In this heartfelt address during the last Guru Purnima, Sadgurudev Anandmurti Gurumaa reflects on the Guru–disciple tradition, the stream of gyana, and the grace that flows through the lineage of sages. Let us mark this day by recognising the priceless value of the Master’s presence in our lives, and resolve to become true, worthy disciples.
Eternal Knowledge
On this auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima, I offer my heartfelt greetings to you all. We are indeed fortunate to have been born in this land of Bharat, where gyana is worshipped. And this gyana did not begin from any one individual – it is beginningless, divine, eternal, and infinite. Even when creation is not, when it dissolves into its unmanifest state, gyana still remains. Because it is the very nature of Brahman.
Now, the stream of that eternal knowledge flows in and emanates through the mind-intellect of certain human beings. Thus, a chronological order and tradition are formed. In this particular manvantara (age of Manu), the source of knowledge are the Saptarishis, the seven sages. That is why the hall in our Ashram has been named Saptarishi Sabhagaar, in honour of that lineage of Rishis through whom this stream of knowledge has flowed.
We have installed statues of the Saptarishis, so that we may remember them, offer gratitude for the grace they have showered upon us, and so that your young children may also come to know: who were our Rishis?
And in my vision, the Guru since beginningless time has been Shankar, Lord Shiva.
The physical bodies and names of the Rishis change in different manvantaras. But note that we don’t worship bodies. We worship and bow before that knowledge that came through the Rishi. And in reality, we are bowing to Brahman itself. One’s own nature – the Self – is of the nature of sat-chit-ananda; of bliss, of Parabrahman. One who has realised and become firmly established in this Truth has given true success to their birth.
In Ignorance from Birth to Birth
If this realisation hasn’t happened, then the jeeva (individual soul) will continue going through new births to experience karmic results; create new karmas, undergo their results, create new ones again – and this cycle does not end. This is what Adi Shankaracharya refers to when he says: "Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam punarapi janani jathare shayanam". The one who is your son today, might have been your father in some previous birth. The one who is your husband today might have been in a different relationship in another birth. Your children today are also the result of past relationships and karmic experiences, and thus, these bonds are formed again. It’s all a play of karmic experiences.
Today, you give sorrow, and the result will be sorrow returned to you. Today, you give happiness, and the result will be happiness returned. This game of maya is deep, complex and not easy to grasp.
A thousand times I keep telling you: awaken from ignorance, give up the sleep of delusion! Go into meditation, contemplate your true nature, free yourself from delusion and attachments. But are you doing that?
Guru-Shishya-Parampara
The relationship between Guru and disciple is very beautiful. The Guru holds the thread of the disciple’s mind and intellect in their hand. That’s why Guru is like Brahma, who nourishes and creates sattvic qualities and knowledge within us. Then, like Vishnu, the Guru protects our sadhana and state of gyana. And, as Shankar, the Guru opens our third eye and burns to ashes our confusions, doubts and adhyasa, establishing us in our true nature. The swaroopa of the Guru and the disciple is not different. On the level of the Self, the Guru is what you are.
A Guru is one firmly established in Brahman, versed with the shastras and part of the lineage of Rishis. One who has deeply listened to, reflected on, and practised the knowledge received through the shabda (sacred words), and has realised it through personal experience – aparoksha anubhooti. The one who has firm conviction in the Self as Brahman, and sees the whole world as a mere appearance of maya. That is the Guru’s conviction.
Master’s Only Task
The Guru is not the one who gets you a job, arranges your marriage, sets up your business or gets your transfer done. Guru is not the one who promises to cure your tumour or cancer. Guru is not the one who assures you of permanent happiness and comfort to your body, family, or worldly affairs. That is not the Guru’s job.
The Guru has only one task. Just as the Guru removed their own ignorance and confusion, attained abiding realisation of the Self, and realised the Supreme, in the same way, the Guru strives to remove the darkness and ignorance from the disciple’s mind. The one who makes you understand and removes your clinging, who establishes you in Truth – that is whom we call Guru.
That is why this full moon day of Guru Purnima is a most blessed day for a disciple, because though one worships one’s personal Guru, through that Guru, we are in fact worshipping the beginningless (anadi) Guru, and the entire lineage of Gurus. We are remembering and honouring all the Rishis, the great beings, all the Acharyas who spoke of Truth, who gave us inspiration, blessings, and strength to walk this path.
I Am Only a Flute
Right from childhood, I had the darshan, service, company and satsang of Vedantists and Gyani-Gurus within this lineage, who planted this seed. And within just a few years, they instilled this desire: “What you have understood, go and make others understand.” They would make people sit in front of me: “This one who has come to ask me today – I won’t answer their question. You answer them. What have you understood? Tell them.” I would say, “Yes, Maharaj. Your command. Because I am only a flute – it is you who plays it. As you wish, play.”
The flute doesn’t say: “I won’t make music.” The flute’s job is to remain in the hands of the flautist. When he wishes, he lifts it and plays; when he wishes, he sets it aside. So this has always been my conviction: this body, this mind, this intellect – all of it belongs to the Lord. However He wishes, He will make use of it. It’s His grace that He held my hand and led me on the path of knowledge and brought me into the company of Mahapurushas. It’s His grace that freed me from the bites of the serpent of ignorance, taught me detachment and how to live freely, in abandon and bliss.
Between you and me, there is only one thread – that of gyana, your love, and your faith. And my concern is that you don’t stray from the path of knowledge. I’m doing whatever I can – as much strength, intelligence, and power this body, mind, and intellect have, I have devoted it all in this cause, and will continue to do so. And for as long as God wills, this body will keep serving.
On the 58th birthday of this body, I was laughing. I said, “The government grants retirement at 59. So, I should also retire a year from now.” One gentleman argued, “No, the judges of the Supreme Court work till 65, so you too can’t stop yet.” I said, “Ah, so you’re giving me an extension till 65?” Then another one said, “Look, in one foreign country, two presidential candidates are 82 years old and still working. When a politician can work that long, then for you too, retirement at 65 is not an option.” Alright, this logic seems fair to me.
It seems to me that the prana will depart while seated on a stage and speaking to you, not before that. Because, perhaps God has engaged this body and prana in this very work. That maya-vishishta-chaitanya is getting the work done through His power and inspiration; it is all His. If I speak, the power is His. If I sing, the melody is His. If I remain silent, that silence is His. None of it is mine. Thus, on every Guru Purnima, my heart overflows with so much emotion.
Resolve and Prayers on Guru Purnima
On Guru Purnima, if you have the opportunity to be in the presence of your Guru, you may express your feelings, too. Bhava is from mind to mind. So if your mind holds love for the Guru, then that feeling will certainly reach me – it already does. Don’t worry about this at all. Don’t think too much about how to offer a tilak or garland with proper feeling.
And, may this thought, this resolve, stay deeply with you all day today: “May I become a good and worthy disciple. May all my faults be destroyed. May rajas and tamas dissolve, and may sattva increase. This is the prayer you must make today, on Guru Purnima. Whatever offerings you bring, I accept them all.
And my blessing for you: may your life be uplifted. May you walk the path of Truth and dharma, the path of meditation. May you turn away from sensory indulgence and attachment, develop vairagya and experience samadhi. May you realise the unity of Atman and Brahman. May you realise the conviction of Vedanta in this very life. This is my good wish for all of you, my prayer and my blessing.
