Guru – The God-Incarnate

By

Sri Swami Sivananda

Taken from Divine Life Magazine 1950

The Vyasa Purnima is the sacred occasion when the Vedic Preceptor, Vyasa, and all the Brahmavidya-Gurus are worshipped. Spiritual seekers of all stages of life are all actually the disciples of these great Gurus who have handed down spiritual knowledge through Shishya-parampara. The qualities of the soul and the knowledge of God are not matters of individual caprice but facts of intuition and realisation. Knowledge does not suddenly arise in the individual without any reason. It comes through Purva-punya, Satsanga, Guruseva and Vichara. Even the requisite qualities which precede knowledge are not imbibed except through contact with the perfected ones. Spiritual qualities and natures are not parts of the ordinary human conduct and hence, they cannot be had by the worldly-wise. Even if the sense of sight is healthy, no perception is possible without light. In man, however, this spiritual sense is generally not felt, because it is obscured by the sense of worldly contacts and the consequent anxiety, worry and dissatisfaction. There is neither real virtue nor real knowledge in the common man, because these two are not in relationship with his natural instincts.

Neither the means (virtue) nor the end (knowledge) is the property of the superficial nature. They are found only in the depth within. The external instincts constitute the flow of the downward current of the river of life, and one is given the strength to swim against this current and manifest the higher natures of virtue and knowledge by the Shakti that proceeds as the result of contact with one who has scaled the heights of spirituality, the Brahmanishtha Guru.

In fact, it is the Guru who provides the disciple with the means as well as the end, with the sense of sight as well as the object of sight. Arjuna was given both the eye to behold the Glorious Form (Vishwaroopa) and was shown the Form itself by his Teacher, Sri Krishna. It is sometimes believed by some rationalists that no Guru is necessary, but only the self can elevate itself through itself without any aid. But there is some misconception in those who hold this view. Though all knowledge and all power is really hidden in one’s own self, it is not possible to make this manifest very easily. The great misfortune of the common individual is that it can have no knowledge except through coming into contact with an external environment belonging to some other person, place, time, thing or condition. All men are controlled by the stresses of life and the urges of the senses. Their minds cannot be diverted from their natural courses to the spiritual reality, because it is not the habit of the mind to concern itself with unworldly conditions. If it is so very easy to draw out knowledge from within, without the help of a teacher, why should children be sent to schools and why should there be so many colleges on earth? Though knowledge is revealed from inside and not imported from the teacher, the latter’s role is not insignificant. No doubt, aspiration, perseverance and personal ability and calibre play a very important part in the rise of knowledge. But, this does not mean that knowledge can spring forth automatically without effort and devotion. Cases of those who had attained perfection without study under any Guru, should not be cited as authorities against the necessity for a Guru; for such great men are the anomalies of spiritual life and not the common normality. They come into existence as spiritual masters as a result of the intense service, study and meditation practised in previous births. They had already studied under the Guru. The present birth is only its continuative spiritual effect. Hence, the importance of the Guru is not lessened thereby.

Moreover, man has got a habit of living as his whim directs him. This whim is generally the product of yielding to the ego and the senses. Surrender to the Guru, on the other hand, means the complete abstention from giving way to such lower impulses and the attempt at unearthing the potential spiritual capacities within. When a spiritual person is guiding the inexperienced Sadhaka, he cannot go astray. Further, it is possible for the Guru to train the mind of the disciple through Shakti Sanchara or infusing his own spiritual energy into the disciple. The Guru works in the disciple’s mind and even does the Sadhana for the sake of the disciple. There is nothing which a Guru cannot do for the Shishya. The Guru is therefore, God Himself to the disciple. The Guru Purnima is the day of the worship of the Guru, the day of celebration in the remembrance of the sages who have been compassionate enough to impart Brahmavidya to aspirants.

On this hallowed occasion, worship your Guru and pray to him for bestowing grace upon you. Worship the great Rishis, Vasishtha, Vyasa, Suka, Dattatreya, and solicit their blessings. Control the senses. Lead an austere life. Pray. Do Japa and Kirtan. Meditate. You shall attain Immortality and Eternal Bliss. May the blessings of the Brahmavidya Gurus be upon you all!