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The Guru indispensible in spiritual pursuit


1.       The Guru indispensible in spiritual pursuit

1.        The knowledge has to be revealed: A real spiritual seeker requires a Guru to guide him/her In order to reach the ultimate goal. Spiritual path is a very difficult one.  Self-knowledge is not an easy endeavor. Too many obstacles arise in the path. One does not arrive at it by chance.  Ephemeral worldly objects can be perceived by the senses or the mind.  It becomes an experience.  The Self is not an object.  It can`t be experienced like worldly objects. The Self is the SUBJECT. It can`t be revealed by the senses and the mind.  A competent Guru only can reveal The Self to the seeker.  He acts as a sign board. He shows the path to the student. He leads the student towards the ultimate reality.

2.       The Guru is the proof of knowledge: The individual Self illuminates the body, mind and intellect. And also it is being one with the Universal Self.  Guru acts as an embodiment of self knowledge.  Sishya trusts the existence of the Self knowledge by observing the Guru . Guru creates the trust on sishya about Self knowledge. With the help of Guru the sishya understands that Self- knowledge and liberation are attainable goals.

3.       Mere knowledge of Sanskrit is insufficient: To understand the profound thoughts of Upanishads, mere bookish knowledge of vyakarana, niruktha, chandas are not adequate.  The Upanishads are full of seeming contradictions.  They are quite elusive. They are impossible to understand without proper guidance. There are so many contradictory declarations about many terms and concepts in Upanishads.  Without proper guidance of the Guru one cannot understand them comprehensively.  Even an intellectual brilliant Sanskrit scholar can get confusion in understanding them properly.  Only a Guru who is sotriya and Brahms-nistaonly ean explains the profound truths and hidden meanings of Upanishadic concepts.

Vedas and Upanishads and the Guru are compared to the ocean and the clouds respectively.  The Ocean water being it salty can`t quench the thirst of the seeker. The Guru is supposed to absorb salt water like a cloud and quenches the thirst of the spiritual student

III. The sishya approaches the guru with utmost humility and questions in order to clarify his doubts regarding spiritual enquiry.  The questionnaire is presented as follows.
 My lord
1.       What is bondage?
2.       How has it come to individual self?
3.       How does it continue to exist?
4.       How one can get rid of bondage?
5.       What is Anathma (not-self)?
6.       Who is the Supreme –Self ?
7.       What is the discriminating process to differentiate Atma to Anathma?
 
 The answer to these seven questions covers the whole essence of Vedanta. 

Dr A. Tara Lakshmi,
Srikalakasti

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