Guru

So many people, after reading Vivekananda, Nadeem Karol Baba or Lahiri Mahashaya or Babji accept them as their Guru

Or Krishna

This is quite good. Builds up a stronger foundation to go further in spirituality

However, to have a real guru you must meet them in person. No matter how great the guru is, if he is not physically present and you don’t meet him in person he cannot be your guru.

Why not? A guru does not give talks or discussions or give gyana ( knowledge ). He does something more. What he does – only he knows. But he gives an inner experience and an awakening. The disciple has firm conviction after that. The description of awakening has been given in many places.

The depth of help from a living Guru is beyond imagination. All books, scriptures are worthless compared to a living Guru. Even God pales compared to a living Guru. This may seem far fetched and I understand why.

My words may seem dismal and disappointing but a true Guru, once he accepts you, he will follow you till your liberated. Come back repeatedly. It is not an easy task. Obviously they won’t do it for masses. Maybe a few. And every time they come back, they lift a tremendous burden. The love of a Guru is beyond imagination.

A Guru will not accept a disciple lightly. He will test the disciple. Almost all fail in his test. The test is not a written quiz. It is a test of determination to progress. A test of emotional strength to endure without complaint hardship. A test of dedication. A test of unwavering surrender. It is not a test for a day or an hour. Could be years. You will not know it is a test. Someday I will write more.

But if you succeed in passing his tests the rewards are unimaginable

The modern day concept of a Guru is weak. A Guru that accepts a disciple without testing the disciple is not a Guru. A disciple that reads about a Guru and imagines that the Guru has taken the person as a disciple is not a disciple.

Ramkrishna tested Vivekananda many times. Yukteshwar tested Yogananda. But these are Guru of a different category.

So don’t be satisfied with an imaginary Guru. Yes I still worship Yogananda and Vivekananda. But I know their teaching and writings are genuine. They can bless me. Guide me. But to be a Guru – it is much much much more

Of all the writings I have written this is the most revealing. My apologies to the great Gurus for revealing this much