Message for Guru Poornima

By

Sri Swami Sivananda

The full moon day in the month of Ashadha is the extremely auspicious and holy day of Guru Poornima. On this Ashadha Poornima Day, sacred to the memory of the great sage, Sri Vyasa Bhagavan or Sri Krishna Dwaipayana, Sannyasins settle at some place to study, do Vedantic Vichar and discourse on the thrice-blessed Brahma Sutras composed by Maharishi Vyasa. Sri Veda Vyasa has done unforgettable service to all humanity for all times by editing the four Vedas. Writing the eighteen Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata. We can attempt to repay this deep debt of gratitude we owe Him only by constant study of His works and practise of His teachings imparted for the regeneration of humanity in this Iron Age or Kali Yuga. In honour of this Divine personage all Sadhakas and devotees perform Vyasa Pooja on this day, aspirants worship their Guru, Mahatmas and Sadhus are honoured and entertained and acts of charity done by all Grihasthis with deep faith and sincerity.

Mark fully the deep significance of this great day. Ashadha Poornima heralds the Chaturmas or the setting in of the eagerly awaited rains. The water drawn up and stored as clouds in the hot summer now manifests in plentiful showers that usher in the advent of fresh life everywhere. Even so, do you all begin seriously to put into actual working all the theory and philosophy that you have stored up in you through patient study. Commence practical spiritual Sadhana right from this day. Generate fresh waves of spirituality. Let all that you have read, heard, seen and learnt become, through Sadhana, transformed into a continuous outpouring of Universal Love, ceaseless loving service, and continuous prayer and worship of the Lord seated in all beings.

As the day of Guru Pooja or worship of one’s preceptor, this is a day of pure joy to the sincere aspirant. Thrilled by the expectation of offering his reverent homage to the beloved Guru, aspirants await this occasion with eagerness and devotion. It is the Guru alone that breaks the binding cords of attachment and releases the aspirant from the trammels of earthly existence. The Guru is God Himself. He guides and inspires you from the innermost core of your being. He is verily the Supreme Spirit. He is everywhere.

Have a new angle of vision. Behold the entire Universe as Guru Swaroopa. See the guiding hand, the awakening voice, the illumining touch of the Guru in every object in this Creation. The whole world will now stand transformed before your changed vision. The Virat Guru will reveal all the precious secrets of life and bestow Wisdom. The Supreme Guru manifest in visible Nature will teach you the most valuable lessons of Life. Worship daily this Guru of Gurus, the Guru who taught even Avadhut Dattatreya. The silent all-enduring Earth with its lofty forbearance, the shady fruit bearing tree with its willing self-sacrifice, the mighty Pipal reposing with patience in the tiny seed, the dripping drops whose persistence wear away the rocks, the planets and the seasons with their order punctuality and regularity are Divine Gurus to him who will look, listen and receive.

Become a personification of receptivity. Empty yourself of your petty ego-sense. All the treasures locked up in the bosom of Nature will become yours! You will have progress and perfection in an amazingly short time. Become pure and unattached as the mountain breeze. As the river flows continuously, steadily and constantly towards its goal, the Ocean, by moving every moment of your life towards the Supreme state of Existence-Knowledge-Bliss, let all your thoughts, all your words, all your actions be directed only towards the Goal.

The Moon shines by reflecting the dazzling light of the Sun. It is the Full-Moon of Poornima Day that reflects in full splendour the glorious light of the Sun. It glorifies the Sun. Purify yourself through the fire of Service and Sadhana and like the Full Moon reflect the Glorious Light of the ATMAN. Become the full reflectors of Brahmic splendour, the Light of Lights, Make this your goal, to become a living witness to Divinity, the brilliant Sun of Suns!

This then is my message to you all on most sacred Guru-Poornima, learn to behold all creation as Guruswaroopa, become full moon of spiritual perfection! May you all cut asunder the knot of Avidya and shine as a blessed Jivanmukta shedding Peace, Joy and Light everywhere!