11.25.2011

Reflections on the divine Guru

In this world of noise
I am left speechless
In this space within my mind
I am plundered by a million thoughts
In this journey to realize you
Am I lost in a sea of desires
In this search for enlightenment
I fall through the darkness of ignorance
Hounded by all my fears
I cling on to this single flame of divine faith
In the blackness of my reality
I look up to you, O Guru,
to help and guide me through

This is my world, suffocating, with thoughts undesired and endless events creatively stitched together by fate to make me realize the futility of this life and yet I get sucked into their elaborate web of occurrences. I jump from one event to the next accepting some and rejecting others with uncontrolled emotions, cursing the Gods for my existence, wishing every moment that it may be made better.

With a heavy heart I look at this lamp, whose warm flame flickers unconditionally bringing light into my otherwise dark world. There it is, so gentle and warm, so pure and calm as it glows on. It is a tiny drop of whiteness, of a heavenly bright light that seems to magically appear when I desire and disappear when I dont care enough. It has the power to light up my room, and even more, it lights up the darkness in my life. This is the divine light that shows me the path to the other side, more promising and magical than my predictable existence in this world.

I have been on that path before, it enchanted me with its beauty, with startling revelations and with divine promises of a mystical universe unknown to anyone who dares not take this path. It gave me peace and yet a strange excitement to look forward to more experiences of a different kind. Strewn with hardships, nerve racking experiences that could leave me destroyed for life; it dotted my world with small miracles that intoxicated my soul and gracefully ship me across to the other side.

Ah! What a world it is, embedded deep within my head with experiences changing the landscape of my thoughts making me believe that my imaginary world inside was fueled by these strange events outside, making me truly believe in this magic of life. As I faded away from the world of other people around me, as I drifted into my being, the world outside feels like a fruitless tree withstanding the illusion of torturous times.

I want my world back again, I want my divine Lord to dance holding this light of joy, this fire of divine knowledge. I want to feel his energy, his swaying presence in my heart lighting up the million flames of enlightenment deep within my soul. In the silence of this world, I want to listen to the rhythmic beat of his feet, look up in awe towards him and quench my mind's desire to observe him as his jatas sway and his damaru beats along as he moves.

I stare into the flames of this lamp, into the whiteness of this light, into the glow of its presence, and worship its power as the creator, preserver and destroyer of all that thrives in its presence.

Oh Lord, my divine Guru, guide me through these times and bring me back to this path of love and divine grace. Help me contemplate and reflect on your divine presence and fill my mind with your divine thoughts.

To this divine light, to the great Guru who shines in its flames, I bow in reverence hoping to see your true form some day.

27 comments:

lokesh said...

I don't have words to appreciate.
Really Fantastic.

ashok said...

Fantastic blog..loved reading ur posts...

JC said...

As per Sanatan Dharm, ie, 'Hinduism' in the 'present day' terms, in perhaps the 1080th Kaliyug during one day in the eternal life of Brahma, 'we' the innumerable apparent ever changing physical forms that apparently fill the infinite void of the universe, ie, Brahmand, literally Creator's Egg, (in reality the immortal souls), are symbolically get projected as innumerable images of the one and only immortal Shiva, the Supreme Soul or Paramatma, in His mind...

In this dream-like projection of images, as an outcome of 'dwaitwad', 'Gangadhar' and 'Chadrashekhar' etc. Shiva in human form is indicated as the model of Earth-Moon, with Moon graphically shown on His forehead...

In this make-believe chain of thoughts, 'We' the images also are made to imagine the Divine Guru as Natraj under whose right foot 'we' the 'Apsmmara Purush', the forgetful humans, are imagined, as reflection of dust under our feet as His models...

Thus, one is supposed to train the mind to realise oneself as the formless Supreme Soul itself, who is related with time and space zero, the believable Nadbindu, the original source of infinite energy...

Bart said...

Thank you so much, Kavitha-ji.

Your sensitive 'Reflections on the Divine Guru' reminded me strongly to my very first real God sent guru on my spiritual pathway of my present life: the Roman-Catholic priest, theologian and scholar in western mysticism, Pastor Dr. Jan Streng.

