Reflection on The Words/Advice of One's Guru

[Guest guest]

There is an interesting line in Sita-Kalyanam (a telugu movie) in which

Dasaratha says:

"Kantiki repa duraam avochu kaani, naa ramachendruduki naenu oka kshanam doooram

kaalenu" -- (translation: "perhaps the eyelids/lashes may stray from the eyes,

but I cannot bear to be separated from my Rama even for a second")

 

This is his response to Vishvamitra who had come to ask that Ramachandra be sent

to the forest to do service to the sages as they performed various penances for

the good of the world. Dasaratha in the Ramayanam represents a man of extreme

attachment, and when his Guru asks him to do something, he refuses saying that

"Rama is but a child of 16 years, what good will he be to the sages in their

penance? No, take me instead... take my armies...". This infuriates Vishvamitra

who then proceeds to get angry with Dasaratha for his naive and short-sighted

attitude. At that time, Vasishta comes to his aid, and advises Dasaratha that

"mahatmas do things for the sake of loka-kalyanam (world-union) and the

protection of dharma, and not for themselves; so if Vishvamitra himself is

asking such a request, it is only for Ramachandra's benefit, and by complying,

Ramachandra's power and fame will grow. Being with Vishvamitra, he will see to

it that nothing will touch Ramachandra." Seeing the wisdom in

his Guru's advice, Dasaratha reflects carefully on the words of his preceptors.

He then consents to send Rama to serve Vishvamitra. Vishvamitra being pleased,

bestows various powerful missiles (arrows) to Rama and Lakshmana and thus

increased their power and fame thousand-fold.

 

Regardless of how difficult, bitter, or tough the advice of Guru may seem, Guru

can see what you cannot, he can know what you cannot, and he is the best guide

of all. True surrender means to overcome one's own tendencies, immediate

reactions, thoughts, and surrender one's "all" to the feet of Guru.

Sarvantaryami (everything). This is true surrender. Being pleased with this

attitude of mental surrender (of one's thoughts, tendencies, and

self-interests), Guru bestows his grace upon those who are able to overcome

their own minds, attitudes, raaga/dveshas, in order to carry out the

instructions of their Guru. This is real Guru bhakthi, this is real tapas, this

is true puja. The flowers of this puja are the thoughts and attitudes one clings

on to (the feeling "I am right, my way is the only way" is such a mental

attitude, Guru helps one to see an "alternative" approach through his advice).

 

Observing strict silence, if one holds steadfast the image of Guru in one's

mind, and performs actions for the sake of finishing the action (performance),

without striving for correctness or perfection, one then achieves an

understanding of the state of seeing inaction in action (discussed more indepth

in the Bhagavad Gita). Here, completion is important, and nothing more. The Guru

asks you to do an action, not for the sake of the action, or for "serving" the

Guru (who are you to serve the Guru afterall? he doesn't need you to do anything

for him), it is to awaken you to understand the nature of action, and to

understand how to act without self-interest (including the pride of perfection,

or looking to carry things out to perfection).

 

Some people complain of having "no concentration" when doing puja's, and say

"how can I gain concentration?" ... the very purpose of doing puja is to achieve

concentration, and not the other way around. The goal is not puja, the goal is

concentration. Concentration is achieved through self-effort and practice alone.

When you do not allow (the key words being "you do not allow") external

disturbances to affect you, or your state of mind, during a puja, then you have

achieved puja "siddhi" -- the fruit of puja. Regardless of the state of the

world, one must ignore everything around them, and maintain inner silence. This

external puja then leads to internal puja, which is manasika puja. Like japa,

puja also must go on internally in this way, without interruption. In the end,

all these rituals are one and the same, they lead to the same "fruit". The more

reactive you become to external influences, the more internal disturbance will

exist in you. You should be able to do puja even while

sitting in the middle of the road with trucks passing on either side -- this is

the goal of puja. To give one-pointed concentration. Without this, how is it

possible for you to achieve any progress in spiritual matters? Like a confused

bird, with no self-control, you will flit about from here to there, and not

achieve progress.

 

The easiest way to achieve true concentration is to bring to mind the image of

Sri Swamiji doing Sri Chakra puja in utter silence regardless of the conditions

in the hall.

 

With proper cooperation among all devotees, contemplation, true understanding,

mental silence, and proper attitudes, may SatGuru's grace fulfill and enrich

your lives.

 

Always remember: Guru is ever watching. ..."Guru e buddhi saakshi" (Guru is the

silent witness of your intellect). To place your awareness there, in silence, at

the feet of that Guru in the form of Sat-Chit-Ananda is true Yoga, Tapas, and

Guru bhakthi. Perhaps now, people will understand why observation of Silence is

the real puja and tapas. Physical silence, eventually leads to mental silence,

and then Guru's grace becomes obvious. If you are not silent, how can you

understand Guru who's very teaching is through Silence as Dakshinamoorthy?

 

 

Jai Ganapati! Jai Guru Datta! Happy Guru Purnima.