Mystic Mantra: Pick the right Guru

The present Indian society is teeming with all kinds of spiritual gurus. Instead of being guides to the people in the path of true knowledge, the so-called gurus often leave us confused and somewhat angry. But the question is whether the gurus have failed us or we have failed ourselves by refusing to distinguish between true and fake gurus.

“The disciples whose guru is blind perform only blind deeds. They follow their own wayward will, and even utter the grossest lies,” says Guru Amar Das. Even Guru Nanak Dev has warned against self-styled sants and gurus, “Never fall at the feet of one who calls himself guru and pir, and goes begging. He who eats what he earns and from his own hands gives some in charity, he alone knows the true way of life.”

The concept of guru occupies a central place in Sikh faith. The word “Sikh” itself means a learner — a student of learning and the guru is the source of all divine knowledge. The guru is the ladder to attain the spiritual heights. The guru is the mother, father, friend, brother, master and the supreme being.

At the same time, he is the dispeller of sins and makes the impure pure. He is the true one. “The true guru is one who has realised the supreme being and whose association saves the disciple”. The true guru demolishes the fort of dubiety, ends the duality of the mind and leads the follower to the path of realisation. He is selfless and humble. He is free from vice and above all he is a source of great joy and bliss to his disciples.

The guru is the source of all light and consciousness. His association is inspiring and spiritually uplifting. The guru is not merely a religious teacher, but also provides guidance to the followers. The guru should be a true role model. Guru Nanak’s life was a perfect example of his sermon: Kirat karni (to earn one’s livelihood through honest means), vand chhakna (sharing) and nam japna (to remember the Almighty).

He preferred the company of poor Bhai Lalo, refusing the lavish feast of a rich man, Malik Bhago. Asking a rich man to return a needle in the next birth, Guru Nanak showed the futility of immense personal wealth. Nothing is of any importance but nam-simran and truthful living. No wonder, “seva”, “langar” and “charity” have been an integral part of the philosophy of Sikh religion.

The goal of life of every seeker is to turn a “gurmukh” — oriented towards the guru, following the life as instructed by the guru. The Sikh gurus are all parts of the same one divine light and presently the Guru Granth Sahib is the eternal guru of the Sikhs. No distinction is made between the physical guru and the word. The hymns or the words (shabad) provide guidance to the seekers. It takes the gurmukh through the journey of sunan (hearing the holy word), manna (acceptance of the word) and nidhasan (meditation) to ultimate bliss.

Guru Nanak says, “The true guru is the boatman and the word the oars to ferry one to the other shore where there is neither wind, nor fire, nor water, nor form and where abides our true Lord dispensing the true name... yes, through the guru’s wisdom poise wells up in one who merges in the truth.”

Kulbir Kaur teaches sociology at Shyama Prasad Mukherji College, Delhi University