Do you have a Guru/Spiritual Master to guide you spiritually in life? Is it necessary to have one?

Yes. Everybody needs Guru/Spiritual Master to guide one spiritually in life. It is very much necessary to have one.

Even in ordinary material things we require a material teacher to teach something and what to speak of most difficult subject matter, spiritual knowledge.

All the scriptures and the great acharyas direct us to approach a spiritual master.

In Bhagavad Gita 4.34, Lord Krishna tells,

"tad viddhi pranipatena

pariprasnena sevaya

upadeksyanti te jnanam

jnaninas tattva-darsinah

TRANSLATION

Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.

PURPORT

The path of spiritual realization is undoubtedly difficult. The Lord therefore advises us to approach a bona fide spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession from the Lord Himself. No one can be a bona fide spiritual master without following this principle of disciplic succession. The Lord is the original spiritual master, and a person in the disciplic succession can convey the message of the Lord as it is to his disciple. No one can be spiritually realized by manufacturing his own process, as is the fashion of the foolish pretenders. The Bhagavatam (6.3.19) says, dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam: the path of religion is directly enunciated by the Lord. Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead one to the right path. Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige. Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life. Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding. Unless there is submission and service, inquiries from the learned spiritual master will not be effective. One must be able to pass the test of the spiritual master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple, he automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding. In this verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned. Not only should one hear submissively from the spiritual master, but one must also get a clear understanding from him, in submission and service and inquiries. A bona fide spiritual master is by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore when the student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.

The word teacher means “knowledge.” The knowledge should be followed, not the individual personality of the teacher. The subject should be given prime importance, not the individual. Teachers have complicated things. Yoga science has suffered because of this. One teacher says, “This is my method.” Another teacher says, “This is my method.” The poor student is confused. After some time he finds that his mind, his individuality, and his pocket have been robbed.

A time comes when the seeker goes through a period of argumentation with herself and cannot decide. At this time a real preceptor is needed. How will you find the right master? No one can search for a preceptor. There is a saying in the scriptures: “When the disciple is prepared, the master appears.” This happens only because of samskaras. Teacher and student samskaras are very ancient and strong.

If you are not prepared, he will be there, but you won’t notice or respond. If you do not know what a diamond is, the diamond may be there, but you ignore it and pass it by, taking it to be just a piece of glass. Further, if you do not know the difference, you may acquire a piece of glass, think that it is a diamond, and cherish it your whole life.

A genuine spiritual teacher, one who is assigned to teach according to tradition, searches out good students. He looks for certain signs and symptoms; he wants to know who is prepared. No student can fool a master. The master easily perceives how well the student is prepared. If he finds that the student is not yet ready, he will gradually prepare him for the higher teachings. When the wick and oil are properly prepared, the master lights the lamp. That is his role. The resulting light is divine.

You need someone who can guide and help you. You need an external guru as a means to attain the guru within you. Sometimes you may become egotistical and decide that you don’t need a guru. That is just ego talking.

When you become aware of the light within, and that light reveals the Truth to you, there are no chances of being misguided. Teachers come and go. From your external teacher just pick up that which is useful for you and leave that which is not useful. No doubt you need a teacher, a guide. I will never tell you that you should not seek and you should not learn from other people, or that you should not study books. Teachers only inspire you and make you aware of that Self-existence that you have forgotten. Their role is to make you aware of the Reality.

You will never meet a bad guru if you are a good student. The reverse is also true; if you are a bad student, you won’t meet a good guru. Why should a good guru assume responsibility for a bad student? Nobody collects garbage. If you are in search of a guru, search within first. To become a yogi means to know your own condition here and now, to work with yourself. Don’t grumble because you don’t have a teacher. Ask whether you deserve one. Are you capable of attracting a teacher? Are you prepared to be guided?

In the light of the sun, in the light of the moon, and in the light of the stars there is no discrimination. The light within you has the power of discrimination. You can use that light to see the darkest corners of your inner chamber. For that you do not need outer guidance. The purpose of a guide, guru, or teacher is to introduce you to that light.

