Daily Devotion - May 9, 2025 (English)

Guru takes care of all through our journey -
A question echoes in everyone's mind - Some say God is greater; some say Guru is greater, and some say both are equal. Which among these is correct?

Shri Maharaj Ji's answer -
Although God and Guru are one, God is a friend to the pure-hearted ones. We are His wayward children, surrendering to maya against our Divine Father. So, God doesn't support us; instead makes us traverse through 8.4 million life forms - "bhrāmayan sarva-bhūtāni." It is God who makes everyone wander. 'Eṣa eva sādhu karma kārayati' - While we perform sinful and virtuous actions, He is the one who makes us experience their consequences. He gives us punishment, not mercy.

The Guru, however, graces us and takes care of us through all three stages of devotional practice -

1. Beginning - He imparts spiritual knowledge, showing us where we are making mistakes. He tells us, "You won't find what you truly desire where you are going; you'll only get disappointment. Turn around, walk in this direction". Only the Guru comes directly to explain these things to us in various ways. God has never come directly to explain this to anyone.
2. Middle - When we tread towards God, the mind wanders to the world due to past bad habits. At that time, he sits with us and makes us do practical sadhana. Despite being a professor, he becomes a student himself. He teaches us how to sit and do Roopdhyan. He tells us that when our mind wanders to the world, we should place Shyamsundar wherever it goes. This way, he takes care of us in the middle of our devotional journey.
3. End - When our mind is pure, the Guru bestows the divine power of Swaroop Shakti, thus rendering the mind divine. It is the Guru who imparts divine love and gives us the darshan of God. In other words, the Guru alone serves us from beginning to end. Therefore, for us, the significance of the Guru is far greater than that of God.

Yet, we harbor negative thoughts towards the Guru, who makes all efforts to purify our mind and, despite hardships, remains dedicated to our welfare. Despite our repeated offenses, he forgives us, considering us a child. He remains dedicated to us, hoping we will reflect on this someday and rectify ourselves. When it comes to service, we repeatedly commit offenses. This creation belongs to God; we came here naked. Whatever wealth we have belongs to God alone. And when a saint, behind whom Shri Krishna walks, accepts our service for our own welfare, instead of considering it our good fortune, we think against him. After committing an offense once, we don't feel remorse and resolve not to repeat it. Harboring ill feelings or contrary 'thoughts' towards God and Guru is called nāmāparādh. There is no sin greater than this. It is the very reason why we have not yet attained our goal. The day we feel blessed thinking, "He asked for something from a pauper like me, such is my good fortune!" - understand that day marks the beginning of our surrender to the Guru.

Therefore, don't harbor ill feelings towards God and Guru ever in your mind - ānukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ prātikūlyasya varjanam. This is the characteristic of surrender. Ensure that you have no thoughts that are contrary to the Guru. You should sacrifice everything for his every action.

Make a firm resolution that you will not commit any offenses. You will carefully safeguard your spiritual earnings.

http://jkp.org.in/live-radio

Recommended books by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj related to this topic:

Unveiling the Saints - English

Radha Govind Geet Mahapurusha The Saint - English