THE=20 GURU AND THE DISCIPLE

Gnani=20 Purush Dadashri clarifies all aspects of the delicate relationship = between the=20 guru and the disciple

Guru-Shishya

Editorial=20

Dr.Niruben=20 Amin

The = worldly life=20 is of father-son, mother-son or daughter, wife-husband, etc., = relationships.=20 Also to be found in the worldly life is the delicate guru-disciple = relationship.=20 It is a relationship in which, after surrendering to the guru, the = disciple=20 remains sincere to the guru for the rest of his life, and increasing his = param vinay absolute humility = for his=20 guru, he abides by his instructions and attains the ultimate special = spiritual=20 energy siddhi. This book = puts forth a=20 beautiful description of what constitutes an ideal guru as well as an = ideal=20 disciple.

Many different = beliefs about=20 a guru are prevalent and hence people become very confused about how to = find the=20 right guru currently. Perplexing questions on this matter have been = asked to the=20 Gnani Purush Dadashri, and he has given answers to the point of total=20 satisfaction of the questioner.

Gnani Purush means = a worldly=20 observatory as well as an observatory of absolute internal science. = Within these=20 pages you will find answers to questions such as, =91What does the = status of a=20 guru mean?=92 =91Is there a need for a guru in spirituality? =91And, if = so, to what=20 extent?=92 =91What qualities must a guru have? Should he be superior or = humble?=92 =91Is=20 the guru qualified? Does he have the master keys necessary for a = guru?=92 =91Is the=20 guru trapped in greed, desires and illusion?=92 =91Does he have sexual = desires or=20 desires to have a following of disciples?=92 How do you choose a guru? = Who should=20 you make your guru? How many gurus should one make? If one already has a = guru,=20 can he have another one? What should one do if the guru turns out to be=20 unworthy? What are the dangerous pitfalls inherent in the relationship = of a guru=20 and the disciple? What should a disciple be like?

This book gives = information=20 on various topics concerning gurus and disciples=97information related = to what the=20 subtle awareness of the disciple should be. How should a guru behave = towards the=20 disciples so that it benefits him as well as the disciples in their = spiritual=20 progress? How should the disciple conduct himself with the guru? When = should a=20 disciple make a guru so that he may attain knowledge and experience? = What kind=20 of weaknesses must a guru not have so that he is strong enough to help = his=20 disciple progress? How is one to find the kind of devotion Eklavya had = for his=20 guru in this day and age? Through Gnani Purush Dadashri, we get answers = to=20 questions asked to him regarding whether as a Gnani he had a guru, = whether he=20 had disciples, what kind of a state does he move around in,=20 etc.

According to = common=20 knowledge, a guru, a satguru and a Gnani are considered one and the = same,=20 whereas here in this book, Dadashri gives us a clear distinction between = the=20 three.

How can one walk = the=20 spiritual path without the one who is familiar with that path? To be = familiar=20 means to be a guide.

Here, in this = book, you gain=20 knowledge and understanding of what the leader of the path of moksha =96 = the=20 ultimate guru =96 should be like.

With the aim and = the vision=20 that both guru and his disciple go forth on the path of liberation, = Dadashri,=20 who while moving around in the supreme spiritual state as the Gnani, = gives=20 various visions and understanding regarding the guru-disciple. There was = no one=20 more humbler than him. The understanding given to us by way of the = Gnani=92s=20 speech is being presented here, which will become a guide to all those = traveling=20 the path of liberation.

- Jai=20 Sat Chit Anand =

The Guru=20 and the Disciple

Guru Means=20 Guide

Questioner: I have tried many = spiritual=20 paths and teachers and everywhere I have searched the answer for the = term guru=20 is, but I have not received any satisfactory = answers.

Dadashri: = If you want to go = to the=20 station from here and gett lost on the way, wouldn=92t you need to ask = someone for=20 help? Whom would you need to ask?

Questioner: Someone who knows = the=20 way.

Dadashri: = That one who knows = is a=20 guru. As long as you do not know the way, you need to ask someone; you = may even=20 have to ask a small child. Whomever you ask becomes your guru. Only when = there=20 is a guru will you find the way. What would happen without your eyes? = The guru=20 is the other eye. The guru clarifies your path ahead. This clarification = is=20 called sooj.

