General Questions About Gurus
What is the traditional role of a guru in Hinduism?
A guru is traditionally seen as a spiritual guide who leads disciples on the path to liberation. They are highly respected, sometimes considered even more important than parents, as they are believed to provide spiritual rebirth. Gurus are often equated with God in human form.
Why do people seek out gurus?
People seek gurus for various reasons, such as to overcome difficulties, out of curiosity, due to feelings of emptiness, to receive attention, out of dependence, for faith, and ultimately for liberation. They may believe gurus have the power to resolve problems, grant wishes, or remove bad karma. Others may be looking for spiritual knowledge, peace, and solace, or to redefine themselves.
How have gurus historically served Hinduism?
The tradition of Gurus and ascetic sects is credited with preserving and continuing the core aspects of Hinduism. They have introduced people to the spiritual knowledge and wisdom contained in Hindu scriptures and helped them practice virtue and discipline.
What is the significance of the Guru Gita?
The Guru Gita emphasizes the godliness of the guru and the sanctity associated with them. It states that a guru is the transcendental, eternal, and indestructible self, and their main duty is to help disciples in their spiritual transformation. It stresses the importance of humility, obedience, and devotion to the guru. It also warns against misusing the scripture to suppress free thinking and force blind submission.
Is it easy to find a true guru?
No, it is difficult to find a true guru, especially in the current age. Many gurus today live guarded lives, making it hard to know their true credentials. It is also difficult to distinguish a fake guru from a real one.
Why is questioning a guru’s integrity considered taboo?
Traditionally, questioning a guru’s wisdom, knowledge, integrity, or honesty is considered taboo. The law books state that disrespecting a guru or incurring their displeasure is sinful. This can prevent people from openly expressing concerns until a scandal or hard evidence surfaces.
Identifying a Fake Guru
What are some signs that a guru may be fake?
1. His past is unclear, vague and mysterious
You will find that accounts of his past life before he became a guru are unclear and contain many contradictions, hyperboles and misinformation which make it very difficult to know whether he is truly enlightened or pretending to be one. You may also hear a few scandals and controversies about his past such as fake educational qualifications and other credentials or marital problems.
2. He does not truly practice renunciation
You will find that although he is a sannyasi who renounced his family and worldly life, his family members still hang around him and look after his business and daily activities. Besides wielding power and influence over him, they enjoy his trust and confidence, while ordinary followers do the chores and lead a hard life.
3. He prefers the company of rich and powerful people
You will see that the guru does not treat his followers according to their spirituality but their wealth and power or nationality. They manage to gain easy access and spend quality time with him, while others have to be content with seeing him from a distance or meeting him by chance or after a long wait.
4. His actions betray his ethical and spiritual conduct
You will find that although the guru preaches virtuous conduct and ethical living, his personal conduct betrays his true nature as a materialistic person as he lacks true contentment and habitually engages in the violation of Asteya (non-stealing) and Aparigraha (non-covetousness) to increase his net worth.
5. He exploits his disciples to promote his goals
You will see that the guru makes clever use of the talents and skills of his followers, offering them little in return, except the satisfaction that they are working for a noble cause. You will see that people who were otherwise successful, donated their life savings to him and remain at his mercy, doing menial tasks.
6. He is motivated by name and fame, power and influence
You will see the guru is a good at public relations and spends a lot of time promoting himself and his greatness or increasing his following and popularity directly or through his trusted followers. From his actions and decisions, you will wonder whether his real motive is to spread spirituality or use it to earn name and fame or wealth and awards.
7. He is not free from pride, anger, egoism and envy
You will find that the guru is not truly free from egoism, anger or vengeance. While he preaches tolerance and compassion, he does not easily forgive or forget those who betray him or turn against him. You will hear them being trolled, ridiculed ostracized, threatened or humiliated by his loyal and trusted disciples. He may even engage a group of lawyers to intimidate his critics.
8. He advocates celibacy but does not practice it
You will find that the guru employs or inducts many good-looking women in his establishment and keeps them isolated and under surveillance. You will also hear the whispers that he has a soft corner for certain women disciples, who enjoy special power and privileges to meet him frequently or look after his personal needs. You may also see stories circulating in the media about his sexual conduct.
9. He exploits spiritual beliefs for material gains
You will find that the guru runs his spiritual organization like a business establishment, using every available opportunity to market various products or services for a premium. While you hear him saying that it is being done for charitable causes, you will suspect that he is not honest about it or his motives. You may even see him collecting unreasonable amounts of fees from followers for his services.
10. He is attached to his name and form and identity
You will find that the guru not only shows attachment to his name and form, or how people perceive him, but also takes great care of his looks or attire or his public image to appear to the public as a saintly or pious person, including dying his hair to look younger. You will also find that his publicity department alters his images and videos to make him look better and healthier.
Does having some negative traits mean a guru is fake?
Not necessarily. The signs are just indications. Human character is complex, and some gurus may have weaknesses or negative characteristics without being entirely fake. The truth must be found through further scrutiny and examination.
The Disciple’s Role and Responsibilities
What qualities should a disciple cultivate?
Disciples should cultivate humility, obedience, devotion, and discernment. It is important to have firm faith, practice discipline and virtue, and cultivate inner purity. They should be self-sufficient and not overly dependent on the guru.
What are the potential dangers of following a guru?
There is a potential for blind submission, suppression of free thinking, over-dependence, and exploitation. Disciples may also face internal rivalries and power politics, or become disillusioned if the guru’s actions do not match their teachings.