Thirty years ago I became for a few years weekly on the Thursday evenings during the winter season his guest and disciple in reading, understanding and commenting Jewish and Christian mystical texts in a friendly atmosphere. The next hymn he just had translated in Dutch from the Greek source then, for use in his book 'Voorbij het Denken'; 'Verkenningen in de Westerse Mystiek' (1982) in English it would run: 'Beyond Thinking; Explorations in Western Mystics', which he has written and published in the time, when I had the honor and fortune to be his sadhaka.

Jan Streng passed away for more twenty years ago, but I still harvest the fruits of his precious lessons. The main title of his book refers to this splendid poem here below, written by Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, (329 - 389); philosopher/theologian, orator, poet, mystic and monk, priest, bishop, Patriarch-Archmetropolitan of Constantinople and hermit. I have made the translation from Dutch into English. May it contain some answers, some comfort and some inspiration to you, dear Kavitha, and to all the faithful readers of your inspiring blog. Aum namah Shivaya! May God bless you all. Aum svasti astu |||·

Prayer to the All-Transcendent God

O All-Transcendent One!
What other name could describe you?
What words can hymn your praises?
No single word does you justice.
What mind can probe your secret?
No mind can encompass you.

You Alone are beyond the power of speech,
Yet all that we speak stems from you.
You Alone are beyond the power of thought,
Yet all that we can conceive springs from you.
All that speaks and that what doesn't speak praises you.
All that think and that what doesn't think worships you.

Cravings anywhere, labor everywhere,
All things yearn to reach you,
All things utter a prayer to you,
Whereas those who fathom your mystery,
Sing you the song of silence.

You sustain everything that exists,
And all things move together to your orders.
You are the goal of all that exists.
You are everyone's hope.
You are one and you are all,
Yet you are none of the things that exist
Neither a part nor the whole.

You can avail yourself of any name;
How shall I call you,
The one and only unnameable
All-transcendent God,
Whose Celestial Spirit penetrates
the most supreme layers of clouds?

Mercy upon me, O Thou, who art beyond all.
What else would be suitable to sing to you?

JC said...

Thank Shri Bart, It shows how east and west did meet spiritually in the past, thanks to the believable characteristic property of time,,, although in terms of material we might appear to differ in the present...

Anonymous said...

How about this alternative thinking!

I have all the +Ve and -Ve in life like many billions of people but that does not mean I need to believe in another human being as a so called Guru! somebody above other human beings or an "Agent" of god, semi god , Gods own incarnation etc etc etc
I will lead my life best to my ability as either given by God ( for believer or by Nature ( for atheist)
I respect teachers in any field including matters of philosophy religion etc but my respect stops when that person claims to be anything but being Human ( who in turn is subject to Kam, Krodha, Lobha, Matsar etc "Shadripu!)

Billions leave both happy and sad life without any need for this much maligned phenomena of "Guru" these people are no worst off from those who believe in such a questionable concept
"Iti shree" ( shre shree shree.......)

Brickbats expected


MJ

JC said...

Hi MJ!, You yourself have already indicated the Truth, of existence in 'Nature' of (+ ve) & (-ve), with reference to a '0' (a zero, ie, formless, of course)... Thus, on account of 'dwaitwad', or duplicity apparent in Nature, one experiences the opposites in all its aspects, viz. 'good', 'bad', and 'so-so' also, which goes without saying, and thus the real Guru is taken for granted! Guru means the one who, (with superior knowledge), removes the darkness (of ignorance), according to the esssence, "Lead the kindly light"! Thus, all your teachers from school/ college/ university etc level are/ had been Gurus who helped you rise higher in the hierarchy, at least in so far as knowledge is concerned... As human life is concerned, the earth supports all, and even insects, or animals, including the believable the best form of life, ie, humans, irrespective of whether they are a theist, or an atheist; or belong to any religion; and so on the human race generally believes based on the feeling of supremacy...
However, our ancestors, based on deeper analysis, reached the conclusion about existence of one and only Supreme Being as the Divine Guru, reaching whom only (in mind) one can receive 'enlightenment', or 'Nirvab', or 'Liberation', or 'moksha', ie, freedom of soul from birth-life-death- rebirth- etc cycle, the believable goal of human life on earth...
All the best!

