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.

Dadashri: = Now that statement = is filled=20 with a very grave error and liability.

Questioner: = Then what do the = scriptures=20 mean when they say that no one can do anything for = anyone?

Dadashri: = That is a = different=20 discussion. The scriptures mean to say something else, but people have=20 interpreted it a different way. People take by mouth a medicine that was = meant=20 to be applied topically, and so they die. So what can anyone do? How can = we=20 blame the doctor?

If indeed it were = true that=20 one person cannot do anything for another, then all the lawyers and = attorneys=20 would be out of commission! The doctors would be of no use! Wives would = be=20 useless. All these people help each other.

Questioner: = So in which = context is the=20 sentence, =93No one can do anything for anyone else,=94=20 written?

Dadashri: It is applicable = in=20 nischaya (from the real perspective). It is not applicable to the = worldly=20 life. In the worldly life there is give and take, however as far as = reality, the=20 Self is concerned, no one element tattva,=20 vastu can do anything for another. =93One element does not help = another=20 element,=94 too, is applicable to the vision of the Self. However, = everything can=20 be done through vyavahar =96 in=20 the worldly life. Incorrect statements have been given to the = public and=20 consequently it has done a lot of damage.

Questioner: = That is what I am = trying to=20 understand.

Dadashri: = As=20 far as elements are concerned, no one element tattva can help or hurt = another element.=20 The elements cannot mix with each other. This is what that statement = means, but=20 people have taken these statements and applied them to the worldly life. = If you=20 look at it, as far as the worldly life =20 vyavahaar is = concerned, one=20 cannot even do without a wife. In the worldly life they cannot do = without wives=20 and husbands. The entire worldly life is nothing but dependency. = But as=20 far as the Self nischaya is = concerned, everything is completely independent. The Soul is completely=20 independent. But what happens when you bring that which is applicable only to the Self and apply it = to worldly=20 life?

Knowledge of what is the untruth is = very=20 necessary

Do you=20 understand this discussion? I have no need to prove my truth. If you = find it to=20 be so, then accept it. I do not intend to make every discussion correct. = If it=20 suits you, then you should accept it and if you do not, it will not = bother me.=20 In any event, I have to tell the truth. Otherwise, people have just = allowed all=20 misrepresentations to continue.

Questioner: = But that is their = viewpoint,=20 is it not?

Dadashri: = Yes,=20 that = is true,=20 but I must disclose this truth because = there are=20 people out there who are trying to conceal it. And nobody has the = courage to=20 speak this truth out loud. Do you now know that all this is=20 wrong?

Questioner: = Yes, Dada.=20

Dadashri: = You should have = knowledge of=20 what is untrue. One man said to me, =93I can now tell if something is = untrue.=94=20 This is what I wanted. Otherwise, uncertainty and doubts will remain; = one may=20 feel, =93There is some truth here and some truth there.=94 As long as = this happens,=20 you will not get the full taste of either one. Through your gnan-knowledge, you should = be able to=20 tell if something is untrue, then everything will work out=20 fine.

It is like this: = if no one=20 says anything, people will carry on as is. A Gnani Purush, like = me, states=20 the facts clearly; I can speak frankly and I can say things exactly as = they=20 are.

Although Only an = Instrument,=20 Absolute Nevertheless

Ask me=20 questions =96 you can ask anything. You can ask any question. This = opportunity may=20 never come again. So ask everything. The questions are good and people = will come=20 to know whatever facts this discussion will bring out. We will talk = about the=20 ultimate destination too. You ask, and I will answer.

Questioner: It is also said that the guru cannot give = Gnan and that Gnan cannot be obtained = without a=20 guru. Can you explain that?

Dadashri: = That is true, is = it not? If=20 the guru ever tells you, =93It Gnan happened because of = me,=94 then it=20 is incorrect. Another person may say, =93It happens without the guru,=94 = which, too,=20 is incorrect. How do I address this issue? I tell you, =93I am giving = you that=20 which is already yours. I am not giving you anything that is=20 mine.=94

Questioner: = You are a = nimit in=20 all this, are you not?

Dadashri: = Yes, of course, I = am a=20 nimit. I am telling you myself = that I am=20 a nimit. I am merely a nimit! But if you hold that I am = simply a=20 nimit then you will be at a loss. This is because your = upkari=20 bhaav (your sense of gratitude towards me) will disappear. The = greater=20 your gratitude towards me, the greater the results you will attain. The=20 upkari bhaav is regarded as bhakti=20 devotion and reverence.

Questioner: = If we consider you = a=20 nimit, then our upkari bhaav goes away. I do not = understand this.=20

Dadashri: = I am telling you = that I am a=20 nimit, but if you believe that I am a nimit then you will = not=20 benefit. If you feel gratitude towards = me, then=20 you will see the results. That is a rule of the world. However, this=20 nimit (Dada) is a nimit that will take you to = moksha, so=20 have a lot of gratitude. One has to surrender to the Gnani Purush. In = addition=20 to feeling very deep gratitude, you should surrender your all, the mind, = the body, and the speech. One should feel = that he=20 wants to do this readily and without hesitation.

Even the vitarags fully enlightened ones, have = said that=20 the Gnani Purush will = claim to=20 be merely a nimit, but those desirous of liberation should not = accept him=20 to be merely a nimit. Those in search of liberation should never = contend=20 with the idea of the Gnani=20 being simply a = nimit.=20 What will you get out of believing simply that? Within you, you should = have the=20 feeling, =93 The Gnani is everything to me,=94 otherwise, you have not = fulfilled=20 this particular worldly obligation correctly. You have to say, =93He = will take us=20 to moksha,=94 while the Gnani=20 Purush says, =93I am a nimit.=94 This is the = vyavahar=97worldly=20 interaction on both sides.

In reality, this = is such an=20 easy path. It is the path of equanimity where there are no problems. = What do the=20 ones who show you this path and give you blessings, claim? They simply = say, =93I=20 am a nimit.=94 Look, I don=92t even wear an elaborate headgear = (sign of=20 reverence and respect) on my head, do I? Otherwise, people go around = wearing=20 such gigantic hats. Therefore, I am = also not=20 even the giver; I am a nimit. If you go to a doctor, then your = illness=20 will be cured but is it likely to be cured if you go to a=20 carpenter?

Questioner: = No.

Dadashri: = So whichever = nimit=20 you go to, your work will get done accordingly. By this I mean, if you = want to=20 get rid of your anger, pride, illusion, and greed, if you want to get = rid of=20 your ignorance, then you must go to a Gnani = .

The Gnani encompasses all that is = necessary=20 for moksha

That is=20 why it is said that you need satsadhan (the one who is = eternal and=20 grants the eternal). What is the satsadhan? It is that where the = satdev (the=20 one with the highest attributes), satdharma (real religion), and=20 sat-guru (the one who liberates, Gnani guru) are present in one!=20 Truthfully speaking, neither the scriptures nor the idols are the real = tools.=20 The Gnani Purush is = the only=20 real tool. The satdev, satguru, and satdharma; the = combination of=20 all three is a Gnani = Purush!=20 During the vidhi (special = inner=20 spiritual energy invocation for the disciple) he is the satdev; = when he=20 speaks he is the satguru and listening to him is = satdharma; all=20 three are the Gnani. Only = this-The=20 Gnani should be your = deepest=20 devotion (aradhana). Do not = go about=20 trying to create or let go of anything or anyone else. Otherwise, you = will have=20 to worship the three separately.

Questioner: = In Jainism, there = is no such=20 thing as a guru.

Dadashri: = No, it is not the = way you=20 are saying. The very foundation of Jainism is based on dev, guru, = and=20 dharma; it is entirely based on satdev, satguru, and=20 satdharma. What did Lord Mahavir and the twenty-four = Tirthankaras=20 say? They said that the world will not function without a guru. = Therefore, when=20 satdev, satguru, and satdharma are all together, = there will=20 be moksha. Have you heard something like = this?

Satdharma is the Lord=92s = spoken=20 scriptures and agamas (collection of 45 main Jain=20 Scriptures). Satdharma is there for sure; we have = scriptures that=20 are the Lord=92s spoken words, but who can explain them to us without = a satguru?=20 In the present era of the time cycle, the satguru is not = to be=20 found. This is because a satguru must have Atmagnan-Self-knowledge; = he=20 must be enlightened! A satguru is definitely needed. If he comes = to your=20 house begging for alms, you should give him something to eat and you in = turn=20 have to go to him to learn. This is how the Lord has arranged it. = Everyone, even=20 an eighty year old man, needs a satguru. And what is = satdev? It is=20 the vitarag (the fully enlightened one) Lord. Now if a Vitarag = Lord is=20 not present, you should keep His murti (idol). But the = satguru=20 must be present; his idol will not do.

It is not enough to make guru in = the mind=20 only

Questioner: = It is true that = one must=20 have a guru. But what if I make someone my guru in my mind only, will = that=20 do?

Dadashri: = No, it will not = do. If you=20 make a mistake, you need someone to tell you so. As far as believing = through=20 your mind is concerned, say, for example, you see a girl and you believe = in your=20 mind that she is your wife. Will she really become your wife? Does it = work that=20 way? Does that mean you are married to her? Will it be acceptable if you = do not=20 undergo the rituals of a marriage ceremony?

Questioner: = Say, for example, = a guru=20 migrates permanently to another country and I want to believe in him as = my guru.=20 Can I not keep his photograph and think of him as my = guru?

Dadashri: = No, you will not = get=20 anywhere doing that. A guru is someone who lights up your the path. A = photograph=20 cannot show you the way so that guru is useless. If you become sick, and = you=20 worship the photograph of a doctor, will your illness go=20 away?

Who is Your = Guru?

Questioner: Gnan manifest within you, = so you too=20 had a guru?

Dadashri: = I have not met a = living guru=20 in this life. Whom can you call a true guru? A true guru is the one that = is=20 living and present (pratyaksha).=20 Otherwise, all these are merely photographs. Lord Krishna would be = useful if he=20 was living. But people sell his pictures and people buy the pictures and = frame=20 them. In this life, I have not had the decided experience =91this is my = guru=92=20 about anyone. One can only be defined a guru if he is present live for you, and you absorb his = teachings=20 with unmatched intensity = (dharan), such that over a few=20 months there develops=20 guru-shishya (disciple) relationship. I have not developed a = relationship=20 like that with anyone in this life; I have not met a living guru in this = life.

I had more = bhaav=20 (attraction with devotion and reverence) for Krupadudev (Srimad = Rajchandra), but=20 because he was not present, I could not accept him as my guru. Whom = would I=20 accept as a guru? The one who is present, the one who gives me direct aadesh (directives and = instructions),=20 the one who gives me knowledge upadesh (knowledge); such a = person can=20 be regarded as a guru. Had I met Krupadudev, even for just five minutes, = I would=20 have made him my guru, = that is what=20 I had understood. I have not made anyone my guru. I have done=20 darshan=97seen with reverence, many other saints, but I will not = make=20 anyone my guru until my heart accepts him. There is no doubt that the = saints I=20 had met were true saints, but acceptance by the heart is needed too.=20

Respect for the Gurus of the Past=20 Life

I do not=20 have a guru in this lifetime, but that does not mean I never had a guru=20 before.

Questioner: = So did you have a = guru in=20 your previous life?