Should a disciple offer everything to a guru?
The Guru Gita states that disciples should offer their guru whatever pleases them, including worldly possessions and should dedicate themselves to the guru and live for his sake. However, disciples must be able to stand on their own, and not become overly dependent on the guru. Disciples should be aware of their own motivations for following a guru, ensuring their motives are pure.
What is the role of suffering in spiritual practice?
Spiritual people are expected to endure suffering as part of their self-cleansing and transformation. They should see suffering as a divine opportunity to learn important lessons and progress on their path, rather than expect a guru to remove all difficulties.
What is the importance of faith?
Faith is the foundation of spiritual practice. However, faith should be accompanied by discernment, and disciples must also remain committed to their chosen path. Hindu tradition states that faith can be categorized into sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic, with sattvic faith considered the best.
The Guru-Disciple Relationship
What is the ideal relationship between a guru and a disciple?
The guru should help the disciple in their spiritual transformation. Disciples should treat their guru with utmost respect and should offer him whatever pleases him. The relationship should be based on humility, obedience, devotion, and faith. A true guru will not have any ego or selfishness.
Should a guru be expected to solve all of a disciple’s problems?
No. Gurus have their own limitations. Disciples should not expect gurus to remove all difficulties or cleanse their past karma. Gurus can channel divine powers, but they are not meant to alleviate the suffering of the whole humanity.
Is it better to rely on a guru or on God?
The sources suggest that the primary allegiance should be to God. It is important to maintain a personal relationship with God, even when following a guru. God can be a guru himself. One can approach God directly or through the mediation of a guru but you are safest when protected by your own virtue and Dharma.
Can a disciple have more than one guru?
Yes, in a way. You may consciously choose one guru, but in life you will come across many gurus in many guises, who will help you learn valuable lessons.
Liberation and the Purpose of a Guru
What is the ultimate goal of spiritual practice?
The ultimate goal of spiritual practice is liberation (moksha). The only true reason for choosing a guru should be to attain liberation, and any other motive is considered a delusion or a misuse of the guru’s spiritual role. People may also seek gurus for other reasons, including to overcome difficulties, out of curiosity, or due to feelings of emptiness. However, these are not the ideal reasons for seeking a guru.
Is liberation possible without a guru?
Yes, liberation is possible without a guru. Liberation can be achieved through self-study (Swadhyaya) and by choosing God as your guru. However, a guru can be helpful, especially for novices. A guru can guide a disciple on the right path to liberation and protect them from unknown dangers. However, the path of a householder is considered circuitous, and they may postpone their need for a guru until retirement or renunciation.
Can a guru guarantee liberation?
No, a guru cannot guarantee liberation. The disciple’s progress depends primarily on their own practice, their virtue, and their purity. The guru’s role is to provide knowledge and guidance, but the disciple must do the work of self-transformation. The attainment of spiritual liberation is not guaranteed by a guru.
How does one find the right guru?
Cultivating Sattva (purity, goodness) is essential. With inner purity, discernment, and equanimity, one will intuitively know if a guru is the right choice. A genuine guru enters your life if you truly deserve it and are ready for liberation. Your choice of guru depends on your virtue and purity. If you are pure and virtuous, you will progress on the path whether your guru is physically near or not. It is also important to examine your own motives for seeking a guru. If you seek attention or wish to use the guru to fulfill worldly desires, you may not find a genuine guru.
Additional Considerations
How do overenthusiastic followers affect the perception of gurus?
Overenthusiastic followers can significantly distort the public perception of gurus. They may create distortions, exaggerations, and inconsistencies in the information about a guru, often with or without the guru’s knowledge or permission, in an attempt to elevate them to a higher status than they may truly deserve. This can lead to a skewed and inaccurate image of the guru in the public domain.
In addition, much of the information about gurus found in the public domain may not be reliable unless it is corroborated by multiple sources. This is because overzealous followers tend to embellish their guru’s qualities and accomplishments, potentially creating a false narrative around them.
How should devotees respond if they discover that their guru is a fraud?
If a devotee discovers their guru is a fraud, they should take responsibility for their own role in the situation. This means considering it a consequence of their own past karma and seeing it as a learning experience. Instead of dwelling on the negative experience, it is important to learn the lesson and move on. This involves using the experience as an opportunity for self-reflection, growth, and discernment. It is also essential to realize that one’s own personality and imperfections may have contributed to attracting the wrong guru, and this understanding can help one make better choices in the future.
What are the dangers of replacing God with the guru?
Replacing God with the guru can lead to a loss of divine protection. One’s primary allegiance should always be to God. When devotees replace God with the guru, they can become overly involved in the guru’s worship, name, form, promotional activities, and organizational work, potentially becoming lost in the process.
CAN YOU IDENTIFY A FALSE SPIRITUAL PROPHET?
A fake spiritual prophet is someone who pretends to have divine insights and contacts, while actually just using their followers to achieve personal benefits. These false prophets take advantage of people’s vulnerabilities by using persuasive words and charm to gain their trust. Their real intentions are not spiritual growth; they are all about selfish and pragmatic goals.
Read the following statements and choose those that best represent your way of thinking.
Count the total number of selected boxes and read the corresponding profile.
0-1: You are immunized against false prophets
2-3: You are not totally immune to false prophets
4-5: You are easily captivated by false prophets
6: You are ideal prey for false prophets
