जितुकें काहीं आपणांसी ठावें।
तितुके हळूं हळूं सिकवावें।
शाहाणे करूनि सोडावे।
बहुत जन॥
On going through the above verse of Shree Samarth Ramdas Swami, it struck me that whatever knowledge I have; I must share it with others. They will accept whatever they appreciate, else they will overlook. With this thought in mind, I ventured into putting my thoughts under the title “The Glory of Guru”. I am not a scholar or a sage. I am not a writer, a teacher either. I am not even an authority in this field. I have only a liking for reading. I do not have even great passion for reading. I am not studious either. I am only showing the direction that I could comprehend. With all these limitations, this writing need not be taken as the final word as such. Readers have to gain their own experience. Self-experience itself is an accomplished Guru; this is an eternal truth. No one can challenge self-experience. That is why; readers have to get their own experience. Self-experience is not a mere topic of fruitless debate. In this context Shree Tukaram Maharaja, a Marathi Saint, has meaningfully said in renowned following verse :
उभा ऐलथडी। त्याने घेऊ नये उडी।
पुढे गेल्याने उपाय। करावे ते केले काय?॥
It means, a person standing on a bank should not jump into the river unless he knows what is required to cross.
An unflinching faith in my mind says that even a common man or a reader too can surely get this experience. But only he has to walk down in that direction.
I have read some literature by the great Saints Shree Aadya Shankaracharya, Shree J. Krishnamurti, Shree Raman Maharshi, Shree Nityanand Swami, Osho Rajnish, Shree Shankar Maharaja of Pune. Also I have read the spiritual treatises like Dnyaneshwari, Dasbodh, Gatha (metrical composition) of Saint Shree Tukaram Maharaja, Shreemad Bhagvat, Shree Eknathi Bhagvat, a study of Shree Dnyaneshwar’s ‘Amritanubhav’ under the title ‘Anubhavamrit’ in three volumes by Shree P. Y. Deshpande and ‘Patanjal Yoga’ by Dr. K. K. Kolhatkar. Similarly, I have gone through some other spiritual literature also. Naturally I pondered on this and had some experience too. Then I thought it would be beneficial to others also. I also had the privilege to have extensive discussions with persons of authority like Jagadguru Shankaracharya of the Karveer seat Shree Vidyashankar Bharati Swami and Mahamahopadhyay Pandit Shree Gajananshastri Musalgaonkar, a great learned person from Varanasi. On the basis of above vast material, I have tried to elaborate on the subject.
Many people have very little knowledge about ‘Guru’. Some of them are even in a dilemma ‘whether to have a Guru or not?’ ‘Are we competent enough to have a Guru?’ ‘Whether we mistake in having a Guru or otherwise?’ Many people have a number of such doubts or queries. Some people choose a Guru, but after having witnessed his absurd conduct quite unfitting to a position of Guru and experienced his bondage, some disciples get bewildered and even frightened. However, the prevailing concept that a Guru is God and defying or departing from him is a grave sin and inviting disaster upon us, compels one not to part with Guru but to continue with the same Guru under the influence of such fear. Many a disciple endures such a situation haplessly. This book guides such harassed and oppressed disciples by providing with the right knowledge about Guru with the help of quotations from spiritual treatises and sages.
This book describes how a Guru or a disciple should or should not be. The common man after going through these lines may perhaps get restless, but just as getting a right Guru is rare so also being a right disciple too. However, the seeker should go ahead by following whatever is proper out of what has been said about Guru and disciple in this book, as per his own conscience.
This book is not written by keeping in mind any particular person or Guru, However, I have tried to put forth whatever I have read, experienced or heard about the experiences of some persons. I would like to suggest everybody to get free from the fear about Guru and achieve spiritual progress.
Even after going through this book a reader might have some doubts in the mind as to what sort of a Guru one should or should not have. In fact, there is nothing wrong in this book. But some people are very much suspicious, only they can have suspicion. However, the reader should have such Guru, whose guidance is convincing to him and then he should follow that path. Also one should get stable to a place where he gets contented and feels having achieved everything baring all other things.
Truly speaking, now a days people have forgotten the basic principle of Guru. One should understand that a Guru is for imparting spiritual knowledge and not for helping one to get worldly pleasures.
The above description would clarify that I have no intention whatsoever to misguide anybody. The common people, who have little knowledge of spirituality, are certainly going to be benefited by this writing, as it is intended to. A disciple should pay respect to his Guru but he should never be under the pressure of any sort of fear. If one feels that one has landed in some trouble or finds himself in dilemma because of the immoral and unbecoming conduct on the part of one’s Guru, one should immediately compose oneself. This book guides to that effect in detail.
This book has been written taking into consideration the narration of the Lord Shrikrishna in the 3rd Chapter of The Bhagvad Geeta, which is as under :
॥ न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्म संगिनाम्॥
जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान् युक्तः समाचरन्॥ २६॥
It means, the wise should not confuse ignorant people, who are deeply attached to their routine life in this mundane world, nevertheless they themselves should continue doing everything as the yoga prescribes and encourage others to follow.
The above narration clarifies that I have no intention to confuse anybody either.
This book has been deliberately written in easy and simple language so that old grannies and hard working women, who do not possess formal bookish knowledge but are not illiterate too, can also understand the subject well. But certain subjects are such which cannot be simplified beyond certain limits. The clear purpose of this book is to make the subject easily comprehensible to such individuals. May be to the knowledgeable scholars, it is insipid, tasteless but let us not forget, as I have clarified earlier, this book is meant for the common man. There might be repetitions of sentences or certain points at some places but as one goes on reading, one will realize that these repetitions are quite essential.
I have considered the possible doubts that might nag the common man’s mind and accordingly tried to clear them as best as I could. Even then, if any doubt prevails, reading of this book again and again will automatically clear it.
All the statements made in this book are based only on either of the following:
1. Illustrations given by the persons of authority as mentioned earlier.
2. SELF–EXPERIENCE of the author in this subject and
3. Frequent experiences of readers.
Shree Swami Jagadguru Shankaracharya of the Karveer seat, Shree Vidyashankar Bharati Swami, on going through the manuscript of this book, has whole-heartedly given his comments and blessings. Similarly, the great learned person Pandit Gajananshastri Musalgaonkar of Varanasi has also blessed this book with his invaluable views. I am deeply gratified by their heartfelt comments and views. I am very much grateful to them.
Renowned National Kirtan maestro Late Rajarshi Shree Oturkar Buva of Pune has given sincere encouragement from time to time, made corrections wherever necessary and also provided additional information complementary to the subject. His valued co-operation will be deeply cherished.
Last but not the least, a great learned person and devotee of Shree Akkalkot Swami Samarth, late Shree Vasant Gangadhar Udas (popularly known as Shree Udas Maharaja in Chinchvad and Pune) is my spiritual Guru. He has always encouraged and guided me in this endeavour. I feel really very happy to note that only because of his inspiration; I was able to accomplish this book. This study is my humble tribute to him.
—Chintamani Shriram