“So long as you have faith in your Guru, nothing will be able to obstruct your way.” — Vivekananda, 1896
This quote (that Marty provided) is one of the most beautiful things I have recently seen. It immediately made me think of my teacher. Through his presence and his words, he touched a place within me. It is as if he somehow lit a candle deep within me that once lit, could never go out. The guru lights the way. It has struck me over the years to see people who have read and studied Vedic knowledge without the influence of a true, real, and living guru. It underscores for me the understanding that real spiritual knowledge can not be attained from books. It is too subtle. Such knowledge succumbs to the ‘I get it syndrome’. People think they ‘get it’, but they do not. The words may be there, but the understanding is not. As it is said, knowledge exists in the gaps between the words. It is the guru that clarifies the knowledge.
The spiritual tragedy of our time is that so many think of themselves as spiritually knowledgeable, when they are not. Then many of them go out and teach, leading so many well intended people astray.
Finding a real guru is far more challenging and precious than many understand. All too often people are swayed by the drama or presentation: flowing robes, an appealing accent, a trip abroad, an awe inspiring moment and they are convinced they found a real living guru. Real gurus are far rarer than most spiritual seekers can even imagine.
The truth is, finding a real guru has more to do with the depth of their being and knowledge than any superficial criterion you may be holding on to. And depth of knowledge does not mean volume of facts memorized. More is not better. Better is better.
Now why would Vivekananda say ‘so long as you have faith in your Guru…?” Isn’t faith in your guru a given? Well, not always. I have seen people walk away from a real teacher for the most ridiculous reasons. Maybe they projected on to the guru that he did not like them. Maybe the guru’s correction of the person’s behavior or thinking pushed the ego too much. Some people cannot tolerate the idea that they were wrong or behaved in a not ideal manner. When you are too vested in the ego, it can seem intolerable at times to even have a guru.
Once someone said to my guru, “I love you so much, but what if you asked me to go jump off a cliff? Should I do it?” My guru responded with a shaking of his head “no”, as he said, “You know me by my teachings.” Faith in the guru means knowing him by his teachings… knowing him by what he touches deep within you through those teachings. There will be times when a glance or action of the guru may not sit completely right with you. That may be more about you than him. He is a being that is acting in this world… a world of imperfection. To live better, you must look deeper. By all means, be discerning. Any real guru would insist upon that. But be clear on who and what he really is and do not judge him by inane criterion that you have, in reality, come to him to help you overcome.
More than a few times throughout the years I have been told I live in accord with my teachings and never contradict myself or those teachings. My teacher was that way. It resonated with the divinity within me and has guided my life all these years. Divinity is within you. It IS you. The guru just more fully awakens you to it. Stay with that and “nothing will be able to obstruct your way.”
That was a great blog. Thank you Brahmarishi.
Beautiful…!
I feel in awe of how I got here and incredibly blessed that I did.
Beautiful blogs to launch the New Year. Thank you.
A friend just read me a quote this morning from a scientific paper written in 1987, “The Ecology of Ignorance, Influence of Expectation on Perception.” It says, “What is expected is what is looked for. What is looked for is what is seen. What is unexpected is unobserved.” It pointed out that our current opinions and beliefs (not necessarily accurate) totally influence what we see. Another way to describe the depth of conditioning. It’s all too easy to seek out those opinions and people that reinforce our current belief system, no matter how distorted it is, and not see the truth. I know every time I listen to your teachings, I take them in based on my current ability to absorb them. Over time, I feel the conditioning softening but I also see how far I have to go, and am ever grateful for your guidance.
What an incredible gift to have the opportunity to learn from an authentic Guru, someone who has the direct experience of the transcendent. I remember from the first class I attended, feeling the truth of what you taught resonate within me, even though there was so much I didn’t understand. As I continue to listen and learn, I am constantly surprised by the unexpected glimmers of truth that I absorb from your teachings (as I’m able to take them in), and I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn from you. What a beacon of hope in this weary world, “As long as you have faith in your Guru, nothing will be able to obstruct your way.” Wow.
