Meaning of the Guru.
The word ‘Guru’ is used in many different contexts today.
In truth, the word ‘Guru’ is derived from the language Sanskrit
and has a deep Spiritual meaning. Throughout our website any reference to ‘Guru’ indicates
the following:
If we break the term Guru into two syllables:
- ‘Gu’ refers to darkness assuming
the form of ignorance. Here, ignorance refers to one’s inability to
realize God’s presence in their lives and thinking that we are separate
from Him.
- ‘Ru’ refers to radiance in the
form of spiritual knowledge. This radiant spiritual knowledge dispels the
darkness of ignorance mentioned above.
Thus, the Guru is One Who with His radiance, dispels the darkness of ignorance
in His disciple.
The Guru has two aspects – the unmanifest and the manifest aspects
- The unmanifest aspect: Is also known as ‘The Guru Principle’. It is the Teaching Principle
of God that guides a seeker in his spiritual progress.
- The manifest aspect: Is the physical form of ‘The Guru Principle’.
Let us look at the spiritual level of a Guru, relative to the average human
and to God
Consider a scale of spiritual level from 1% to 100%:
- A 20% spiritual level is the spiritual level of an average
individual.
- A 100% spiritual level is the spiritual level of One Who has
merged with God.
- · A Guru is One Who has a spiritual level of at least 70%. He
is the manifest (human) form of the teaching principle of God who guides
those who have an intense desire for spiritual progress (a seeker*).
* A seeker, by definition, is one who makes daily efforts
with the motivation of spiritual progress and with spiritual progress occurring,
irrespective of his religion of birth and path of spiritual practice.