Dadashri: = Without a guru, = man cannot=20 progress. For that matter, no guru has progressed without a guru. What I = am=20 saying is that not a single person has been without a=20 guru.

Questioner: = Who was your guru = in your=20 previous life?

Dadashri: = Whoever he was, he = must have=20 been good. How can I know more about him now?

Questioner: = Even Srimad = Rajchandra had a=20 guru, did he not?

Dadashri: = He did not meet a = guru in=20 his lifetime. He had said that if he had met a satguru, he would have = followed him=20 everywhere! His Gnan,=20 however, was real. In his ultimate state, the Gnan that manifested within = him was=20 Atmagnan.

Questioner: = Even within you, = the Gnan that manifested did so = without a=20 guru did it not?

Dadashri: = I had brought such = a karmic=20 account from the past. In the past I met gurus, I met Gnanis, and = from=20 them I have brought forth the merit karma (punyaii). My progress = must=20 have halted due to some mistake on my part. I did not have a guru in = this=20 lifetime, but I must have had one in the previous life. In my past = lifetimes, I=20 must have been with a guru and that is why this Gnan manifested in this=20 lifetime!

But I had no = inkling that=20 such a phenomenal Gnan would=20 come about. Nevertheless, it exploded completely at Surat Station. Then = it=20 occurred to me what an extraordinary science this was! It occurred to me = that=20 everyone=92s punyaii must have come into fruition. Someone has to = become a=20 nimit, right? People started to think, =93This Dada experienced = this Gnan so spontaneously and = easily.=94=20 But that is not the case. In my previous life, I had made someone my = guru and=20 this is the result of that. So, nothing can be accomplished without a = guru. The=20 succession of gurus will always be there.

The Importance of a Living=20 Guru

Questioner: = Can a guru guide = his=20 disciple even though he is not present?

Dadashri: = A=20 guru is only useful if he is living and present, otherwise he is of no=20 use. = If he is=20 not present and living, then that guru cannot help you. How can a = non-living=20 guru help you? If you have met the guru, if you have spent ten to = fifteen years=20 together with him, if you have served him for several years and became = one with=20 him (ekata), you will still = reap some=20 benefit from that guru even if he has passed away. Otherwise, he is of = no use,=20 no matter how hard you try.

Questioner: = So the gurus that = we have=20 not seen cannot help us at all?

Dadashri: = There will be some = benefit.=20 You will gain the benefit of your concentration energy (ekagrata), however, that = benefit will be=20 only worldly in nature. As compared to a non-living guru, the living = less=20 qualified guru is better.

Questioner: = If a guru has = taken=20 samadhi=97left the world, can he help us = later?

Dadashri: = If you had = developed a=20 relationship with him when he was alive, if you had won his love and = received=20 his blessings, then if that guru passes away, it will still be = beneficial. You=20 have to have met him at least once. Those who have not seen or met a = guru will=20 not get their work done and after the dies, then no matter what you do, = even if=20 you bang your head on the monument displaying his funeral pyre (samadhi), you will attain = nothing.=20

Here images and = idols of=20 neither Lord Mahavir nor Lord Krishna will help you. Only the one who is = living=20 and present can help you. People have worshiped Lord Krishna and Lord = Mahavir=20 for so many lives. Do you think people have ever lacked in their = worship? They=20 have become weary from all their worship. Despite going to the = derasar=20 Jain temple every day, they have not attaind dharmadhyan (meditation without any adverse = effects,=20 internal or external). And there even a time limit there. Medicines too are subject to an expiration = date. You=20 are aware of that, are you not? You know what an expiration date is, = don=92t you?=20 That rule is also applicable here. But people keep singing and chanting = the=20 names of those who have already departed long ago and they do this = without any=20 understanding.

Questioner: = Why is there so = much=20 expectation from and importance of a living guru?

Dadashri: = In the absence of = a living=20 guru nothing can be attaind. Everything will be futile. One will benefit = at the=20 relative worldly level because, for that amount of time, he is involved = in doing=20 good work and thus benefits from it. If a guru were present here, he = would show=20 you your faults and you would remove them. You do not need a guru when = you can=20 see all your faults. I am the only one in the whole world who can see = his faults=20 and, therefore, do not need a guru. Otherwise, everyone needs a guru. = And, it is=20 pointless singing praise of those that have = departed.

Questioner: = So a picture or a=20 murti idol cannot = be a=20 substitute for a guru?

Dadashri: = Nothing will work. = Those=20 pictures do not endorse anything. Today, if you were to take a picture = of Indira=20 Gandhi, will it have any power to sign any documents? You want the one = that is=20 living today. So today, neither Indira nor Jawaharlal Nehru (both = previous Prime=20 Ministers of India) can help. Right now, only the one in power and = present will=20 be able to help you, no one else. Only the signature of the one who is = present=20 will be acceptable. Even if you don=92t have their full signature but = just the=20 initials, they will do. And, even if you have the full signature of = Indira=20 Gandhi, it will not do.

Idol worship is Indirect=20 Worship

Questioner: One saint says = that we=20 should not depend upon inert things such as photographs or idols. He = said we=20 should take support from the one who is living and present in front of=20 us.

3D"Rounded Dadashri: = He is right. If = you find a=20 living guru who is good, then you will feel satisfaction. But, until you = find=20 such a guru, you should do darshan =20 (see with devotion and reverence) of the murti (that with = a form,=20 an idol). The murti = is a step;=20 do not let go of it. Until you attain the amurta (the formless, = the=20 Self), do not let go of the murti. The murti will always = give the=20 murta (that which has form). = The=20 murti does not give =20 amurta (the Soul). A thing can only express and bestow its = own=20 attributes. The murti is indirect worship (paroksha). Even the guru is = indirect=20 worship, but the guru is a vehicle to quickly attain direct worship. He = is a=20 living idol. So you should go where there is pratyaksh (a living = guru).=20 You should do the darshan of the Lord=92s murti; there is = nothing=20 wrong in doing darshan. When we do that, we are expressing our = reverence=20 and we bind merit karma (punyai) in the process. = Therefore, in doing darshan of the murti, our work will = move=20 forward, but the murti will not say anything to you. You need = someone to=20 tell you and show you your mistakes, don=92t you? Have you not found = anyone like=20 that yet?

Questioner: = No.

Dadashri: = So when will you = find=20 one?

Egoism Can Be Stopped Only through = the Living=20 Guru

That is=20 why it is said that you should not be without a sajeevan murti (an awakened being, the = living=20 Gnani).Find yourself a living Gnani =20 and sit there with him.

If the=20 guru is even two cents better than you, learn from him. If you are at = the level=20 of twelve cents and he is at the level of fourteen cents, then sit with = him.=20 Those who have departed will not return to show you your mistakes. Only = the=20 living guru can show you your faults.

That is why = Krupadudev said,=20 =93 Sajeevan murti na laksha = vagar jey kai=20 pan karbvama avey chhetey jivaney bandhan chhe. Aa amaru hridaya=20 chhe.=94

=93Without your = exclusive=20 focus on the living Gnani, whatever you do will bind you. These words = represent=20 my heart.=94

This one sentence = itself=20 explains everything because without the living Gnani, whatever you do is swachhand (actions guided by = your own=20 ego). Swachhand can only be prevented in the presence of a living = guru,=20 not otherwise.

Questioner: = It has also been = said that=20 if one does not have contact with a living satguru Gnani, then he can = take the=20 words of those who have become satgurus and use them as a support = to do=20 purusharth (independent = spiritual=20 effort ). This too has been said. Is this true or = not?

Dadashri: = That is what they = are doing!=20 And when they attain the Self, you will notice their =91fever=92 has = come down! When=20 one becomes Self-realized, can you not tell that his =91fever=92 has = gone down? Can=20 you not tell the difference between a state with fever and a state = without=20 fever? Would you not know whether there has been a change in the way one = sees=20 things? Samkit means a change in vision! There is always a rare=20 exception. Some people are an exception to this rule, but we are not = talking=20 about exceptions here. We are talking about that which is applicable to=20 all.

Questioner: = Can a person = attain the=20 ultimate using the words of the satguru as a =20 support?

Dadashri: = He will gain = nothing out of=20 that! Then you might as well get rid of Krupadudev=92s statement, = =93Without your=20 exclusive focus on the living Gnani, whatever you do will bind you. = These words=20 represent my heart.=94 What a phenomenal statement! Still, there is = nothing wrong=20 in what people are doing. If you tell someone that what he is doing is = wrong,=20 and that he will not attain moksha by doing so, then he is likely = to get=20 on the wrong path, and start gambling. So he is better off doing what he = is=20 doing now. But follow the directions of Krupadudev. Look for a living=20 Gnani!

Krupadudev keeps = reiterating=20 the cardinal statement that one should not do anything without a living = guru or=20 Gnani. To do so is nothing but swachhand! The person that moves = ahead on=20 his own will and understanding, will never attain moksha because = there is=20 no one above him to point out his mistakes. What is it called when there = is no=20 guru or Gnani above = you? It is=20 called swachhand (actions and interpretations guided by one=92s = intellect=20 and ego)! Whosever=92s swachhand has ceased will attain = moksha.=20 Otherwise, moksha cannot be attained.

The best thing to = do is to=20 ask the guru. Where can you find such a guru in these times? Instead of = that, it=20 will also work if you make anyone else your guru. If he is wiser than = you are=20 and he takes care of you, and you have faith in him and you feel at = peace there,=20 your heart accepts him, then establish him as your guru and stay with = him. If he=20 has a few shortcomings, tolerate them. When you yourself are filled with = so many=20 faults and he has just a few, why do you judge him? He is higher than = you are=20 and, therefore, he will take you higher. It is a huge mistake to judge=20 him.

Until you attain = the=20 enlightened view, right vision (samyak darshan), your = swachhand=20 (actions and interpretations guided by one=92s intellect and ego) will = not leave.=20 Or, there is a way out if you act according to the directions of a guru, = however, you have to act completely and wholly according to the guru=92s = instructions. If a person conducts himself with total surrender to his = guru,=20 that is a different matter altogether. Even if the guru is not = Self-realized,=20 there is nothing wrong in that. And if the disciple lives completely = according=20 to the guru, then his swachhand will go. Krupadudev had written a = lot of=20 truth but even that is difficult to explain! How is it possible to = understand as=20 long as one=92s swachhand is still present? And is it an easy = thing for swachhand to = go?

Questioner: = So until one meets = a Gnani , his = swachhand will not=20 leave?

Dadashri: = No. However, even = if one=20 makes a crazy, happy-go-lucky person his guru, and always maintains = humility as=20 a disciple and never falters in his duties as a disciple, then his=20 swachhand will leave. Yet people have opposed their gurus and = yelled=20 abuses at them. Man does not have the capacity to maintain such = continuous=20 respect, because when he sees something amiss in the guru, his intellect = begins=20 to act up!

If you do not find = a Gnani, then you will need a = guru. If=20 not, then you are likely to walk around with swachhand. If you = let go of=20 the string of a kite, what will become of that = kite?

Questioner: = It will stumble = and not=20 fly.

Dadashri: = Yes, so this is = similar to=20 letting go of the string of a kite. As long as you do not have the Soul = in your=20 hand, Self-realization, you do not have the string of the kite in your = hands. Do=20 you understand?

Your head naturally to the One who = dissolves=20 all egos

Questioner: = Yes, I should make = someone=20 my guru. Without a guru, Gnan cannot be attained. This principle is=20 correct.

