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Without Guru one cannot reach the transcendental state of Supreme Bliss, hence Guru, the spiritual instructor is crucial.
Let us see what the Great Saint Kabir says about GURU, the spiritual master.
Saint Kabir says
गुरु गोविंद दोनों खड़े, काके लागूं पांय |
बलिहारी गुरु आपने गोविन्द दियो बताय || संत कबीर
In the above couplet written 7oo years ago Kabir asks a poignant question.
Whose feet will you touch first (symbolic of reverence) when you find Guide (Guru) and God both standing together?
First prostrate the Guide who showed you God.
Who is Guru? This question is answered in the couplet above, where Saint Kabir says that GURU is the one who has shown you God.
Corollary:
Not the one who is helping, or may help, but one who has already helped you and now are AWAKENED to the highest self, he is a guru.
Who is your Guru? How can one qualify a person to be your Guru until you have been shown the HIGHEST? Till you are a seeker you have teachers, guides, instructors, trainers who are instrumental in ripening you. Guru is the master who takes you to the ULTIMATE state, where you find the Guru, God and You are essentially same. When 'I' as you know today quits, 'SUPREME' is seen. Guru is pivotal.
Saint Kabir closes all doubt about the importance of Guru in the following poetically adorned verse:
कबीर हरि के रुठते, गुरु के शरने जाय |
कहे कबीर गुरु के रुठते, हरी नही होत सहाय ||
Kabir says when Hari (Lord) is displeased, you can take support from the Guru.
If Guru is displeased, says Kabir, Hari does not help.
This famous quote is taught first when a child begins learning. Known to all Asian Indians, it is ultimate adulation of Guru.
त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव
त्वमेव बंधू च सखा त्वमेव
त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव
त्वमेव सर्व मम देव देव
You are my mother, father, brother, friend; you are knowledge, wealth; you are everything, Oh! Lord
About Saint Kabir
Saint Kabir lived between 1455 AD to 1575 AD. His verses 'doha' are found in Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikh Community.
To know more about Saint Kabir click here. [1] [2] [3]
How to avoid fake Guru?
Interestingly, Sikh believe the holy Guru Granth Sahib, the compilation of Guidelines to the Supreme to be the Guru. This saves the spiritual seeker from being taken for a ride by fake Guru. Only the Self Realized Master can be Guru. Such a Guru is rare, difficult to find or even be recognized by the humble seeker.