Kavitha Kalyan said...

MJ,

The divine Guru is mostly not human :) and whats more, the divine Guru never claims to be super human :)

Thats the whole point of this argument on the Guru. I am so not talking about all the self proclaimed Gurus. This concept is different and cannot be explained in theory but needs to be experienced in practice.

Now you can well be an athiest and still be blessed with the presence of a Divine Guru :) The world works in strange ways you know.

SO there really is no alternate thinking. You and i at this point are almost thinking the same way. I know the existence of the divine Guru, maybe you are still searching :)

The concept in itself is not questionable, it is and it will always be. What is questionable is your faith, reaction, belief etc towards it. Find your way...

Kavitha Kalyan said...

Joshi Uncle [JC] wrote:
Hi MJ!, You yourself have already indicated the Truth, of existence in 'Nature' of (+ ve) & (-ve), with reference to a '0' (a zero, ie, formless, of course)... Thus, on account of 'dwaitwad', or duplicity apparent in Nature, one experiences the opposites in all its aspects, viz. 'good', 'bad', and 'so-so' also, which goes without saying, and thus the real Guru is taken for granted! Guru means the one who, (with superior knowledge), removes the darkness (of ignorance), according to the esssence, "Lead the kindly light"! Thus, all your teachers from school/ college/ university etc level are/ had been Gurus who helped you rise higher in the hierarchy, at least in so far as knowledge is concerned... As human life is concerned, the earth supports all, and even insects, or animals, including the believable the best form of life, ie, humans, irrespective of whether they are a theist, or an atheist; or belong to any religion; and so on the human race generally believes based on the feeling of supremacy...
However, our ancestors, based on deeper analysis, reached the conclusion about existence of one and only Supreme Being as the Divine Guru, reaching whom only (in mind) one can receive 'enlightenment', or 'Nirvab', or 'Liberation', or 'moksha', ie, freedom of soul from birth-life-death- rebirth- etc cycle, the believable goal of human life on earth...
All the best!

abhilash warrier said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Ar.B.L.Srivastava said...

No word to express He is declared as the best saint, who is not blind, himself with joy. When honored and does not angry when insulted and also does not speak harsh words when angry to express

Ar.B.L.Srivastava said...

No word to express He is declared as the best saint, who is not blind, himself with joy. When honored and does not angry when insulted and also does not speak harsh words when angry to express

Anonymous said...

Hello Kavitaji
I would like to keep it simple
The issue arises when one starts assigning a good teacher respect beyond what just another human being should be given and thus the journey of Guru business starts.. where that person becomes "Person not be touched by laws of the society"
" Person whom you must not question" etc etc which in simple terms I equate to "Andhshradha"
You mentioned my example of all my good teachers being Gurus.. yes that is correct but the million $ question is My respect foe them is only for their knowledge and their attitude .. I ( and many ) DO NOT put them on a pedestal such as the so called "Gurus, Mata and Maharaj are.

You say "However, our ancestors, based on deeper analysis, reached the conclusion about existence of one and only Supreme Being as the Divine Guru,"

What if I don;t agree with everything that our ancestors laid down! for a simple reason that they might have done this for self service!
I mean lets be frank here If you go to so called Guru and say Look I will listen and understand what you are saying if I agree with it I may follow but at no Point you ( as a fellow human being) is anything but that a human being"
As soon as people like me say this we are either labeled atheist or we are told " Oh you are influenced by the west.." the typical East / West bashing

So further to your comment "reaching whom only (in mind) one can receive 'enlightenment', or 'Nirvan', or 'Liberation',"

I would say I may ( "may" because whom know if can or not) reach the same goals without having a blind faith in the concept of " Guru is always required, is divine etc etc

I am a prod Hindu but that does not mean I have to swallow all this "Andhshradha" rubbish
Once i asked a very learned disciple of a world famous Guru… “ Dear Mr. disciple.. if your so called GURU can produce “Vibhuti” from thin air.. why does he not produce 10 hospital beds or 5 agri equipment” so that poor people can be helped … so instead of doing all these “Chamtkars” why does he not devote to just doing service!
The answer was so evasive ( Oh you have not understood the real work of the Guru … etc etc .
Most insulting behaviour of the “Believers” is they take a high ground and when asked very logical questions throw evasive lines like these or Insult the existence of people who ask such logical and legal questions by indicating that “ you life will be incomplete without a guiding hand of a Guru”
What rubbish…people like me are no better or worst of than people who find the Need to believe is such things.
MJ

Anonymous said...