Dadashri: = That is correct. = Now, guru=20 is an adjective. The word guru is not itself guru. It is guru through = the=20 adjective of guru; for example, with certain adjectives, one is a guru, = and with=20 certain adjectives, one is a God!

Questioner: = What are the = qualities of a=20 true guru?

Dadashri: = The guru that has = love and=20 is beneficial to you is the real guru. Where can you find such real = gurus? Such=20 a guru is one where just the mere sight of him, your whole body will bow = down in=20 reverence, sponateneously without a thought. That is why they=20 sing:

=91Who can be = called a=20 guru? It is the one whose very sight makes our heads=20 bow.=92

Just upon seeing = him, our=20 head will bow. That is the definition of a guru. That is why if one is a = guru,=20 then he must be such that he dissolves all egos. Then you can attain = liberation,=20 but not otherwise.

The guru that fills your eyes and = rests your=20 heart

Questioner: = Then there is the = question,=20 =93Whom should I make my guru?=94

Dadashri: = Where your heart = rests, make=20 that person your guru. Do not call him your guru until your heart = becomes=20 completely still. That is why I have said if you make someone your guru; = make=20 sure it is someone whose image does not leave your = =91eyes.=92

Questioner: = What do you mean = by =91does=20 not leave your eyes=92?

Dadashri: = When a young man = wants to=20 get married, he goes to look at different young women. He will meet and = see many=20 girls. What is he looking = for? He=20 is looking for the kind of a woman who would be acceptable in every way. = If she=20 is fat, she will feel heavy to his eyes. If she is very skinny then he = feels=20 hurt; he understands by looking into her eyes. So what do we mean by = =91a guru=20 that does not leave your eyes?=92 It means that he is acceptable to your = eyes in=20 every way. His speech fits-tailor-made for- you, his conduct also fits. This is = the kind=20 of a guru you want!

Questioner: = Yes, that is = correct. The=20 total dependence (ashritpanu) on the=20 guru demands such qualities.

Dadashri: = Yes, if ever a = guru is such=20 that he can dwell in your heart and you like everything he says, then = you can=20 become dependent on him. Thereafter you will be free from all suffering. = A guru=20 is a very big thing. You should feel that you have come home and your = heart=20 rests there. Just by looking at him, you forget the world, you become = oblivious=20 to the world; such a person can be made a guru. If this is not the case, = the=20 guru loses his worth and importance.

Without a gurukilli he will=20 sink

Guru is=20 very important. The problems with the gurus nowadays are due to the = effect of=20 the current era of the time cycle. It is due to the current difficult = time of=20 the cycle that the gurus have no substance. The gurus have become like = vegetable=20 ghee (real ghee is made from butter)! That is why your work does not get = accomplished! And the gurus today are going around without a = gurukilli=20 (special directives from a Gnani on how to be a guru). One man came to = me and=20 said to me, =93You are our guru.=94 I replied, =93No young man, don=92t = call me your=20 guru. I do not like it. What is the meaning of a guru? Go and ask = everywhere.=94=20 Does guru mean light or heavy?

Questioner: = It means heavy.

Dadashri: = Heavy, therefore he is bound to = sink. When he=20 sinks, everyone else who depend on him will also drown along with him. = That is=20 what has been happening in the world. So why are you making a guru out = of me?=20 That is why you must ask the guru, =93guru maharaj, do you have a = master=20 key that will prevent me from drowning? You are heavy so you will = definitely=20 drown and you will take me down with you too. Do you have a master key = (gurukilli)? If you are not the = type that=20 will drown then I shall sit with you.=94 If he says, =91yes=92 then you = should=20 sit.

Questioner: = No=20 one would admit that he is the kind of guru who would drown, would=20 he?

Dadashri: = Yes,=20 but if you tell him =93Sir it appears that you lack intelligence,=94 if = you say only=20 this much to him, you will find out immediately whether he is someone = who will=20 sink you or not.

Otherwise,=20 all gurus without the master key have sunk. They sank themselves and = their=20 disciples along with them. There is no telling where it will lead. If = the guru=20 has the master key, then he will not sink. In the past, the gurus of the = gurus=20 would pass down this key; they would pass this key on to each succeeding = guru.=20 What would they tell their disciples? They told them they could become = gurus but=20 they should keep =91this=92 master key with them. Only then will they = not drown=20 themselves and others. So now I am asking these gurus whether they have = the key=20 or not. And they ask me, =91What kind of a key?=92 That is it! You can = tell right=20 away they don=92t have the master key. That is why they are still = wandering! Do=20 not let just anyone be your guru. They have forgotten the master key. = There is=20 no master key to begin with. This is Kaliyug and so people will drown = for sure.=20 This was not the case in the past time cycle of = Satyug.

Questioner: = But=20 the guru is a savior; he will not drown us.

Dadashri:=20 No, but only if he has the master key can he stay afloat and help others = remain=20 afloat. If the guru does not have a master key, then you are in trouble. = People=20 will praise him and flatter him and it will go to his head. Then his = mind will=20 explode and he will become inflated with ego. Don=92t you think people = praise me?=20 Therefore, it is only useful when you have a master key. A master key is = a tool=20 the guru has that will not allow him to sink. It is a key, an = understanding,=20 which their gurus give them confidentially. The great gurus, the Gnani Purush, give this key = confidentially; they give this key in the form an understanding, which = tells=20 them, =93If you work with your disciples in this way, you will not sink = and=20 neither will anyone else.=94

Questioner: = In=20 order to become a guru you need a master key, so what is that master=20 key?

Dadashri:=20 The Gnani Purush = gives him an=20 understanding and an assessment of what he is. The Gnani tells him, =93You are not a = guru. You are a=20 guru only by name. You are nameless (anami). Remain = laghuttam=20 (smallest of the small) and then be a guru=97then you will stay afloat = and keep=20 others afloat.=94 These people don=92t even have a master key and they = proclaim=20 themselves as gurus. One should attain the understanding- the master key = from=20 the Gnani . He should = get the=20 master key from the Gnani Purush; then there will be a safe side for him = and his=20 followers.

People=20 ask me, =93What are you?=94 so I tell them, =93I am a laghuttam = Purush. There=20 is no other living being smaller than me in this world.=94 Now, can such = a=20 laghuttam person sink in any way?

Questioner: = No,=20 he cannot.

Dadashri:=20 Laghuttam!=20 It means one may feel the light weight of the guru, but will not sink. = And if=20 others sit with me, they will not sink because the Gnani Purush himself is=20 laghuttam, and is experienced and therefore he can take you to = the other=20 side. He has swum across the ocean of the worldly life, and is totally capable of helping = others do the=20 same.

The Difference = between a=20 guru and a Gnani

Questioner: = Please=20 explain the difference between a guru and a Gnani Purush?

Dadashri:=20 There is a big difference between the Gnani Purush and the guru! = The guru=20 is always for the worldly life. Without a Gnani Purush, there is no = liberation.=20 The guru takes us further in the worldly life and he makes us just the = way he=20 is. Other than this, he cannot give you anything more. And liberation is = what=20 the Gnani Purush = gives.=20 Therefore, you need a guru for the worldly interaction, but for liberation = (nischaya), you=20 need the Gnani = Purush. You need=20 them both.

What=20 does the guru do? He studies further and he continues to teach those who = follow=20 him. I am a Gnani = Purush; it is=20 not my business to learn and teach. If you want moksha, then I = will give=20 all soultions for you; I will simply change your vision. Whatever bliss = I have=20 attained, I make others attain that very bliss and then I move=20 aside.

The=20 guru gives gnan, the = Gnani gives vignan, i.e., the = guru gives=20 knowledge and the Gnani = gives you the absolute science. = Knowledge=20 will make you bind punyai in the worldly life and will show you = the path.=20 The science will take you to moksha. A guru is a teacher of a = kind. He=20 has adopted certain principles himself and his speech is good, so he = brings=20 others into discipline. He cannot do anything else; however, people = become=20 happier in the worldly life because they enter into a discipline. And = the Gnani Purush will take you to = moksha=20 because he has the license for moksha.

There=20 is nothing wrong in having a worldly guru. We ought to have a worldly = guru whom=20 we can follow. But the Gnani = cannot be called a = guru. The=20 Gnani is the supreme = Self in=20 human form. He is not the owner of the body, the mind, or the=20 speech.

The=20 guru, too, has to go to the Gnani=20 Purush because within him there are weaknesses of anger, pride, = deceit,=20 and greed; there is ego and =91my-ness=92 in him. If you offer him a = gift, he will=20 make you put it inside quietly. There is ego and =91my-ness=92 (mamata) wherever you look; it = is bound=20 to be there! But people do need gurus also!

The pure gurus are = needed

Questioner: = So=20 I need a guru that has no inner inclinations towards attraction =96 is = that not=20 what that means?

Dadashri: = Yes,=20 you need a guru who is free from asakti (attractions that arise = from=20 within). Of what use is he if he is tempted by money or anything else? = He has=20 the same disease as we do; both have a disease. The only guru that is = useful is=20 the one who has no inner inclinations and = temptations.

There=20 is nothing wrong even if the guru eats fritters or ladoos = (sweets) every=20 day; all you have to do is determine whether he has any asakti. Some gurus may subsist = on just=20 milk alone, but all you have to worry about is whether he has any inner=20 attraction. All these gurus have demonstrated all kinds of mischief, = =93I don=92t=20 eat this, I don=92t eat that.=94 Oh just let go of your nonsense! Just = go and eat.=20 Are you not eating because you don=92t get any food? They are simply = being=20 grandiose. It is a kind of display board that says, =93I don=92t eat = this, and I=20 don=92t do that.=94 They keep such boards in order to entice people = toward them. I=20 have seen many such =91boards=92 in India. Nevertheless, you need a guru = without=20 inner inclination and attraction. Then you do not have to worry about = whether he=20 eats special things or not.

He=20 that has the slightest inner temptation is not going to be useful as a = guru. The=20 whole world is in a state of destruction because people found gurus with = inner=20 designs and attraction. One can be called a guru when he does not have = this=20 disease of temptation. There should not be the slightest=20 temptation.

A guru with some = weaknesses=20 is acceptable

Questioner: = The=20 state of a guru is mysterious. To know him well one needs some prior = experience.=20 Otherwise, one cannot tell from the external trappings that are around=20 him.

Dadashri: = If=20 you live with him for a fortnight or so, then you would be able to see = his=20 impatience, and agitation. If he is easily agitated and unstable, you = will not=20 gain any benefits. He should be stable and = patient.

Moreover,=20 he should not have a single atom of kashayas =96 anger, pride, = deceit, or=20 greed =96 within him. We can even make do if his kashayas are = mild.=20 However, if his kashayas are very strong , then we have = kashayas=20 within us too, so what = can we=20 attain there? Therefore, you cannot make a guru who is full of = kashayas.=20 If you annoy him a little, and he shows you his =91fangs,=92 then you = cannot have=20 him as a guru. You can make someone your guru as long as he has no=20 kashayas or if his kashayas have diminished significantly. = Diminished kashaya means he can turn things around without = expressing=20 kashayas. It means he turns everything around before he = experiences=20 anger, indicating control over his kashayas. Such a guru will do. = A Gnani Purush, on the = other=20 hand, has no anger, pride, deceit, or greed because He remains detached. = He=20 remains separate from the body, mind and = speech!