I have shared with many about my first lecture which was at the SF common wealth club.Life changed for me that day. That alone is a monumental statement because how many of us get to truly experience something in a day that “changes our lives” I am sure that having a child or surviving a plane crash would qualify. The term “Guru” was rarely heard in my vocabulary and I certainly did not know I needed one,which ofcourse means I was not looking for one. As I said..life changed for me that day.Jackpot..on a grand scale!!:)
Jai Guru Dev.
I do feel a profound depth in this blog and loved this quote from your Teacher the first time I heard you say it (summer retreat 2001). It stirs more meaning each time.
I’m also aware of a part of me struggling with the word “faith” … What I’ve seen and observed in your attention and uncommon commitment to your students and life’s work, is so deeper, so beyond the meaning of faith, trust, or any such word.
“Rarefied” indeed… 🙂
I don’t think 99.999 % of the population would even believe such a teacher could exist…
And I wonder what I’m still not seeing…what is next to be discovered
Yes Billy,
I agree with you about the word ‘faith’. I have talked about the word ‘faith’ and the implications it has many times, but thought to leave the quote of Vivekananda as I received it. For those who have heard those talks, I thought it was good to let them sit with it all and figure things out for themselves.
Many times I’ve been faced with a tough decision and I will remember a teaching from Brahmarshi. Many times I’ve not known what to do and remembered some lesson from Brahmarshi. My faith has grown as I learned to trust more and more the Truth of Brahmarshi. Now, my faith is very strong but it is still, at least partly, “faith.” Faith serves as training wheels to continue moving forward.
Yes Mark,
You could say, I guess, that I had ‘faith’ in the knowledge my math professors in college had. But it was not blind faith.
I have always felt wierd (rubs my identities) to say guru, much less call anyone mine, but I am so grateful that you are my guru! Oh my those words are hard to write! Thank you so much.
I like the description of faith being to “stay with” an inner knowing… even if I can’t fully explain how or what I know exactly. Of course, curiosity or at least openness to understand may make the difference between a self-justified knowing, and a learning process that keeps unfolding…
Hello Brahmarshi, it has been some time since writing in to the blog, but this subject of the Guru has been something I have been contemplating for quite a while now. And in particular, my relationship with you as my Guru. Are you my Guru? Do I really have a Guru? How close do we have to be to have a true Guru/Student connection? I do not live at the Ashram and probably never will. I have been lucky enough to meet you and attend a couple of your retreats in Rhode Island and trust your spiritual knowledge and teaching more than anyone in my life. I practice daily what you have told me, “meditate and keep a steady hand on the rudder, always moving forward toward the horizon”, however, in regard to the Guru/Student relationship I question if I really have such a thing, or am I just following the teachings of someone else’s Guru? I’m sure my preconceived notions are at play here, but maybe you could shed some light. Regardless of the label, I am very grateful for how you have helped me and guided me with your teachings over the years. Thank You and a very Happy New Year to you and your family.
Erik,
My teacher said that he was not a guru. With all the connotations around the word, perhaps that is the best stance to take. My intent has always been to help, to help people, to help the world. I see things, I know things, that help. I am compelled to offer them. It is amazing where that has lead. That is all.
Dear Brahmarshi,
I like this blog a great deal and have been moving around in it since the posting. In our classes together, though your words are ‘spot on’ it is the transmission of the Wisdom you embody, like the radiance of warmth from a campfire, that has helped give space for own samsaras to find ways of dissolving. There is so much more to go but my heart is jubilant knowing there is a Master, you Brahmarshi, to guide, lead, impart, radiate, awaken, and encourage me along my path to being more liberated from my conditioning than when I entered this present incarnation.
Offering pranams at your feet, Gloria
Nimka, great to hear from you! I can very much relate to your comment.
The context in which I first heard the word “Guru” and ever since have associations with is “leader of a cult”. It took me a while to redefine this term for myself to the point where I now feel more comfortable using it in a different context, but even today “teacher” still works better for me. Really interesting how much associations with words often times become more powerful than the true meaning of the words.