Furthr kavitaji
Your comment
"SO there really is no alternate thinking.You and i at this point are almost thinking the same way.

MJ: No mam I don't think so we are actually exactly at 180 degrees apart

" I know the existence of the divine Guru, maybe you are still searching :) "

MJ: Once again no mam I am not because I don;t need one... as explained earlier as a human being I just keep doing what good I can do in my life....infact I am very happy to expose all the " Andhshradha" that goes with this Guru business.

JC said...

Dear Shri MJ, If words could convey the difference between the sweetness of say Mango vis-a-vis a banana, 'we' would not have innumerable views ("Hari anant, Hari katha anantaa/ khahi, sunahi bahu vidhi sab santa", ie, 'As many mouths, so many views (?)"... In one of the Upnishads, also one might come cross words of our wise ancestors (explaining the concept of time moving from Sat Yug to Kalilyug), to the effect, how in the beginning the 'devatas', souls (selfless persons) were satisfied just by vision/ However, the 'rakshashas' polluted the sense of vision,,, and so on indicating the grand design, whereby all physical senses became polluted...:),,, and the 'present' as per the observation that even Ganga has become polluted, or/ rather all the material world has reached a state of no return, perhaps, as there are 'negative' forces that appear to overrule whatever corrections are proposed by the well meaning persons...and so on...tending towards Brahma's Night, that believably follows His day...

NB> Even 'Google' is playing the truant like 'Sita-haran' by the filthy-rich Ravan, it is making 'my' comments in some blogs to disappaear... That's why Kavitaji had to repost my comment :)

May 'God' bless our souls (RIP!)...

Bart said...

"This is the Kali Yuga, even rakshashas will incarnate as teacher to mislead you. Those who must be destroyed by these demons will be.
You must test your Guru! Look at heir Peace, their lineage and their teaching. Without Inquiry there is no Teaching."

Sri H.W.L. Poonja aka Papaji (1910 - 1993) in 'THIS'; 'Prose and Poetry of Dancing Emptiness'; p. 93

Kavitha Kalyan said...

MJ, and everyone else.

The unfortunate thing is that you are still looking at the Guru to be a human being. You are still looking at the potential Guru to be a rouge and a person whom you doubt. You are looking at the Guru as a person [human form] to be put on a pedestal and worshiped like a God following his orders blindly. You have not yet learned the art of surrender consciously.

My point is none of this. Read my blogs again.

My Guru for one, is not in human form. My guru was once a great sage who adorned the seat of the Shankara. My Guru knows the path and I will surrender my entire being and purpose of living to him. Because I know, what he teaches is profound and without any selfish motive, his teachings will lead me into the path of the lonely, He will never let me down.

I have a simple question for MJ. When you were a kid in school, did you doubt your teacher or did you go to school every day surrendering to your teacher believing that what ever they taught you was the right education? You have already been there... you have done it. You just have to repeat it now with a teacher who is conceptual and in the head. Do it if you can, leave it if you cant. But frankly, with doubt and lack of faith in your mind, there is no room for the Guru to even visit.

I agree with your thought of "i dont need a guru", I agree with the thought of no andhsradha with a Guru who is human... i agree with all that in today's world, but leave your faith and surrender to the Divine Guru in the mind. You have not been there ... have you?

Anonymous said...

Kavitaji
Can we talk about practical things ...
On one hand you say you are talking about a non HUman guru and on the other you say surreender to him
What exactly are you referring to?

How earth one has to realise that your posting was not about the "HUman " Guru? unless you specify it in the teh post clearly!!!!!!!

