SPIRITUAL  TEACHER –  GURU.

The Guru is assigned to teach according to tradition and searches out good students. He looks for certain signs and symptoms. He understands who is prepared.  If the Guru finds that the student is not yet ready, he will nurture him through trials and experiences and he will gradually prepare the student for the higher teachings. Then the Guru lights the lamp. That is the Guru’s role and the resulting light is divine.

The disciple’s relation with the Guru is based on the purest form of unconditional love. The disciple has to be completely transparent with the Guru & has to offer everything to the Guru. The Guru then does the work of shaping the student spiritually.

The disciple comes with full faith and entrusts his whole life to the Guru. The Guru takes that life and burns it, chops it and carves out all that is not needed. What remains is only sacred.

To be on the spiritual path with a Guru is not easy. It is not pleasant. The Guru tests the disciples, puts them in difficult situation & create obstacles for them. These problems and tests are meant to train and expand the consciousness of the disciple.

SHORT STORY:-  Swamiji was crossing a torrential river on the narrow rope bridge, which was only wide enough for one person  at a time. He was used to walk, looking down at the ground. Suddenly he came face to face with a tiger on the bridge.

                   Swamiji had been told by  his  Guru that in all that he attempted in life, he should always move forward with conviction and never look back or step backwards.

                   So now he had the choice of either being mauled by the tiger or being pushed into the torrential waters below. He resolutely moved forward. He produced an authorative   grunting sound. This scared the tiger into retreating, allowing swami ji to cross the bridge.