This beginningless play of the world has entrenched our minds, and it is only upon meeting a true Guru that one realises that life has been spent in forgetfulness. In this thought-provoking discourse, Pujya Gurudev Anandmurti Gurumaa reveals the essence of the Guru and, through a parable, illustrates the perpetual game of maya and a seeker’s predicament.
Who Is Guru?
Let us first examine the word "Guru" – a composite of two Sanskrit roots. “Gu” means darkness, and “ru” means light. The light that dispels your darkness is the Guru. Now, what is the source of this light?
On the physical plane, it is the sun that gives life and light. And in the spiritual sense, the giver of light is God (Parabrahman), who is eternal and immortal. The Source is the Supreme, and there will never be a time when this supreme consciousness is not.
All knowledge emanates from the Paramatman; therefore, Guru is the Paramatman, not a human being. Guru is knowledge and wisdom. But this Guru can manifest in, and express itself through, the mind-intellect of any human being. Whichever mind-intellect receives those rays of divinity, we call such a person a Rishi, a sage, a Mahatma. A Mahatma has come with wisdom, knowledge, divinity, and enlightenment. Such a person no longer needs to do any sadhana, as they are already accomplished. Out of compassion, they relate their message to those whose minds are still darkened.
Let’s understand it from a deeper perspective. When the divine Guru comes in the form of a Rishi, then who are these others with darkened minds, the ignorant ones? Well, that too is the Lord – what a game this is! Even an ignoramus is a form of that formless One, and a Guru too is its manifestation. And in any good game, there are always hints.
The Game of Life – An Illustration
Suppose you are part of a game. You are trapped inside a palace, amongst countless others, and you have to find the door and the code to open it. The code is already somewhere hidden in the palace. Those who find it can open the door. But only that person can pass through; it’s not possible to take anyone along. So everyone is looking and searching. This story will take a few twists and turns.
And here’s the hint: the person who knows the code is also among the players. First, you will have to find that person. Then, form a friendship and win their favour. If they are pleased with you, they will give you the code. Then you find the door, enter the code and step out.
Maya’s Enchanting Illusions
But there’s a catch. While you are searching for that person, the palace itself creates illusions. Suddenly, a beautiful damsel appears – or a handsome hunk – and there is food, clothing, and jewellery. It’s a wonderful place, with enchanting scenery and countless things to do. Men find women, women find men. And they eat well, have fun, go swimming, board aeroplanes and ships, gallop horses; they sleep, mate, and have children – and completely forget that they are imprisoned, that this is a game.
They forget that they were supposed to find the code and open the gate. And the game goes on. After spending your life like this, you die, but the game is not yet over. A new body is given, and the same mind enters. And once again, through this new body, you begin looking around at the beauty and charms.
Meeting the One Who Knows
The one who knows the code can be called “the Oracle”. The Oracle, with a large staff, moves about looking for people to speak to, helping them remember the purpose of the game they had forgotten. The Oracle says, “Come, sit with me and listen. I have something important to say.” But people retort, “Who are you? I have a beautiful wife. I have food to eat, money to make, and things to do. Don’t waste my time.”
People are busy, but the Oracle tries again and again. At last, the person listens. The Oracle says, “Sit with me, and look into my eyes. I am your true friend and have something important to say: whatever is happening is just a game. You are actually a prisoner, and you are supposed to find your way out.” The person says, “But why would I want to go out? My darling is here, my children are here – my whole world is here. Why the hell should I go out? You go out! Don’t bother me next time.”
Time passes. The person grows old and weary. He can’t walk, see or hear properly, and his once youthful darling is all wrinkled, with a crooked back. And the Oracle comes again: “Before this body falls, you need to do something.”
Are you following the story? You are the person, and the Rishi is the Oracle. This world is the palace, and like every game, it comes with hints and guides. When this world happens, the Oracle – the Rishi – is already there, ready to show you the way out. One who seems in no way related to you is in fact your truest and dearest friend.
Rishi Parampara
One with an illumined mind, knowing the passage in and out of the world, is called a Rishi, a sage, a saint. Since time immemorial, these Rishis have been doing their work. They are always looking for an able and eligible candidate to whom they can transmit this light.
As Sri Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita:
“I revealed this imperishable knowledge to Surya, who then passed it on to Manu and Manu, in turn, instructed the same knowledge to Ikshvaku. In this way, O Arjuna, the sages and saintly kings received this supreme knowledge through the ancient tradition, wherein knowledge is passed on in a successive chain. But, over time, the chain was broken, and it appeared as if the supreme knowledge had been lost to worldly beings. I am revealing that very mysterious, ancient, supreme knowledge to you, O Arjuna, because you are my devotee and dear friend.”