In any case I would like to answer some of the things you mentioned

KK:"When you were a kid in school, did you doubt your teacher or did you go to school every day surrendering to your teacher believing that what ever they taught you was the right education? "
The answer is very simple as my ( like anybody else) understaning of things around me grew I started QUESTIONING the teacher whenever I thought I was correct
So my acceptance of the teacher was not blindfolded...
Whereas from what you say it seems that you are proposing that "One must surrender to the teacher" without Questioning!
In any case since you are talking about non human type of Guru... It is even more confusing
and whatever the form to suggets that one cna only be happy if one surrenders to this concept is a classic example of "Andhshradha" and it is insulting to others
Sorry Mam...to use these harsh words but time and again when this discussions comes up believers always evade the question
for example Mr JC... in your post did you even try to answer one question I raised.. whatever you have written what that has to do with what I had raised!
May be God only knows......
or in your case your "Guru"
MJ

Kavitha Kalyan said...

MJ

Nothing will ever be explained to you clearly, not in my blog at least. Its for you to identify with it and pick it up to the best of your understanding.

You have your views, thats fine, but on my blog I expect that you maintain a level of politeness with all the other members visiting. If you have a point, say it, but watch the tone. Address all those commenting here with respect. They are far older to you and have to be treated with respect.

If you dont understand things or you dont agree, you dont have to lash out at the others. And if people dont give you a reply to your question, look for your answer else where, where it will be pronounced to you and you wont have to take any trouble to understand it yourself.

Anonymous said...

Mam
I have no intention to heart you you or others ...all I was doing was to call spade a spade
But when I read "Nothing will ever be explained to you clearly, not in my blog at least"
I get the message, this blog is for those who are believers only
O.p point of view is not really welcome!
Apology if I have heart anybody but my question stands..

Kavitha Kalyan said...

Your points of view are welcome, and this blog is meant for those who have understood a certain amount of life and its inner meaning with respect to how Hinduism is structured or are at least willing to know...

And yes, you can call a spade a spade but keep in mind that you do it politely and not harshly. You are not unwelcome here, and you have a right to your point of view, but expecting people to answer you the way you want it, doesnt work.

I am not telling you to go away, but be gentle please.

JC said...

Shri MJ, 'I' have no problem in replying to 'your' specific questions...

Because it is apparent that you haven't done your home work, and appear to have no idea about 'Hindu' Mythoogy, Upnishads, and so on, 'I' would, like you first to seek answers to 'your' doubts from Ms Kavitha's posts and 'my' comments, as well as those of other 'foreign' visitors too, ie, 'seekers', in the different posts from, at least in 'my' case in Kavitaji's blog itself, since February '05... 'I' could give reference of 'my' writings in some Hindi blogs too to any 'seeker'...

Otherwise, with reference to the expression of human life on the earth, and earth itself, as 'mithya' or a lie, a market where only lies are sold, or a film-like illusion, it is like entering the hall only when a film has reached a stage, say after interval, and wanting to comment on the whole film just by seeing a part of the film - and soon there is 'The End' gets projected on the screen...
'I' am sorry to say that 'We' are apparently heading towards experiencing the end of Kali yug...!

Bart said...

Adi Shankaracharya's: 'Shri Dakshinamurti Stotram' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7szrz6auvc

JC said...

Thanks, Shri Bart!
The Hindu Philosophy about 'Truth' (as expressed in "Satyam Shivam Sundaram", ie, Shiva alone is the truth/ And Shiva alone is beautiful') is that it does not change with time. although it's well known, "Old order changes/ Yielding place to new"...

And, also it is said, "Guru Brahma/ Guru Vishnu/ Guru Devo Mahesh/ Guru sakshat Param Brahma/// Tasmai Shri Guruve namah"...

The above said conveys the three aspects of the formless Guru, ie, creation of innumerable temporary physical forms, sustenance of each of the forms with sound energy ('Om', ॐ, ie, numeral three with moon and mars depicted graphically on the head and tail respectively), for a certain predetermined duration according to its requirement, and its destruction for transformation in to a different physical form (as 'scientists' also find energy to be indestructible, but possible to undergo transformation from one from to another: Heat, Light, Sound, Electricity, and Magnetism)... and so on...

JC said...

