Guest guest Report post Posted February 23, 2001 This is fascinating. I had never wondered about this. Thanks to Peggy and Uma I have begun thinking and here are some of my thoughts.<br><br>Mere study of books cannot make one a Guru. One who has studied the Vedas, and who has direct knowledge of the Atman (Self) through Anubhava (experience), can alone be enrolled as a Guru. A Jivanmukta or liberated sage is the real Guru or spiritual preceptor. He is the Sadguru. He is identical with Brahman or the Supreme Self. He is a Knower of Brahman. <br><br>A Sadguru is endowed with countless Siddhis (psychic powers). He possesses all divine Aisvarya (powers), all the wealth of the Lord. <br><br>Possession of Siddhis, however, is not the test to declare the greatness of a sage or to prove that he has attained Self-realisation. Sadgurus generally do not exhibit any miracle or Siddhi. Sometimes, however, they may do so in order to convince the aspirants of the existence of superphysical things, give them encouragement, and instill faith in their hearts. <br><br>The Sadguru is Brahman Himself. He is an ocean of bliss, knowledge, and mercy. He is the captain of your soul. He is the fountain of joy. He removes all troubles, sorrows, and obstacles. He shows the right divine path. <br><br>He tears your veil of ignorance. He makes one immortal and divine. He transmutes lower, diabolical nature. He gives the rope of knowledge, and takes one up when a person is drowning in this ocean of Samsara (cycle of birth and death). He is not to considered to be only a man. <br><br>Guru is God. A word from him is a word from God. He need not-teach anything. Even his presence or company is elevating, inspiring, and stirring, His very company is self-illumination. Living in his company is spiritual education. <br><br>Man can learn only from man, and hence God teaches through a human body. In one's Guru, one has a human ideal of perfection. He is the pattern into which one can wish to mould the self. <br><br>The mind will readily be convinced that such a great soul, is fit to be worshipped and revered. <br><br>Guru is the Moksha-dvara (door to liberation). He is the gateway to the transcendental Truth-Consciousness. But, it is the aspirant who has to enter through it. The, Guru is a help, but the actual task of practical Sadhana (spiritual practice) falls on the aspirant himself. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted February 23, 2001 Indeed babu!! You are so correct. We must beware of the wolf in acharaya's saffron. <br> <br>"Dharma (religion) is based in conduct. Saintly persons are also recognized by their conduct. Thus activities of the saintly are given the name sad-acara. Duty and nobility are rooted in conduct, O king! He who does not maintain standards of conduct is neither noble nor righteous." (Hari bhakti vilasa 3.15-16)<br><br>Sad-acara (appropriate conduct) comprises all aspects of an initiated devotee's behavior, from broad matters of regulative principles to one's daily routine, from rising in the pre-dawn (brahma-muhurta) until he sleeps at night. <br><br>We can gleen such info from books, but books offer far more regulation than is possible for anyone to follow. The disciple must seek specific instruction from the guru about what exactly he or she must do or not do. We are trained accordingly to our abilities and as we grow so does he impart to us more and more. <br><br>om tat sat<br>All glories to my Gurudev srila Puri Maharaja, the savior of my life!<br><br>:*) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted February 23, 2001 Yeah! .. the most important sign of a guru!<br><br>He walks the talk!<br><br> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Kavita Report post Posted July 4, 2014 Hi can you pls tell what part a wife of guruji plays on guru puja day Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites