Thursday, July 5, 2012

Guru-Shishya-II


The Sacred Ancient Tradition of Guru-Shishya
=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya
Sant Gyanesvar has written in Bhavartha Dipika (popularly known as Gyaneshwari) his Marathi commentary on the Gita that one who gets the blessing of a Guru may appear to be an ordinary person but he attains a status equivalent to Lord Siva. Adya Shankaracharya has compared Guru with Paras (touch stone) who not only transforms the disciple into his own likeness but also transfers so much spiritual power to him that the latter becomes paras itself. When such a disciple comes in contact with an ordinary person who is like a crude iron ore, the latter gets transformed into a virtuous person (precious like gold). The relationship between Guru and Shishya has been considered to be deeply spiritual in nature. It is extremely pure, full of dedication and is the ultimate in devotion. 
Among the four types of relationships; namely, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual - only the last one endures everlastingly. It is also essential to know what should be the specialty of a Guru? How to identity a Sadguru? And, after this, how should the Shishya present himself before the Guru? Shruti says that he should take Samidha in his hand and in an humble manner go to the learned and accomplished Sadguru, who is the symbol of divine light, and beg of him for impartation of the supreme knowledge. Samidha catches fire. It is inflammable. Therefore, it gives an indication that the disciple should be ready to burn his ego-generated vices and sins by coming in proximity of the fire of Guru. 
One who has removed the dampness of ego in the Samidha of his personality; will burn without giving any smoke; its flame will be bright and go high in the air. Therefore, a person who has refined himself to the extent of becoming a true brahman, can only qualify to become a disciple (rhetorically called, sitting near the Guru with a Samidha in hand). Only such a person is worthy of getting the grace of Guru. The Guru, who knows the secrets of human-divine consciousness, is capable of transforming and illuminating the consciousness of the Shishya. The Guru comes as a representative of Divine for the benefit of the world. He is on look out for true disciples, tests them properly, endows them with supernormal powers for the upliftment of society. 
Thakur Sri Ramkrishna Paramhans, who is considered divine incarnation par-excellence, came to this earth with such a mission. He met many people; some of them were curious listeners or else serious Sadhaks; but he found a true disciple only in Narendra Nath. Thakur could see the dormant spiritual urge embedded within Narendra Nath who at the time of meeting the master was an atheist (due to his westernized education); though he was deeply interested in philosophy. Thakur could sense that one of the souls of Saptarsis (seven sages) had taken birth as Narendra for fulfillment of a specific mission. Therefore, Paramhansa moulded Narenda like a potter. 
He later became world famous as Swami Vivekanand and was successful in spreading the essence of Sanatan Dharma in the entire world. Vivekanand himself used to say - "Alas! People could know what I have accomplished!" Here is a shining example of Guru- Shishya tradition at its best. Hundreds of treatises have been written about the lives and mission of this unique pair of Guru- Shishya tradition, who have been a guiding light and source of inspiration to million of seekers of truth over the past hundred years. Another pair namely, Swami Virjanand (Guru) and Mulsankar (Shishya) who later came to be known as Maharshi Dayanand, also belong to this historical tradition. It is through the medium of this pair that the foundation of Aryasamaj was laid. The spread and expansion of Vedic religion and culture and the Herculean task of social reformation in Hindu society was accomplished through Maharshi Dayanand. 
Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,
Shiv Sharma

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