Until then, Krishna had been Arjuna’s cousin and bosom friend. They would wrestle, eat, bathe, sleep, and ride horses together. But now, the scenario changes. Arjuna sees Krishna in his other form. He bows down and says with folded hands, “I seek refuge in you. Krishna, be my Guru. I’m in a dilemma – I don’t want to fight and kill my family, but I don’t know what to do.” So, the roles change. The two friends become Guru and disciple.
There are many other such instances in history. For example, take Devahuti, who was instructed in Sankhya Darshan by her son Kapila. The son becomes the Guru, and the mother becomes the disciple.
In Yoga Vasishtha of the Adi Ramayana, there’s a story of Queen Chudala. She had Self-realisation, while her husband remained ignorant. He noticed her disappearing every night. One night, he secretly followed her. She went into the forest, changed into simple hermit’s clothes, sat under a tree in lotus posture, and went into deep meditation.
The king observed her the whole night. Only when the sun rose, she opened her eyes, changed her clothes and walked back to the palace. The king ran ahead of her and quickly went to bed, while the queen followed and gently slid into the bed, too. The king inquired, “What are you doing every night?” Queen Chudala said, “Though I am your wife socially, in truth, I belong to no one. I am a liberated one. I am just being in my true Self”. The king said, “Tell me more”, and the satsang began. The wife became the Guru, and the king the disciple, receiving the brahmavidya.
Thus, knowledge can express itself in any mind; there is no rule. Kapila was born with that knowledge, as were Vedavyasa, Agastya, and the Saptarishis. Their sole purpose was to help others find the path. These were individuals born with great light and wisdom, which didn’t come from books – books may give information, but not direct experience.
A True Friend
And such Gurus have always existed in this world and will always exist. This Earth can never be empty of saints, because that is how the very game of the world runs – many who forgot, and some who know. Otherwise, how will the game happen? What a leela – the Lord has made both gyanis and agyanis, seekers and Rishis. He is the one who is stuck, and He is the one who shows you the way out, too. This is a divine game.
The one who can show me this path and awaken me is my true friend. And if my mind forms a relationship with that person, one day, all my bondages will disappear. It’s intriguing that while worldly bonds pull you deeper into ignorance, bonding with the Guru lifts you above, freeing you from all shackles and burdens. Because in your divine Self, that is what you are: mukta, already liberated.
Truth Revealed
The biggest mistake you repeatedly make is to regard yourself as just a body, but this body is not you. You are the witness of this body and mind – the sakshi. The mind might have the most criminal or negative thoughts, but those thoughts belong to the mind, not to you. Once, the body was a child, then a teenager and then grew into an adult. It changes, but you don’t. The mind-intellect changes, but you don’t. Life and death happen, and you, the witness, are watching life and watching death. The one who witnesses death is immortal. The one who witnessed birth was never born. You are birthless. Never born, you will never die. That is what you are, in your purest form.
And this witness is not many; it is one. What I am, so are you. What you are, so am I. We are not two beings with common traits – it is one being appearing in two bodies, or millions. It is one existence appearing as all these countless forms. Swami Rama Tirtha says:
“Jo tu hai, so main hoon; jo main hoon, so tu hai.
Na koi aarzu hai, na koi justaju hai,
Mila Ram mujh mein, ab main Ram mein hoon.”
“The one who is You, I am. The one who I am, You are. Knowing this, now there is no desire or passion left in my mind. Now I have met Ram (God); Ram is in me, and I am in Ram.”
God, Guru, and I Are One
All this time, you have been thinking that the Lord is someone different and far away from you. But now, the Guru reveals that the Lord is right here in you; or rather, you are a form of God, or you are the Lord yourself – whatever you can digest, take that.
Every drop of water in the ocean is the ocean. In this way, the Guru and the shishya are not different. That is why, when you meet a Guru, you see the body. But when the Guru sees you, the Guru sees their Self. Thus, nobody knows you better than your Guru. People around you know either about your body or mind, but they don’t know about you, whereas the Guru knows you. You are khalsa – eternally pure. In your true nature, you are not different from God and the Guru – even if you say, “I don’t know God.” So, we don’t have to create oneness; it is already there. We only have to see it.
Once, an American was talking to a Chinese person. The American said, “Who are you?” The gentleman replied, “Hu.” That was his name! “But who are you?” “I am Hu.” “But who are you, crazy fellow?” hollered the questioner.
Wake up, and see who you are!
