Where To Find A Spiritual Guru

If you don't have a physical connection, you can find that your life decisions are solely based on your ego and desires. A guru leads you down the path to assist you overcome the ego's desire to keep you engrossed in worldly things. We wish to leave these pursuits behind so that we might recognize the Divine everywhere.

If you know who your guru is but he isn't physically present, keep talking to him in your head, meditating on his picture, and drawing his subtle energy to you. In this way, he will assist you in locating the one who will provide you with that special touch. By being in sync with him, he will also guide you. It's critical to pay attention to his subtle instruction and act on it. Always double-check that you're heading in the right direction while doing the task.

What does a spiritual Guru do?

Someone who is a guru is the precise translation of the word guru “Darkness is banished.” Ignorance is the source of this darkness.

Though any master teacher is sometimes referred to as a guru (the term “guru” is now used very loosely in English), the term “guru” traditionally refers to a religious or spiritual teacher who not only has deep knowledge that can lead to moksha (liberation or enlightenment), but also has direct experience of Divine vision or grace that has been assimilated into their way of being.

Traditional pupils lived with their guru, at least for a while, with the guru basically taking on the role of a parent, though this is significantly less frequent today than it previously was.

Though most people in the West associate gurus with Hinduism, the title is also applied to spiritual instructors in the Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh traditions.

No. Although having a guru is not required, most Hindu traditions believe that having one is extremely advantageous to one's spiritual knowledge and progress.

To put it another way, while you don't need a guru to achieve enlightenment, having one makes it easier.

This is analogous to embarking on a new voyage. It is much easier to travel with someone who has already completed the journey or at the very least is familiar with the route. Following their written directions makes the trip easy even when they are not present. You can also explore on your own and get to your destination, but it will be more difficult. Progress will most likely be slower, and the risk of going in the wrong way will be greater.

The spiritual advancement of their followers is guided by a guru (known as shishya). Instructions are personalized according to the guru's spiritual, psychological, and practical understanding into what is required for the pupil to learn and grow spiritually.

Until the latter half of the twentieth century, all, or at least the majority, of teaching was done through an oral tradition, in which information was passed directly from teacher to pupil. Students frequently lived with or near their guru, or paid frequent visits. While the oral tradition is still revered, the majority of gurus have authored substantial speeches on their teachings. Many also provide live or recorded internet lectures to students all over the world, have formal pupils on every continent, and their teachings may have a significant impact on the lives of countless spiritual searchers who will never study in depth or meet the guru in person.

No. Though this may be what comes to mind when someone thinks of the word guru, there is no religious or cultural mandate for a guru to be male. In reality, there have been numerous notable female gurus throughout history and today. In the last half-century, Sri Sarada Devi, Sister Nivedita, the Mother, Anandamayi Ma, Mata Amritanandamayi, Gurumayi, and Amma Sri Karunamayi have been among the most renowned.

Although Hinduism as a religion does not have a single leader, each teaching tradition that makes up Hinduism places a high value on teacher lineage. Guru-shishya parampara is the term for this relationship.

The majority of today's gurus were formerly shishyas of another guru in the same lineage. However, a guru may emerge who is generally recognized as an enlightened spiritual master due to their own past sadhana (discipline and study), but this is uncommon.

Only when a recognized guru gives permission for one of their shishya to carry on the tradition as a guru may that student use that title correctly. Advanced pupils of a guru may occasionally start teaching on their own without claiming to be a full-fledged guru. This is something you'll see a lot in yoga classes.

For those seeking deeper spiritual study under a guru, lineage is especially important to highlight today. Has the teacher you want to learn with been given permission to teach in some manner by their teacher? Who did they study with and learn from?

Treat your search for a guru or spiritual instructor as if you were applying to a university. Before you even approach the institution to enroll you for study, you should familiarize yourself with the university's educational philosophy, history, how its students enjoy studying there, and what its graduates have accomplished. While you may not be able to determine a possible guru's spiritual achievement as a prospective pupil (just as you may not be able to appreciate the complexity of any professor's work as a freshman), you should try to assess the guru's history and qualifications.

Yes. Someone switching guru is totally acceptable, if not commonplace, given the depth of the relationship. This could be because your spiritual needs have changed, your prior guru has passed away, or your guru has altered their teachings and practices, or recommended that you follow someone else's path.

This is not a recent phenomenon, contrary to popular belief. Some people have several gurus as their spiritual quest advances, according to spiritual literature like the Srimad Bhagavatam.

Prostration in front of someone is a gesture of deep reverence in Hindu culture. This is something you'll see followers perform in front of a guru or in temples before a murti (images of the divine, used to focus devotional attention). In both circumstances, the devotee is kneeling down to the Divine principle embodied or revealed in front of them, not because they feel they are really bowing down to God. People frequently touch the feet of their parents and other people they respect and regard as authoritative and devout.

In both cases, the attention is on the feet, as explained in the book What is Hinduism? “According to legend, his entire being was contained inside his feet. All nerve currents come to a halt here. Every organ of the body's important points are present. “When we touch the spiritual master's feet, we are touching the spiritual master.” In simpler terms, the guru's feet constitute the cornerstone of his or her physical self. Touching them demonstrates regard for the whole person.

