A true Guru

A few days ago, I was asked a simple question: Why do we need a Guru? Like most sincere questions, the answer did not emerge immediately. Before responding, I felt a subtle inner shift. My mind instinctively wanted to assert certainty, but a quieter thought reminded me to stay humble. That moment of awareness held the essence of the answer. 

Instead of answering immediately, I asked in return: “Why do you send your children to school?” 

“To educate them,” came the quick reply. 

Then I asked, “You are a doctor, and your wife is a lawyer. With your knowledge and experience, you could teach your children at home, at least until high school. Why do you still rely on teachers and schools?” 

The answer was honest and straightforward: “Because teachers provide structure, depth, and perspective that we cannot provide ourselves.” 

That response answered the original question. 

In many ways, we can manage our own lives. We gather information, gain experience, and develop intellect. However, information alone does not lead to understanding. Just as education sharpens raw knowledge, a Guru sharpens our view of life. A Guru does not just share knowledge; they help us apply what we know with clarity, balance, and responsibility. 

A Guru does not exist to dominate or control. Their role is not to impose but to awaken discernment. When we live through borrowed views, our growth becomes limited. When we cultivate wisdom, we learn to see clearly and act consciously. Knowledge informs; wisdom transforms. 

Any information or knowledge, by itself, is neither good nor bad. Its value depends entirely on how it is used. Having a Guru helps us learn how to use our intellect wisely. Seeking a Guru is not an act of dependence, but a conscious choice to enhance our awareness. 

Many mistakenly believe a Guru is there to grant wealth, power, or material success. Such expectations misunderstand the role of guidance. A Guru can illuminate the path, but it is up to the seeker to walk it. Wisdom, not reward, is the true gift. 

Spiritual growth with a Guru does not pull us away from life; it takes us deeper into it. The Guru prepares the disciple for right engagement—with clarity, purpose, and balance. 

एक सच्चा गुरु आपको कभी भी आज्ञा नहीं देगा, वह आपको केवल ज्ञान दे सकता है।

आज्ञा instructs what must be done and what to avoid. It limits life through imposed directions and borrowed views. Living by commands means understanding remains dependent, and growth becomes restricted. 

ज्ञा, on the other hand, is discernment—seeing clearly, deciding wisely, and acting responsibly. A true Guru develops this discernment. They do not impose a worldview but help the seeker find clarity through understanding. With ज्ञा, one learns to engage with life consciously instead of just following orders. 

A true Guru works on the inner landscape of the seeker. Like a sculptor shaping stone, they do not add anything new. Through words, actions, and example, they remove what is unnecessary—ignorance, fear, and ego—so the true form can emerge. The effort of a Guru is not just to create a disciple; it’s to awaken the capacity for wisdom and responsibility within each individual. 

The presence of a Guru is not just physical; it’s experiential. When our consciousness seeks growth, it naturally 

turns to a source that nourishes it. While many influences shape us throughout life, a true Guru helps us recognize and realize the divine potential that already exists within. 

As the scriptures affirm: 

गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः
गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।

गुरुःसाक्षात् परब्रह्म
तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नम: ॥

The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru is Maheshwara. The Guru is the Supreme Brahman. Salutations to that revered Guru. 

With reverence at the feet of Shri Radha Raman Lal Ju.

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