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The qualifications of a Guru


 The qualifications of a Guru
               A SPIRITUAL Guru is a person who removes ignorance of the deciple.  Various spiritual and Vedantic texts explore the qualifications of the spirtitual Guru.  They are
1.       Sotriya
2.       Brahma nishta
Sotriya
One who is well versed in Vedantic lore is a `sotriya’.A person if he happens to be well versed in the Vedic knowledge he can able to know the Lord, the personality of Godhood.
He must have realized the consciousness of the scriptures by deliberation and be able to convince others of their conclusions.  Such great personalities who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhood, leaving all material considerations are to be understood as bonafied spiritual masters. Prasthana trayee is called Sriti prasthana.  These are instruments to give Self knowledge.  The Guru has o be well versed in Vedantic texts.  Vedantic truths are profound.  To explain all those to the students in clear manner the Guru must have comprehensive knowledge of Vedantic texts.  Then only the Guru can describe the indescribable soul. So, well versed Vedantic knowledge is very much necessary to a spiritual Guru.

Brahma nishta
The aim of studying Vesdantas is to explain Brahman.  The seeker who had a direct experience of the self as being identified with Brahman and who is continuously established in this experience is called Brahma nishta. Mere textual and bookish knowledge is not enough to a successful spiritual Guru. His personal experience of truth has a great impact on sishya`s understanding. Hence a spiritual Guru of Brahma-nishta would become an effective Guru.
The person who has both knowledge of the Vedantic lore and direct experience of the Self alone becomes a qualified teacher of Brahma vidya, a brahmanishta who is not a `Sotriya” can communicate, to one who does not need many explanations. Some great Gurus can communicate Brahmajnana to their disciples in a great manner without uttering a single word. These are mouna gurus (guru of scilence). Dakshinamurthy is such type.
But in general a spiritual Guru must generally be a `Sotriya and Brahmsnishta.

Dr A. Tara Lakshmi,
Srikalakasti

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