Who is a=20 Satguru?

Questioner: = Now=20 whom can we call a satguru?

Dadashri: = It=20 is very difficult to define and identify someone a satguru. In = the=20 language of the scriptures, whom can you call a satguru? = Sat is=20 the Atma-Self, so = whoever has=20 attained the Self, that guru is a satguru!

Therefore,=20 an =91Atmagnani = (knower of=20 the Soul, Self-realized) can be called a satguru, for he has = experienced the=20 Self. Not all gurus = have Atmagnan. So, the one who continuously = remains as the=20 Self, the eternal element, is a satguru! The Gnani Purush is a=20 satguru.

Questioner: = Srimad=20 Rajchandra has said that without a living and directly present = satguru,=20 one can never attain moksha.

Dadashri: = Yes,=20 moksha cannot occur without such a one. And what should a = satguru=20 be like? He must be free of all kashayas. Even if we hit him and = yell=20 abuses at him, he would still not have any kashaya. Not only is = he free=20 of kashaya, his intellect (buddhi) should also be = completely gone.=20 He should not have any intellect. If you go to people with = buddhi, how=20 will you attain moksha when they have not attained it themselves? = So he=20 should not be affected whether you slap him or yell abuses at him. If = you beat=20 him or throw him in jail, he should remain unperturbed. He should be = beyond all=20 dualities. Do you understand what we mean by =91duality=92? profit or = loss, pleasure=20 or pain, mercy or mercilessness. In duality, if there is one attribute = within,=20 the other attribute will always be there too. That is duality! So the = guru who=20 is free of duality, is a satguru.

In=20 the current time cycle, there are no satgurus. Sometimes there = are in=20 some places but, satgurus do not exist. So people have wrongly = assumed=20 that their gurus are satgurus. That is why everything is at a = standstill;=20 otherwise, if you had found a true satguru, would you have all = these=20 worries?

There is a Great = Difference=20 Between a Guru and a Satguru

Questioner: = Everyone=20 nowadays is regarding his guru as a satguru. What is=20 that?

Dadashri: = In=20 all the religions in India, people consider their own respective guru as = being a=20 satguru. No one uses the term guru alone; they use the term=20 satguru but its meaning is in the worldly language. In the = worldly life,=20 people call a guru with very high conduct, a satguru, but really, = he=20 cannot be considered a satguru. The quality of his = prakruti=20 (worldly attributes) may be very commendable, he may have inner balance = in=20 matters of food, worldly interaction and personal character, but he has = not=20 attained Self-realization. Without Self-realization he cannot be called = a=20 satguru.

It is like this; there are two = kinds of guru.=20 One is in the form of a guide, meaning we have to follow him. He walks = ahead=20 like a leader or a monitor. He is called a =91guru.=92 Do you understand = the term=20 =91monitor=92? It is someone we follow. If we come to a fork in the = road, he will=20 decide, =93No not this road. Let us take that road.=94 So we walk on = that road. You=20 have to follow him, but he is always in front of us. He does not sway = from the=20 route.

The other is a satguru. A=20 satguru is someone that liberates us from all our worldly = suffering,=20 because he is liberated! He does not keep us as his followers. And the = guru is=20 someone we have to trust and keep following. There you must not use your = own=20 brain and wisdom and you must stay sincere to the guru. The degree of = your=20 sincerity to him is the degree of peace you = experience.

The=20 need for a guru starts from the time we begin school to the time we = reach the=20 door of spirituality. A guru can take us all the way to spirituality but = we=20 cannot enter into the gate of Atmagnan (knowledge of the = Self) with=20 the guidance of a guru since he himself is looking for it. What is Atmagnan? To be in front of = the Self.=20 The satguru helps bring us directly in front of the Self.=20

So=20 there is a difference between a guru and a = satguru!

The meditation = within a guru=20 and a Satguru

People=20 have not understood the term guru. People in India have not understood = whom to=20 call a guru! People call anyone wearing saffron colored robes a guru. If = he=20 quotes even a few words from the scriptures, people call him a guru. But = that is=20 not a guru.

One=20 man told me, =93I have made someone my guru,=94 so I asked him to = explain to me what=20 his guru was like. Anyone who does not have artadhayan (adverse internal meditation = due to=20 presence of kashaya that = are=20 contained within) or raudradhyan (adverse internal mediatation = due to=20 kashaya within that spill over and hurt others) is a guru. Unless a = person has=20 these qualifications, it is a mistake laden with liability (guno) to call him a guru. You = can call=20 him =91sadhu maharaj,=92 (sadhu is a monk) you can call him a = =91tyagi=92 (someone who has = renounced the=20 worldly life), but to call him a guru is a mistake laden with liability. = Otherwise, if you want to understand the word guru from the worldly = perspective,=20 then you can even call a lawyer a guru; from the worldly perspective, = everyone=20 is a guru!

Any=20 guru that can bring us to dharmadhyan (absence of = artadhayan and=20 raudradhayan) can be called a guru. Who is able to make others = attain=20 dharmadhyan? It is someone who can stop people from having=20 artadhayan and raudradhayan; he can make people do=20 dharmadhyan. If a guru does not have any raudradhayan when = someone=20 insults him, then you should know that he is worthy of being your guru. = If,=20 today, he does not get any food but he does not have any = artadhayan, then=20 know he is worthy of being your guru.

Questioner: = If=20 he does not have artadhayan and raudradhayan, then is he = not a=20 satguru?

Dadashri: = A=20 satguru is someone who is a representative of the Lord, the fully = enlightened One. If he is liberated, then he is a satguru. The = guru has=20 yet to discharge all kinds of karmas and the satguru has already=20 discharged many of his karmas. So the one who does not have = artadhayan=20 and raudradhayan is a guru and the one who gives you = moksha in=20 your hand is a satguru. It is difficult to find a satguru, = but if=20 you find a guru, that is also very good.

Ultimate Salvation = at the=20 Feet of the Satguru

Questioner: = Then=20 should we take shelter from a guru or a = satguru?

Dadashri: = If=20 you find a satguru, there is nothing better, but if you do not = find a=20 satguru then you should at least have a guru. A bheda = vignani is a spiritual scientist that = has the experiential = knowledge that keeps the Self and the = non-Self=20 separate is a satguru.

Questioner: = So=20 do we need a guru first, or a satguru?

Dadashri: = If=20 there is a guru, only then can one get on the path! However, if you find = a satguru then you will attain=20 salvation-liberation.Then it is immaterial whether you find a guru or = not=20 because the satguru will give everyone salvation. If you find a = guru, and=20 follow his instructions, it will not take you long because you will have = few=20 negative qualities. But should you be graced by the touch of the=20 satguru=92s hand, you will attain = salvation.

Questioner: = Are=20 there people who have really attained the sat, the eternal, the=20 Self?

Dadashri: = There=20 cannot be any. In this era of the time cycle, such people are very rare; = they=20 may be in some place, somewhere. Otherwise, they do not exist. Where = would you=20 find such a person? If there were to be such a person, would this world = not have=20 blossomed? Would there not be Light everywhere?=20

Questioner:=20 Then how can one escape the cycles of birth and death without a=20 satguru?

Dadashri:=20 Yes, it is because there is no satguru around that all this has = come to a=20 halt! There is no meaningful progress.

Questioner: = What=20 is Srimadji saying when he says to surrender and follow a satguru = so that=20 one will attain moksha in the ninth life?

Dadashri: = It=20 is difficult to find a satguru. That satguru would be = difficult to=20 find here. It is not easy to find a satguru. The satguru is a = Gnani . You can have a guru = who is=20 not a Gnani, but he = does not=20 have the necessary understanding, whereas the Gnani will give you full=20 understanding (samaj). He = would=20 explain all the facts. The one who has nothing more left to know is = called a=20 Gnani ! It is not as = if he=20 knows only about the Jain religion; he knows everything and that is why = he is=20 called a Gnani ! And = if you=20 were to meet him, you would attain moksha after nine lives, in = fact you=20 can even attain moksha after two more = lives.

But=20 it is difficult to find a satguru! Nowadays, there are no real = gurus=20 around so how can you find a satguru here? And when a = satguru like=20 Srimad Rajchandra was living and present, people did not recognize=20 him.

Only After = Recognizing the=20 Satguru Can You Take Shelter from Him

Questioner: = How=20 can one recognize such a satguru?

Dadashri: = Such a person is = easily=20 recognizable just like a = bright glowing=20 light. He emits a =91fragrance=92, a spiritual presence that is quite = widespread=20 around him.

Questioner: = But=20 how is one to recognize a = satguru? How are we to know that he is a real=20 satguru?

Dadashri: = It=20 is like this; if you were an expert, you would be able to make an = assessment=20 with your trained eyes. Some of the qualities of a satguru are = his=20 speech, behavior and humility will conquer your mind; he will captivate = your=20 mind. You would be filled with wonder and admiration for him! Your mind = will=20 continue to remain captivated.

Questioner: = Many=20 times, people=92s commitment and minds become swayed when they look at = the worldly=20 interactions of a guru or the satguru, so what should one do=20 there?

Dadashri: = If=20 observing the worldly interaction of your guru sways your commitment to = him,=20 then you must investigate in detail whether your doubts have a basis or = if they=20 are unfounded. Measure the situation from every angle as far as you can, = with=20 your intellect. In spite of that, if you still do not feel comfortable, = then=20 without aggravating him you should find another =91shop.=92 With this = approach,=20 someday you will find the real one.

Questioner: = But=20 without our own progress, how can we recognize the=20 satguru?

Dadashri:=20 You should tell him from the beginning, =93Sir, I have no desire for a = business=20 relationship with you. I want liberation. So if you are liberated, can I = come=20 and sit by you and serve you?=94 Is there anything wrong in saying this? = But does=20 anyone say, =93I will give you liberation=94? Then there is no need for = a witness.=20 You should immediately clarify with him, =93I will stay with you for six = months=20 and I will do as you tell me to. If by then I have not gained any = benefits, I=20 will leave.=94 But no one says anything like this. In this world, not one person = will utter=20 such a thing. What is wrong in asking? =93Saheb, if you are liberated, = please tell=20 me. I want liberation too. I cannot afford any other stations. I have no = need=20 for the middle station.=94 You should be up front and clear. Then he = will say,=20 =93Son, I myself am at the middle station.=94 Then you would understand = that you do=20 not need the middle station. You will only find the right place if you = search in=20 this way, otherwise you will not find it. You should ask him = respectfully. It is=20 because we have sat in places without asking that we have wandered for = endless=20 lives until now. If that sahib lives in the middle station, and we too = live=20 there, what good will it do?

Questioner:=20 So how would knowledge from books help us find a=20 satguru?

Dadashri: = It=20 would not be useful. That is the reason for all this wandering. For = infinite=20 lives we have followed the knowledge of books, and even then we have = wandered=20 and wandered. To find a satguru is a big deal. However, the one = that=20 desires liberation will get everything. The desire to become free must = be there.=20 Those who desire fame and want to be worshipped take longer; they have = to wander=20 for many lives. Do you understand what their desire is? It is the desire = for=20 recognition, fame, and importance. People call out to them, =93Come in = sir, please=20 come in, come in!=94 When people address them in this way, they taste = the=20 sweetness of the respect. That is garvaras the=20 sweet juice of doer ship, people feed them, and they keep tasting it. = The=20 pleasure of tasting that sweetness is = incomparable!

