Page 20 - Light of Divinity

Light of Divinity

hard shake. “What is the matter with you?” the tiger roared. “Why
do you behave like a sheep?”

The terrified cub insisted that the tiger was mistaken; he was just a
sheep. The tiger took the cub to a lake. The clear water reflected the
cub’s face; immediately, he realized his true nature.

The Guru’s none-too-easy task is somewhat similar: he demolishes
the apparatus on which our mistaken identity rests. We are his
children, not creatures of mortal flesh and feverish blood. We are
divine personages clothed in hide, not desire-led animals. We are
souls encased in bodies; not bodies with souls.

Such a turnaround occurs only when the disciple truly touches the
Guru’s feet, that is, when his ego flakes away from his self. Only then
does he receive the spiritual charge that wakes him up. The Guru is
a spiritual powerhouse, transmitting the current of spirituality into
his disciples. At his graceful touch, the disciple awakens.

Much preparatory work has to be done, however. We are laden
with the psychological ferment and karmic baggage of lifetimes.
The powerful eddies generated by our karmas acting on minds not
equipped with right attitudes can break our legs even as the journey
begins. So the Guru puts us in situations where we learn life-lessons.
Armed with the axe of right attitude, we hew our path through the
many obstacles of life.

The Guru’s grace is never more evident when life comes up with a
challenge or a test. At such times, to quicken the spiritual evolution
of his child, the Guru can take the disciple’s karma upon himself,
alleviating its misery-causing effects. Sensing that we are about to
set our foot on a karmic crevasse, he lifts us up and carries us on his
own shoulders. What encomiums can be heaped on such a Guru?
He can only be silently loved, fully followed.

Yet, there are times when the disciple resents his Guru. The Guru
leaves no psychological stone unturned to perfect his spiritual son,
but the disciple’s commitment wilts as the Guru operates on his
mental make-up. Howsoever much the disciple may flinch from
his Guru’s ego-hurting blows, the Guru—bent on the disciple’s
perfection—carries his task through.

At such weak moments, the disciple can’t summon the will
required to thwart his habits. But he need only realize that the Guru
is taking pains on his behalf. The Guru’s sole interest—unlike the
self-interest concealed in every human relationship—is the disciple.

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