Who Needs a Guru?

Questioner: = Do you mean to say = that a=20 guru is necessary?

Dadashri: It is like this: = the road=20 on which one gets lost is the road he is not able to figure out. If you = do not=20 know the way to the station, then it is a problem. But if, along the = way, you=20 encounter someone who knows the way, then you will reach the station = quickly,=20 will you not?

Questioner: = Yes, that is=20 true.

Dadashri: So you need = someone who has=20 the knowledge. It is not as if the person showing you the way is telling = you to=20 ask him. You are asking him out of your own necessity, are you not? For = whose=20 benefit are you asking?

Questioner: = My own=20 benefit.

Dadashri: = Or you can keep on = walking=20 without asking anyone and try to experience that! That experience will = teach you=20 that there is a need for a guru. I will not have to teach=20 you.

So there is a = path, but=20 there is no one to show it to you, is there? Only if there were someone = to show=20 you that path can your work be done.

Will you not need = a guru or=20 an experienced guide (bhomiyo)?=20 Whoever is the guru, we are considered his followers. The guru walks = ahead and=20 shows us the way. Such a person is considered an experienced guide .

If a man takes the = road=20 going in the opposite direction of Surat, is he likely to reach Surat = station if=20 he keeps going in that direction? No matter how much he roams, he will = not be=20 able to find Surat station. The night would fall and the day would come = but he=20 would still not find Surat station. Such is the confusion here.=20

When You Are Lost, = a Guide=20 Is Your Friend =20

Questioner: = None of the gurus = shows the=20 right path.

Dadashri: But those gurus = themselves=20 do not know the way so what can anyone do? No one has found an = experienced guide=20 yet. If he had, then he would not have these problems. If you had found = such a=20 guide, in addition to showing you the station he would also tell you = which train=20 to take. He would show you everything and your task would be finished. = Here we=20 have a situation where the guide, too, is lost and, therefore, he makes = his=20 follower wander around life after life. So find yourself a true, = experienced=20 guide who can show you the station. If not, he will make you wander = around=20 repeatedly by his guesses.

If a blind person = leads=20 another blind person, where will they both end up? A true, experienced = guide=20 will immediately show you the way. Nothing will be pending; you will see = instant=20 results. You have not found a real experienced guide (bhomiyo). Therefore, find one. =

Questioner: = But would such a = guide not=20 be our superior?

Dadashri: The experienced = guide is a=20 superior =96 but to what extent? Only to the extent that he takes us to = the final=20 destination.

That is why you = absolutely=20 need someone above you, someone to show you. You need an experienced = guide. You=20 always need a guide. You will need a guide in every situation. No work = can be=20 done without a guide. If we want to go to Delhi and we look for a guide, = then=20 what is he if not a guru? If we give him money, he becomes our guide. A = guru is=20 someone who shows you the way as a guide.

Questioner: = One definitely needs the one = who=20 clarifies and shows the path.

Dadashri: = Yes, the person = who shows=20 you the path is a guru, whoever he may be.

Support of a Guru = is=20 necessary at every level

Questioner: = I need to walk = along the=20 path shown by the guru. Thereafter, do I need him? Or do I need to leave = him?=20

Dadashri: = No, he is = necessary till the=20 very end.

Questioner: = Why do we need him = afterwards?

Dadashri: = You did not have = an accident=20 in your car because of the brakes. Should you remove the=20 brakes?

Questioner: = What is the need = of hanging=20 on to him once he shows me the way?

Dadashri: = You will need a = guru until=20 the very end. The guru needs his own guru. When do we need = schoolteachers? Don=92t=20 you need them when you wish to become educated? And what if you do not = want to=20 study? If you do not want to benefit from anything then there is no = point in=20 making someone your guru, but if you wish to benefit, then you need to = have a=20 guru. It is not mandatory; it is voluntary. If you want to learn, you = need a=20 teacher. If you want to delve into spirituality, then you need a guru, = and if=20 you don=92t wish to know anything, then it doesn=92t matter. There is no = law that=20 says you have to do it this way.

Here, even if you = want to go=20 to the station, you need a guru. Therefore, won=92t you need a guru for = religion?=20 You need a guru at every level.

