** Must Read ** Sri Sri's Message on Guru Purnima

July 03, 2012

Guru Purnima is celebrating and honoring the Guru Tattva

Boone, North Carolina

Ishwaro Gururatmeti Murti bheda Vibhagine, Vyomavad vyapta dehaya Dakshinamurataye namah.

(There is no difference between the Guru, Self and God. Obeisance to Lord Dakshinamurthy who is the personification of the Supreme Self that permeates through Space)

The Guru Tattva is like a child – innocent, intelligent, dignified, yet humble - all the qualities present in an infant, are the signs of the Guru Tattva. And honoring the Guru Tattva is honoring oneself, it is honoring life itself. And that is Guru Purnima – celebrating and honoring the Guru Tattva.

There is no difference between Guru, Self, and Divine. These three are One – your Soul, the Guru Tattva and God. And all these three are not the (physical) body. What is their body like? It is like the sky.

‘Vyomavad vyapta dehaya’ (Vyom = Space, Deha = Body, vyapta = to permeate).

You are not the body, you are the Soul, and the form of the Soul is like that of Space. The same is true for the Guru as well. Don’t think of the Guru as the limited physical body. The Guru is the field, the energy which is all permeating; so is the Self. And honoring the Guru is honoring your own Self.

There is a beautiful story from the Puranas; in the Indian Mythology.

Lord Shiva is the Guru of the entire creation. He is the Guru of all the Devas (Gods). He is called Adiguru – the Guru present from the beginning of time, and He is beyond time. So when Lord Shiva had a son – Karthikeya, he was sent to school to study and receive education from Lord Brahma. Narayanam Padmabhavam – Lord Brahma is Padmabhavam (One who is seated on a Lotus). Lord Brahma is also a Guru, and his Guru is Lord Narayana (Lord Vishnu), and Lord Shiva is the Guru of Lord Narayana. So just like a mother and father send their child to school or a Gurukul, Lord Shiva too sent his son to Lord Brahma to study and receive knowledge.

So Karthikeya went to Lord Brahma and asked him, ‘Please tell me the meaning of Om.’ Lord Brahma said, ‘First learn the alphabets! You are directly asking for the meaning of Om.’

Karthikeya said, ‘No I want to know the highest knowledge first – Om.’

Now Lord Brahma knew all about the alphabets, but he did not know the meaning of Om (the primordial sound). This is because his knowledge was limited to the ‘A’ part of Om. The ‘U’ sound belonged to Lord Vishnu, and ‘M’ belonged to Lord Shiva. So, Lord Brahma did not know completely about Om.

So Karthikeya said to Lord Brahma, ‘You do not know the meaning of Om, how will you teach me? I will not study under you.’ And Karthikeya went back to his father, Lord Shiva.

Lord Brahma told Lord Shiva, ‘You alone can handle your own son. I can’t handle him. If I say this, he says that. Whatever I say, he says the exact opposite of that. I won’t be able to teach him. So you decide what is best and handle him.’

Hearing this, Lord Shiva asked Karthikeya, ‘What happened, son? Lord Brahma is the Creator of the entire universe. You must learn from him’.

To this Karthikeya replied, ‘Then you tell me what is the meaning of Om?’

Hearing this, Lord Shiva smiled and said, ‘Even I don’t know.’

Karthikeya then said, ‘Then I will tell you because I know the meaning of Om’.

‘Then tell me the meaning since you know it’, Lord Shiva said.

‘I can’t tell you like this. You have to give me the place of the Guru. Only if you put me on the pedestal of the Guru can I tell you’, said Karthikeya.

Guru means he has to be on a higher position or platform. The teacher has to sit on a higher place and the student has to sit down and listen to him.

Now how does this get resolved? Where to seat Karthikeya? For there is nothing above Lord Shiva! He is the highest. He is higher than Mount Kailasa (heavenly abode of Lord Shiva) itself. Even Mount Kailasa is a seat below Him. What to do? Lord Shiva too didn’t know what to do. So then Goddess Parvati (Shiva’s consort) said to Lord Shiva, ‘You lift him onto your shoulders.’

So Lord Shiva lifted him on his shoulders and kept him high. And in the ear of Lord Shiva, Karthikeya gave him the meaning of the ultimate truth – What is Om?! The meaning of Om!

The symbolism here is that the Guru Principle (Tattva) is like a child. There is sweetness and innocence in the Guru Principle (Tattva). That Guru Principle (Tattva) had to be uplifted by Lord Shiva. Even Lord Shiva had to give that position to the Guru principle; above Himself, because Karthikeya has said that only in this scenario will he teach the knowledge.

It is like the water is in the well but to take a shower you have to pump it into the tank and only then you can take a shower. Like that a place had to be given.

Honoring the Guru Principle is so essential in life. When you honor it, it is honoring the Self.

So here, it is saying that the Guru Tattva is like a child – innocent, intelligent, dignified, yet humble - all the qualities present in an infant, are the signs of the Guru Principle (Tattva). And honoring the Guru Tattva is honoring oneself, it is honoring life itself. And that is Guru Purnima – celebrating and honoring the Guru Tattva.

