Need of a Guide
Once the goal is set, and we have clearly understood it, we must decide which route to take. There may be several ways of reaching a goal. If you do not clearly know which way to take, you may be changing the route often, and be delayed. If you change your course, you may miss the way altogether or take a longer route.
So every traveler needs a guide to show the way. If you have accepted someone as a guide, do you have trust in that guide? In the inner journey, the physical body of the guide does not accompany you.
Guru vedanta vakyesu shraddha
A seeker should have implicit faith in the words of the guru and the scriptures.
Wherever Jesus went, hundreds followed him. Jesus made statements like,
“If you want to follow me, sell all you have and follow me.”
“Carry your own cross, and come with me.”
“If you want to follow me, eat my flesh, and drink my blood, and follow me.”
“Let the dead bury the dead, come and follow me.”
On hearing these words many left him. Only a few remained. Most people are hypocrites. Even one of his disciples betrayed Jesus. This is human nature.
When I was living in the company of Gurudev, I never went to him without a notebook, the Gita and the Bible. I noted down every word that he uttered, and later checked the references from the holy books. When you come to a spiritual retreat, it is not just to collect addresses and make friends. If you forget the purpose of what you have come for, and your mind is not concentrated on the breath and love for God, then it is a waste of time.
What do you Need for the Journey?
Discipline Discipline is essential. Sishya (disciple) comes from the word ‘shasana’ – (discipline). If you do not have discipline, you cannot be a disciple.
guru mile lakh lakh cela mile ek
It is easy to be a guru but difficult to find a true disciple.
Some have asked me, “How many disciples do you have?” I have replied, “I am still searching for one.” Spiritual life is not an intellectual life. It is a simple, clean, clear life. It is to practice and live according to spiritual principles, not just sitting down to discuss them.
Viveka and Vairagya
In the ancient Vedic tradition, the student had to be qualified. What type of qualifications do we need? There is no need of a passport or a visa. All qualifications are related to the mind.
The first quality we need is viveka or discrimination. What kind of discrimination? It is called the nitya nitya vastu viveka- to discriminate between the real and the unreal; truth and falsehood. That which changes is unreal, and that which is changless, is real.
The second quality is vairagya or detachment. Gurudev advises to be compassionately detached. Do not be overly attached to the object of the senses. I was at a retreat, in the West, and at the end of it there was a questionnaire about how comfortable the rooms were, and how good the food was. We come to a spiritual retreat, not to seek comfort but to transform ourselves. Let your goal be paramount, regardless of small distractions around you. Do your duty well, without being too attached to the results of your actions.
The Burning Desire –
As we begin our journey, and call ourselves ‘aspirants’, we should cultivate a burning desire to reach the goal. If we want a state of continuous happiness, we must be persistent, in spite of difficulties.
It is not easy. In the Katha Upanishad, the spiritual path is described as,
käurasya dhãra niçita.........Sharp, like a razors edge.
Jesus taught that the path was narrow, full of difficulties. Are you ready to be a seeker? Be sincere. Do you come to really follow the teachings of the guru or for some entertainment? Many come only to pass the time.
Narada Bhakti Sutras say,
tat vismarane parama vyákulata - Forgetting God causes extreme pain.
Do you feel pain if you forget God? Do you have that type of attitude? The mind of the student should be fully focused on the teacher in order to learn the maximum amount. If you really want to reach the goal, no opportunity should not be neglected, it may never return. How long do we contemplate on what we hear? It is easy to preach, but difficult to practice. Do not waste ever a second.
Sacrifice
The spiritual path is full of sacrifice and suffering. No higher goal is achieved without sacrifice. Those who know how to sacrifice their ego, become Lions among men.
Shriyukteshwar was a strict disciplinarian, and people were often afraid of him. But he produced many beautiful monks and householder yogis. Medicine may not taste good, but it is necessary. Be ready to make sacrifices.
Moral Conduct
One who lacks moral and ethical values cannot perceive the importance of truth. Very few can tell the full truth and even fewer can accept it in life. If someone is an intellectual, but teaching you immoral ways, do not follow such a person, even if it is a parent, friend or teacher. Stay away from such people. Protest, if you have the strength or silently turn away.
According to Hindu belief, a human birth is possible only after having evolved from 8.399,999 species. It is rare and precious. It is a gift of God to us; make the best use of it.