The Grace Of The Teacher

Monday, August 31, 2009,
Courtesy : Vedanta Vani, Chinmaya Mission

In the following four verses from the Narada Bhakti Sutras, we receive answers to some of the common questions generally raised by beginning spiritual students. They ask, how can we expect to pursue the uncharted spiritual life all alone when even in the material world we often gain success only through the help of others?, Who will help us?, How can we invoke the required guide? Is there any source or sources from which we can draw inspiration and receive, the required help from time to time?" If help were not possible, the courage to start on this heroic march to perfection would run out and we would hesitate. Such questions that may arise in the heart of the student are answered in the following verses:

Pure devotion is attained primarily through the grace of great souls and the divine grace.

(Sutra 38)

Among early spiritual aspirants it is an endless controversy whether divine grace alone can help them, or if the entire path is to be built up by their independent self-effort. The scriptures, however, are very clear about this. When the mind of a seeker is purified through self-effort, divine grace, will rush in to flood his life with light and joy. This fact is clearly repeated in all religions. Self-effort is required first - ask, seek, and knock. and divine grace will follow, "It shall be given to you".

Therefore only such practices which enable us to take advantage of the grace of the teacher or the Lord should be adopted by sincere seekers at all times and in all conditions. The means of developing devotion may be fully and diligently pursued and entirely accomplished in our lifetime. .

Beneficial Influence

In Hinduism, the guru's grace itself is God's grace, since the guru is none other than the Lord himself, expressing in a manifest condition so as to help the disciple.

To come in contact with great souls is indeed
extremely difficult; it is impossible to recognize them,
yet such a contact is infallible in its effect.

(Sutra 39)

Truly great souls are rare in any given period of history, and therefore, it is not always possible for all people to come in contact with perfect masters. Even when we come in contact with them, it is extremely difficult to recognize their greatness and tune ourselves, inconvenient entities. Many of the masters have been whipped, crucified, and destroyed by the general stampede of the foolish with their many material preoccupations.

The verse says that even though such perfect teachers are rare, and if we happen to meet them, it is difficult for us to recognize them, yet when we do come under their beneficial influence, the effect is infallible. Spiritual teachers have advised seekers to remain where they are, and with true devotion progressively purify themselves, keeping constantly a deep and consistent inner demand for a teacher. To such a seeker living the honest life of a spiritual student, the teacher will appear. Whoever be the guru, let the seeker understand that the teacher is none other than the Lord in a particular form. This is the only way to gain a guru.

When the right type of student - one who is fit for the knowledge meets a true teacher, the transformation that takes place in the student is almost miraculous and certain. If the student does not feel inspired after encountering a teacher, or does not notice changes in his life, understand that either the teacher is not a true teacher, or the student is not pure enough to be benefited. In either case, it is better that the student part with the teacher. Sri Narada says here that the influence of a true master is unerringly sure and infallibly helpful at all times to all sincere and serious students.