In these times in which we are living, there is much talk concerning, swami's, yogi's, sage's, guru's, master's, or teacher's.

There is something that should be taken into consideration when one is investigating the prospects of something of this magnitude.

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* A True Teacher is not going to give a student anything!

* A True Teacher is going to aid a student in the ability to discard those unnecessary items (stuff) that have been collected over a 'very long' period of time! It will be most uncomfortable at times!

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Humans have everything within them that is needed to discover the Truth. Humans have many things within them that hamper the process of the Truth revealing itself.

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Some of these accumulated items (stuff) are very difficult to part with because of untold attachments.

When a student becomes aware of some of these superficial attachments through personal determination and commitment, a True Teacher may become necessary to further aid the student in locating the deeper rooted attachments.

In these times the fear of being located by, and studying with a True Teacher is based on the possibly of parting with something that an individual has developed a very deep attachment to, and surrendering it becomes very troubling. "No doubt we are all guilty of this."

There comes a time within the life of every human being, that a True Teacher becomes necessary.

This is not something that is easy to understand and accept, let alone make a commitment to, but it is indeed inevitable.

"Peace be always with you."

Salaams,

I am grateful from the bottom of my heart to my Guru/Spiritual Master Sri Sri RaviShankar ji. Though I have not met him face to face till date, from the time I have been following his Sudarshan Kriya and have accepted him as my Guru, things just seem to sort themselves out and I firmly believe that he has guided my actions such that I have evolved as a human being ( though there are miles and miles still to go but I know with the blessings of my Guru I will evolve further spiritually).

Guru, God and U r one. Guru means "Darkness (Gu) to Light (Ru) "

The one who guides to experience this truth is Guru.

No harm in taking guidance from a person, who has transented the spiritual path.

Its like if u want to learn swimming, u may learn it without coach, but Its important to swim rather than sticking to the coach. Same is true with Guru.

No you don't need any spiritual guru to lead oneself to spiritual path. Actually I strongly believe that we have solution to every problem we come across within ourself. We need to just concentrate to move on the spiritual path of living and at times a Guru/Master helps you to focus better to find spiritual solutions.

Yes I have. It is NOT essential to have a Guru

But without a Guru what spiritual technique one can practice?

So have a Master

Yes and No.

First of all, one must have a sincere aspiration for spiritual guidance.

Only a very few, like Ramana Maharishi, can attain the peak of spirituality without a Spiritual Master.

For the rest of us, we always need a guide, a spiritual master.

Here is the answer by Sri Ramana Maharishi, taken from "Maharishi's Gospel' downloadable from the following link:

"Guru is the Self.... Sometimes in his life a man

becomes dissatisfied with it, and, not content with

what he has, he seeks the satisfaction of his desires,

through prayer to God etc. His mind is gradually

purified until he longs to know God, more to obtain

His grace than to satisfy his worldly desires. Then,

God’s grace begins to manifest. God takes the form

of a Guru and appears to the devotee, teaches him

the Truth and, moreover, purifies his mind by

association. The devotee’s mind gains strength and

is then able to turn inward. By meditation it is further

purified and it remains still without the least ripple.

That calm expanse is the Self.

The Guru is both ‘external’ and ‘internal’. From the

‘exterior’ he gives a push to the mind to turn inward;

from the ‘interior’ He pulls the mind towards the

Self and helps in the quieting of the mind. That is

guru kripa. There is no difference between God,

Guru and the Self."

The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi

Question: What is Guru's grace? How does it lead to Self-realisation?

Sri Ramana Maharshi: Guru is the Self. Sometimes in his life a man becomes dissatisfied and not content with what he has, he seeks the satisfaction of his desires through prayer to God. His mind is gradually purified until he longs to know God, more to obtain his grace than to satisfy his worldly desires. Then, God's grace begins to manifest. God takes the form of a Guru and

appears to the devotee, teaches him the truth and, more over, purifies his mind by association. The devotee's mind gains strength and is then able to turn inward. By meditation it is further purified and it remains still without the least ripple. That calm expanse is the Self.

