Gurus and Disciples, Part 3 of 5 — Finding Your Guru

There is a common belief that you will know your guru when you meet. Lights will go off, bells will ring, thunderbolts of shakti will skyrocket you into instantaneous enlightenment. There may be a few people in an age for whom this kind of thing happens, but not only is this uncommon, such phenomena can be deceptive.

I am a perfect example of someone who accepted thunderbolts, lightening and a pounding heart as a sign of having found my guru, only to discover that someone else was destined to teach me. I was lucky. I caught on fairly soon.

The person who became my teacher and acted as my guru did not seem like my teacher at first. I did not see what I expected to see, feel what I expected to feel, but once I had settled on him as my teacher, I set about cultivating devotion for him. I was uncomfortable at first because of my own history and conditioning, but such things should not be allowed to run one’s life. I had a brilliant teacher, but I nearly missed the obvious for chasing rainbows.

The Good Ones

A good teacher will know that your commitment to the path is a deal you make with yourself. A good teacher will not try to clone cow-eyed duplicates, sell secrets, demand all of your money, or try to control you. A good teacher will not try to rid you of your ego by attacking it, or exonerate fellow students of abusive behavior towards you in the name of eradicatingyour ego, for abuse of any kind only makes egos bigger.

A good teacher will make an effort to start teaching you “from where you’re at with what you’ve got,” and not expect you to be somewhere you’re not. While you may hear the teachings of your path described in their highest form, a good teacher will understand that you are in the midst of attempting to get to that place, that you’re not already there, but are in pursuit of guidance to that end. Otherwise, why would you need a guru?

Anyone can claim to be a guru, but it is ultimately the disciple who determines the guru. If you decide that a certain individual is your guru and that person accepts you as a disciple, that person is your guru. You were the one who chose the guru.

The Three Categories of Gurus

Gurus come in three varieties. The guru of the first variety knows about yoga and has knowledge of the scriptures. These gurus are scholars and do not actually practice yoga, but by giving talks and lectures, they inspire others to seek out yoga.

The second variety of guru is one who practices yoga but has not reached the highest state. This guru initiates seekers into various techniques. Because this guru has not mastered all the steps of yoga, his or her guidance and teaching will go through changes as the guru progresses. In this situation, students must adapt to these changes by accepting the later teachings.

The third is a siddha guru who has realized all the steps of yoga, has reached the highest state, and has knowledge of yoga science. Under the guidance and protection of such a guru, disciples can delve wholeheartedly and fearlessly into yoga practice.

In the Guru Gita, seven types of teachers are mentioned, further breaking down these three varieties into more detail as to what is out there to be found, ranging from preachers and scholars to the rare and illusive paramguru who is beyond having completed the stages of yoga and is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to find (if you run into one, let me know).

Shopping Tools

In order to shop for a teacher, to find “the guru who is meant for you,” you need to know yourself.

Now, that sounds like a no-brainer, but the truth is, hardly anyone truly knows this—knows their own mind, feelings, the motivations behind their actions, and the difference between these, or that there even is a difference.

Most people rarely give a thought to these things, yet they believe that they are these things: mind, body, feelings, actions, personality, etc. So, if you haven’t already done so, start paying attention to you.

People everywhere are seeking empowerment. This is a good thing. What is not so good is that most people don’t have a clue as to what power really is, much less how to access it. Most people think of power as synonymous with control. It is not.

I’m going to tell you something that will empower you if you just take it and run with it: (1) Your power is inherent and unlimited. (2) The basis of your power is yourability to choose.

Conscious choice is fundamental and the key to everything, including successfully finding your true guru.

Namaste,

Durga Ma

durgama.com

Gurus and Disciples, Parts 1 - 5

Part 1 - What Is a Guru?

Part 2 - The Guru-Disciple Relationship

Part 3 - Finding Your Guru

Part 4 - Gurus Who Abuse

Part 5 - Shaktipat