Honoring the Guru is honoring the wisdom, the knowledge, innocence and love.

So then what did Karthikeya, the son of Lord Shiva tell Him?

He said, ‘Om means Love. You are Love, I am Love. Everything that is present here is Love and is full of it. Love is the essence and the nectar of it all. All that exists is Love.’ This is what Karthikeya said. So the meaning of Om came from that seat.

Make your life pure, sincere, and you will have no dearth of anything. I have set an example. In all these years, by thought, word or deed I have not done any harm to anybody. I want you also to handle your life with such delicateness and care. I am just telling you it is possible, it is not impossible.

So what did we take back today?

Love is the essence of life and it is so delicate. Love and Faith should be handled with care. And Guru’s body is made up of Love and Faith. That is the essence.

Guru Purnima is that celebration where you recognize the importance of Love and Faith, and know how to handle with care. Does it make sense?

Handle with care.

So, this story is very nice. The Guru principle is like a child.

I have said it before also; we have thousands of teachers around the globe. I would want them all to remember – Make your life pure, sincere, and you will have no dearth of anything.

I have set an example. In all these years, by thought, word or deed I have not done any harm to anybody. I have not said one bad word in all these years. I can’t take credit for it, I am like that. But I want you also to handle your life with such delicateness and care. I am just telling you it is possible, it is not impossible. And it is possible to live a pure life and still be successful in the world. Only then real success comes; when we tread the path of wisdom.

So, to all the thousands of teachers remember humility; be humble. Humility and Dignity! Be royal and dignified. Humility doesn’t mean being weak. That anybody can be, so humble and wiggly wiggly. And you don’t have to be stiff to be royal and dignified - Dignity with humility.

Did you get it?

Compassion with strength. Innocence and intelligence. Playfulness with wisdom. Purity with character. Strong with subtlety – usually something that is very subtle is not very strong. But delicate is different, isn’t it?

Guru means handle with care (laughter). Like how you mark all delicate stuff as ‘Handle with Care.’ Not fragile but handle with care.

Video: Talk by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Guru Purnima

Guruji's talk on Guru Purnima

Guruji's talk about Guru Poornima:
Montreal Ashram, Canada
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Be Righteous but not Assertive, if assertive then you get angry

Be Wise but don't blow your own trumpet

Honor Life in you, honor wisdom that life has taught, throw light on Wisdom, Life.
Be ready to be a fool also.
Observing little little things can teach u so many things

Coming out of our own bubble is Gurutatva -

Life is Guru. Life and Guru are inseparable.

Giver has given you in abandance, make use of the abilities and blessings, and more will come to u
Sometimes when we don't live in wisdom then its not Gurutatva

So show light to yourself , that is when guru tatva
When you think you are very good, then you become sad by asserting.

Be generous and don't show off.

Again and again and again recollect, intellect has to soak in it

This is Satsang. Satsang is what? Company of Truth, Wisdom in you.

Giver is not tired of giving, and make you feel that its all your own

You don't even feel that you have taken.

That is the beauty

Let the light in my life and wisdom around me always be there

Wisdom from Sri Sri: ‘Let the light in my life and wisdom around me always be there’

`Once you have come on this path, know that only something good will happen to you at every step'

Wisdom from Sri Sri: `Once you have come on this path, know that only something good will happen to you at every step'

Wisdom from Sri Sri: Guru Purnima 2010

Guru Purnima message by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Wisdom from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar updates

Service is doing what you can without expecting anything in return

Technology has made the globe a village and spirituality will make it a family

Guru awakens the height of awareness and intelligence, and not information

Q & A at Guru Purnima

Q. What is the story behind Gurupurnima?

A. - Acharya (teacher) gives knowledge and Guru gives height of awareness and makes you alive. Acharya gives information, Guru gives intelligence, an awakened intelligence. Mind is connected with moon. Full moon is completion, the pinnacle. On Gurupurnima the devotee wakes up in full gratitude. Devotee becomes like an ocean moving in itself. It's the time to come in fullness. It's a time to celebrate. It's also called "Vyasa Purnima". Vyasa had given knowledge on each and every subject. So in Gurupunima you remember all gurus of the past. It is the day when devotee arises in full gratitude, they turn back and see how they changed and developed in the last 1 year. They assess what lessons they have learned and how they are growing in knowledge. It's reviewing yourself in knowledge. Mind needs to be reminded again and again, so we review it.