The Guru is both external and internal. From the exterior he gives a push to the mind to turn it inwards. From the interior he pulls the mind towards the Self and helps in the quietening of the mind. That is Guru's grace. There is no difference between God, Guru and the Self.

Questioner: In the Theosophical Society they meditate in order to seek masters to guide them.

Sri Ramana Maharshi: The master is within; meditation is meant to remove the ignorant idea that he is only outside. If he is a stranger whom you await, he is bound to disappear also. What is the use of a transient being like that? But so long as you think you are separate or that you are the body, an external master is also necessary and he will appear to have a body. When the wrong identification of oneself with the body ceases, the master will be found to be none other than the Self.

Question: Will the Guru help us to know the Self through initiation?

Sri Ramana Maharshi: Does the Guru hold you by the hand and whisper in the ear? You may imagine him to be what you are yourself. Because you think you are with a body, you think he also has a body and that he will do something tangible to you. His work lies within, in the spiritual realm.

Question: How is a Guru found?

Sri Ramana Maharshi: God, who is immanent, in His grace takes pity on the loving devotee and manifests himself according to the devotee's development. The devotee thinks that he is a man and expects a relationship between two physical bodies. But the Guru, who is a God or the Self incarnate works from within, helps the man to see the error of his ways and guides him on the right path until he realises the Self within.

Question: What are the marks of a real teacher (sadaguru)?

Sri Ramana Maharshi: Steady abidance in the Self, looking at all with an equal eye, unshakable courage at all times, in all places and circumstances.

Question: There are a number of spiritual teachers teaching various paths. Whom should one take for one's Guru?

Sri Ramana Maharshi: Choose that one where you find you get shanti (peace).

Question: Should we not also consider his teachings?

Sri Ramana Maharshi: He who instructs an ardent seeker to do this or that is not a true master. The seeker is already afflicted by his activities and wants peace and rest. In other words he wants cessation of his activities. If a teacher tells him to do something in addition to, or in place of, his other activities, can that be a help to the seeker?

Activity is creation. Activity is the destruction of one's inherent happiness. If activity is advocated the adviser is not a master but a killer. In such circumstances either the Creator (Brahma) or death (Yama) may be said to have come in the guise of a master. Such a person cannot liberate the aspirant; he can only strengthen his fetters.

Question: How can I find my own Guru?

Sri Ramana Maharshi: By intense meditation.

Question: If it is true that the Guru is one's own Self, what is the principle underlying the doctrine which says that, however learned a disciple may be or whatever occult powers he may possess, he cannot attain Self-realisation without the grace of the Guru?

Sri Ramana Maharshi: Although in absolute truth the state of the Guru is that of oneself (the Self), it is very hard for the self which has become the individual (jiva or embodied soul) through ignorance, to realise its true state or nature without the grace of the Guru.

Question: What are the marks of the Guru's grace?

Sri Ramana: It is beyond words or thoughts.

Question: If that is so, how is it that it is said that the disciple realises his true state by the Guru's grace?

Sri Ramana Maharshi: It is like the elephant, which wakes up on seeing a lion in his dream. Even as the elephant wakes up at the mere sight of the lion, so too is it certain that the disciple wakes up from the sleep of ignorance into the wakefulness of true knowledge through the Guru's benevolent look of grace.

Question: What is the significance of the saying that the nature of the real Guru is that of the Supreme Lord (Sarvesvara)?

Sri Ramana Maharshi: First, the individual soul, which desires to attain the state of Godhood, or the state of true knowledge, prac

Personally I've never considered any man a master, not in the realm of spiritual development. Maybe in karate or any martial art - those require discipline and not all people can be leaders. I've had a few good teachers, invariably their qualifications were simply that they were a bit further ahead on the road and had the communication skills and keen observational skills to tell me what I needed to know.