Guru Mahima Ka Chor Nahi

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Guru Mahima ka Chor Nahi" by Abhilasha Hiravat:

This essay, "Guru Mahima ka Chor Nahi" (The Glory of the Guru Has No End), by Abhilasha Hiravat, is a heartfelt exploration of the profound significance and immeasurable glory of a spiritual preceptor (Guru) within the Jain tradition. The author aims to inspire devotion and surrender towards such guides.

The essay begins by quoting Param Shraddhey Shri Pramod Muni Ji M.S.A., who describes a Guru as someone possessing infinite patience, boundless forgiveness, immeasurable peace, constant compassion, unshakeable self-control, remarkable mental discipline, simple living, minimal possessions, and an inexhaustible treasury of knowledge and wisdom. Such qualities paint a vivid picture of a Guru grounded in their true self, experiencing unending bliss.

While in worldly affairs, parents and teachers are considered Gurus, in the path to liberation (Moksha Marg), Acharyas, Upadhyayas, and Sadhus are the true Gurus. The text emphasizes that greatness and worship-worthiness in this context arise solely from Vitaragta (detachment from passions and worldly desires), which serves as the ultimate criterion for veneration.

The author draws a parallel between a mother's love and a Guru's compassion. While a mother's love is immense, it is ultimately limited to her own children. A Guru, however, is an ocean of boundless affection and universal love, encompassing the compassion of countless mothers. This love flows unconditionally and impartially towards all living beings. A Guru's compassion is eternally invigorating. Parents give birth, but a Guru shapes life and teaches how to live it meaningfully. A Guru is likened to a vast ocean of nectar, where every drop is more valuable than the treasures of Kubera. The deeper one delves into this ocean, the more precious the pearls of wisdom one finds.

A Guru's eyes are filled with selfless affection, their heart with boundless compassion, mercy, and simplicity. Their words and actions are congruent. They possess an unblemished, childlike purity. They are endowed with numerous virtues, including humility, the divine radiance of celibacy, and devotion to non-violence. Gurus internalize the teachings of the Jinavani (Jain scriptures), showering nectar-like wisdom and spreading love among all beings. Quoting Saint Kabir, the essay states that a Guru is one who dispels the darkness of ignorance and illuminates with the light of knowledge. Knowledge leads to righteousness, while ignorance leads to unrighteousness.

The text further elaborates on the characteristics of a praiseworthy Guru, citing Acharya Samantabhadra Swami: "One who is not subject to the desires of worldly pleasures, who is detached from sins, who is free from worldly possessions, and who is always absorbed in knowledge, meditation, and austerity – such a Guru is worthy of praise."

True Gurus are those who embody the Ratnatraya (right faith, right knowledge, right conduct), adhere strictly to the five great vows (Mahavratas), meticulously observe the five samitis (careful movements) and three guptis (control of mind, speech, and body), embrace Dharma correctly, and help themselves and others cross the ocean of existence. They are not swayed by sensory pleasures, are free from external and internal possessiveness, and possess and share the treasure of knowledge and meditation. They are pure, free from blemishes, peaceful, economical in speech, liberated from anger and desire, virtuous, self-controlled, and filled with spiritual knowledge.

In today's stress-filled life, virtues like tolerance, renunciation, philanthropy, self-control, compassion, and fear of sin are losing their meaning. Despite the proliferation of bookish knowledge in the intellectual age, life is still marked by competition, dissatisfaction, greed, confusion, stress, and worry. When individuals are overwhelmed by suffering and seek peace, their search ends at the feet of a true Guru. While there are many who offer worldly assistance, true Gurus who work for their own spiritual upliftment while simultaneously desiring the welfare of all beings are rare. Param Shraddhey Shri Gautam Muni Ji M.S.A. is quoted saying, "What cannot be achieved with medicine is achieved with the wind. If a worthy Guru is found, everything becomes divine."

The necessity of a Guru becomes apparent as without one, it is impossible to shed ego, pride, anger, and other passions like attachment and aversion. Param Shraddhey Shri Pramod Muni Ji M.S.A. states that the grace of a Guru lifts one across the ocean of worldly existence, revitalizes the discouraged, provides clarity and resolve towards the goal, and ultimately leads to liberation.

The essay emphasizes that a Guru's grace instills new hope and provides the strength to move forward. To overcome external distractions and achieve the goal of liberation, the guiding light of a true Guru is essential. Gurus remove the dense darkness of false beliefs and fill us with the light of knowledge. True Gurus are living embodiments of pilgrimage, and their proximity, guidance, and unparalleled grace naturally dissolve all impurities and afflictions.

The text stresses the importance of complete surrender at the Guru's feet. Devotion requires surrender. Guru-bhakti is the power that brings one closer to the Guru's divine qualities. It is not mere attachment to a particular ascetic but an appreciation of virtuous qualities. True devotion to a Guru is like the river Ganga, whose immersion purifies the body, mind, and entire life. Initially, the Guru's form is important, followed by their nature, as actions speak louder than words and character inspires. True Gurus not only impart knowledge through their words but also through their lives, teaching selflessness, ethical conduct, and character building without explicit instruction. Just as a rose garden emanates fragrance without being asked, a Guru's presence, when one is surrendered, bestows blessings without the need for requests.

Param Shraddhey Shri Pramod Muni Ji M.S.A. shares, "There is no language for surrender, no desire in surrender. I am nothing, mine is nothing; I have dissolved at the Guru's feet." True devotion doesn't require words or fanfare; it is characterized by humility, not ostentation. Being close to Gurus is a form of worship, but true closeness lies in feeling their presence within one's inner being. Those who follow the Guru's commands are close to the Guru's heart, even if physically distant. Conversely, those who disobey are distant even when physically near.

When revering great souls, the intention should be "Vande tadgunalabhdhaye" – to acquire qualities similar to theirs. Knowledge gained through the Guru's mouth and grace is truly beneficial, as books only provide information. Gurus help us become independent, freeing us from reliance on others. True Gurus not only teach us to overcome our own suffering but also how to alleviate the pain of others.

The essay concludes with a poignant description of a Guru from the "Guru-Shishya-Darpan": "Even though a Guru speaks few words, they are not of limited intellect. Though they may seem stern towards faults, they are not cruel towards beings. They are self-reliant, not dependent on others. Though they are free from possessions, they are not devoid of scriptural knowledge. Though they may be without a livelihood in the worldly sense, they are not without the attitude of renunciation. They are filled with gravitas, yet free from pride. They are not attached to worldly pleasures but are deeply attached to Dharma. They are fearless, as they have no fear of this world, the next, helplessness, or death, but they are also fearful of the cycle of transmigration." In essence, Gurus embody a perfect synthesis of humility within greatness and greatness within humility. The essay reiterates that the glory of a Guru is beyond adequate description. Even if the entire ocean were ink, the Earth were paper, and Saraswati herself were to write continuously, the Guru's glory could never be fully expressed. Their glory is truly indescribable.