There Is No = Knowledge=20 Without a Guru

Without a guru, no = knowledge=20 of any kind can be attained. Neither worldly knowledge nor spiritual = knowledge=20 can be attained without a guru. It is wrong to have expectations of = knowledge (Gnan) without a=20 guru.

Questioner: = One man says that = Gnan (Gnan Vidhi in = Akram) is=20 not something that is to be taken or given, but rather it is something = that=20 happens. Can you explain this?

Dadashri: = This is a = discovery of=20 people who are deluded. They claim, =93Gnan is not to be taken, = neither is=20 it to be given. Gnan = happens=20 spontaneously.=94 But that state of delusion never = leaves.

One grows up = learning the=20 knowledge he has been given. The teacher gives you knowledge and you = take it.=20 You in turn give that knowledge to others. Knowledge by its nature = involves give=20 and take.

Questioner: = But=20 can one not attain Gnan=20 spontaneously?

Dadashri: = Only=20 rarely will one attains Gnan=20 spontaneously, however, that is an exception; he may not have a guru in = this=20 lifetime, but he must have had one in his previous life. Otherwise, = everything=20 is dependant upon a nimit (someone who is instrumental evidence = ). When=20 you come across a nimit like me, your work is done but, until = then, you=20 have to work on developing by yourself. Then, if you meet the Gnani Purush as a = nimit,=20 because of that nimit, everything will = manifest.

Questioner: = So=20 a person cannot become Self-realized on his own?

Dadashri: = Nothing=20 can be attained spontaneously. No one in =20 this world has ever attained that. If one was meant to attain the = experience on his own, then there would no need for schools, would = there? There=20 would be no need for colleges either, would there?

Spontaneous enlightenment is exteremely=20 rare

Questioner: = The=20 Tirthankaras are considered to have become enlightened = spontaneously (swayambuddha), are they=20 not?

Dadashri: = Yes,=20 the Tirthankaras are all swayambuddha=20 (spontaneous enlightenment), but they bound a birthright as a = Tirthankara in=20 their previous life because of a guru. Thus, they are called = swayambuddha=20 with reference to the perspective that they do not have a guru in this = life. It=20 is a relative thing. Those who have become swayambuddha today had = asked a=20 lot of questions in their previous live. Therefore, everything in the = world=20 happens through asking. Only a rare one will become swayambuddha=20 spontaneously, but that is an exception. Otherwise, there is no gnan-knowledge without a=20 guru.

Questioner: = It=20 has been said that Lord Rushabdev destroyed his karmic bondage on his = own, so=20 does that mean that he did not need anyone?

Dadashri: = But=20 he had taken some help earlier on. He asked for help from a guru two or = three=20 lives before. No one has become free without enlisting help. There is a=20 nimit even in this. It was the people during the time of Lord = Rushabdev=20 who claimed that the Lord destroyed his karmic bondage on his own. = However, it=20 is not possible to do this on one=92s own =96 it has never happened that = way before=20 and it never will. That is why you will always need a=20 nimit.

Questioner: = Who=20 were the gurus of Lord Mahavir?

Dadashri: = Lord=20 Mahavir had many gurus, but not in his last couple of lifetimes. It is = not so=20 easy to become spontaneously enlightened. Gurus are not needed in the = final life=20 of a Tirthankara.

How long is a guru = necessary?

Questioner: = Eklavya=20 (a student of Dronacharya who trained Arjuna in archery but refused to = train=20 Eklavya) attained powers (siddhi) and=20 became a master archer, even though he had no guru. So is it not = possible?

Dadashri: = The=20 siddhis that Eklavia acquired were exceptional, but this is not = always=20 the rule. Every rule can have an exception; moreover, these exceptions = are rare.=20 However, because of the exception, we cannot accept the rule as a = blanket rule.=20 If a person does not have a guru in this life, then he would have = definitely met=20 one in his previous life!

Questioner: = In=20 Eklavia=92s case, he did not learn from Dhronacharya guru, but instead = he learnt=20 in front of the guru=92s idol!

Dadashri: = He=20 learned everything in his previous life. The idol was his nimit = in this=20 life. One needs a guru in every lifetime.

