Today is not just a normal full moon; it is Guru Poornima (Full moon in honour of all Gurus.)
For those on a more traditional path of yoga, today is a day where we venerate and celebrate the Guru.
In our polarised times, we have become a bit cynical.
Many will hear the word Guru and run away, confusing some infamous cult leaders with what a true ‘Guru’ is.
At the other end of the spectrum, some naively flock to a ‘Guru’ out of the belief that they hold some mystical or supernatural powers and can magically wave a wand to cure cancer or bring in unlimited wealth.
Both positions are simplistic and are not the full picture.
The Guru-Shishya tradition is thousands of years old.
Whatever the field of study; be it yoga, dance, astrology or science, the relationship between guide (Guru) and guided (Shishya) is essential for one to learn.
On the path of Yoga, the ancient texts state that this relationship is of supreme importance and by the grace of the Guru alone does the practice truly ‘come to life.’
But why is this? Why do we need a guide? How do we make sure we aren’t listening to a false prophet?
Read on in today’s blog post as we explore this ancient Guru-Shishya tradition.
Blessings to all the Gurus and in particular those who have touched our own lives; Swami Shivkrupanand, Sundernath, Sai Baba, Saint Therese of Lisieux… we are grateful for your continued guidance and illumination in our minds and hearts.
Nuance.
Consideration.
Deliberation.
Discernment.
These are vital qualities that we must bring alive not just in our yoga or spiritual practice, but in life in general.
My own experience with relating to a living master (a Guru) has been without a shadow of doubt, transformative.
Oftentimes, it has been confronting.
Terrifying (to my ego.)
Illuminating (to my Soul.)
Let me be clear, by no means am I recommending this path or suggesting that it is a requirement for anyone, anywhere!
You do what resonates for you, and nowhere upon your journey connecting to Kailash will you be required to walk the path of devotion (though you are free to explore what these teachings may mean to you.)
The starting point of my reflection is a simple truth; my suffering.
Most days it feels pretty real.
My journey of moving away from my suffering towards peace is largely a pragmatic affair.
If something reduces my suffering, I keep it.
If it adds more suffering, I ditch it.
The second truth worth noting; we don’t live alone.
Family, friends, society at large… we are dependant upon a complex web of communities both animal and mineral that make up ‘life.’
A question that arises; how does the way I see ‘the other’ impact my inner state (of suffering or peace?)
When I witness another person, I am tempted to overlay my mental constructs and beliefs onto that person and confuse these thoughts with ‘the truth.’
This is completely unfair; I see only a fraction of what is really going on.
Confusing ignorance with truth is something that characterises our humanness; it’s a trap many of us fall into, and certainly all are capable of.
It causes us to suffer.
Take for example, a criminal.
It is very easy to focus on the crime they have committed.
When I do this, the next thoughts that arise are along the lines of “Crime = Bad, therefore the criminal is bad.”
It’s easy to judge.
But in judging, I suffer…. and selfishly, I don’t want that.
So what is my alternative?
Enter the Soul.
From the vantage point of the Soul, I make the choice to see the similarity between myself and the criminal.
I see that He or She has a human heart, just like me.
That they have a mum and dad, just like me.
When I appraise the unity between us, it feels very natural to offer my compassion, not from a forced place, but with a sense of authenticity.
From here, I suffer less. (yay, I’m on the right path!)
In a pragmatic way, if I want to be done with my suffering, and seeing unity between me and everyone else brings peace, the real question is, how do I make sure I see unity?
Enter Meditation.
The art of returning to unity, time and time again.
That journey is hard.
In a sense, the mind hates it (preferring change and division.)
Now I’m not for a second suggesting we do away with notions of ‘good and bad,’ that is a little simplistic and fake.
Meditation is not to be used as an escape.
The criminal had a negative impact on themself and others, and as consequence will cause suffering.
If I’m focussing on ‘right and wrong’ I’m yet to see the whole picture, but I have to acknowledge that I see this relative view.
I must also, learn to go beyond (the Soul is the gateway.)
From here, we see that there is a lawful reason that the criminal is a criminal (whether this is karma or social conditioning.)
On the path of yoga we aren’t concerned with the criminal, but why we are tempted to judge them.
