Guruji's teachings
Guruji explains who can be a Guru, what a Sadguru is, and why the student must still do the work. His words are kept as he wrote them.
From the teachings of Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati (Guruji). Post title: "Guru and Sadguru: On Divine Authority and Living Transmission". Dated 5 November 2016. Posted on Guruji's blog by Vira Chandra. Originally published at amritananda-natha-saraswati.blogspot.com.
Guruji: To be a Guru, one must have a command from God.
Mere study of books cannot make one a Guru. One who has studied the Vedas, and who has direct knowledge of the Atman (Self) through Anubhava (experience), can alone be enrolled as a Guru. A Jivanmukta or liberated sage is the real Guru or spiritual preceptor. He is the Sadguru. He is identical with Brahman or the Supreme Self. He is a Knower of Brahman.
A Sadguru is endowed with countless Siddhis (psychic powers). He possesses all divine Aisvarya (powers), all the wealth of the Lord.
Possession of Siddhis, however, is not the test to declare the greatness of a sage or to prove that he has attained Self-realisation. Sadgurus generally do not exhibit any miracle or Siddhi. Sometimes, however, they may do so in order to convince the aspirants of the existence of superphysical things, give them encouragement, and instill faith in their hearts.
The Sadguru is Brahman Himself. He is an ocean of bliss, knowledge, and mercy. He is the captain of your soul. He is the fountain of joy. He removes all your troubles, sorrows, and obstacles. He shows you the right divine path.
He tears your veil of ignorance. He makes you immortal and divine. He transmutes your lower, diabolical nature. He gives you the rope of knowledge, and takes you up when you are drowning in this ocean of Samsara (cycle of birth and death). Do not consider him to be only a man. If you take him as a man, you are a beast. Worship your Guru and bow to him with reverence.
Guru is God. A word from him is a word from God. He need not teach anything. Even his presence or company is elevating, inspiring, and stirring. His very company is self-illumination. Living in his company is spiritual education. Read the Granth-Saheb (the holy scripture of the Sikh religion). You will come to know the greatness of the Guru.
Man can learn only from man, and hence God teaches through a human body. In your Guru, you have your human ideal of perfection. He is the pattern into which you wish to mould yourself. Your mind will readily be convinced that such a great soul is fit to be worshipped and revered.
Guru is the Moksha-dvara (door to liberation). He is the gateway to the transcendental Truth-Consciousness. But it is the aspirant who has to enter through it. The Guru is a help, but the actual task is practical.
Guruji, "Guru and Sadguru: On Divine Authority and Living Transmission", as posted on Guruji's blog by Vira Chandra on 5 November 2016. The text is kept as in the original.
In the Kaula path the Guru is not a distant idea. The lineage is passed from teacher to student, and the teacher points to the Goddess within you. Guruji says the same here: the Guru is the door, and you walk through.
The last line of this post matters most. The task is practical. Sitting in meditation, doing the daily practice and looking at your own mind is the work. Nobody can do it for you.
Guruji attained mahasamadhi in October 2015. This post was shared on his blog in 2016, and the lineage today is carried by Guru Amma Annapurnamba.
Guruji says a Guru must have a command from God. Study of books alone cannot make one a Guru. The Guru also needs direct knowledge of the Self through experience.
Guruji describes a Sadguru as a liberated sage who is identical with Brahman, the Supreme Self. He is a knower of Brahman.
No. Guruji says having siddhis is not the test of a sage's greatness. Sadgurus generally do not show miracles, though sometimes they may, to give seekers faith.
Guruji says man can learn only from man, so God teaches through a human body. The Guru is a human ideal of perfection that the student can follow.
Guruji says the Guru is the door to liberation, but the student has to enter through it. The Guru is a help, but the actual task is practical.
If something in this teaching landed for you, the best next step is a short private conversation.
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