Guru Devotion Brahmacharya
Question
Hi Dhananjay,
I hope all is well. I'm still going strong and experiencing the many benefits brahmacharya has to offer. Although now I feel that I need to move to the next level, Guru devotion. I often read a lot about this but have never tried it up until now. It has really helped me a lot when temptation arises. I think upon the Swami that visits in my area during these tough times and the lustful thoughts go away almost immediately. I feel as if a part of him comes over to me. Can you explain what happens on an energetic level here?
Also I will talk to him about this the next time he comes around. But I assume he will already now as he is highly intuitive when ever I speak with him. How should I approach him with this? Do you think there might be a chance that he will direct me to focus on another person for example Swami Vivekananda?
Michael
Answer
Hello Michael,
Keep up the efforts at Brahmacharya going. Coming to your queries,
Q: How does "Guru Bhakti" or devotion to one's spiritual master help in progress?
A: The Guru or spiritual master is a word formed from the two Sanskrit letters (Ga- Meaning Ignorance, Ra- meaning dispeller) it means one who dispels our ignorance. A true Guru is considered as a medium through whom God works. Great character, mental strength, compassion and understanding are the signs of a great master. A true master is beyond selfishness and has the sole objective of uplifting and inspiring his disciples. A good Guru analyzes the strengths and limitations of his disciple (evolutionary level) and accordingly professes him on the nature of the spiritual past most suited.
On a parallel note, the advancement of a spiritual aspirant depends largely on the devotion, love and respect he has for his Guru. There is the story of an ancient yogi from India who mastered all spiritual powers and was a celibate of immense power. His name was 'Gorakhanath". The story goes that at the point of time when he was a beginner and had enrolled himself into the hermitage of a great saint for spiritual initiation, the saint took his disciples to the forest to test their devotion. He installed a sharp spear under a tall tree, asked the disciples to climb the tree one by one and jump headlong into the spear. Naturally all of them refused to do so. Gorakhanath unhesitatingly climbed the tree and jumped headlong onto the spear. At the last second when his head was about to touch the tip of the spear the saint with his yogic powers ensured him freedom from death by turning the spear into a bed of flowers. This was possible due to the immense devotion and unconditional faith Gorakhanath had for his Guru, the Saint. The other pupils, doubted the Guru as the representation of God and weren't committed in totality to the Guru.
If our longing, efforts and sincerity at attaining high levels of spirituality and Brahmacharya are true and genuine, God undoubtedly sends forth a Guru who is commensurately knowledgeable and noble enough. But this wholly depends on our trueness and devotion to the concept at hand. The more true we are, the better will be the quality of the Guru.
There is a Sanskrit saying from Indian scriptures: "Acharya devo bhava" - Treat the master as God. When one has such an approach and devotion to one's master, he succeeds in winning the trust, love and affection of the master and Godliness flows from master to pupil. It is actually a flow of energy from the region of higher concentration (Guru) to the region of lower concentration (Pupil). The effectivity of energy transfer depends on the knowledge and pranic energy or universal consciousness within the Guru. One who is a great guru is always a strict celibate. A man who wastes his vital energy can never be a great Guru. To transmit knowledge at the highest level, one has to undoubtedly be an Urdhvaretha and the receiving pupil has to be an ardent and true celibate.
Trust this helps
God bless and have a nice day :-)
Dhananjay