text: Christmas
 
 
 
 
swami

Today is described as Guru Purnima Day. This is not quite correct. The day got its name because of some gurus who wanted to have an occasion for receiving offerings from their disciples. The right name for this day is VyasaPurnima.

Vyasa was born on this full moon day. He completed the codification of the four Vedas on this day. He completed the writing of the eighteen Puranas on this day. Owing to the passage of time, Vyaasa Purnima came to be called Guru Purnima.

When this Self is within you, where is the need to search for someone to teach you? A teacher who teaches others has had a teacher himself. The one who has no guru above him is the true guru. The Sanskrit stanza that hails the guru as Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheswara and as the Highest God (Parabrahman) is misinterpreted. The right approach is to consider Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheswara as the guru. These three are symbolised by the three qualities (gunas) Brahma is activity (rajas), Vishnu is serenity (sathva) and Siva is inertia ( thamas). The whole cosmos is constituted by these three qualities. The three three are present in man. The trinity are present in the form of the three qualities in every human heart.

Discourse: 30 July 1996

The term guru means one who dispels the darkness of ignorance. Gu means one who is beyond attributes (gunas), ru implies one who is beyond forms (rupas). This refers only to God. That is why the guru is hailed as Brahma, Vishnu, or Siva. Only God is the true guru. All others are merely teachers, like the teachers of different subjects in a college. Guru is the one who reveals the guri (target) to the disciple. Guri here refers to the Aathmic Principle.

Discourse: 20 July 1997

Embodiments of Divine Atma: Today is Guru Poornima. What is meant by gurutwa? Truth in the world is Gurutwa. Observe truth with steady feelings and with a selfless heart. That truth is your protection. That truth is your armour. Truth will follow you and protect you. There is no dharma higher than Truth (Satyam naasti paramo dharma). If you protect dharma, that dharma will in turn protect you (Dharmo rakshati rakshithaha). Do not waver by this agitation. Keep your truth as your aim. Fill your heart with sanctity. Love every one. Do not hate anyone. Then only will true divinity originate in you.

Discourse: 3 July 1993