe can’t unfold his full potential in his own rightIJ Why does he need guidance of a guruIJ
The problem arises because man is a thinking being. And mind has a fertile ground which remains active even if one would be apparently idling. It keeps breeding thoughts unabated out of one’s own imagination, and keeps mulling over them. This is over and above those excited by the seed-thoughts inlaid with mind, as well as those under influence of the outer world.
This way, mind remains loaded with a massive motley crowd of thoughts and feelings, ordinarily difficult to contend with ease. Some of the thoughts out of that very massive crowd, as well as feelings in response to external stimuli, translate into action. Not all thoughts translate into action. But every action on the part of a being is necessarily preceded by a thought. Ostensibly then, thinking and feeling would hold the key to all actions on our part. Evidently, the character, content, and intent of the thought and feeling will define the quality of our efforts and thereby fruits thereof, we become due for.
What if the thought-crowd occupying the mind becomes unruly, which invariably remains the case with most of usIJ Consequently, mind becomes restive. It then begins aimlessly wandering and usually gets lost in the unwieldy thought crowd, as it loses its sense of direction and thereby control. In the melee, mind loses the alert necessary to invoke one’s faculty of discrimination on account of attention deficiency, and with obvious consequences.
It, therefore, becomes incumbent upon us to reign in our unruly mind, but for which it would not be possible to excite such well meaning thoughts as could us lead us towards the right course due. The irony, however, is that a disorderly mind caught up in a dense jungle of thoughts, by itself cannot find a way out. Here comes the role of a guru, who helps you restore orderliness of mind. With these words I pay my gratitude to my revered guru.
The writer is an astrologer, vastu consultant and spiritual counsellor. Write to him at G-5, Basement, Jungpura Extension, New Delhi 14
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