The Fact that You = Find a=20 Satguru Means You Qualify!

Questioner: = Once=20 we find a satguru, do we not have to continue our spiritual = seeking (sadhana) under his=20 instructions?

Dadashri: = There=20 is an end to spiritual seeking. Your efforts to seek should be for six = to twelve=20 months. It should not take forty-fifty years!

Questioner: = That=20 depends on the seeker=92s =20 qualifications.

Dadashri: = There=20 is no need for qualification. If you find a satguru, then there = is no=20 need for qualification. And if you have not found a satguru, then = you=20 need to qualify! If the satguru has a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts), = then that=20 is the level of his qualification, and if he has a B.A.,B.T (Bachelor of = Arts,=20 Bachelor in Teaching) then that would be the level of his qualification. = Your=20 qualification is not needed in this.

Questioner: = No,=20 I am not talking about worldly qualifications. But are there not = qualifications=20 for one=92s spiritual advancement?

Dadashri: = No,=20 once you meet the satguru there is no need for any qualification. = The=20 fact that you meet a satguru is in itself your highest punyai=20 (merit karma=20 effect).

Questioner: = But=20 after meeting the satguru, is there no need for any spiritual = effort? Is=20 everything done solely through the satguru?

Dadashri: = No,=20 you only need to carry out the instructions of progress in spiritual = path, that=20 he gives you; there is no need to qualify. On the contrary, those with=20 qualifications are filled with the subtle intoxicated ego, =91I = understand it=20 all.=92 Therefore, qualifications cause one to have an intoxicated ego = (keyf). Indeed, if one has any=20 qualifications, they should be qualifications that are worth keeping. A = person=20 should understand that if he has any element of such an intoxication of = =91I=20 know=92, then he must get = rid of it.=20 Intoxicated ego is what gets in the way of having the qualifications and = meeting=20 a satguru. Qualified people are usually reserved and they keep = their=20 distance, whereas those with lesser qualifications will always say, = =93Sahib, I=20 have no common sense. I am putting everything on you. I am now in your = hands.=20 You find a solution.=94 Then the satguru becomes happy. That is = all you=20 need to say. The satguru does not ask for anything else, nor does = he look=20 for any other qualifications.

Complete = Surrender to the=20 Satguru

Questioner: = One=20 should be devoted only the satguru, is that what you are=20 saying?

Dadashri: = Total=20 surrender to the satguru is = needed.

Questioner: = What if one remains with total surrender = to the=20 satguru?

Dadashri: = Then=20 the work is done. If you have the complete surrender, then all your work = will be=20 done and then nothing else will remain. However, that surrender needs to = be of=20 the mind, speech and body.

Questioner: = Such surrender is = only=20 effective and worthy if done to someone of the caliber of Lord Krishna = or Lord=20 Mahavir, correct? Alternatively, is it acceptable to = surrender=20 even to an ordinary person?

Dadashri: = If=20 you find a person you feel is one who can dissolve your ego Virat Purush, then you should = surrender=20 to him. If you feel that he is a great man and all his deeds are = outstanding,=20 then you should surrender to him.

Questioner: = If=20 we surrender to the great souls that lived thousand of years ago, can = that be=20 considered surrender? Can we make any progress through such a surrender? = Or do=20 we need to surrender to a living a great man?

Dadashri: = You=20 can progress even through paroksha (indirect). However if you = find such a=20 living (pratyaksh) = person,=20 then your liberation will be instant. The indirect approach will give = you the=20 benefit of progress but there is no liberation without meeting the living great human = being.

After=20 surrendering, you do not have to do anything else. If a child is born to = us, the=20 child does not have to do anything. In the same way, after surrendering, = you do=20 not have to do anything.

To=20 whomever you surrender your intellect, you will attain the energy of = that=20 person. If you have surrendered, then you will attain everything of his. = Just as=20 we join two tanks with a pipe, then no matter how much water is in one = tank, the=20 other tank will bear the same level of water. That is the power of samarpan surrender of the mind = speech=20 and the body.

He=20 that has attained moksha himself and who sets out to give = moksha=20 to others is the only one that can give moksha. I have set out to = give=20 the gift of moksha, therefore, I can give moksha. = Otherwise, no=20 one else can give the gift of moksha.

Questioner: = Is=20 the satguru not relative?

Dadashri:=20 Satguru=20 is relative, but the Gnan that the satguru gives is real. With the real, = the bliss=20 of the Self begins, which is the ultimate happiness. =91Real=92 means permanent and = =91relative=92=20 means temporary. The relative happiness is temporary and is in the mind=20 only

Questioner: = So=20 does that not mean that the satguru =20 entertains the mind?

Dadashri: = Of=20 course! If the satguru has Gnan, then He is an = instrument=20 for the attainment of the bliss of the Self, and if he does not have = Gnan then he is an = instrument to give=20 happiness to the mind. If the satguru is an Atma Gnani , = then he=20 would be an instrument for the attainment of the bliss of the Atma. If the satguru is an AtmaGnani, then = you will=20 never forget him. Then he is real and if not, you would not even think = about the=20 satguru.

Questioner:=20 =91When one=20 surrender his all to the real guru, all the work is accomplished.=92 = How true is this statement from the = perspective=20 of the worldly life?

Dadashri: = This=20 is completely true for the worldly life. If you surrender to a guru, = then your=20 one life will go without problems and impediments. Why? Because you = surrendered=20 to the guru and that means you follow the guru=92s agnas, so you = will not=20 suffer.

The Results of = the Guru=92s=20 Grace

Questioner:=20 When you speak about the guru and the guru=92s grace, a question arises = in my mind=20 about what the guru=92s grace is. Is there any reality or substance to=20 it?

Dadashri: = Whatever energies = there are,=20 they are all with substance and reality; they do not lack = substance. They are all energies and energies = always=20 last for a certain amount of time, a certain number of years, and then = they melt=20 away.

Questioner: = What=20 should a disciple do in order to attain the grace of the=20 guru?

Dadashri: = In order to attain = the=20 guru=92s grace, all the disciple has to do is keep the guru happy. Do whatever makes him happy. If = you keep him=20 happy, then grace will be there for sure. But how much grace can you = attain?=20 Your grace is dependent on whatever is in the tank. Whatever the amount = is in=20 the tank, you can attain that level. What is =91krupa-drashti=92? When the = disciple does=20 what the guru asks, it keeps the guru happy and that is called = =91krupa=20 drashti.=92 If the disciple does just the opposite, then the guru = will be=20 displeased.

Questioner: = So=20 does the guru=92s grace not fall on everyone?

Dadashri: = No,=20 the grace may not be on some people. If a disciple does something wrong, = he may=20 not have the guru=92s grace.

Questioner: = So=20 how can we call him a guru? Everyone should be the same in the eyes of = the=20 guru.

Dadashri: Yes, that should be the case, but if a man = is doing=20 something wrong with the guru, then what can the guru do? Now if it were = a Gnani , then his = grace is the=20 same on everyone. But in the case of a guru, if you do something wrong, = he may=20 vomit all over you.

Questioner: = It=20 is not=20 acceptable that the guru graces one person and not another. Surely, the = guru=20 always has equal grace for everyone, no?

Dadashri: = No, but whatever = is within=20 one, each person receives his or her own fruit. If you do something = wrong, you=20 will receive the wrong fruit. The Gnani Purush however, is a=20 vitarag. Even if you slapped him, he would not destroy his vision = of=20 equanimity towards you. If you hurl an insult towards the Gnani , insults will be the result to you = multiplied a=20 hundred times. And if it is a flower, you will receive one hundred = flowers in=20 return.

Does the Ego Go with Grace or=20 Purusharth?

Questioner: = In order to be = free of the=20 ego, does one need his own spiritual efforts or the grace of a=20 guru?

Dadashri: You need grace. = You need=20 the kind of satguru whose ego has gone. Only then will the ego go = away.=20 It is not a guru=92s job to destroy the ego; it is a task for the Gnani . Where would the = guru get that=20 kind of knowledge? His own ego has not left. When his =91my-ness=92 (mamata)has not left him, how = and when=20 will his ego go? When he meets the Gnani Purush, in = whom there is=20 no trace of buddhi (intellect), only in front of such a Gnani will the ego = leave.

Questioner: = Can charge karmas = be=20 destroyed in this time cycle of Kaliyug through the guru?

Dadashri: = They cannot be = destroyed by=20 the guru; for that we need a Gnani=20 Purush; a bhed-vignani=20 (scientist who can separate Self and the non-self)! A bhed-vignani in = whom there=20 is no ego or intellect. Such a person can destroy your karma. And since = the guru=20 has an ego, nothing like this can be accomplished by = him.

Questioner: = Even the = scriptures say,=20 know that which is gurugamya. It means know = the gnan that has manifested = within the=20 guru.

Dadashri: = Yes, but what do = we mean by=20 gurugamya? It is only gurugamya when you can =91see=92 the = Soul.=20 Otherwise many are wandering around with gurugamya. Gurugamya is = only=20 worth it if it allows you the experience of your Self. Such a person is = beyond all=20 agamas (Jain scriptures), if you find such a Gnani Purush, then you will = attain=20 gurugamya.

The Gurumantra will Not Allow You = to=20 Slip!

Questioner: = In=20 every = religion,=20 every disciple is given a gurumantra by the guru. What is=20 that?

Dadashri: = It is done so that = people=20 would not fall down or slip (spiritually or religiously). If a disciple = hangs on=20 to the gurumantra, then he will not slip, but this has nothing to = do with=20 moksha.

Questioner: If a guru gives=20 namasmaran (chanting of a particular name), is that not better = than the=20 namasmaran given by an ordinary person? Is the power not greater = when the=20 guru gives it?

Dadashri: If it=20 is given, then it will yield good fruits. It is all dependant upon what = type of=20 guru one is; it is all dependent upon the guru.

&nbs= p; = ; =20

It is=20 Beneficial to Meditate on a Guru

Questioner: = Some gurus=20 tell their disciples to meditate on them. Is that acceptable or not?

Dadashri: The = meditation=20 is done not for the guru=92s happiness, but for the disciple=92s = concentration and=20 peace. But what should the guru be like? He should be such that he would = remain=20 in your meditation significantly.

Questioner: = But is it=20 proper to meditate on the satguru or on some other god?

Dadashri: You = do not=20 know God so how will you meditate on God? Instead, you should meditate = on the=20 guru. At least you are able to see his face. In this case, it is better = to do=20 meditation of the satguru because you cannot =91see=92 God. = Meditation on God=20 will happen only after I make you realize Him. Until then, meditate on = whichever=20 satguru you happen to pick. Once I show you God, you will not = have to do=20 that. As long as you have to do something, whether it is meditation or = anything=20 else, you will be subject to wandering in the life-death cycle. = Meditation must=20 be natural and spontaneous (sahaj). =91Sahaj=92 means that = you do not=20 have to do anything =96 it just happens by itself. Then, know that You = are=20 liberated.

Shaktipat or Atma=20 Gnan

Questioner: = What is the=20 ritual involved in the shaktipat (transfer of relative energy) = that gurus=20 practice? How does it benefit the disciple? Is that siddhi = (special=20 energy attainment) such that it becomes a shortcut to Atma Gnan?

Dadashri: You = want to=20 attain Atma = Gnan only,=20 is that right? You only need Atma=20 Gnan, correct? Then there is no need for shaktipat in = that.=20 Has your energy diminished? If so then take a vitamin!

