To Sweta about gurus (was To manoj and joanna about moving on to a new guru)

[Guest guest]

Sweta wrote:

 

I did not mean one can't follow many gurus and learn from them (I

myself read up on so many of them and try to create a unique spiritual

environment for myself).

 

 

Dear Sweta ~ I'm pretty sure I wasn't implying that any given person would

benefit from following more than one guru at a time. That would be very

confusing as each guru has her/his own methods, ways of teaching and ways of

relating to devotees. Spending time in the company of gurus other than one's

own is

a different matter. Most gurus I've had the blessing to be around, including

Amma, have referred to the importance of spending time with great souls and

mahatmas. I do believe though that one may spend time being a devotee of a

particular guru and then be inexorably drawn to another. One doesn't then stay

and follow the first guru while at the same time learning to be a devotee to

the second. Many homes I've been in where devotees have their altars will

have pictures of more than one living guru as well as possibly some who are no

longer on earth. To me this is a sign of respect to those one has learned or

benefited from.

 

In terms of Diksha, I actually don't know what Swamiji thinks about this. He

and Shree Maa give out many mantras on little cards. Most of these are well

known, such as the Maha Mrtumjaya Mantra and the Gayatri Mantra. Others are

not so well known. There is one thing that Swamiji has said about the topic of

gurus that impressed me very much. It was during a talking (lecture seems

too formal) which included many topics. He said that we shouldn't worry so much

about trying to figure out who our guru is, but rather we should make

ourselves into the perfect devotees, then the guru will appear.

 

At some point, no matter how many gurus one spends time with, if an aspirant

is sincere, there will be that moment of recognition, "this is my guru." I

have heard that some have experienced this moment by just seeing a picture of

Amma. For others it may be a longer process. Jai gurus ~ Linda