In 'Bhagawadgita', an age old compilation in 18 Chapters by advanced Yogis (who indicate man as fusion of an independent energy form, the soul that's embedded within the material forms (reflected in the phenomenon of entrapment of air' in 'water', or air filling the voids in stones, say) that are composed of essences of nine members of 'our' solar system: in different proportions to reflect the variety apparent in 'Nature'... And, at a certain point in time, 'Krishna' is depicted to inform the layman that He is seen within all human beings because of 'Maya' that is illusion. Although the entire creation is within him, that is his Superior, or perfect Divine form (the formless universal void, the 'Brahmand', ie, literally 'Creator's Egg' to a 'Hindu' (by thought)...

JC said...

The concept of GURU, the Superior, can also be visualised through the 'present day' knowledge of 'scientists' or 'astro physicists', ie, Copernicus finding in the Christian Era, that SUN is the central driving force of the innumerable members of our planet earth, as well as other members of our Solar System! (While ancient 'Hindus', came to the conclusion about man as the model of the universe, and was made from essences of nine members of our solar system - from the basic source of energy Sun to the cold Saturn, the ring-planet, considered as the most evolved physical form and thus called the 'Son of Sun', reflecting the saying, "Child is the father of man")...

That is, contrary to the common belief till that time - that as far as appearances go, earth remains immobile, and the sun moves around it from the direction east to west - it was the rotation of earth (and other planets too around their own respective axes) in front of the relatively fixed sun around its own relatively tilted axis from west to east that was responsible for day and night to occur one after another in a repeated cycle! While seasons occurred due to its revolutin around sun in its own elliptical orbit, and similarly by other planets too...

And, it's an undeniable fact that ancient 'wise Hindus', the 'Siddhas', were all rounders, and are believed at least to have been advanced astronomers/ astrologers, and would have learned about the Truth about solar system vis-a-vis human life much more than the 'modern scientists', to have shown EARTH as the centre of our universe (ie, the universal void or 'Brahmand' that continues to expand eternally)...

Thus one could perhaps imagine Sun as the Guru: The source of light, for 'enlightenment' of students, ie, the other eight numbers planets that are attracted to it in different orbits, and having planet Mercury (Buddha to Hindus) closest to it... however, the system was believed to work for sustenance of the innumerable varieties of 'life forms' that exist on earth, but different species having limited life-spans, and are not permanent like the solar system members that are in existence for over 4 billion years today, and are likely to continue indefinitely, ie, as long as Hydrogen gas stored in sun's nucleus doesn't get exhausted...Thus 'Gangadhar & Chandrshekhar Shiva' who has Ma Kali in His heart, ie, our earth, and gravitational force concentrated at its (Vasudha,s) centre or core could still be imagined as The Gurus Mahesh & Vishnu respectively while Sun is Guru Brahma (and the centre of our Milky Way Galaxy that is responsible for holding our solar system as the image of the universal void...

Raju said...

I miss you guys for few days.....great discussion going on..i really missed it....
Hi Anonymous....great to see you...all your questions and doubts are nice.....i wish to tell you the below.....
Master told that spirituality is a science of beliefs and personal experiences...those who believe it only, will try to explore it and so as only those who try, may get something out of it,if….
So if you don’t believe , nothing wrong. Else you have a great chance since you are a human being you have chance to exploit the world of gods/demi gods etc…. if you want.
One great sage( may be shyamananda lahiri , dint remember exactly) famously state that : instead of wanting to see the brahmam. Which has characteristics of void, he want to see a kid , holding flute in his hand surrounded with boys and girls playing in the sands of yamuna river.
The above statement shows the major differences between the believers in India( as you said that you are a Hindu you will understand it for sure) . many sanyasa traditions says to try for nirvana and few traditions like radha-krishna says to love the god with out conditions.
Even if you don’t believe all this, fine no issues. Just read Mahabharata, the book of lifestyle. it Suggests to take sanyasa in the old age , may be after 55-60 years try for any spiritual things. If you believe.
Many traditions in India like shakthi,shaiva,vaishnava, vinayaka , radha-krishna etc …though different in their practices, are common in one thing….that is guru….for spiritual advancement you need guru.
Guru is the highest of the all.

For you it may be seen as andhasradha but for believers he is more n great even than god .

Believe, you will be taken care for sure,if!

thnx.
kumar