This blog is based on the life teachings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Spirutual topics, experiences, stories are taken from Sai Literatue i.e Sathya Sai Speaks, Sathyam Sivam Sundaram, Vahini...etc are presented in a form of a blog.
Sathya Sai Baba on Guru and Guru Purnima
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1) Why do we need Guru?
Embodiments of Divine Love! It is not easy to understand the divine principle. The ego of "I"
and the attachment of "Mine" are responsible for all difficulties. Man attains divinity very easily
the moment he gives up ego and attachment. Aatma is omnipresent. Aatma is infinite. Aatma is
the One without a second. But, it appears as many because of the diversity of forms. Spirituality
is that which recognises the One that subsumes all diversities as the Aatma.
Unfortunately, today there are many intellectuals who divide the One into the many. But there
are very few who see the One in the many. Here is an example. We have built a mansion. In this
mansion we have one room for bath, one for cooking, another for dining and yet another for
living. What is it responsible for this division? It is walls in between. If you remove the walls,
the mansion becomes one again. Because of the walls in between, there are different rooms with
different names and forms. Similarly, the mansion of Aatma is only one. Since we have created
in this mansion of Aatma, different rooms of the body, senses, mind, intellect, will and ego, the
diversity appears. Since this divisive tendency is on the increase among mankind today there is great need for the
Guru.
"Gu" stands for Gunaatheetha (one who transcends the three Gunas) while "ru" stands for
Ruupavarjitha (one who is formless). Also "Gu" means the darkness of ignorance. What can
dispel the darkness? Only light can do it. Therefore Guru is one who dispels the darkness of
ignorance.
Who is a true Guru? What is the truth underlying the Guru principle? Is he the one that
teaches worldly education? Is the one who explores the properties of matter, a Guru? Is the one
who describes in detail Natural Sciences, a Guru? No, they are only teachers. A true Guru is the
embodiment of Brahmaananda (transcendental bliss). Who is this Brahmaananda? Where does
he exist? When we enquire on these lines, we find that there is nothing comparable to it in the
universe. All the joys of the world are immanent in Brahmaananda (transcendental divine bliss). This Brahmaananda transcends the material, moral, religious and spiritual aspects of life.
The true Guru is one who experiences the supreme bliss of Brahmaananda. This Brahmaananda transcends the material, moral, religious and spiritual aspects of life.
The true Guru is one who experiences the supreme bliss of Brahmaananda. Who is he? None
except God has the competence to experience such bliss. All the joys are inherent in this bliss.
The next aspect of Guru is Paramasukhadham (highest happiness). This happiness is higher than
all the happiness in the world. This is not worldly happiness, which has a beginning and an end
and is ever-changing; it comes and goes. But Paramasukhadham neither comes nor goes.
Mundane pleasures are just water bubbles. They may burst any moment. The happiness with
changes is not true happiness. All the pleasures enjoyed by man in this world change with time
and place. A true Guru is one who enjoys and confers changeless supreme happiness.
The third aspect of the Guru is Kevalam (the ultimate). What is Kevalam? It means that which
transcends time and space. All the things in the world are bound by time and space. But He is
beyond space and time and there is nothing higher than Him. That is why He is called Kevalam.
He is none other than God.
Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurur Dhevo Maheswarah Guruh Sakshath Para Brahma Thasmaih Sri Gurave Namaha
Guru is Brahman. He is the Creator. He Himself is the creation and He is the One that exists in the creation. The universe is filled with Brahman. It becomes clear that the One who Himself has become the universe is the Guru.
Guru is Vishnu. Who is Vishnu? Is He the one with conch, discus, mace and lotus in His hands? No. Vishnu is one who has the quality of pervasiveness. He is the Doer and also what is done. The universe is the action, God is the Doer. God is the consciousness behind the cause and effect. The whole universe is the form of Vishnu. This Vishnu is the Guru
Guru is Maheswara. Who is Maheswara? He is the one who rules all beings in the Universe. He commands and ordains everything in the universe in the right manner. Sunrise and Sunset go on according to His command. Seasons, rain, the day and night are His commands. Easwara is one that makes everything follow its discipline without any lapse. Guru is not one who merely teaches. A Guru is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, He is God himself. Guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Easwara.
The verse which speaks of Guru as Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara is quoted often. But, the One has not broken into three, one part in charge of creation, another who fosters and maintains and the third who dissolves and destroys. The Pranava mantra OM is symbol of the One; it is composed of three sounds A (as in far), U (as in push) and M (as in hum). Brahma is A, Vishnu is U and Shiva is M and all three are indivisibly united in OM. The problem this verse poses is whether Guru is God or God is Guru. The answer is--God is Guru, the ever-present, evercompassionate, the Witness who resides in the heart.
- Divine Discourse, 2-7-1985. ( SSS V-18 CH-14 )
6) How can we attain the state of Poornatva (fullness)?
Today is Gurupoornima. Poornima refers to the full moon with all his 16 aspects being illumined by the sun. In man there are sixteen black spots: the six enemies (lust, anger, greed, infatuation, pride and envy), the two Gunas, Rajas and Tamas, and the eight types of mada (conceit) based on lineage and scholarship, wealth, youth, beauty, position and penance. It is only when man gets rid of these sixteen evil traits that he will be able to realise his oneness with the his poornatva (Divine). Who is the one who enables man to achieve this state of Poornatva (fullness)? It is the Guru. Guru refers to one who has transcended the gunas and has no form.
