I am successful in life. Why do I need a Guru?

A few years back, I was invited to a Spiritual Conference. The chief guest was a senior police officer, Mr. Shenoy (name altered for anonymity). As we awaited the arrival of other dignitaries, Mr. Shenoy and I struck up a conversation. The topic soon turned to the necessity of having a Guru in life. Mr. Shenoy remarked, "Being a highly competent and successful Police Officer, why would I need a Guru?" He continued, "I topped the IPS examination, became the youngest Police Commissioner in my state, and am recognized as a formidable officer. My name alone instills fear in criminals. With numerous President's and Governor's medals to my name, my career is on a successful trajectory. So, why would I need a Guru?" I responded, "Sir, indeed, you are a highly skilled and successful professional, renowned for your excellence. Yet, I have a few questions for you." Mr. Shenoy promptly replied, "Certainly, go ahead and ask."

I continued, "When you return home after a long day at work, do you and your wife spend time together? Does she take good care of you? And do you take care of her?" Shenoy replied, "Well, we got divorced a couple of years ago. My demanding work schedule meant I couldn't give her the time she needed, and she was unhappy and decided to leave the marriage."

"Oh, I am so sorry to hear this. What about your children?" I inquired. Shenoy responded, "I have two teenagers. They don't live with me or my wife; they're in a boarding school. We enrolled them there around the same time our marriage began to deteriorate. I'm not sure what happened subsequently, but now I notice that they've become quite rebellious, ill-tempered, and distant. Maybe our separation took its toll on our children"

"This is quite unfortunate," I remarked. "What about your parents? Do you see them often?" I inquired. He responded, "I seldom meet them. They reside in our ancestral village. Due to my work commitments, I rarely have the chance to visit or see them. We barely speak once or twice a year on the phone for a few minutes."

"What about your neighbors, Mr. Shenoy? Do you have a good relationship with them?" I inquired. "Well, I don't get time to socialize with my neighbors. I hardly meet them," Shenoy responded.

"Mr. Shenoy, there is no question about your capabilities and efficiency as a Senior Police Officer. You have been awarded numerous medals for your professional excellence. Your career has indeed been marked by success. But has this success extended to your personal life? Have you been successful in your marital life? Have you fulfilled the role of a competent husband? Do your children hold you in high regard? Are you a competent husband? A competent father? A competent son? A competent neighbor?"

Mr. Shenoy was silent, seemingly pondering over my words. I went on, "Competence should be all-encompassing. If one excels professionally but their personal, family, and social lives are in disarray, they cannot truly be deemed successful. Consider the gym analogy: if you exercise only your left hand daily, soon you'll notice your left hand muscles are strong, while the right remains undeveloped. This is imbalanced growth. A robust physique requires the uniform development of all muscles. Similarly, a tumor represents growth, but it's certainly not the kind anyone desires. Genuine progress is about achieving comprehensive, concurrent, symmetrical, and proportionate advancement in all life facets."

Mr. Shenoy inquired in a gentle voice, "I understand somewhat of what you're saying. But how do we attain this comprehensive progress in life? What's the method?" "Well, Mr. Shenoy," I replied, "we require a Guru or a Living Ideal who is versed in the art and technique of realizing this in life. It's essential to learn from such a Guru how to achieve holistic advancement in every facet of life."

By then, it was time for the Spiritual Conference to begin. Both of us stood up and started slowly walking towards the auditorium.