Questioner: = Then=20 can one say, =93Only the guru from my previous life will do everything = for me.=94 So=20 is it necessary to have a guru in this lifetime?

Dadashri: = But=20 you may not be able to find him in this lifetime and you may not even = need=20 him. You may even meet = him in=20 another lifetime.

Nevertheless,=20 you still have a very long way to walk ahead of you. You will need many = gurus.=20 You will need a guru until you attain moksha. You will not need a = guru=20 after you attained the right vision (samkit). These talks about a = guru are=20 very serious. You cannot do without a guru.

=91Guru is Not = Necessary=92=20 is False

Questioner: Many saints say = that there=20 is no need to have a guru.

Dadashri: = People who say = such a thing=20 are only talking about themselves. The world will not accept what they = say. The=20 entire world accepts the guru. Sometimes you may get a bad guru. To = eradicate=20 the word =91guru=92, will not do.

Questioner: = Many people do not = make a=20 guru (surrender to the directions of a spiritual = master).

Dadashri: = That can never be = the case.=20 The reason behind India=92s current predicament is that people have = started to=20 preach, =91Do not make a guru.=92 Otherwise, India has always been a = country that=20 believed, =91No matter what, you must have at least one guru (spiritual=20 master).=94

Guru is necessary in worldly and = spiritual=20 endeavors

Questioner: = What difference = does it make=20 whether there is a guru or not?

Dadashri: = If you do not have = a guru,=20 what would you do if while walking on a road, you come across seven = further=20 roads? Which road will you pick?

Questioner: = I would take the = road that=20 the mind accepts.

Dadashri: = No, the mind will = accept the=20 one that will make you wander. You cannot call that a path. That is why = you need=20 to ask and make someone your guru. Make someone your guru and ask him = which way=20 you are supposed to go. One cannot take even a small step in this world = without=20 a guru.

Did you have = teachers when=20 you were at school?

Questioner: = Yes.

Dadashri: Wherever you go, = you need a=20 teacher. Tell me an instance when you have not needed a=20 teacher.

Then do you not = need a=20 professor in college?

Questioner: = Yes I=20 did.

Dadashri: = Therefore,=20 one will=20 need a guru above him the moment he is born as a human. He will need a = guru when=20 he goes to school and he will need one when he goes to college. There = are so=20 many kinds of gurus. Those studying high school will need a high school = guru; at=20 that level, a first grade teacher will not do. There are many different = types of=20 gurus. No one has just one type of guru. The kind of guru one will have, = will=20 depend on what he is studying.

Then when you a = book, is the=20 book not your guru? Unless a book is your guru, you will not read it. Do = you not=20 read something only if it is educational and beneficial to=20 you?

Questioner: = Yes, that is=20 right!

Dadashri: = You have been = learning from=20 books and you have benefited because of them. If a book shows you, the = way and=20 gives you directions, then is that book not your guru? Therefore, even a = book is=20 your guru.

You learn from = teachers,=20 from books, from people; all are considered gurus. So is the whole world = not=20 your guru?

Questioner: = Today=92s = psychology says that=20 one should leave the outside support and rely on one=92s own support. = The outside=20 support, whatever it may be, makes a person dependant. If a seeker takes = an=20 external support he becomes dependant and therefore handicapped.=20

Dadashri: = That=20 should not be the way; one should not become handicapped by = relying on=20 an external support. One should leave the external support and live on = his own=20 support, but until you can rely on your own support, you must rely on = the=20 external naimitic (instrumental support).=20 Does a book become a nimit (an instrument) or not? Is = everything=20 not in a nimit form?=20 That is why if today=92s psychology tells you to let go of your support, = you=20 should let go of that support to some extent. However, you do need = support to=20 some extent; you need the support of books and many other=20 things.

One man was saying = that he=20 did not need a guru, so I asked him, =93Who does not have a guru? Tell = me. Is your=20 mother who instilled noble values within you not a guru? The one who = said, =91Son=20 do this. Be careful here, etc.=92 If she is not a guru, then what is=20 she?=94

Questioner: That is=20 true.

Dadashri: = So the mother is = the first=20 guru. She will teach the son how to wear clothes. A child has to learn = even that=20 and his mother teaches him. She teaches him how to walk and do other = things. In=20 which lifetime has he not walked? He has walked for infinite lifetimes, = but he=20 has to learn the same thing repeatedly.

