The Glory of the Guru
There are a host of questions that are asked when someone enquires or opens to the Guru principle. What is Guru? Do I need a Guru? Where can I get one? Will they absolve me of my heavy karma? How will I know that they are the real deal? These are all worthwhile questions for a spiritual seeker as the term Guru has been incorrectly adopted at best and at worst – polluted. In the west and modernity, we now have garden gurus, cooking gurus, sports gurus, sex gurus – gurus in many fields. However, this is not what Yoga and Vedanta are referencing when they discuss the Guru and the Guru principle. The Sat Guru is one who knows everything about everything. They are not just experts in gardening or building, finances or sports. The Guru has transcended the bonds of the earth plane. They know the one thing, are the one thing (the thing-less thing) that opens the door to the knowledge of everything.
The Guru in the East is of two types: Sat Guru and Upa Guru.
Sat Guru: is free from karma, they have transcended the guṇa-s and all forms, fully realised, absolutely enlightened, totally awakened.
Upa Guru: a relatively small amount of karma remains, yet to fully transcend qualities and forms but have a high degree of purity (sattva), they are absolutely dedicated to the path of liberation from Ignorance.
The Sat Guru is a physical manifestation of the unmanifest divine. They are fully cooked beings, no karma left, no deep habitual patterns, just embodiments of the formless divinity.
The Guru principle is the same in all gurus, no matter the physical person, their tradition or how glorious he or she may be. The guru principle exists within us also and it will take centre stage when ignorance has been removed. When we cease identifying solely as the body-mind complex and start identifying as the eternal, infinite Soul. Even the heaviest and darkest beings navigating an incarnation on the earth plane with the suitcases of karma are at heart the guru heavily veiled in ignorance.
The degree to which the inner light of the Atman/Soul is veiled is relative to the depth of ignorance of the Souls existence and the sum of the unresolved karma in the karmic bank account (karmāśaya).
A few blessed beings take birth with the thinnest of veils and they do their work and then light a path for those who are looking and listening. These holy ones who take birth and burn their residual karma are rightly given the title Guru. The love and strength, the beauty and truth they emit is available to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. They want nothing, yet want for nothing. They desire nothing, not disciples nor devotees, not ashrams nor studios. The light and love they radiate gives us a glimpse into the God that exists within all incarnated beings.
The Guru looks beyond, does not comply with the rational minds needs for structure, consistency. They see the vaster, the deeper and engage from there. This leaves those wanting, expecting, bereft, as the Sat Guru transcends logic, reason, emotion, patterns. No model can be applied; no theory will sit sweetly around the Sat Guru.
The idea that gurus have a method/model is a construct of the thinking mind, a western process of trying to put things into categories and have evidence, a strategy. We want the stories of miracles and direct connection to be upheld, whilst grappling with the mind in relation to structure and format. Anything more than a cursory glance regarding gurus would reward the diligent with a deeper knowledge of the indescribability of a Sat Guru.
Upa Gurus, teachers, advanced teachers can offer and guide, uplift and clarify, however their residual karma presents its challenges to them as well as “their” students. Not being fully cooked they still have unburnt saṃskāra-s. Thus, Upa Gurus may still have desire saṃskāra-s, anger saṃskāra-s, etc, unburnt karma in a range of areas to work with to attenuate, so from time-to-time Upa Gurus will fall, will create karma and will have to clear whatever has been added.
They may still share and lead, however they still have some work to do. They are a blessing to seekers, they are representation of the beauty of the path, the possibilities of the path, the purpose of the path, so cherish them, but know full-well they are still working and walking their way home.
Gurus, Sat Gurus are not bound by the laws of the natural Universe. They have transcended that which deludes delights and disturb us. Swami Tyagananda
May we open our hearts and minds to the Guru and the Guru principle for the benefit of all beings and so that we can: Love all, Serve all and Remember God.
About the Author
Hanuman Das is a respected teacher and author in the field of spiritual living. He has been studying, practicing and living a spiritual life since his early twenties after being introduced to his teacher Ram Dass. He teaches meditation and self-inquiry with a focus on integrating our spiritual life with our daily life. He has been published in Australian Yoga Journal, Australian Yoga Life, Daily OM, Elephant Journal and interviewed on local and national radio in Australia.
