Who is a Guru?

In the quintessential Adi Shankara's Prashnottara Ratna Malika, there is a question - ‘????????’. Meaning ‘who is a guru?’. Adi Shankara replies; “????? ??????? ?????????? ?????? ??????|” meaning “the one who has deeply searched and realized the knowledge and shares the knowledge to the disciple, selflessly”.

?Let us look at these two characteristics briefly.

As part of search and realization of knowledge, gurus have a great sense of observation and humbleness.

1.Sense of Observation: Once a disciple visited his Guru assuming that he was fit to become a guru himself. He kept his shoes and umbrella outside and bowed to his master. When he shared his wish, Guru asked a question “did you leave your shoes and umbrella on to the left or the right of the door?”. Puzzled with the question, the disciple said he did not remember. Guru said “Now go and practice meditation for another 7 years?”.

Sense of observation can be cultivated. It comes with being in silence and dispassionate. Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi rightly says that “Silence is more effective than speech as from silence came ego, from ego came thought and from thought came speech. If speech is powerful, imagine how powerful is silence”.

Dispassion reduces bias in observation and helps in realization of knowledge more objectively.

2.Humbleness: Story Yaksha Prashna - Mahabharata. Yudhisthira is like a Guru to all his four brothers (and of course to all of us). In the fag end of Aranyavasa (exiled to forests for 12 years) they were running after an antler that stole Arani – a fire creating pair of stones. After running some distance, they all felt thirsty. When Yudhisthira asked to fetch water, Nakula found a lake in minutes with his knowledge about birds and animals. About to pick water, a crane warns him to answer to his questions, lest die. Nakula does not heed, picks water and dies. Sahdeva follows the foot trails, reaches the same lake and meets the same fate. Ditto for Arjuna and Bhima. Yudisthira reaches the lake and finds his powerful brothers dead. As a Kshtriya he should fight with Crane. Being highly knowledgeable, with great sense of observation and humbleness, he instead inquires with the crane. After getting to know the situation, he answers all the questions. Crane turns out to be a Yaksha (a demi god) and brings all dead brothers to life. Humbleness is what learned gurus are endowed with.

Our history suggests that only after quitting arrogance, an individual becomes a true guru. For example, Adi Shankara after prostrating to Chandala, Sage Vishwamitra getting Bramharshi after getting humbled by Sage Vashista and so on.

In sharing knowledge to disciples selflessly, Gurus know who to share, what to share and how to share.

1.Who to share: Once a King arrogantly demanded a Guru to teach a Mantra that gives him immense power. Guru gave the Mantra but said it will not benefit. King demanded an explanation. Immediately, Guru ordered the soldiers to arrest King. It was in vain. Angry King immediately ordered and got the Guru arrested. Guru laughed. He said that the order to 'arrest' was same but it worked only when you gave. Same is the case with mantra. Arrogant is not worthy of a disciple.

2. What to Share: If we consider Lord Rama as a benchmark of way of living, a significant credit goes to Sage Vishwamitra. His influence on and compassion to Lord Rama is exemplary. The way he embraced Lord Rama as his disciple, taught Bala and Atibala mantras, offered several astras and shastras, trained on how to fight, taught history and philosophy, got him married to Mata Sita and so on. After accepting disciples, gurus shower their love and affection abundantly. They exhibit this by sharing their knowledge selflessly.

3. How to Share: Jane Elliot taught third grade in an all white school. One day she divided the class into brown eyed and blue-eyed kids. She announced that brown eyed kids are superior, better and knowledgeable to blue eyed kids. This created rift and in the recess, the kids were separated. Blue-eyed kids ended up sitting back, were abused and distanced.

Next day she reversed the stance and said that blue eyed kids were superior to brown eyed kids. This time the brown eyed kids were at the receiving end. The performance of blue-eyed kids in the reading exercise dramatically improved from 5.5 minutes to 2.5 minutes.

Following day she debriefed and discussed about racism and discrimination. All students concurred that racism was indeed an evil. This simulation was a life lesson for the kids. She knew how to teach. Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGvoXeXCoUY.

Conclusion

Sant Kabirdas once said that if I have to choose between God and Guru, I choose Guru. Because Guru teaches me of the existence of God. In my life I came across several gurus– parents, teachers, family, colleagues, participants in all my programs, memorable instances, innumerable days, nature and so on. To all, I humbly share my greetings on Guru Purnima.

Note: Pics are sourced from Internet. I do not hold any copyrights.