When it comes to how pupils should treat their teacher, Hindu spiritual writings are frequently rather demanding (strict obedience, not questioning their instructions, giving over personal belongings, etc). However, just as society as a whole has shifted toward more egalitarian and less hierarchical attitudes over the last 50 years, so have student expectations of guru behavior.

Respect, deference, and dedication are still expected, but complete subjugation, as described in older literature, is no longer the norm. With this in mind, students are still expected to be loyal to their guru and have faith in his or her knowledge and practices — but not to the point of blind faith. Students are supposed to remain modest in front of their guru and to credit the guru while sharing their lessons with others.

While a guru has deep spiritual knowledge to transmit — and they continue to play an important and positive role in Hindu traditions — there is a growing realization that they are not immune to typical human reactions to everyday conditions. Gurus are unique, but they are still people. There's also more public recognition that a guru might deviate from the spiritual precepts he or she preaches and act unethically, if not abusively, toward their pupils. When such behavior occurs, it is increasingly and properly condemned.

What happens when you meet your Guru?

A true Guru can only teach from a place of pure love. A true Guru can only give you Pure Love and Light, and it will come in whatever form you require at the time.

The joy of any true Guru is not in creating devotees, but in merging his or her awareness with that of the disciples and rising them to complete Mastery.

You never have to give up your free will or independence when working with a great Guru. A great Guru will never force his or her beliefs or way of life on a disciple. In a strictly consultative function, the Guru responds to questions posed to him or her.

It is said in Indian sacred literature that obtaining a human body is a rare occurrence in and of itself, but obtaining a human body while also being spiritually conscious is more rarer. Being spiritually conscious and finding a Perfect Teacher, on the other hand, is the greatest blessing a human being can receive.

Your soul will eventually bring your Guru to you, even if you are already an enlightened creature whose essence is obscured. When you finally meet your Guru, it will strike a chord with you on multiple levels. There will be inner calm and certainty, as well as a sense of trust.

How do you talk with Guru?

You can envision him or her sitting next to you, keeping an eye on you. Inquire, “Are my meditative practices being used correctly?”

If you wish to locate the Guru, the most vital factor in such tactics is commitment. The Guru, like God, responds to the heart. So, with love, pray to him/her for direction, insight, samadhi, and intimacy.

“Visualize the guru in the spiritual eye to tune into his consciousness. Make a mental call to him. Consider how his eyes, in particular, are fixed on you. Allow his consciousness to influence yours. Then, after some time of calling to him, attempt to sense his response in your heart. The heart is the body's center of intuition. It's called a ‘radio-receiver.' Your ‘broadcasting station' is located between the brows in the Christ center. Your will broadcasts your thoughts and ideas throughout the cosmos from this core. “Call to the guru earnestly, ‘Introduce me to God,' once you feel an answer in your heart.”

You can also ask him any specific question in the spiritual eye and then try to feel his response in your heart chakra. It's an intuitive, nuanced, and silent dialogue once more. Love for the Guru pulls you closer to him and facilitates interaction with him.

What is a spiritual teacher called?

Shaykhs or Sufi teachers, Gurus (including Hindu Gurus, Sant Mat Gurus, and Sikh Gurus), Buddhist teachers, including Tibetan Lamas (which is really just the Tibetan word for Guru), and Mahasiddhas (who may be claimed by both Buddhist and Hindu traditions) are some of the subcategories of spiritual teachers.

Many Western spiritual teachers exist, some of whom claim a spiritual ancestry from the East and others who do not.

The phrase “spiritual teacher” originates in Western tradition and refers to a broader understanding of spirituality.

How do you start a spiritual awakening?

The spiritual journey—and the resulting “spiritual awakening” we seek—always appears to take place in some exotic location or following a spectacular incident.

Perhaps you believe you need to travel to Peru to drink ayahuasca or leave your spouse to get the spiritual awakening you seek?

From the comfort of your own home, you may connect with your spirituality and awaken to the lessons that are meant for you over and over again throughout your life.

What is the spiritual awakening process?

Spiritual awakening, contrary to popular belief, does not entail a literal transformation “Awakening.”

You don't wake up one day feeling like you have a powerful energy within of you beckoning for change.

Spiritual awakening is a long process in which a person realizes that their existence extends beyond the physical realm “I” refers to the ego.

Eastern spiritualists refer to the ego, or everyday self, as the acquired mind in Taoist philosophy.

Our current selves — our likes, actions, preferences, and convictions — are the result of years of socialization.

These particular features we pick up, however unusual they may be, do not yet make up a whole self.

Humans are a self-preserving species as a result of evolution; it's in our DNA to resist change.

Humans are innately egoistic beings, therefore we can't help but form a bubble around ourselves and do everything we can to keep it safe.

While a firm belief in who you are and what you believe in may appear to be the very definition of the full “self,” philosophers such as Carl Jung argue that separating the “I” from the rest of the world is harmful because we inevitably begin to limit what counts as good and righteous to those qualities unique to us.