If the wife is not = at home=20 and you want to make kadhi (soup), you will have to = ask someone about the = ingredients!=20 Whomever you ask is a guru. So there is a need for a guru wherever you = go. You=20 need a guru for everything. Now If you need some legal work done, your = lawyer is=20 your guru. Do you agree? So regardless of what you do and where you go, = you need=20 a guru. The guru is necessary everywhere.

Questioner: So if one wants = to go all=20 the way to moksha, one will need a guru.

Dadashri: You need a guru = for=20 wherever you want to go. If you are traveling by car and you want to = take the=20 highway, then you need to ask someone; if not you will end up traveling = in the=20 wrong direction. Therefore, = a guru=20 is necessary in matters related to the worldly life, and a guru is = needed in=20 matters of nischaya (spiritual path). Therefore, it is important = to=20 understand what a guru is and who can be called a = guru.

A Guru is Anything = or Anyone=20 You Benefit From

Questioner: = So as far as = religion is=20 concerned, should we have just one guru or should we have multiple=20 gurus?

Dadashri: = It is like this: = You should=20 maintain the intention (bhaav) of being a student or a disciple = in every=20 situation. In reality, you should make the whole world your guru. You = can learn=20 from even the trees. What do we do to the mango tree? In order to pick = the mango=20 off the tree, we use a stick and beat at the branches, but even then, = the tree=20 gives us its fruit. If we learned just this virtuous attribute from the = tree,=20 how well we would progress spiritually! The tree too is a = jiva=97embodied=20 soul! It is not just a piece of wood.

Questioner: = Dattatreya made = some animals=20 his guru. In what sense was this?

Dadashri: = Not only = Dattatreya,=20 everyone does that. Everyone makes animals their gurus. But these people = do not=20 call the animals their gurus, whereas Dattatreya did! If someone were to = beat an=20 animal, it would flee. That is what people have learned; they have = learned that=20 if someone beats them, they should run away. People have learned this = from the=20 animals.

Moreover, you will = not=20 attain liberation by calling just the animals your guru; you will have = to make=20 the entire world your guru to attain that. If you make every living = being your=20 guru, and learn whatever you can from them, you will attain liberation. = God is=20 present in every living being so if you embrace and learn from them, = then you=20 will attain liberation.

Did you understand = the=20 concept of a guru?

Questioner: = Yes.

Dadashri: = Your experiences = are also=20 your guru. Your experiences will guide you from within. The experience, = which=20 does not become a cause to guide you, is not an experience. That is why = these=20 are all gurus.

One man was = limping and=20 another man began to make fun of him and laugh at him. A little later, = he=20 happened to meet me and told me that he had made fun of someone, but = then=20 suddenly he realized what he was doing and asked himself whether he saw = the Soul=20 within the limping man. He said he immediately became aware of Gnan. =

So everything = teaches us.=20 Every experience teaches us something. If just once, someone were to = pick your=20 pocket, that experience will teach you a lesson and that lesson will = remain with=20 you.

If you can learn = from a dog,=20 you should learn from it. Even dogs can be considered gurus. A dog may = have been=20 sitting here for an hour and a half. If we gave it a lot of food, it = will eat=20 only as much as it can and then leave the rest. It will not be greedy = and=20 acquisitive (parigraha) for = the food.=20 We can learn from them too. So everything we learn from is our guru. The = dog=20 does not want to become our guru but if we consider it our guru, then = the lesson=20 we learn from it will give results. This is the real = way!

If you fall down = due to a=20 protruding obstacle in the way, that too is your guru. How can a person = progress=20 without a guru? If you are walking on a road and you fall, the = obstructing=20 object may say, =93What will you lose by looking down a bit when you = walk?=94=20 Therefore, I see a guru everywhere and in everything. Wherever you = benefit,=20 consider that as your guru. If you learn and gain something by tripping, = then=20 you should consider it to your guru. I =20 have gained many benefits from everything in this=20 way.

There should be no = annoyance=20 towards guru. Today all knowledge has been obstructed because of = annoyance with=20 the idea of a guru.