- Divine Discourse, 7- 7-1990 ( SSS V-23 CH-25 )
7) Guru Poornima is also celebrated as Vyasa Poornima
This day is celebrated as Vyasa Poornima, the full moon day dedicated to the memory of sage Vyasa. There are four full moon days holier than the rest in the Hindu calendar--the full moon which occurs in the month of Vaisaakha, Ashaada, Sraavana and Magha. This is the month of Ashaada. On this day, the day when the moon (the presiding deity of the mind) is full circle and the moonlight cool, pleasant and clear, Sage Vyasa completed the composition of the immortal scripture, the Brahma Sutra. Sutra means string. He revealed that the Brahma principle interpenetrates and holds together the many in the ONE. That principle does not wax or wane, it is Poorna and it projects Poorna, in spite of that projection. The passing cloud cannot act on that fullness. This was what Vyasa, the Guru taught mankind.
- Divine Discourse, 2-7-1985. ( SSS V-18 CH-14 )
8)Significance of Guru Poornima
GURU POORNIMA is sacred for many reasons: this day, the seeker who suffers from the delusion that the objective world is as real as himself is guided into the Truth; this day, those who have not felt the urge to explore the Reality are inspired to seek the spring of Bliss inside them; this day, disciples offer gratitude at the feet of the preceptor for the gift of light; this day, pilgrims to the Lotus Feet of God study the guide books and the maps. When the Sun rises, the world is blessed with heat and light. When the Guru blesses, the pupil gets peace and joy. Guru Poornima is not over when it becomes tomorrow. It is not a date marked in the calendar. It is all days when the Mind of Man, whose presiding deity is the Moon, is Poorna (Full), with cool refreshing rays, which it receives, in the first instance, from the Sun (Intelligence). The mind must derive illumination from the intellect, the discriminative faculty, and not from the senses, which are the deluding forces. When sensual desire tarnishes the Mind, it cannot earn peace and joy.
Do not go in search of gurus. Strengthen your faith in the Atma. Seek to enjoy the Atmic bliss. Strive to develop the conviction: "I am the Atma." That is the true message. When you have grasped this Truth, all other things will be unnecessary. For experiencing this Guru, there are no restrictions as to time, place or circumstances. Only for the man steeped in the mind, changes in time exist and he is bound by them. But to the man who has transcended the limitations of time, everything remains immutable. This spiritual state can be reached only through confidence in the Atma.
Gurupoornima is observed as a day for honouring the Guru. Some types of gurus welcome this day as the day which brings them income. They are an inferior breed. The real Guru is only one. He is the One, the God of gods, who is hailed as father, mother, teacher, knowledge and wealth and all else. He is the Supreme whom you must seek by your sadhana. God alone can transform your spiritual efforts into a transcendental experience. You have the vision of the Divine (saakshaatkaara). The vision does not come from outside. It is within you, because the Divine is omnipresent. Only the person who considers himself separate from God will have the feeling that the vision of God comes from outside. God is everywhere. You are God.
- Divine Discourse, 7- 7-1990 ( SSS V-23 CH-25 )
10) Everything is Divine
Be simple and sincere. It is sheer waste of money to burden the pictures and idols in the shrines and altars of your homes with a weight of garlands, and to parade costly utensils and vessels and offerings, to show off your devotion. This is deception; it demeans Divinity, imputing to it the desire for pomp and publicity. I ask only for purity of heart, to shower Grace. Do not posit distance between you and Me; do not interpose the formalities of the Guru-sishya (Preceptordisciple) relationship, or even the altitudinal distinctions of the God-Devotee relationship, between you and Me. I am neither Guru nor God; I am You; You are I; that is the Truth.
There is no distinction. That which appears so is the delusion. You are waves; I am the Ocean. Know this and be free, be Divine.
I have told you about the ideals and technique of seva (selfless service), often times before and I am calling upon you once again to experience the joy thereof. I need not dilate again on the special nature of the opportunity that is now offered to you here. Render your hearts cool with delight; share the delight with others; adore God in this delectable form. When you go into the qualifications needed for seva, you will know that a pure heart---uncontaminated by conceit, greed, envy, hatred or competition is essential; also, faith in God, as the spring of virtue and justice. Seva is the worship you offer to the God in the heart of everyone. Do not ask another which State you belong to, or which caste or creed you profess. See your favourite Form of God in that other person; as a matter of fact, he is not 'other' at all. It is His image, as much as you are. You are not helping some 'one individual'; you are adoring Me, in him. I am before you in that Form; so, wh...
To realise the Atma, overcome four obstacles To realise this Atma, this embodiment of spiritual wisdom (jnana-swarupa), four obstacles have to be overcome: sleep (laya), waywardness (vikshepa), inertia (kshaya), and the enjoyment of bliss (rasa-aswadana). Let’s analyze them one by one. Sleep (laya): When the mind withdraws from the external world, it enters into deep sleep (sushupti), because of the overpowering influence of the objective world (samsara). The spiritual aspirant should arrest this tendency and attempt to fix the mind on the inquiry into the nature of the true Self (Atma-vichara). The aspirant must keep watch over the mind in order to keep awake and must discover the circumstances that induce the drowsiness and remove them in time. The aspirant must start the process of meditation (dhyana) again and again. Of course, the usual producer of drowsiness and sleep during meditation is indigestion. Overfeeding, exh...
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