|
Literally, guru means "heavy," and the guru
should be heavy with knowledge. The guru is the spiritual guide of his
students. He initiates his students when he knows they are sincere, and
gives them a mantra to chant. To achieve a mantra's full effect, it should
be received from a spiritual teacher. The true guru is considered the
representative of God. He is always a pure servant of God; being a human
being he can never become God.
The guru must come in a bona fide disciplic succession and have complete
knowledge of the Absolute Truth. The faithful disciple becomes the next
guru. His or her relationship, therefore, is not only with the guru but
with the guru's spiritual succession or unbroken chain of masters. This
chain of disciplic succession is called sampradaya or parampara.
A true guru teaches by example. He must have renounced the four sinful
activities: intoxication, gambling, illicit sex (sex outside of marriage),
and meat-eating. He has to have control of his senses and of his speech.
Disciples must become humble servants of the guru. They must make following
the guru's instructions their life' s mission. The most important attributes
of a disciple are faith, service, and submissive inquiry. The disciple
should not serve a spiritual master blindly, but must also inquire from
him about the ultimate solution to life's problems and about the Absolute
Truth. The disciple should also be careful to ensure that the guru practices
what he preaches.
The secrets to the goal of life given by the bona fide guru are open to
everyone regardless of caste, creed, or nationality, but they remain secrets
unless the disciples has the sincerity and the honest desire to know the
goal of life. To understand the goal of life, a disciple must follow regulations
of purification assigned by the guru.
|