The one who = opposes the idea=20 of a guru has been stung in the past life

It is not possible = to do=20 without a guru. If someone says, =93You can do without a guru,=94 it is = a=20 contradiction. In this world, it is not possible to proceed without a = guru,=20 whether it is a technical matter or otherwise. Such a statement is = worthless.=20 People ask me why so many people make such statements, I tell them that = they do=20 so without an understanding and that they do not mean any harm by it. = They are=20 merely expressing in this life the aversion they had for their guru in = their=20 past life.

Questioner: = Why would that = repulsion=20 have arisen towards the guru?

Dadashri: = When people say = there is no=20 need for a guru, do you know what that is comparable to? Once, when I = was young,=20 I threw up while eating doodhapak=20 (milk pudding). I may have vomited because of something else; it was = not=20 necessarily the doodhapak but I developed an aversion to it. From = that=20 moment onwards, I would get nervous at the sight of doodhapak. = After that=20 whenever they made doodhapak at home, I would tell my mother, = =93I do not=20 like this sweet dish, so what will you give me instead?=94 My mother = would reply,=20 =93Dear son, there is a millet paste and if you eat ghee and molasses I = will give=20 you that,=94 to which I said, =93I don=92t want any ghee or molasses.=94 = I would not eat=20 until she gave me honey. Then my mother would explain to me, =93When you = go to=20 your in-laws, they will make comments like, =91Has his mother never fed = him=20 doodhapak?=92 If they serve doodhapak and you don=92t eat = it, it will=20 look bad. So why not start eating a little at a time?=94 She tried to = coax me in=20 many ways, but nothing changed. The aversion that I developed took hold. = That is=20 how this aversion towards the guru has taken hold. =

Questioner: = But why is there = the=20 repulsion for the guru?

Dadashri: = It is because he = had built=20 and broken a relationship = with the=20 guru in the past life and that results in repulsion in this life. So = many=20 different kinds of repulsions are involved. Many people do not have = repulsion=20 for gurus but they have a repulsion for the word God. So this is how = people=20 reject gurus. Just as I developed an aversion to doodhapak due to an unrelated = cause of=20 vomiting, people develop an aversion to gurus.

Those who claim = that you can=20 do without a guru are contradicting the entire world. This is because = they are=20 trying to perpetuate their mistake on others. What do you think of this=20 discussion.

Questioner: = It is=20 true.

Dadashri: = If you have a = clash with=20 your guru, you may feel it is not worth having a guru. Now if the guru = has hurt=20 you, then you may not want to take a new guru. You cannot force your = experience=20 on others. If I had a bitter = experience with a=20 guru, I should not go around telling everyone they should not make = someone a=20 guru just based on my own experience alone. You should keep your prior = opinions=20 to yourself. You should not tell people this. You cannot give = instructions to=20 others about what they should and should not do. This is because the = whole world=20 cannot do without a guru. Did you ever need to ask someone for a = solution?=20

Questioner: Yes.

Dadashri: = There has not been = a single=20 man in this world who has truly been an averse to the idea of a guru. No = person=20 should say, =93I do not need a guru.=94 Such a statement is a = contradiction. If=20 someone should say such a thing, know that it is a viewpoint, and he is = attached=20 to his viewpoint.

So all you need to = understand is that you need a guru in this world. There is no need to = have any=20 repulsion towards the guru. The very word guru has scared people = nowadays! Now=20 what does the main element, the Self, have to do with = it?

You Need a Guru Until the Very=20 End

The one=20 who says, =93A guru is not needed,=94 is merely expressing his view. In = the past=20 life he has wandered much between many gurus and acquired something from = them=20 all, with the net result that he reaches a spiritual level where the = answers=20 come from within, and thus he feels in the mind that having a guru is a = useless=20 load.

Questioner: When one says, = =93guru is not=20 needed,=94 he has reached a certain stage where the guru is no longer = needed. Then=20 everything is dependent upon himself.

Dadashri: = Even Kabir has=20 said,

=93Kabir hud ka guru = hai, behud=20 ka guru nahi!=94

=93Kabir is a guru = as far as=20 the boundary reaches; he is not the ultimate boundless=20 guru.=94

That is=20 why you need a guru until the very end. It is extremely difficult to = reach the=20 final destination moksha. =

Questioner: = A guru is needed = for worldly=20 tasks and worldly knowledge. But to see yourself as you are, you do not = need a=20 guru. Is that not so?