If I can learn to extract myself from this judgemental aspect of the mind, I will be free from my suffering, and only then can I be a positive force on the world around me.
Practically speaking, again, the challenge is this;
How do I learn to focus on similarities rather than differences?
A good start is by turning up the resolution on our thoughts, by watching them closely. At the least, we will see where we are selling ourselves short.
This is how meditation helps.
But the higher part of the journey with meditation is to let go of all thoughts (yep, ALL of them, even the good ones) and experience oneself as a Soul.
The Soul is a place beyond words, but it can be felt.
This is the state I equate to genuine inner-peace (as opposed to happiness.)
From here, I see the pain of the victim as well as the pain of the criminal.
From here, my heart opens to send both the conditions they need to flourish; for in the depths of my Soul I know that to send a criminal ‘hate’ will just make them even more hateful.
This Soul business is hard.
I’m certainly not claiming to be a saint; far from it.
Just because I know what is required, doesn’t mean I embody it impeccably.
Often, I find myself judging, caught by my humanity.
This is where the external help of a Guru comes in.
Sat is Sanskrit for truth, so a Sat-guru is simply a beacon of truth – a light to guide you back to the Soul.
(There is a guy online who goes by “Sadhguru” which is a more general term, he is not the only Sadguru but for his devotees, a fine example!)
This Guru, first and foremost, is a Soul.
They are just like you and me, except they have a particular role in society.
Their job is to see everyone as a Soul.
When the rest of us are busy clinging to difference, they are permanently enshrined in seeing everybody as the innocent child they once were.
So when I get lost (which happens more frequently than you’d think) I can get caught by my divisiveness.
In those moments, when I have enough awareness, I take my attention to my Sadguru. I’ll cut a flower and make an offering. I’ll chant a mantra.
Sometimes it is simple as remembering the fond times at his Ashram in India.
These simple reminders help me remember that at least one other human being has risen above the challenges of daily life.
It is inspiration.
This is guidance through embodiment.
I imagine this is the way a Christian sees Christ, or a Buddhist sees the Buddha.
Not only are they wise teachers, they have literally ‘walked the talk.’
There is something humbling and real about seeing the divine in another person.
Because if done right, it forces you to see the divine in everyone.
For if Swamiji is a Soul who sees Souls – that means that surely you are a Soul reading this!
And then, BAM!
Suddenly you are home.
You feel inner peace… having seen with eyes open that even the reader of a simple blog post… is a Soul!
The path with a Guru is quite radical; one that often feels like you are naked before God (or higher consciousness.)
This is why the Guru-Shishya tradition is sacred, and why the Guru is held in extremely high regard.
This is why we venerate them (not just learn from them.)
It isn’t about ‘them,’ but about you… about the transformation of your and my consciousness.
Tragically, this is also why when a cult leader masquerading as a Guru engages in scandal and abuse, that it is truly devastating not just to them and their victims, but also the whole Guru-Shishya Tradition.
It is worth noting that the relationship between Guru and Shishya is on the Soul level; only in certain practices like Hatha Yoga is there a requirement for physical contact, and only then is it used sparingly.
If someone wants to ‘initiate’ you and it requires physical, intimate touch, please proceed with caution and keep your eyes open.
Never let go of your sense of discernment, your Soul often speaks through a simple “yay or nay.”
Never once have I been touched physically by my Sadguru, but I have felt His presence on layers of my being I barely knew were a thing.
Over time (years… not days) I have come to know that he only wants what is best for me. He has demonstrated this time and time again.
His capacity to see through my nonsense is unparalleled (except maybe by the gifts my Wife has.)
As a thought experiment, if you dare, you can try looking at your significant other as a Soul and then as your Guru (be warned, there is no longer anywhere to hide!)
What if they were the God or Goddess personified, living in your home? Scary to ponder, huh!…
How does this change the way you relate to them?
Are there behaviours you would change? (Gulp, maybe I should pick up my socks!)
As a pragmatist, if this devotional practice brings alive a sense of healthy respect and inner peace, I suggest you keep at it.
If it is too much for you to handle or not your cup of teach, ditch it!
As they say, once you get to the other side of the shore (ie a life of peace,) you get out of the canoe and keep walking.
And if you feel called, only then do you teach the curious onlookers how you learned to paddle… for you have now become one with the Guru!
