The Importance of a Guru
The scriptures and Vedas contain two seemingly contradictory statements.
- On one hand, it is written -
'Guru binu hoi kī jñāna.'
Can one attain knowledge without a Guru? Even the knowledge of a single letter cannot be acquired without a Guru. One cannot even come to know one's own parents without a Guru. A newborn knows nothing. Even a mother must make sustained efforts before the child recognizes her as its mother.
Throughout life, until death, a person learns from books, by observing others, by listening, and, of course, by learning from one's parents. Therefore, the very idea of acquiring knowledge without a Guru does not even arise.
guṁ rautīti guruḥ।
gu śabdastvandhakārasyāt ru śabdastannirodhaka:। andhakāra nirodhitvāt gururityabhidhīyate॥
'Gu' means darkness or ignorance, 'ru' means one who removes it. Thus, the Guru is one who dispels darkness.
Dattātreya regarded even animals such as donkeys and dogs as his Gurus. In many respects, animals and birds surpass human beings. You should learn from them and expand your understanding. For example, a parrot repeats exactly what it hears. A disciple should be the same, repeating the Guru's words exactly as spoken. If you begin to apply your own intellect, downfall follows.
Even worldly knowledge, which is perceivable through the senses, mind, and intellect, cannot be acquired without a Guru. Then how can knowledge of God, who lies beyond the senses, mind, and intellect, ever be attained? That knowledge can only be known through the Vedas. Scientists may explore and validate truths about the material world, but no form of worldly knowledge has ever proven God's existence.
- On the other hand, it is also written -
"yadi guru milahiṁ viraṁci sama, mūrakha hr̥daya na ceta" Meaning, even if the supreme Jagadguru Brahma himself becomes someone's Guru, he still cannot impart knowledge to a fool.
The question now arises: which statement is correct?
Both statements are correct.
It is also true that knowledge cannot be attained without a Guru. The Guru is the one who dispels darkness. Even worldly knowledge cannot be acquired without a Guru. So, acquiring spiritual knowledge, which is beyond the senses, mind, and intellect, is undoubtedly impossible without one.
You have obtained a human body countless times. You have met saints countless times. You have heard their teachings repeatedly - and still nothing has changed. You did not attain knowledge. Had you attained knowledge, ignorance would have been destroyed. Had ignorance been destroyed, Maya would have gone away. But that did not happen.
You still continue to wander through 8.4 million life forms because you hear the Guru's words but do not truly accept them.
There are two reasons for this:
- Pride -
You believe that you already know everything. You bow before the Guru, drink his caraṇodak (the holy water that has washed the Guru's lotus feet), and perform his ārati, yet inwardly you think, "I too am intelligent, I am a graduate, I have a Master's degree, I have a doctorate." Because of this pride, you remain exactly where you are. - Attachment to the world -
Just as a drunkard knows that alcohol will destroy him and yet cannot give it up, you remain bound by worldly attachments despite knowing their harm.
Therefore, not applying your intellect before the Guru - this alone is called Guru sharanāgati, surrender to the Guru. Only then will ignorance be destroyed, Māyā be removed, and true knowledge be received from the Guru.
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