Dadashri: = You need a guru in = the=20 worldly life and you need a guru on the path of liberation = moksha. Only a=20 few people would say that a guru is not needed. You cannot do without a = guru.=20 The guru is a light. You need a guru until the very end. Srimad = Rajchandra=20 (Gnani Purush 1867-1901) has said that you will need a guru until the = twelfth goonthana (a stage of = spiritual=20 development in Kramic path), i.e., until you become a God.

Questioner: = My question is not = to oppose=20 the need for a guru. I am = trying to=20 understand the issue.

Dadashri: = Yes, but really a = guru, is=20 needed in this world. I too still have a guru! I sit here as the = disciple of the=20 whole world. So then, who is my guru? People! That is why there is a = need for a=20 guru until the very end.

Regardless of what = the truth=20 may be, is there anything wrong in telling the truth? If something is = wrong, the=20 Gnani Purush will = immediately=20 say so regardless of whether that person is a king or just a common man! = If you=20 don=92t believe me, then I do not have any objections. But I would not = let things=20 continue as they are. I = have come=20 to tell the facts to the entire world because until now everything has = been=20 hollow and without any substance. Just look at the predicament of India = today!=20 Just look!

I cannot speak = insincerely=20 and inaccurately. What is the world looking for? People claim it is = acceptable=20 to speak insincerely and inaccurately to avoid interference and = conflict.=20 However, I cannot utter even a single word that is insincere or = unsubstantiated.=20 Though I know how to, I cannot speak that way. All I can say is, =93It = is=94 to that=20 which is, and =93It is not=94 to that which is not. I cannot say, =93It = is=94 when it is=20 not and, =93It is not=94 where it is.

A guru himself may = tell you,=20 =91Do not make anyone your guru.=92 When he teaches this, what is he if = not a=20 guru? In the same way, = people may=20 claim that a nimit is not = needed, so=20 what are they if not a nimit=20 instrumental evidence, in claiming this?

The Gnani Nimit=20 Liberates

Questioner: = Yes, if you have = the right=20 spiritual development (upadaan), then=20 you will find the nimit automatically. That is what they=20 say.

Dadashri: = Amongst us, there = are many=20 who have a very high upadaan (spiritual development), but they = wander=20 around because they have not found a nimit Gnani liberator. Hence the = statement,=20 =93When one has the upadaan, he will automatically find a = nimit,=94 is=20 completely wrong. It carries a grave liability. However, if you wish to = speak=20 against the Gnan, = then you may=20 utter this statement.

Questioner: = Please give us = some clarity=20 between the nimit and upadaan. So if one=92s spiritual = level=20 (upadaan) is ready, then the nimit will readily come on = its own.=20 And if the nimit is readily = available, but the upadaan is not present, then what can the = nimit=20 do?

Dadashri: = All such = statements that are=20 written are incorrect. What is correct is that there is a need for both = the nimit and upadaan. = However, if=20 upadaan is lacking and one finds the right nimit, = then the upadaan will = increase.

The nimit = verily is=20 beneficial. What if we did away with schools on the belief that as long = as the=20 child and its educational development =20 (upadaan) are present, a nimit (teacher) will = automatically come=20 along? What would happen if we did that? =20 Can we do without schools?

Questioner: That will not do, = but this=20 entire discussion is about the worldly life.

Dadashri: = No, whatever is = applicable=20 in the worldly life is applicable here, too. Here, in spiritual matters = too, a=20 nimit is needed first!

If they did away = with all=20 the schools and books, people would not study or learn. With a = nimit,=20 your work would progress but without it, it would not. What qualifies as = a=20 nimit? Books are a nimit, temples are a nimit,=20 derasars (Jain = temples) are=20 a nimit, the Gnani=20 Purush is a nimit. Now if we did not have all these books = and=20 derasars, then what will happen to the upadaan (one=92s spiritual = development)? That=20 is why your work will be done only if there is a nimit and not=20 otherwise.

