The Guru is the one who dispels the darkness and brings us into light. Once the Guru has accepted us and we become her disciples, we slowly start imbibing her qualities. Without a Guru,an aspirant cannot move ahead with his spiritual practices. Sadhaks are like seeds whom the guru lovingly nurtures by giving the water of deeksha & the sunlight of gyan and creates favourable conditions for them, so that the tree of their spirituality can grow to fruition without any badhas. The guru brings out the good qualities in us, which have been lying dormant since many lives. The guru gives shelter to the plants symbolizing our spirituality which are wilting in the sun.

Our situation is like the person who has read about a place in a book but has never visited it. The Guru has actually visited the place and has direct experience of Brahman, which, she in her grace, agrees to pass on to us. Being in the saniddhya of the Guru accelerates our spiritual development. Gurumaa has ignited the spark of spirituality in me and I have the confidence that she will watch over me till this spark blazes into the fire of truth. It is possible to attain wisdom in one lifetime through the grace of the Guru. But, certain conditions apply. The sadhak has to totally surrender to the Guru and follow her in word and spirit.

We would always like to be at the feet of the master but some of us will have to remain in the world and fulfil our responsibilities. Even while being away from the Guru, I can continue my practices, and experience the blessings of Gurumaa in all that I do. The Guru may ask us to do seva which we may not find very conducive, but we must consider it as a test which we must pass in the school of spirituality. Gurumaa is preparing us for further advanced tests in life. But we must have total faith in her love and guidance.

An unlit lamp can only be lighted by a lamp that is already lit. In the same way, it requires an illuminated soul or a ‘bodhi prapt’ soul as Gurumaa says, to enlighten another soul. Gurumaa laughingly says,’I will kill you’. She means that she will kill our ego, which is the greatest impediment on our spiritual path. God sends the Guru to guide us, when he finds us yearning for a Guru. ‘When the student is ready, the teacher appears.’ The Guru tears the veil of ignorance from our eyes, which we keep covered with our worldly desires. The Grace of God takes on the form of the Guru.

According to the Advayataraka Upanishad, ‘the syllable gu means shadows, the syllable ru who disperses them. Because of the power to disperse darkness, the guru is so named.’ In the Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna speaks to Arjun to ‘acquire the transcendental knowledge from a Self-realized master by humble reverence, by sincere inquiry, and by service. The wise ones who have realized the Truth will impart the Knowledge to you.’

Sant Kabir relegated the Guru to a level higher than God by saying,’Guru Govind dou khade, kake lagu paaye, balihari Guru apki, jin Govind diyo dikhaye.’ (The couplets of Kabir have been sung by Gurumaa in her melodious voice and can be heard on ‘Kahe Kabira’ CDs and cassettes which can be obtained online on www.gurumaa.com or www.mysticamusic.com. These are also available at Gurumaa Centres located in various cities and towns in India.

It is our great fortune that we have found a Guru like Gurumaa. I can only say,’Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshwarah, Gurur shaakshaat Param Brahma, tasmai Shri Guruve Namah!’ Our Guru is a powerhouse of spiritual magnetic energy and we are the bulbs which can be ignited with this energy! However, each one of us must be worthy of receiving this tremendous flow of energy. A cup cannot be filled unless it is empty! So we must empty ourselves of all negative qualities so that we can receive the cup of nectar in the form of the Grace our Guru is offering us.