Guru-Disciple Relationship
in Different Philosophies

    The knowledge of the Self or mukti -spiritual liberation- is the subject of discussion in the Upanishads -sacred texts of Hindu thought, which form the concluding portion of the Vedas, sacred texts of India. In the Upanishads, the Truth is revealed by the teacher -Guru- to the student -sishya- through the method of inquiry, in which the student is led on to subtler levels of knowledge.

    The Truth of the Self cannot come through one who has not realized that he is the Self. The intellect cannot reveal the Self, beyond its duality of subject and object. They who see    themselves in all and all in them, help others through ‘spiritual osmosis’ to realize the Selfthemselves. This awakening you have known comes not through logic and scholarship, but fromclose association with a realized teacher -Guru. (Katha Upanishad -sacred book of Hinduism. Part 1, 2:9, p. 85).

    Subtle philosophical concepts are interwoven in the different anecdotes related in the Puranas -Indian works of an historical and prophetic character- and the epics, which are usually in the form of a dialogue between a sage and another person who learns under him. This highlights the importance of Guru-Sishya (master-disciple) tradition for gaining spiritual knowledge.

    In the Dhammapada -sacred Buddhist text- it is stated that when a man venerates those worthy of veneration, be they Buddhas or their disciples, who have transcended all obstacles and passed beyond sorrow and tears, venerating such as these, whose passions are extinguished and for whom there is no further source for fear, no one can calculate how great his merit is. Obviously this is the description of a fully realized soul -a Guru.

    In the Hua Hu Ching, book written by Lao Tzu -Chinese philosopher who is traditionally regarded as the founder of Taoism- the author declares, "Find a teacher who is an integral being, a beacon who extends his Light and virtue with equal ease to those who appreciate him and those who don’t. Shape yourself in his mold, bathe in his nourishing radiance, and reflect it out to the rest of the Universe."

    In the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying it is stated that there is only one way of attaining liberation and of obtaining the omniscience of enlightenment: following an authentic spiritual master.

    In the Chandogya Upanishad -sacred book of Hinduism- itself it is declared that only by the grace of the Guru, true knowledge is possible. It says "aacaaryavaan purusho veda" -only one who has a preceptor, gains true knowledge.

    The sacred bond which exists between the Guru and the disciple, is unique to the Vedic tradition, wherein knowledge is passed on from one generation to the next, through the Guru-Sishya (master-disciple) tradition. The ultimate knowledge of God Almighty can only be grasped by the grace of the Guru, who removes the ignorance from the mind of the disciple, by kindling the spark of wisdom in him. The importance of the Guru is shown to us, by no less a person than Sri Krishna himself, who says he can never recompense his gratitude to his Guru, sage Sandipani .

    In the Bhagavad-gita -sacred Hindu text- (18.66) Krishna instructs:

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayis yami ma sucah

    "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear."

    Also in the Gita it is stated that "Some realize the Self within them through the practice of meditation, some by the path of wisdom, and others by selfless service. Others may not know these paths; but hearing and following the instructions of an illumined teacher, they too go beyond death."

    In the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna (p. 253), Ramakrishna -great Indian sage- declares that "If a man in the form of a Guru awakens spiritual consciousness in you, then know for certain that it is God the Absolute who has assumed that human form for your sake. The Guru is like a companion who leads you by the hand."

    In page 488 of the same book, Ramakrishna expresses, "The roof is clearly visible, but extremely hard to reach. But if someone who has already reached it, drops down a rope, he can pull another person up."

    Bodhidharma, famous Indian Buddhist monk, founder of the Zen school of Buddhism, declared: "If you don’t find a teacher soon, you’ll live this life in vain. It’s true, you have the Buddha-nature. But without the help of a teacher you’ll never know it. Only one person in a million becomes enlightened without a teacher’s help."

    It is very clearly summarized by Sri Shankaracharya -great Indian philosopher who developed Advaita Vedanta, monism- in his book Viveka Chudamani, verse 3: "There are three things that are rare indeed and are due to the grace of God: the human birth, the intense desire for liberation, and the protecting care of a perfected sage -a Guru." Sri Shankaracharya also points out that the one who having that yearning does not strive hard to achieve his liberation "is really committing suicide."

    In his discourse on the Upadesa Undiyar of Ramana Maharshi, famous Indian sage, Sri Muralidhara Swami said, the sage had clearly stated in this work that performance of karma -actions- by itself could not liberate man. Even if karma is performed without the expectation of results -nishkama karma- this will not completely bless one with Self-knowledge. It is here that the Guru plays an important role in the spiritual progress of an individual. Though man is subject to karma and cannot overcome it through his own efforts, he must understand that there is a greater power, a Guru who is Self-realized and is verily God Himself, will certainly illuminate the disciple when he makes himself eligible for Guru’s grace.

    The great Indian sage Ramakrishna Paramahamsa stated that a real Guru was of a great importance in one’s spiritual evolution.

    The spiritual significance of the word Guru is very vast. To quote Kabir Das, famous Indian mystic and poet, who was born Muslim and a man of great occult powers and who came under the tutelage of his chosen Guru, a Hindu. "Even if all the trees in the Universe are made into pens and the whole of the sea water converted into ink still it will be insufficient to illustrate fully the glory of the Guru."

    The sage Agasthiar -One of the Eighteen Tamil Yoga Siddhas has sung:

"Sasthirathin melirukkum
Sathguruve pottamal
Ahatthinude Anavatthal
Arivizhanthen pooraname!"

    "The Satguru -realized spiritual master- is the perfect one who is above the descriptions and denominations, contained in the scriptures without paying my dutiful homage to that embodiment of perfection, I had depended on my own-self and vanity. This has deprived me of the attainment of wisdom."

    Sri Narayana Guru -famous spiritual master of South India- stated:

"Arivilumeri arinjidunnavanthan
Uruvilumothu purathumujjwalikkum
Karuvinu kannukalanchum ulladakki
Theruthere veenu vanagi othidenam"

    "The disciple should prostrate himself before the Guru who is the embodiment of pure wisdom. For this, the disciple should bring his five senses fully under control. The Guru’s inner Light of wisdom is also displayed externally."

    I have quoted a few words of great souls who had arrived at correct conclusions, based on spiritual experience. This has been corroborated by Nava Jyothi Sri Karunakara Guru at Santhigiri Ashram, also based on personal spiritual experience.

Next Chapter: False Gurus and Siddhis (Occult or Supernatural Powers)

Any Questions?