Questioner: = No, no, the=20 shaktipat that the guru perform, what kind of kriya action = is=20 that?

Dadashri: Say = there is a=20 five-foot wide stream and a person cannot jump over it. He keeps falling = in it.=20 So then you tell him, =93Hey go ahead and jump it, I am right behind = you.=94 Then he=20 will be able to jump it. So a guru gives encouragement in this way. What = else=20 can he do? Have you lost your courage?

Questioner: = Without a=20 guru, one=92s courage is bound to break!

Dadashri: So = ask the=20 guru to give you courage. And if the guru is not willing to do that, = then come=20 to me. If the guru remains pleased with you, and encourages you, then = don=92t come=20 to me. In this world one only needs to please the guru, = rajipo. What does the guru want to = take with=20 him? He is only concerned about how to give you happiness. His aim is = that you=20 attain the Self, some how or the other.

Questioner: I = ask this=20 question because many gurus do shaktipat.

Dadashri: That = is fine.=20 I know that they do it, but up to what point is it needed? Those gurus = move away=20 after they do shaktipat; they do not stay with you or give you = support=20 until the end. What good is that? The one that gives you support and = accompanies=20 you all the way, is your guru.

Questioner: = Should we go=20 to a guru that performs miracles?

Dadashri: The = one who=20 has unsatisfied greed lalach should=20 go there and the guru will fulfill the greed. The one who wants to know = the=20 real, the Self, does not = need to go=20 there. By performing miracles, such gurus calm the human beings. But the = intellectual people will become skeptical the moment they see such = things.

How far=20 can the guru take you?

There are=20 two paths: the kramic path in which one progresses one step at a = time and=20 the Akram path, which is the elevator path. In the latter, you = don=92t have=20 to do anything. In the kramic path, which involves steps, however = many=20 gurus you follow, those gurus will help you climb. There, even the gurus = make=20 progress and so do the disciples. By doing this continuously, they reach = the=20 end.

It is only=20 when the vision changes, that this is the relationship of a true guru = and a true=20 disciple. Until then everything is at a kindergarten level. One is allowed to have moha a lot of fondness for the = guru, but=20 there should be no asakti = attraction=20 leading to raag attachment. = Such=20 attraction is very wrong. It is never acceptable!

Questioner: If = one has=20 moha for the guru, does he = stop us or=20 not?

Dadashri: = Your moha should only be to the = point of,=20 =93He is working for my salvation.=94 Someone may say, =93What if = there is=20 unwavering faith in the guru?=94 There is nothing wrong with that. That = is good.=20 The guru will take you at least as far as he has reached himself. = Whomever you=20 worship, he will take us as far as he has reached.

Questioner: He = will take=20 me only as far as he has reached?

Dadashri: Yes, = our=20 scriptures say that he will take you only as far as he has reached. The guru will help = you climb as=20 many steps as he has climbed himself. If he has climbed ten steps and = you have=20 climbed seven, then he will help you climb up to the tenth step. In = fact, there are millions of steps to = climb.=20 There are not just a few steps!

The=20 disciple excels the guru

Questioner: = Suppose the guru has not = reached all=20 the way, but if his disciple has tremendous reverence for him, is he = likely to=20 overtake the guru?

Dadashri: Yes, = but=20 only a rare one can! Not = everyone=20 reaches there. One has to find another guru further ahead. If a disciple = is very=20 knowledgeable and quick, and if his mind turns in the right direction, = he would=20 climb the path very fast. But this would be an exception!

Questioner: Is = it=20 possible for the disciple to become liberated upon listening to the = guru=92s=20 sermons while the guru remains right where he is?

Dadashri: Yes, = it is=20 possible. The guru stays in the same place while the disciple moves = ahead.

Questioner: = Does the=20 effect of punyai = merit=20 karma, work here?

Dadashri: Yes, = the=20 effect of punyai alone! In fact, when the guru is teaching, many=20 disciples think, =93That cannot be!=94 Then they start to ask all kinds = of=20 questions. If a disciple starts to think, =93I wonder what it is = like?=94 then=20 begins to think, =93It must be like this,=94 then gnan would immediately = arise. If =91That cannot be,=92 had not = been said,=20 then he would not have attained the gnan- knowledge.

Questioner: = Did he find=20 a nimit for inciting the vikalp, the doubt of, =91That = cannot=20 be=92?

Dadashri: Yes, = he found=20 a nimit; it was simply that! So, the time has arisen for him him to attain gnan, and he starts to think, =93It must = be like=20 this. It cannot be like that so it must be like this.=94 So the = punyai will=20 make all kinds of changes. What can punyai merit karma not do? And for = this=20 knowledge, Gnan of the Self, you need punyai-anubandhi-punyai (the = highest of=20 merit karma).

The=20 Gnani Purush is the only one who does not leave any = stains

What kinds=20 of interactions are there in the kramic path? The guru will tell = his=20 disciple to do as much renunciation tyaga as he does himself. = Therefore, the=20 disciple has to undergo penance, renunciation and all kinds of testing. = And=20 because of the guru=92s grace, the disciple does not feel any anxieties = or=20 difficulties and the guru himself carries on with the grace of his own = guru.=20 There is no end to this process, which is why things continue to go on = and on.=20 All gurus cleanse themselves this way. If you have made someone your = guru, then=20 that guru will cleanse all your dirt but he will leave some of his own = dirt on=20 you. Then if you find another guru, he will take that dirt out leaving = behind=20 some of his dirt on you. This is the succession of gurus.

When you=20 use soap to clean a cloth, what does the soap do? It takes out the dirt = in the=20 cloth but leaves behind its own residue. Then who will remove the = residue left=20 behind by the soap? For that you use Tinopal (cloth whitener). The = Tinopal will=20 get rid of the stains left behind by the soap, but it will leave its own = residue. Then you have to look for something else. In this world, every = one=20 leaves behind his own dirt. How long can this go on? It will go on until = there=20 is a pure and absolutely stainless cleaner.

You have=20 not made a worldy a guru, and you have come here and that is a big = profit. If=20 you had made a guru, that guru would have left his =91dirt=92 on you. = Who is the=20 only one person that will not leave his dirt on you? The Gnani Purush! The Gnani himself is free from dirt, he = is in the=20 pure form and he makes others pure. There is no other problem. The Gnani does not add any new dirt. The = Gnani Purush has a = completely pure=20 path, so when you ultimately find the Gnani Purush, then all your = dirt will=20 be cleaned!

A=20 Conduct Deficiency in Disciples

In the=20 kramic path, the guru is at the head and he has two or three = disciples=20 with him, not more. Our scriptures have expounded on the fact that a = true=20 disciple will follow the guru step-by-step and there will be at least = two or=20 three such disciples. That path is very rigid, is it not? There the guru = will=20 tell you to give away your dinner plate to someone else. Then the = disciple will=20 say, =93No Sahib, I cannot afford to do that. I will go back home.=94 = Who would stay=20 there! Therefore, the writers of scriptures have said that behind each = Gnani of the kramic path there = are two=20 or four disciples, not more.

Questioner: Do = the=20 disciples not have even that much energy force to follow through = (charitrabud)?

Dadashri: Yes, = but where=20 would they get that energy from? What capabilities do they all have? If = they are=20 all eating and one of them does not get any shrikand (sweet = yoghurt=20 pudding), then he will get upset. He has so much irritation in just one = day and=20 in just one meal. He keeps getting irritated. In fact, if he gets less=20 shrikand than others do, even then he gets irritated. Where will = these=20 people get their charitrabud?

And one=20 day if I say to everyone, =93If you are served something that you like, = then you=20 should taste it and immediately pass it on to someone else and take = whatever you=20 do not like to eat.=94 Then what would happen?

Questioner: = Everyone=20 would walk away.

Dadashri: Yes, = they=20 would walk away. =93Good bye, Dada,=94 they will say! And later they = will greet me=20 by saying, =93Jai Shri Krishna=94 from afar, from the other side = of the=20 fence!

What is it=20 like for the gurus in the kramic path? The gurus believe that the = vyavahar that they are doing is real and true and they are the = doer of=20 it, so this is what one must renounce. That is the way the worldly life = is. When=20 the worldly life is based on illusion and a person looks for knowledge = in it, is=20 he likely to find it? What do you think? =20 Will he be able to find it?

Questioner: = No.

Dadashri: The = path is=20 fundamentally wrong there! And that is why the Gnanis of the=20 kramic path and their disciples are bogged down with worries. = There is=20 nothing but suffering. If you tell three disciples, =93Today, learn the = Charan=20 Vidhi by heart and learn this many pados hymns by heart,=94 one of them = will=20 scratch his head wondering how will he accomplish it? He goes home and = tries to=20 learn it by heart, but since he cannot, he spends the entire night being = restless. He reads and bickers. While he bickers, he feels a certain = dislike=20 towards the guru for giving him such a cumbersome task. If a disciple = does not=20 like doing what the guru commands, his feelings towards the guru become=20 negative. Such is the kramic path. Even the guru thinks to = himself,=20 =93Today, if he does not carry out my orders, I am going to tell him = off!=94 Now=20 when the disciple goes to the guru, on the way there he feels = apprehensive,=20 worrying about what the guru will say to him. Hey! Why did you make him = your=20 guru in the first place? You would have been better off the way you = were. You=20 should have stayed without a guru if you have so much fear of being told = off! It=20 would have been better if you did not have a guru. Learn to accept some = scolding=20 to progress spiritually. Should you not taste a diet of scolding?

In the=20 morning, all the disciples come to the meet the guru. Two of them have = followed=20 the guru=92s instructions, while one has not. They go and sit with the = guru and he=20 can tell just by looking at their faces which disciple failed to follow = his=20 instructions. It is written all over his face that he has done nothing. = The=20 gurus gets frustrated in his mind and thinks, =93He does not do = anything.=94 Since=20 the disciple did not learn his assignment by heart, the guru rebukes = him. The=20 guru=92s eyes, which have turned red, remain that way. The guru keeps = getting=20 aggravated thinking, =93This disciple is not likely to do anything.=94 = At the same=20 time, the disciple lives in fear of the guru. Now how and when can this = be=20 resolved? This is precisely why he keeps only three disciples; it is all = he can=20 handle. All others will come and do darshan and leave.

In the=20 kramic path, inner frustration does not leave until the very end. = Both=20 the guru and the disciple have experience frustration! This = frustration is a penance, hence there will = be=20 radiance on their faces. When we agitate (heat) impure gold, it will = begin to=20 slowly purify. Will you not begin to see the real gold?

The=20 rift between the guru and the disciple

Questioner: = Ordinarily=20 is there not a distance between the guru and the disciple, or do they = have=20 oneness between them?

Dadashri: If = they have=20 oneness, then they would both attain salvation. But here, if the = disciple were=20 to break a cup, the guru would not refrain from becoming aggravated. If = the guru=20 and the disciple were fortunate enough to have this oneness, then both = of them=20 would attain salvation. However, things are not that way. In fact, this = world is=20 such that one loses even the trust he has for his own self, so how is he = going=20 to trust his disciples? And if the disciple happens to break something, = the guru=20 will glare at him with red, angry eyes.