Q. People blindly worship a Guru? Is it ok? Shouldn't they just worship the divine?
A. - Why does somebody adore someone else? In college, rock star, movie stars, sports players are adored. This adulation is part of human nature. Deep inside it is your ability to appreciate and honor good qualities. This adulation of Gurus has come down the ages. In the East, people took pride in their Gurus.There was a lot of respect but it's missing in the students now. They throw tomatoes at their teachers. We have now gone to the other extreme. When your life is full, you get a feeling of gratitude. You start with the Guru andend up adoring everything in life. Guru is just a beginning. In India there is a festival in October when people worship everything from cars, scooters etc. Everything is venerated. Divine dwells in every particle. In the East the tradition was that before cutting a tree, you have to plant 5 more. An innocent mind sees life everywhere. Life has to be honored, adored. If you cannot do this, then what else is left in life? It is so dry, just eat, drink and sleep.Whenever you praise, the praise goes to the divine. If you praise your Guru,the praise goes to the divine. When you praise someone, your own consciousness is expanding. So for your own sake, adore and venerate others.

Q. I feel like I want to be close to you and I don't know how. I love you.
A. - It is good, heart breaks and love flows. In the world out there heartbreaks and misery comes, but here when heart breaks, love flows and life blossoms. Good. Just assume you are already close to me and when you are smiling, when you do service, when you are in knowledge - you are so much close to me. And see more and more people get the benefit of this knowledge what you are having. Just turn back and see your life, how much it has changed as you did the practices, the meditations, your kriya and relate to yourself the person who was there before doing the kriya. What a big difference. Isn't it? How many of you feel you are not the same person. Almost everybody isn't it, so that benefit, that opening, we need to bring in others life as well, we need to do that.

Q. How to find a guru or choose a guru?
A. - Guru is too big for you to make. If you make Guru you are bigger than the Guru. Guru comes in your life in spite of your refusing or rebelliousness. Don't struggle to make a Guru. Just relax. Life keeps changing. Wake up and see. Feel grateful. Give all your garbage to the Guru. Guru makes gold out of garbage. Guru makes a fool intelligent. It is easy to make that change because every one is made up of that one thing.

Q. How to become a sincere devotee?
A. - Just you have to assume that you are really sincere devotee. You give grade to yourself. I am number 1 devotee. Nobodys like me. But dont think so and so is number 1 devotee and Im number 2. Each one of us should say Im number 1 devotee. Nobodys like me. Then that is how the devotion grows. If you think you are number 2, number 3, number 10, then that much, you will be away from the knowledge. You know this problem is there with many - that after basic course, you continue for sometime then you drop. Then afterwards it becomes very difficult. If you do an advanced course, it will bring you back in theknowledge.

Q. Guruji, you are the best.
A. - Only best can recognize the best.

Q. A devotee is very happy on getting a Guru, does the Guru feel the same happiness in getting a devotee?
A. - Seeing your happiness he gets happiness.

Q. I want a Guru mantra from you.
A. -That is there. Sudarshan kriya is there.

Q. Guruji, show me the path.
A. - Why? Why shall I show you the path? Im not so irresponsible. Ill take you to your goal. It's my habit. It's the age of aero planes and you are talking interms of bullock carts. You have sat in plane and your flight has taken off. Now, this plane will take you to your destination, you dont need to ask for the path.

Q. What quality should an ideal disciple have? Do you differentiate between disciples?
A. - Dont worry so much, just be like a child, and take life with ease. Yes, I differentiate between disciples and you are very special. Each one of you is unique and each one is special, so everyone is different.

Q. You are so wonderful, when can I become like you?
A. - First stop attempting to become like me. Second know that I m you.

Guru Purnima Talk, (July 21st, 2005)
Mother gives the first birth to a child. We come into the world through the mother. But second birth is through the teacher. Teacher delivers you the knowledge and skill. Today is the teacher's, the master's day. This is the second birth. Knowledge brings the second birth. Whether you want it or not everybody is Guru to somebody. We either teachothers what they should do or should not do. If we do good, we are teachingwhat they should do. If we do something wrong, we are teaching what they should not do by showing see how I'm suffering, so you should not do this. Everyone is an educator.We all play the role of teacher, a guide, a guru ... but when the spiritual knowledge is so total, that one is called Sathguru.(Then Guruji conducted Guru Puja. Somebody asked about Dakshinamurthy Story.) Haan, its a very nice story. Its about a teacher communicating knowlege to thestudent in silence. True wisdom is translated in silence. We don't need allthese translators, headphones etc., But that is when we transcend intellect. One level is through intellect and another through vibration. When you are Guru, you are always young, never get old. What is being young ?Young is always enthusiastic, alive, new, fresh. Its clean and fresh. Not stuckin opinions. Non-opinionated mind. Thats the sign of a good teacher. Keep youropinions aside. Take a fresh look at people, situations, then learning ispossible. Then you have knowledge.Dakshinamurthy is lord shiva. He is the young teacher. Five rishis sat around him and asked him questions. Everything was answered in silence. Thats what happens in meditation. All five senses get knowledge in silence. Thats thesymbolism of meditation. The deeper you go, fewer are the questions... there are no questions.Today bundle all your problems, questions, worries, doubts and put it here. Knowledge here on this path is here for a very special purpose. Each one of you is a light house for many people. This one thing you keep in mind. I'm not just somebody, I'm light, I'm glow. With all your heart, whatever you wish today, one wish and it will come true.

Guru Purnima Special

Wisdom from Sri Sri update on Guru Purnima