Consider this: your Spirit lives alongside your ego. The ego acquires things you enjoy and don't like, as well as convictions that distinguish what's good from what's evil, during the years of learning and interacting.

As the ego takes control, your Spirit becomes confined and inert, rather than moving beyond it.

Who is real guru in the world?

Many people are referred to as (or refer to themselves as) “guru,” but only a few are the real, or authentic Guru, as stated in the Scriptures. A Sat-Guru is a spiritual guru who recognizes his Self as one with God. He has no ego left, no sense of “I,” no sense of “I am this person.” His consciousness is unlimited, and nirbikalpa samadhi is his inner condition.

Consider a clean window with plenty of natural light shining through it. That window is the Guru. God is the sun. God radiates with all of His power via a real Guru (Sat-Guru). Only a Sat-Guru like this can set the soul free.

We can truly bow to such a Guru and offer our complete obedience, our lives, and everything we have. Nobody else.

“Gudarkness is a syllable, and ruthe destroyer is a syllable. He is known as Guru because he is capable of destroying darkness. Only the Guru is the ultimate Absolute. The Guru is the only true path. The Guru is the sole possessor of supreme wisdom. The Guru is the only true refuge. The Guru is the ultimate limit. The Guru is the ultimate wealth. Because he is thatguru's instructor.”

Another scripture (the Kula Arnava Tantra) teaches us something important to consider: “There are many gurus on earth who deliver something other than the Self, but the Guru who exposes the Self is hard to come by in all the realms.”

There are numerous teachers (young, unripe gurus), but only one authentic Sat-Guru, who is your eternal bond to God. In India, it is commonly preached that you need a living guru who is present in your body. But where is the genuine Guru, the Sat-Guru, who is devoid of all ego? I've met a number of outstanding saints, yet even they weren't completely devoid of the ego. If we put our faith in them completely, we can have a rude awakening: we'll eventually see their ego, whether it's a craving for power, a weakness for sex, for money, or an inclination toward self-importance.

How can you find your own Sat-Guru (in or out of the body)? Pray to God and prepare yourself by your earnest sadhana and zealous pursuit of Truth. According to legend, the Guru appears when the pupil is ready. Feel in your heart who is your spiritual family, who is your relationship to God, and where you feel at home spiritually.

Try following different gurus and putting their teachings and practices into practice. Inquire of God: “Is this yours?” Your hunt is done once you've discovered your Guru. You only listen to one Guru. He's all yours. In the Guru-disciple connection, loyalty is essential.

Make the Guru your first priority at that point, over your husband (or wife), your children, your parents, your work, your aspirations, your entire life. The real Guru is God's vehicle on Earth: he is His mouth, arms, heart, and benediction. It's because he's nothing more than a pure window for God's transformative light.

How do you know a true guru?

Like a fresh breeze swinging a bloom, the stillness of the night, the silver moon, and brilliant stars can touch a soul. According to the Yoga Vasitaha Maha Ramayana, every element of the cosmos is a life-giving herb, including the sun, the Ganges' spray, and the beloved Tulsi's leaf. They are used to treat people who are suffering from the effects of excessive consumption. Chanting the God's name is thought to be the most powerful cure at the time.

Morari Bapu, a big proponent of Ram Katha, referenced this amazing literature, which has 32,000 Sanskrit couplets that detail these treatments for the worst of our physical and psychological problems. The remedy is Brahma or God, as well as the company of saints and attention.

However, how can one recognize a genuine saint or spiritual master? According to Bapu, the Guru is represented by his thoughts, words, and actions, not by the saffron robes he wears or even by the adoration of personality cults. His manner of life should be so pure that it is held in high regard.

(The first sign of devotion is companionship with the saints, followed by a desire to hear my stories.)

• 1.The color blue – he needs to be surrounded by the immensity of the sky. He can't possibly be narrow-minded.
• 2.The color red is associated with courage, love, and patience. We can't have true love if we don't have bravery.
• 3.Green – for his Shiv Sankalpa (determined endeavour) for the welfare of others and for internal and external prosperity.
• 5.Udasinta's color is black (detachment and dispassion). In society, such a person is udas (unhappy), yet in alone, he is constantly unattached.
• 6.White is the color of serenity. A guru must be at peace with himself and capable of bringing peace to others.

A sage with such qualities could be considered a real Guru. He is completely absorbed in the Self and is constantly reminded of the Supreme. He is content in any circumstances and takes part in sacred gatherings.

Morari Bapu then told a story that the Bauls regularly told (roaming mendicants of Bengal). Two birds are kept in a cage. They plan their escape and work tirelessly to make enough space to squeeze out of the grill. The first bird flies away right away, while the second is hell-bent on destroying the coop.

The spiritual essence of the narrative is that a great saint will never denounce the world as a prison, but will instead teach us how to break free.

He does not teach us to destroy, but rather to fly.

Such a person can really be called a Guru or a Spiritual Master, as indicated above in a variety of ways.