What=20 conflicts and troubles! All day long they have conflicts! They cannot = even ask=20 their guru to help rid them of their conflicts. In reality, one should = even ask=20 him, =93Sahib, why are you getting irritated, being my guru?=94

Questioner: = But how can=20 we ask the guru that? We cannot ask the guru such things.

Dadashri: = What good is the guru if you cannot = ask him=20 that? If, as a guru, you have differences with your disciples, = would you=20 not ask yourself what kind of a guru you are? If you cannot get along = with one=20 disciple, then how will you deal with the world? You go around advising=20 everyone, =93Son, do not quarrel or fight,=94 while you have left behind = your=20 family, there is no one around you that is dear to you, but even then = why do you=20 quarrel with your disciples? You have not given birth to him so why are = there=20 kashayas between the two of you? Blood relatives have = kashayas=20 with each other. This poor boy is an outsider who has become your = disciple and,=20 even here, you continue to do kashaya?

What would=20 a guru say if the disciple misplaced his book? He would criticize his = disciple=20 by saying, =93You do not have any sense, you are not careful.=94 Then = how does the=20 disciple respond? =93Do you think I ate the book? It must be here = somewhere. If it=20 is not in your sack then it must be under your bed.=94 But the disciple = makes a=20 statement like, =93Do you think I ate your book?=94 That is what he = says. It is=20 better to quarrel at home than to quarrel with a disciple. He would be = better=20 off being a disciple to his wife because, even though she tells him off, = she=20 will at least feed him some decious snacks! A little independence is = necessary,=20 is it not? What can you do when you find such a guru, when, despite = taking so=20 much care of him, he speaks so foolishly?

Questioner: Is = there not=20 a difference between a rebuke from the wife and that of the guru? The = wife=20 chastises for selfish reasons and the guru chastises out of unselfish=20 motives.

Dadashri: = There is never=20 a selfless niswarth guru. = There are=20 no selfless people in this world. They may appear without selfish = interests, but=20 subtly they are selfishly preparing for themselves. They are all selfish = and=20 everything is deceitful and without substance. If one understands this = just a=20 little bit, he would recognize it.

Besides,=20 disciples and guru are always quarreling with one another. They are both = immersed in quarrels all day long. If we go to visit the guru and ask = him what=20 is wrong, he will say, =93That man is no good, I have found a terrible = disciple!=94=20 We should not let the disciple know of such talks of the guru. Then if = we ask=20 the disciple, =93Son what was all that about?=94 he will make the same = claim. He=20 will say that he has found a bad guru. Now, who is telling the truth = here? Neither of them is at fault. = It is=20 because of the current era of the time cycle. It is because of this time = cycle=20 that all this has arisen, but also it in such a time cycle, a Gnani Purush is born!

No matter=20 how good a disciple one is, these are the types of gurus he = encounters. What are the gurus of the = Kaliyug like?=20 If they have a disciple that says, =93I am ignorant, I do not know = anything,=94 the=20 guru will pick on that poor disciple and will not allow him to progress. = Such=20 gurus, until their death, keep finding faults with the disciples and = harass them=20 to the point of no return. Despite this, some inner energy takes care of = the=20 disciple. However, just think of him as gunpowder, which, without doubt, = will=20 explode one day.

In this=20 time cycle, the disciples do not have the capacity to tolerate and the = guru=20 lacks generosity. The guru needs to be noble and generous; his mind = needs to be=20 noble and generous. He should be broadminded enough to take care of all weaknesses = of the=20 disciple.

This is=20 how religion has come under criticism

If the=20 disciple was to yell abuses at the guru and the guru remains calm, he is = a true=20 guru. The disciple is weak but can the guru be weak too? How do you feel = about=20 that? The guru cannot be weak, can he? One day the disciple makes a = mistake,=20 says something wrong, and so the guru will strike back at him. So why = will the=20 disciple follow his instruction? The disciple will remain in the = guru=92s agnas=20 when he does not make any mistakes, even when the disciple makes some. = How can=20 the disciples remain in his agnas if the guru makes mistakes = himself? If=20 the disciple sees just one fault in the guru, he will not stay in the = guru=92s=20 agna. But if despite this, he remains in the guru=92s = agnas, then he=20 will definitely find salvation!

3D"Rectangular

Everywhere=20 they have become swacchandi = (to act=20 on one=92s own ego and intellect). The disciple and the guru fail to = respect each=20 other! The disciple thinks, =93The guru is short in common sense. I just = need to=20 think things through on my own. The guru can say whatever he wants, but = it is up=20 to me whether to listen to him or not.=94 Such is the state that has = come to be=20 between the disciple and guru everywhere. The guru gives instructions to = the=20 disciple, the disciple agrees, but his actions are completely to the = contrary.=20 There is so much swacchand=20 everywhere. The disciple will say, =93The guru may talk. He is a little = crazy=20 anyway.=94 This is what is happening everywhere. No one has yet been = true to his=20 word.

Otherwise,=20 the relationship between a true guru and his disciple is so wonderful = that=20 whatever the guru says, the disciple is pleased to hear and follow = through. That=20 is the kind of love there is. But today there is continued quarrelling = between=20 the two. The guru will tell the disciple to do something but the = disciple will=20 not do it. The entire day is = spent=20 quarrelling just the way a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law do. The = disciple=20 thinks about running away, but where can the poor fellow escape? He left = his=20 worldly home, now how can he go back there? Who would keep him now? They = would=20 not even employ him. Now what can become of this? Now there is no = importance or=20 substance left in a guru or a disciple and the entire religion is = subject to=20 criticism.

The=20 humility of the disciple is the only requirement

There are=20 so many disciples in so many places because of the gurus. The burden of = the=20 disciple falls on the guru=92s shoulders. The disciple is sustained on = this basis=20 and this is how their life proceeds. There are many true gurus in the = world and=20 they do carry the burden of their disciples, hence whatever they do is = correct.=20 The disciple becomes free of responsibility and peace prevails. Everyone = needs=20 some sort of support. A person cannot survive without any support.

Questioner: = Then does a=20 disciple not have to do anything there?

Dadashri: What = can the=20 poor disciple do? There would be no need for a guru if he could do it = himself,=20 would there? The disciple cannot do anything on his own. It is only = through the=20 grace of the guru that everything moves ahead. Man cannot do anything on = his=20 own.

Questioner: = You need the=20 grace of the guru, but surely, the disciple must also make some=20 contribution!

Dadashri: He = does not=20 have to do anything except show humility vinay. What is there to do in = this world=20 anyway? Just show humility. What else can he do? It is not as if you = have to=20 play with toys or bathe idols of God, or anything like that.

Questioner: = One does not=20 have to do anything at all? The guru has to do everything?

Dadashri: The = guru does=20 it for you. What do you have to do yourself?

Questioner: = So how does the guru make the = disciple reach=20 his goal?

Dadashri: The = guru has=20 brought it from his guru and then he gives it to the disciple. = Everything=20 has been handed down. So whatever the guru gives, the disciple should = take.

Questioner: = Many gurus=20 say that you must study and practice and then you will receive it.

Dadashri: Yes, = so many=20 people say that very same thing! What else do they say? =93Do this, do = that, do=20 that.=94 Can the illusion , bhranti=20 ignorance about the Self ever be removed by doing things? If you have = =91to do=92 things=20 exactly per the guru=92s instructions, it is not possible, is it? They = say,=20 =93Always tell the truth,=94 but you cannot tell the truth can you? Even = the books=20 tell you to do that. Do books not speak also? Nothing can come out of = that, can=20 it? The books tell you to be honest. But has anyone remained honest? For = hundreds of thousands of years they have done just this, they have not = done=20 anything else. Destruction, destruction, destruction is all they have = done.

Only=20 the words of a sincere guru are effective

When you=20 go to a guru, you do not have to do anything or perform any rituals. If = you have=20 to, then simply tell him, =93You go ahead and do all that. How am I = going do it?=20 Why would I have come to you if I could do it myself?=94 Now why is it = that a=20 disciple is not able to do it? It is because the one telling him to do = it does=20 not do it himself. Whenever the guru himself abides by something, his = disciple=20 too will do it without fail. Otherwise, everything is just a farce. Then = the=20 guru says, =93You do not have any energy. You are not doing it.=94 Why = does the guru=20 look for energy in the disciple when he should be looking for energy in = himself?=20 I have told everyone that that they my energy and that there was no need = for=20 their own energy. Everywhere else, it is just the opposite! Wherever one = establishes himself as a guru, he needs his own independent energy. = Instead,=20 they goad each other by saying, =93You are not doing anything!=94 Hey = you! If I=20 could do it, why would I bother coming here? Why would I take a beating = in your=20 place? This kind of nonsense continues everywhere because people of this = Kaliyug=20 time cycle do not have any understanding. Otherwise, why don=92t the = gurus give=20 answers as I do? If the guru was clean, the disciple would, without = doubt, be=20 clean too. However, the fact that this does not happen means that there = is=20 something lacking in the guru. Yes, the gurus do not have any substance, = they=20 lack sincerity pol, this I = tell you=20 very candidly.

What do I=20 mean when I say =91without substance and sincerity pol=92? If a guru smokes secretly, you, as a = disciple,=20 will not be able to stop either. Otherwise, why is it not possible? It = must=20 happen exactly as you want. This used to be the custom of all the gurus = in the=20 past. What is a guru? A guru is someone who practices everything he = preaches so=20 others can do the same naturally. Do you understand that?

Questioner: = The idea=20 that I too would automatically attain what the guru practices is = difficult for=20 me to conceive.

Dadashri: = In that case, the books are = better=20 than a guru. Don=92t the books =20 advise, =91Do this, do that, do the other=92? So are the books = are better=20 than the living beings? And you are expected to bow down before the = living=20 gurus.

Questioner: = That helps=20 one become humble, does it not?

Dadashri: What = good is=20 that humility? What good does it do to go to a place your entire life = and yet=20 attain nothing? What good is the water that does not even wet our = clothes? So all this is useless, it is = a waste of=20 time and energy!

Did you=20 not understand? If I tell you to give up smoking, but you cannot do so, = then you=20 should know that the fault is mine; that inherently is a fault within = me. If, in=20 spite of all your efforts, you still cannot give it up, what is the = reason=20 behind it? The reason is my fault; it is because some fault lies in the = one=20 giving you the = instruction.

If a=20 person with vacchanbud (energy of speech that is effective in the = other=20 person) says for you to do something, then it would work. Otherwise, = when this=20 energy of speech is lacking, the disciple does not progress. It is = simply a wrong habit that one has = acquired of=20 telling others to do things.

The=20 total capability of the guru

There=20 should be a rule everywhere that the guru should be the one doing = everything.=20 Why do people go to a guru? These gurus cannot do anything and so they = put the=20 responsibility on others and the disciples by telling them to do it. = That is why=20 our people have started believing this. The gurus reprimand them and = people=20 accept it. You should not have to listen to such reprimands but these = gurus are=20 constantly after the disciples, constantly chiding them about what to do = and how=20 to do it.

Most=20 seekers are humble and meek; not all seekers are strong. So how will a a = meek=20 person proceed? He would only show his weakness. You have to say, = =93Sahib, why=20 don=92t you just do for me, whatever you are asking me to do? As a guru = you are in=20 a great position, yet are you asking me to do it for you? I am crippled = and=20 weak. You must help me stand up. Should you be the one carrying me on = your=20 shoulders or do I have to carry you on mine?=94 Should you not say this = to the=20 guru? But these meek people of our country will say, =93Yes, Sahib, I = will do it=20 tomorrow,=94 anytime the guru tells them to do something. Why don=92t = you speak up=20 clearly? Can you not speak in this manner? Why are you not saying = anything?=20 Whose side am I favoring when I say all this?

