Disciple

In reality one’s soul, the Guru’s soul, God and Brahman are all one and the same. Hence one has to say that Godliness is the nature of the soul. When that nature of the devotee’s soul manifests itself it is referred to as The Lord’s or the Guru’s grace.

Since happiness is from the Great Illusion, it is temporary. Hence, one should not ask the Guru for it. Simultaneously one should bear in mind that granting everlasting Bliss is the real mission of the Guru.

When the Guru comes home one should decorate the house with flowers, lit lamps and by elegantly drawing designs on the floor with special white powder and colours (rangoli). One should remember Saint Tukaram Maharaj’s quote, “The day saints come home is in itself the day of Divali or Dasara”.

One offers obeisance to the Guru or saints by placing one’s head on Their feet instead of merely folding one’s hands in the obeisance (namaskar) posture. At that time, a saint often touches one’s back or head. This bestows an even greater benefit.

Since the Guru is an unmanifest (nirgun) principle one tends to neglect His physical form. In reality too service of the unmanifest principle is 70% important while that of the manifest (sagun) form is only 30% important. Most disciples start with the manifest and then go to the unmanifest.

A disciple may not be aware of the motive behind the Guru’s directives yet he is certain that whatever the Guru advises has a benevolent purpose. That is why a genuine disciple of the Absolute Truth carries out the Sadguru’s orders without a hint of doubt.

The only virtue responsible for the rapid acquisition of a Guru and the constant bestowal of His grace thereafter, is intense motivation for Liberation (mumukshutva) or intense yearning for a Guru.

The one who surrenders his everything, that is, his body, wealth and life unto the Guru and learns Yoga from Him (that is, practises Spirituality as recommended by Him) is called a disciple (shishya).