O Learned and Devoted Servants of God, [June 30, 2012 Guru Purnima] Guru means the preacher, who removes the ignorance so that we can see
the truth clearly and differentiate the right from wrong. The ignorance is like
darkness in which you cannot find the existence of an item and also you cannot
differentiate the different items. Gayatri mantra says that the Guru is like
the Sun, who removes the ignorance–darkness by knowledge-light that initiates
the intelligence. The word Guru Purnima also indicates that Guru removes the
darkness-ignorance like the full Moon in the night. Thus, Guru is compared to
Sun and Moon, who remove the darkness-ignorance. There is difference between
Guru and Satguru. Both preach the correct knowledge only. But, the knowledge
preached by Satguru is complete and the knowledge preached by Guru is incomplete.
Guru is a human being, well-versed in scriptures. Satguru is the God in
human form. The word ‘Guru’ denotes the human form. The word ‘Sat’
denotes the God. The meaning of the very word ‘Guru’ means the preacher, who
removes the darkness-ignorance by giving the knowledge-light.
If the
knowledge is correct and complete, it generates tremendous force, which is
called as devotion. Devotion (Bhakti) is the necessary force that transforms
the knowledge (Jnana) into practice (Karma). Thus, devotion is generated by
knowledge. If the knowledge is correct but incomplete, it generates
insufficient force and hence, the knowledge is not transformed into practice.
If the knowledge is correct and complete, it generates sufficient force that
transforms the knowledge into practice. Complete knowledge means the
elaborate form of knowledge that contains the answers to all the possible
doubts. When you hear such knowledge, no doubt will rise in your mind
because the knowledge already contained the answer for every doubt. When
the right knowledge is complete, the realization is also complete and in such
case, no force can stop the transformation of knowledge into practice.
Therefore, the knowledge of Satguru is always elaborate and such elaboration is
the meaning of the word Vyasa. The knowledge of sage Vyasa is always elaborate.
This Guru Purnima is also called as Vyasa Purnima, the birthday of the sage
Vyasa. Vyasa is considered to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the God. This
day falls in the rainy season, in which the dark clouds cover the Sun or Moon
in the sky. This indicates the strong doubts of the people, who receive the
knowledge.
We perform
the Guru Purnima on this particular day. This is not the correct concept. Any
day can be Guru Purnima on which you receive the correct and complete knowledge
from Satguru. The sunrise happens to be 5.30 AM in summer and 6.30 AM in
winter. Thus, there is no fixed time of sunrise. Whenever sun rises, that is
the sun rise. Similarly, whenever the Satguru gives the knowledge, that time is
Guru Purnima. We always give importance to a specific place and specific time
and ignore the event. We should give importance to the event. Wherever the
event takes place, such place is sacred. Whenever the event happens, such time
is auspicious. People perform the ceremonies of their departed parents on
specific days. They do not give value to the person (Bhokta) available on that
day. Whenever the valuable person is available, the ceremony should be
performed. The fruit lies on the availability of the valuable person and not on
the date and place.
You must have
the mood to receive the knowledge from Satguru whenever the Satguru has the
mood to deliver the knowledge. The mood of Satguru to deliver the knowledge is
important and not the mood of the receiver to receive the knowledge. Whenever
the cloud rains, the farmer should plough the field. Whenever the farmer
ploughs the field, the cloud will not rain. Generally, Satguru gives the
knowledge when you do not have the mood to receive it. It is a test for
you. Whenever you have important works, the Satguru delivers the knowledge. He
is testing you to see whether you give the top most importance for the
knowledge or for other works. When you don’t have any work to do, then you will
have the mood to receive the knowledge. This means that you give the lowest
importance to Satguru and His knowledge. Krishna preached the Gita when Arjuna
was involved in the war. When the war was over, Arjuna asked Krishna to repeat the
Gita since he has full leisure [time] without any other work. Krishna refused
to deliver the Gita saying that He has no mood. Therefore, whenever Satguru
comes to your house, that day is Guru Purnima. Whenever Satguru delivers the
Divine knowledge, you must stop all the other works and receive the knowledge
with full attention. Then only you have understood the significance of Guru Purnima.
The main
program of the human incarnation is only to deliver the right and complete
knowledge to the human beings so that they will practice it and attain the
salvation. The fruit will not come without the practice. The
practice will not come without the devotion. The devotion will not come without
the correct and complete knowledge. The devotion and practice are automatic
consequences of the correct and complete knowledge. Therefore, Shankara told
that if you receive the correct and complete knowledge, the salvation is
automatic (Jnaanadevatu kaivalyam…). The Gita also starts with Jnana
yoga only. Therefore, if you can catch Satguru, the salvation is automatic
consequence. If you catch Satguru, you are bound to receive the correct and
complete knowledge from Him. Therefore, Guru Purnima is the top most of all the
festivals in the year.
At the lotus feet of Shri Datta Swami
-Prasad
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