Question re mantra: The path shown by the guru

[Guest guest]

Namah Shivaya,

 

Thank you, Girish, for that great document on mantra

initiation! It was a joy to read.

 

To KH who is thinking of asking Amma for a mantra: It

is my understanding that asking for a mantra means you

are asking to be initiated. It means you are asking

Amma to be your Guru, for Her to take you as Her

disciple. The Guru/disciple relationship is a bond

deeper than anything in this life. In fact, it's not

just for this life, but for lifetimes. Possibly past

ones as well as future ones.

 

When I asked Amma for a mantra, it was because I knew

She was my guru. I was nervous because I felt like I

was getting married. This is a permanent decision. I

understand that taking mantra initiation also means

the disciple has responsibilities. Among these, the

most basic are to chant your mantra at least 108 times

a day (one round on a standard mala), and to practice

the teachings of your Guru.

 

I think in addition to these answers you get on this

list, you might benefit from reading about the

guru/disciple relationship. Here is what Amma says

about it:

 

Question: "Isn't it slavery when one follows the Guru

blindly?"

 

Amma: "My son, to know the Truth, we have to get rid

of the sense of 'I'. It is hard to achieve this just

by doing sadhana on one's own. To eliminate the ego,

it is essential to do spiritual practice under the

guidance of a Guru. When we bow down before the Guru,

we are not bowing to that individual, but to the ideal

in Him. We do it so that we may also attain to His

level.

 

"We can rise only through humility. The seed contains

the tree within it, but if it is content to lie in a

storeroom somewhere, it will be eaten by mice. Only by

going under the soil will its true form emerge. When

you push the button down, the umbrella unfolds; it is

then able to protect one from the rain.

 

"Because we respected and obeyed our parents, elders,

and teachers, we grew and gained knowledge. They

nurtured good qualities and good behaviour in us. In

the same way, obedience to the Guru elevates the

disciple to a more expansive, higher plane.

 

"It is to become the King of kings later, that the

disciple takes on the role of a servant now. We put a

fence around a little mango tree; we nurture it and

raise it, so we can get the sweet fruit later. The

disciple shows reverence to the Guru and obeys him, in

order to reach the Truth that the Guru represents.

 

"When we board a plane, they ask us to fasten our seat

belts, not to show off their power over us, but for

our own safety. In the same way, the guru asks the

disciple to obey certain rules, and to practice

restraint, only to elevate him. He does this only to

protect the disciple from the dangers that may befall

him. The guru knows that the disciple's ego-driven

impulses will cause danger to him and to others. The

road is for the use of vehicles; but if you drive your

car any way you please, accidents are sure to happen.

That is why we are asked to obey the rules of the

road. Don't we obey the policeman who directs the

traffic at intersections? We prevent many accidents by

doing so.

 

"When our sense of 'I' and 'mine' are about to destroy

us, we are saved by following the Satguru's advice. He

gives us the training needed to avoid such

circumstances later. The very proximity of the Guru

gives us strength.

 

"The guru is the embodiment of selflessness. We are

able to learn what truth, dharma (righteousness),

renunciation, and love mean because the Guru is a

living embodiment of those qualities. The Guru is the

very life of those qualities. By obeying and emulating

him, those qualities take root in us. Obedience to the

Guru is not slavery. The Guru's aim is only the safety

of the disciple. He truly shows us the path. A true

Guru will never see his disciple as his slave. He is

filled with love for the disciple. He wants to see the

disciple succeed, even if it means hardship for

himself. The true Guru is indeed like a mother.

 

"Guru and God are there within everyone. But in the

beginning, an external Guru is necessary. After a

certain stage is reached, one can grasp the essential

principles from every object and thereby progress.

Until a boy becomes aware of his goal, he studies his

lessons out of fear of his parents and teachers. Once

he becomes conscious of his goal, he studies on his

own accord, foregoing sleep and enjoyments like going

to the movies. The fear and reverence toward his

parents which he had until then was not a weakness.

Children, when the awareness of the Goal dawns, the

Guru aspect within also awakens."

 

Question: "Amma, who is greater, God or the guru?"

 

Mother: "In principle, God and the Guru are the

same. But we may say that the Guru is higher than God.

The Guru's grace is something unique. If the Guru

wants, he can remove the effect of God's displeasure.

But even God cannot remove the sin that comes from

dishonouring the Guru.

 

When you realise God, you can say that you and God are

the same. But even then, you cannot say that you are

the same as the Guru. It is the Guru who initiated the

disciple with the mantra that led to Self-realization.

It is the path shown by the Guru that led the disciple

to the goal. The Guru will always have that special

status. Even after realising the Truth, the disciple

will stand before the Guru with great humility."