Guru Ka Mahattva - Book Summary

This document is an article by Sushila Bohra titled "Guru ka Mahattva" (The Importance of the Guru), published in the Jinvaani journal on January 10, 2011. The article emphasizes the profound significance of a guru in both secular and spiritual life, with a particular focus on the Jain perspective.

Here's a comprehensive summary:

The Divine Status of the Guru:

The very word "Guru" commands respect and reverence.
A guru is seen as someone who dispels the darkness of ignorance and leads disciples to the light of knowledge.
Gurus are equated with divine beings, being compared to Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara, and even considered the ultimate Brahman (the supreme reality). The article quotes a Sanskrit verse: "Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshvarah. Guruhi Sakshat Param Brahma, Tasmayi Shri Gurave Namah" (The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru is the great God Maheshwara. The Guru is verily the Supreme Brahman, salutations to that Guru).

Distinction between Parental and Spiritual Gurus:

Parents give birth and provide physical sustenance, but gurus shape one's life.
While parents show us the material world, spiritual gurus are even more revered as they guide us towards the path of liberation (moksha), thereby ending the cycle of birth and death. This liberation is described as a state free from birth, old age, death, disease, sorrow, suffering, poverty, karma, physical form, attachment, and illusion.

Broad Definition of a Guru:

Anyone who removes ignorance and brings forth the light of knowledge is a guru.
In a general sense, anyone from whom we learn something is a guru, whether they are a spiritual or an educational mentor.
Educational gurus impart knowledge for earning a livelihood, whereas spiritual gurus teach the ultimate goal of life, providing a simple path to achieve it.

Jain Criteria for a True Spiritual Guru:

The article outlines specific qualifications for a true spiritual guru from the Jain perspective, citing a verse from "Jain Tattva Prakash":

Knowledgeable (Gnani): Possessing true knowledge.
Detached from Actions and Possessions (Arambha Parigraha Virata): Abstaining from worldly endeavors and accumulation.
Control over Senses (Panchindriya Sanvarano): Having mastery over the five senses.
Upholder of Celibacy (Navaviddha Brahmacharya Guttidharo): Adhering to the nine types of chastity and restraint.

Such gurus live a faultless life and, without any self-interest, inspire others to follow the same path.

The Guru as a Guide and Savior:

True gurus are those who can themselves cross the ocean of existence and can guide others to do the same.
They provide correct knowledge of principles, differentiate between auspicious and inauspicious paths, and clarify the difference between merit (punya) and demerit (paap).
They are the "ship" that helps one cross the ocean of worldly existence.
The article describes such gurus as detached from desires, possessing the wealth of equanimity, diligently working for the welfare of themselves and others, and performing the difficult penance of self-sacrifice without regret. These wise ascetics alleviate the world's suffering.

Critique of Modern "Gurus":

The article laments the state of modern education and spiritual leadership:

Educational System: Many modern teachers/gurus in schools and colleges are merely nominal, not teaching effectively and instead focusing on lucrative tuition, making them unfit to be called gurus.
Religious Leaders: Even some individuals claiming to be religious gurus are criticized for amassing wealth through religious discourses and sermons. The article questions how disciples of such gurus can develop qualities of morality, good conduct, integrity, and honesty. These gurus are deemed unable to lead others to salvation.

The Importance of a Detached Guru:

A greedy guru cannot guide others to liberation. Only one who is himself liberated can help others.
To achieve liberation, one must choose a guru who is free from greed. Otherwise, a self-centered guru will drown himself and his disciples.
The analogy of a cat making a heron its guru is used to illustrate that a guru must have the right qualities. Both a cat (preying on mice) and a heron (preying on fish) are driven by their nature and their pursuit of sustenance. Similarly, some self-serving gurus may engage in false displays and festivals to gain personal prestige and benefit from their disciples.
A Marwadi proverb is cited: "Guru kije jaan kar aur pani pije chhan kar" (Choose a guru with awareness, and drink water after filtering it), emphasizing the need for careful selection of a guru with one's own spiritual well-being in mind.

Characteristics of a "Self-Enlightened" Guru:

The article lists the qualities of a guru focused on self-realization:

Self-Knowledge (Atmagyan): Possessing knowledge of the self.
Equanimity (Samadarshita): Maintaining a balanced state of mind towards all beings and situations (friends/enemies, joy/sorrow, honor/dishonor).
Awareness of Karma (Uday Prayog): Acting with awareness of the effects of past karma.
Profound Speech (Apurva Vani): Having unique and insightful speech.
Mastery of Scriptures (Param Shrut): Being well-versed in spiritual scriptures.

