Question and Answers about a Guru
( Guru Vishayak Prashnoutter )
( Guru Vishayak Prashnoutter )
Shree Hari
Question: How can salvation be attained without a Guru because it is mentioned in Ramacharitamanasa that no one can cross the worldly ocean without a Guru?
"Guru binu bhav nidhi tarayi na koyi" (Manas, Utter. 93/3)
Answer: It is also mentioned in the same Ramayana that -
Guru shish badhir andh ka lekhaa | ek na sunai ek nahin dekhaa ||
Harayi shishya dhan sok na harayi | so gur ghor narak mahun parayi || (Manas. Uter. 99/3-4)
It means that salvation is not possible with the help of a fraud Guru. Only having a Guru is not sufficient. Salvation is only possible when you follow the path shown by a real saint and in that case he is your Guru. Saint Dattatreya has mentioned about his twenty-four Gurus in Srimad Bhagawat. It clearly establishes that a person can attain salvation from teachings of any noble soul. Therefore having a Guru is not as important as following the noble teachings. When anybody's teachings help us to attain salvation, he becomes our Guru even without declaring so. On the contrary if we have a Guru but we do not follow his teachings, it amounts to be a sin and offence and it will not lead us to salvation.
These days a large number of persons are initiated as disciples collectively. In such cases neither the Guru nor the disciples feel concerned about their salvation. The Guru is not worthy to lead the disciples to salvation and the disciples are not allowed to go somewhere else. Hence it creates a hindrance in the upliftment and salvation of the disciples!
Question: This is a common belief that a person who does not have a Guru, cannot attain salvation. Therefore is it not essential to have a Guru?
Answer: How can a person who can differentiate between good and evil be called one without a Guru? Everyone possesses the discretionary knowledge (vivek) to judge good and bad. He also knows to repeat the Name of the Lord, to remember God and to not harm anybody. The source of all this knowledge is a Guru whether we accept him as a Guru or not.
A person who has made a Guru but does not follow the teaching of his Guru is indeed "guru-less" and is held at fault for disobedience but how can a person who does not have any Guru be blameworthy?
It is not necessary that one can attain salvation simply by having a Guru, but one can attain it by one's own yearning and strong desire, not by having a Guru.
God is the Guru of the whole world " Krishnam Vande Jagatgurum" You are also a part of this world, then how can you be without a Guru? Therefore stay in company of noble saints and follow their teachings. Guru-disciple relationship or bondage is never required. Actually the God realized enlightened and devoted saints never like to have disciples. They show you the path to salvation, but do not make disciples. If you follow as many of their teachings without making them your Guru, you will be benefited proportionately with certaintly. If you do not follow their teachings, then it shall not amount to be a sin but if you have a Guru and do not follow his commands, it is a sin, an offense. (to be continued) From book "Is Salvation Not Possible without a Guru?" by Swami Ramsukhdasji
Ram Ram
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If in doubt regarding the translation, please read the original Hindi message by Swamiji.
FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT Date : 23rd August, 2012 Guru Vishayak Prashnoutter http://www.satcharcha.blogspot.in
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