Guru

Guru

Guru is a Sanskrit term for a “teacher, guide, expert, or master” of certain knowledge or field. In Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher. In Sanskrit, guru means the one who removes the darkness and takes the student towards the light, traditionally a father like figure to the student, with the guru serving as a “mentor, who helps us understand values, shares experiential knowledge as much as literal knowledge, an exemplar in life, an inspirational source and who helps in the spiritual evolution of a student”. A guru is also one’s spiritual guide, who helps one to discover the same potentialities that the guru has already realized.

The Guru cannot be considered only as a professor of teaching spirituality, because the role of a Guru is not just teaching but also helping his disciples understand how to be close to God and attain union with atma. The bond which a disciple holds with his Guru is complete more at a subtle level, beyond material ties.

Guru is given more importance than God. Because Guru itself is God. Guru can show path that leads to God. … God is more important because we have three relationships with God, one is He is our spiritual father, second is that He is our spiritual teacher and thirdly, He is our spiritual guru.

The Guru principle being very subtle and a seeker’s power of perception being more of the gross and very little of the subtle dimension, in Spirituality one cannot find a Guru despite a search. It is the Guru who chooses and spiritually uplifts his disciples.

 Without Guru’s grace it is difficult to progress beyond a spiritual level, no matter which path one practices, Karmayoga or Path of Knowledge or Bhaktiyoga  or any other.

The true meaning of Guru is “one who dispels darkness of ignorance”. “Gu” means “darkness of ignorance” and “Ru” means “one who removes”. Another meaning for Guru is “One who reveals the target to the disciple”. He does this by removing the darkness of ignorance.

Guru is Brahma, who is the Creator of the universe. Guru is Vishnu who is all pervasive and is also the Doer in the universe. Guru is Maheshvara who commands and ordains everything in the universe in the right manner. Guru is not one who merely teaches. A real Guru is Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent, He is God Himself.