The Guru as a Source of All:

The article reaffirms the guru's paramount importance through a Sanskrit verse that considers the guru as mother, father, brother, friend, knowledge, wealth, and indeed, everything, equating the guru with the divine: "Tvam Ev Mata Cha Pita Tvam Ev, Tvam Ev Bandhushcha Sakha Tvam Ev. Tvam Ev Vidya Dravinam Tvam Ev, Tvam Ev Sarvam Mama Deva Deva" (You are indeed the mother, you are the father. You are indeed the kinsman and the friend. You are indeed knowledge, you are wealth. You are indeed everything, O my God of Gods).
Examples of figures who acted as gurus in various capacities are mentioned: Queen Madalasa as a mother, Krishna as a father and husband, and Mahasati Chandana as a spiritual guide.

The Guru's Role in Dispelling Ignorance:

The article reiterates the guru's power to open the eyes of those blinded by ignorance with the "collyrium stick of knowledge," providing true inner vision: "Agyan Timirandhanam, Gyananjanshalakaya. Chakshurunmilitam Yen, Tasmayi Shri Gurave Namah" (To him who opens the eyes of those blinded by the darkness of ignorance with the collyrium stick of knowledge, salutations to that revered Guru).
Such revered gurus are those who, while living in the body, are detached from bodily attachments and are absorbed in the essence of the self.

Devotion and Surrender to the Guru:

The article emphasizes the importance of surrender to the guru, stating that the root of meditation is the guru's form, the root of worship is the guru's feet, the root of mantra is the guru's word, and the root of liberation is the guru's grace: "Dhyanmulam Guroh Murtihi, Pujamulam Guroh Padam. Mantramulam Guroh Vakyam, Mokshamulam Guroh Kripa" (The root of meditation is the Guru's form, the root of worship is the Guru's feet. The root of mantra is the Guru's word, the root of liberation is the Guru's grace).
The story of Ekalavya is presented as an example of profound devotion and surrender. Ekalavya, a poor orphan, learned archery by creating an idol of his guru, Dronacharya, and practicing in his presence. When asked for his thumb as guru dakshina by Dronacharya (to maintain Arjun's superiority), Ekalavya selflessly offered it, etching his name in history.
The example of Maharaja Harishchandra donating his entire kingdom to his guru, Vashishtha, is given. His unwavering faith that the guru's demand was for his own good led to his immortal fame as the truth-telling Harishchandra. Such divine fruits are a result of such faith and devotion.

The Guru's Discretion in Imparting Knowledge:

Gurus impart knowledge and receive guru dakshina only from those they deem worthy.
The article uses the analogy of lioness's milk, which can only be preserved in a golden vessel, to explain that not every disciple can digest true knowledge.
It mentions the instance of Bhadrabahuswami not revealing the full secret of the last four Purvas to Sthulibhadra, even after extensive training, due to concerns about his readiness.

The Guru's Role in Overcoming Inner Enemies:

The article quotes Acharya Ratnasekar Suri, highlighting that true self-reflection and self-realization are not possible without the direct guidance of a guru and unwavering devotion to the Tirthankar deities.
Internal enemies like pride (mana) and attachment (maya) are difficult to conquer through self-effort alone. Pride and ego can arise if one studies independently. However, by surrendering to a true guru, these impurities can be overcome with relative ease.

The Guru's Power to Correct and Guide:

The story of Shri Siddhasen Diwakar, the author of the Kalyanamandir Stotra, is recounted. He left his Jain guru to study Nyaya philosophy with Buddhist gurus and was even offered a position as a Buddhistacharya. However, a reminder of his original guru's parting words led him back. Upon returning, his guru gave him the Dashavaikalik Sutra to study. As he read it, the veil of ignorance lifted, and he returned to his guru's feet.
Gurus have the power to guide errant disciples and lay followers back onto the righteous path.

The Ultimate Importance of the Guru:

Kabir Das is quoted as saying that those who disrespect their guru are blind and ignorant. The guru is the abode of God, and if the guru is displeased, there is no refuge in the world.
A story of Gautam Swami, a disciple of Lord Mahavir, is shared. Even after attaining omniscience through Gautam Swami's teachings, the disciple continued to show the same respect and devotion to his still-worldly guru, Gautam Swami. This profound humility was evident when the disciple, about to enter the assembly of omniscient beings in Lord Mahavir's presence, was stopped by Gautam Swami. The disciple remained silent, and Lord Mahavir explained to Gautam Swami not to disrespect an omniscient being. This illustrates the immense respect and humility shown to a guru.
The article concludes by stating that the guru shows the path to becoming "Govinda" (the liberated soul). This is why, in the Namokar Mantra, Arhants are bowed to first, followed by the Siddhas.
The famous saying is cited: "Guru Govind dono khade, kaake lagoo pay. Balihaari guru aapki, Govind diyo bataay" (If both Guru and Govinda [God] are standing, whose feet should I touch first? My salutations are to the Guru, who showed me the way to Govinda).

In essence, the article by Sushila Bohra profoundly emphasizes that a true guru, especially in the Jain tradition, is an indispensable guide, a spiritual father figure, and a divine embodiment who leads individuals from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge, and ultimately towards liberation. The article strongly advocates for discerning and choosing a guru with utmost care and highlights the transformative power of a guru's guidance and grace in one's spiritual journey.