The
above quote amply summarizes the importance of the Guru’s
grace, which is instrumental in bringing about one’s Liberation.
However, in today’s times of strife (Kaliyug) as seen by
the unprecedented levels of immorality, corruption, crime, violence,
erosion of family values and intolerance, the following points
show how the Guru’s grace gains even greater importance:
Spiritual practice in a spiritually unfavorable
environment: In accordance with the fact that attitudes (subtle)
lead to thoughts, which in turn govern our behavior (gross), the
external (gross) impurity in today’s society is due to the
inner (subtle or attitude level) impurity of people. This inner
impurity is a result of a total decline in spiritual practice. Due
to this, there is an increase in spiritual pollution (raja-tama,
distressing energies, etc.). Just as it is difficult to focus on
something in a noisy, polluted environment, it is difficult to focus
on spiritual
practice in a spiritually polluted environment. It is possible to
do smooth spiritual practice and progress rapidly only by the grace
of the Guru, Who is but a manifest form of The Lord Himself, and
hence, Omnipotent and Omniscient.
Ability to withstand worldly problems: Almost
80% of problems in life are partly or purely due to spiritual factors
like Destiny, distressing energies, etc., and hence, can be overcome
only by doing spiritual practice. Further, major events like birth,
grave illness, failure in marriage/career, death, etc., are destined.
One acquires the ability to face mild destiny with moderate spiritual
practice, moderate destiny with intense spiritual practice and severe
destiny only with the grace of the Guru. Often, the mere presence
of a Guru can facilitate one’s spiritual practice and progress,
alleviating one’s problems.
Effecting a transformation in society: The Guru’s
grace is essential not only for our personal spiritual and worldly
progress, but also to transform today’s spiritually impure
environment to a pure, progressive and Blissful society. Only one
who knows how to swim can truly teach another to do so. Similarly,
only one who has attained inner transformation can bring about transformation
in others. Also, only a person with divine (Guru’s) grace
can have the crucial divine support to bring about a change of such
magnitude, and can do so as per the best or Absolute plan or divine
will. This is well elaborated in the teachings of Shri Ramakrishna
Paramhansa and Swami Yogananda, given in the Implied Meaning section
of Weekly Online Issues 176 and 177, respectively.
It is noteworthy that worshipping
and serving the unmanifest form of the Guru attracts far more grace
of the Guru than worshipping and serving His physical form or being
in His proximity. Hence, on this occasion of Guru Purnima, let us
resolve to devotedly do the spiritual practice of chanting The Lord’s
Name (unmanifest Guru) as per our religion and to serve the mission
of spreading Spirituality (unmanifest form of the Guru).
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