The twenty-four=20 Tirthankaras have said this very thing repeatedly. They have said = for us=20 to revere and praise the nimit. If upadaan is lacking and = one=20 meets the nimit, then his upadaan will rise. The reason I = am=20 telling you about upadaan is because if you find a nimit = and you=20 keep your upadaan ready and awakened, then your work will not be = done and=20 the nimit that you have met will go to waste. So be careful. That = is what=20 they are telling you.

What is = upadaan? It=20 is to keep the oil or the ghee and the wick ready; it is to keep = everything=20 ready for the lamp to be lit. People have kept everything ready for = infinite=20 lifetimes, but they have not found anyone to kindle the lamp. The ghee = and the=20 wick are ready but they need someone to kindle it. One has found the = right=20 scriptures nimit that will = lead to=20 moksha. One has not met the Gnani Purush nimit = who would=20 take him to moksha. They have not found such nimits. People have been = wandering=20 around because they have not found such nimits.

The way people = understand=20 nimit is, if the upadaan is there, then at that time a=20 nimit will be found. But they have misunderstood this. One has to = have=20 the bhaavna (an inner = intent) to meet=20 the liberator nimit. = Without the bhaavna, one will not = encounter such a=20 nimit.

People have = misused this=20 statement. The nimit himself is saying there is no need for a=20 nimit. Despite being the nimit, he talks this=20 way.

Questioner: = Yes, even Srimad = Rajchandra=20 says the same thing.

Dadashri: = Not just Srimad = Rajchandra,=20 but the Tirthankaras too have said that without a nimit no = work=20 can be accomplished. Statements like, =93If there is upadaan, = then there=20 will be a nimit=94 and =93 There is = no need for=20 a nimit,=94 are not the = statements of=20 the Tirthankaras or Srimad Rajchandra. Anyone who says such a = thing=20 speaks with a great liability. The one who speaks this way incurs=20 liability.

Krupaludev Srimad = Rajchandra=20 said, =93Do not search for anything else Seek out a satpurush = (the=20 enlightened one, Gnani Purush) and live after surrendering your all, at = his=20 feet. And then if you do feel liberated from him then come and get it = from me.=94=20 If that were not the case he would have simply written, =93Just stay at = home and=20 sleep and the nimit will come to you and keep your upadaan = awake=20 and active=92.

The=20 Misapplication of Teachings of the Tirthankaras

Questioner: = There is also = another belief=20 that, =93We accept the = necessity for=20 the nimit, however, the nimit is not able to do=20 anything!=94

Dadashri: = Indeed,=20 if that were the case then there would = be no need=20 to search for anything. What need would there be to read books? There = would be=20 no need to go to the derasars. Would a clever person then not = question,=20 =93Sir, since a nimit cannot do anything, why are you sitting = here? What do=20 we need you for? Why have you published these books? Why have you built = this=20 temple?=94 Would there not be someone to question such=20 things?

If a blind=20 person says, =93When I make my own eyes and see through them, then I am = a man,=94=20 would we not laugh at him? This is how people talk. Say there is a = professor in=20 a college. He needs students and the students need him too. But for the students to say = that the=20 professor is not necessary is crazy. What kind of mania has arisen nowadays? = Such=20 statements eliminate the = Gnani Purush and the guru altogether.

The Gnani Purush is a = nimit=20 and you have upadaan = spiritual development. It = does not=20 matter how ripe the upadaan is. Without the nimit of the = Gnani Purush, this one work = of=20 spiritual learning leading to Self-realization is such that it cannot = happen.=20 Self-realization is impossible without a Gnani Purush. The essence of = what I am=20 trying to convey is that it will not happen without a nimit. = This is applicable = ninety-nine=20 percent of the time; however, there is a one percent exception where it = may even=20 happen without a nimit. But = this=20 exception cannot be taken as a rule. The general rule is that it will = happen=20 only through a nimit. An = exception is=20 a different thing. In a principle, there is always an exception. That is = the=20 definition of a principle!

But how far have = people=20 gone? First they claim, =91Every element vastu is separate. One element = does not=20 do anything for any other element.=92 This statement from the supreme = vision of=20 the enlightened ones has been brought down to level of worldly talk and = this=20 confuses the seeker. The seeker then feels that he cannot be liberated, = by=20 anyone else.

Questioner: = They are saying = that no one=20 can do anything for anyone else.

&nb