Questioner: = You are=20 speaking for us.

Dadashri: Yes, = you=20 should say, =93Sahib, you are strong and I am weak. I am willing to do = whatever=20 you ask of me, but I am not capable of doing it so you must do it for = me. And if=20 you do not, then I will simply go to another shop (guru). Please tell me = either=20 way if you have the capability, so that I can seek another guru if need = be. If=20 it is not possible for you, then I will go elsewhere and seek another = guru.=94

So whom=20 would you call a guru? It is someone who does not tell you to do = anything; that is a guru. Ordinary = people call=20 themselves gurus. They even claim, =93A guru can even make a crippled = climb a=20 mountain pangu langayate=20 girima.=94 He also = tells the=20 disciple to carry him on his shoulders. Hey you! You are telling me this = when=20 you yourself are asking me to put you on my shoulders and walk? I am the = one who=20 is crippled, yet you are asking me to carry you on my shoulders? Is this = not a=20 contradiction? What do you think?

Questioner: = Does that=20 mean that the disciple should not take on any effort and that the guru = should be=20 the one making all the efforts?

Dadashri: Yes, = the guru=20 should be the one doing everything. If you have to do it, then you = should ask=20 him, =93Tell me what you are going to do?what he is going to do. If you = are not=20 going to do anything except to give orders then, I would rather obey the = orders=20 of my wife. Even she is capable of reading a book and giving orders, = just like=20 you. This telling to do this, will not work. Help me do something. You = do what I=20 cannot do and what you cannot do, I will do.=94 Divide the work in this = manner.=20 And if the guru responds, =93Why should I do it?=94 then you can ask = him, =93How will=20 I progress from doing all this?=94 Should you not question the guru this = way?

Questioner: = But what if=20 the seeker is inadequate, then what?

Dadashri: You = do not=20 have to look at the other person. The guru must be good. People are like = that=20 anyway; people are not capable. They will say exactly this: =93Sahib, I = am not=20 capable, which is why I have come to you. Is it for me to even do = anything?=94 And=20 if he says, =93You will have to do it,=94 then he is not a guru. They = should reason=20 with the guru by saying, =93Look, if I had to do it, why would I come to = you? Why=20 would I have sought out a samarth=20 totally capable person like you? Why don=92t you at least think about = that! You=20 are totally capable, and = I am weak.=20 I cannot do it, and that is why I have come to you. If I have to do = anything,=20 then what does that make you? It makes you weak! How can one call you samarth? A samarth person can do = anything.=94

The gurus=20 have no substance whatsoever and that is why their disciples have = problems and=20 burden. The gurus have no substance and that is why they find faults = with the=20 disciples. If a husband has no substance, he will find faults with his = wife.=20 There is a popular worldly saying that a weak husband dominates his = wife.=20 Similarly, these weak gurus control their disciples. They make their = disciples=92=20 lives miserable with their rebukes of =91You cannot do anything.=92 If = this is what=20 you do as a guru, why do you declare yourself as a =91great guru=92? Why = do you=20 needlessly rebuke your disciples? The poor man has come to you because = he is=20 unhappy and, on top of that, you are telling him off! At home, his wife = tells=20 him off and here you tell him off. When does all this come to an end? =

A guru is=20 someone who does not chastise his disciple. He protects and supports his = disciple. How can you call these gurus of the Kaliyug, =91gurus=92? All = day long,=20 they keep pushing their disciples around. That is not the way!

During the=20 time of the Lord Mahavir, no one would have said, =93You will have to do = this=20 much,=94 but today these gurus say exactly that. And the disciples keep = pleading,=20 =93Sahib, I can=92t do anything, I can=92t do anything.=94 Hey you! You will turn into a stone if = you keep=20 saying, =93I can=92t do anything.=94 This is because you become what you = envision and=20 say. You will become whatever you project yourself to be. If you believe = that=20 you cannot do anything, then will you not become like that? This is = something=20 people do not understand; that is why everything continues without = substance pol. Any guru who does not do = anything=20 for you is a burdensome guru. For that matter, even when you go to a = doctor,=20 would you not have to tell him, =93I am ill and I don=92t know what is = wrong. You=20 make me well again.=94 Should you not say this to even a doctor?

Questioner: = Yes, I=20 should.

Dadashri: That = is why=20 the guru must do it for you. He will teach you everything. Then he will = tell you=20 to read, but he will teach you everything. When can these poor working = people=20 with wives, children and jobs get anything done? The guru, on the other = hand,=20 has a lot of energy; he has infinite energy that lets him accomplish = everything.=20 The guru should say, =93 You may lack the understanding, but I am here. = I am=20 present here. Do not be afraid. If you cannot understand, take it all = from me.=94=20 I myself have said to everyone, =93None of you have to do anything. I = have to do=20 it. I have to get rid of whatever weaknesses you may have.=94

Dada=20 has given a profound Gnan

What am I=20 saying? When I tell everyone to walk alongside of me, they say, =93No, = Dada, you=20 are a step ahead.=94 I tell them that they are correct when they say = that, but I=20 insist that they walk beside me. I tell them, =93I do not mean to make = you my=20 disciple. I mean to make you God. You truly are bhagwan and I = mean to=20 give you your seat. I am telling you to become exactly like me! Become=20 brilliant. Become what I wish you to be!

I have not=20 kept anything with me; I have given it all to you. I have not kept = anything in=20 my pocket. Whatever I have, I have given to you. I have not held = anything back.=20 Everything I have given out the state of the Absolute. I want nothing = from you.=20 I have come to give my whole Gnan to you. That is why I = have made=20 everything open here. That is why it is written, =93Dada is very na=EFve = and simple;=20 he has given away a profound and deep Gnan.=94

No one=20 would give away this Gnan, would they? He = you! Let=20 me give away this Gnan so people can find peace and calmness. What will = I gain=20 by keeping it all to myself? Should I conceal it and go to sleep?

The=20 general rule is that anything in this world that is given away will = decrease,=20 but only gnan = knowledge=20 will increase! This is natural. Only gnan! Nothing else. = Everything else=20 will decrease. One person asked me why I disclose everything I know = instead of=20 holding some knowledge back. I told him that this Gnan increases by giving. = Both mine,=20 and his, increase so what am I losing? I do not want to hold back the = Gnan and be a guru and have = people=20 massage my legs. Such a situation would be like that of the Britishers = who kept=20 all knowledge concealed. They even used to charge a consultation fee for = their=20 expert advice. That is why all this knowledge will drown away. = Our people=20 had the custom of giving. They would give generously. They would give = the=20 knowledge of Ayurveda. They gave the knowledge of Astrology. They also = gave=20 spiritual knowledge. They gave everything freely.

This Gnan has not been kept a = secret.=20 Here, in the worldly life, the gurus hold a little back. They say, = =93The disciple=20 is crooked so what will I do when he turns on me and opposes me?=94 This = is=20 because the guru wants worldly happiness. Food, water, he wants = everything else.=20 When his legs hurt, the disciple will massage them. If his disciple was = to=20 become just like him and = then the=20 guru=92s legs were hurting, and if the disciple did not massage them for = him, what=20 would happen? Therefore, the gurus would hold back certain = knowledge.

That is=20 why the gurus believe that they should keep ten percent for themselves = and give=20 out the rest. They have acquired seventy percent of knowledge, out of = which they=20 keep ten percent, while I give away the whole ninety-five percent that I = have=20 attained. If it agrees with you, i.e., if you are able to accept it, = then so be=20 it. Otherwise, you will get diarrhea (you will not be able to digest it) = but at=20 least you will gain some benefit from it.

Nowadays=20 some gurus hold back what they know and give out little at a time to the = disciples. And the disciples in return think =91We are not getting = anything yet,=20 but we will receive it eventually.=92 The guru will give them the = knowledge=20 gradually but why not give it away so that the disciples can benefit? = But no one=20 gives, do they! Are greedy people likely to give? Anyone that has any = greed for=20 worldly things will never completely and openly be able to give out the = total=20 knowledge that he has. Out of greed, he will keep it for himself.

Questioner: = But the=20 disciple he finds is also greedy. He wants to grab everything, does he = not?

Dadashri: The=20 disciple is needy and = greedy for=20 sure. What I mean to say is that the disciple is generally greedy. That = poor=20 fellow has the greed of, =91It would be good if I could get this = Gnan.=92 His greed=20 is to gain gnan from the guru; there is that much greed on his part. But = is the=20 guru not greedy also? How can we afford to have that? Not only does he = not=20 progress himself, but he also makes it difficult for his disciple to do = so. This=20 is what is happening in India now.

The=20 exploitation by the guru

There are=20 no other problems if the guru is good. To find a pure guru in this era = of time=20 cycle, a guru that is not business-minded, is considered tremendous=20 punyai merit karma. What do the gurus do otherwise? They will = find the=20 disciple=92s weaknesses and then play on them, making life miserable for = him. Whom=20 can the poor disciple disclose his weakness to, if he cannot even = disclose them=20 to his guru?

Questioner: = Right now,=20 there are certain gurus, considered gurus in the eyes of the world, but = in=20 reality they are actually exploiting their disciples.

Dadashri: = Maybe one or=20 two gurus are for real, but despite their honesty and sincerity, they = have=20 limited skills. Deceitful gurus on the other hand, are very clever and = they=20 employ all kinds of guises.

Questioner: Any man who wants = to be=20 free takes support of a guru, but then he is not able to free himself = from that=20 guru. Therefore, eventually he will have to be free from that guru too, = don=92t=20 you think so?

Dadashri: = Yes. I came across = a=20 businessman in Surat who asked me to save him from his guru who told him = that he=20 would destroy him. He was afraid of what might happen to him and came to = me for=20 help. I asked him, =93What sort of dealing do you have with him that he = used such=20 strong language towards you? Do you have some =91give and take=92 with = him? He can=20 only speak this way if there is some =91give and take=92.=94 He then = told me, =93My guru=20 says that unless I send him 50,000 rupees, he will destroy me.=94 I = asked him if=20 he dealt in money with his guru or engaged in a business of lending = money to=20 him. He told me, =93There is no lending of money but that my guru tells me that unless I gave = him money,=20 things would go very badly for me. Therefore, out of fear, I would give = him=20 money. So far I have given him 125, 000 rupees and, on top of that, he = wants=20 50,000 more. I do not have that much money now. This guru is telling me = that he=20 would me.=94

I told him to come = with me;=20 I told him that I would protect him. Then I said, =93You will not be = destroyed. I=20 will protect you from whatever your guru does to you, but from now on, = do not=20 send anything there. If you feel love towards the guru, then send = something. If=20 you feel an overwhelming love, then send something, but do not send = anything out=20 of fear. Otherwise, the guru will become even more demanding. Don=92t be = afraid.=20 Don=92t think negatively about your guru. This guru has taken away from = you=20 because of your mistake. He has not taken because of his=20 mistake.=94

The guru took away = his money=20 because of this disciple=92s mistake, is that not so? It is because this disciple=92s greed lalacha. Surely, he must have = had some=20 greed in him in order to keep such a guru! That is why he would give = money to=20 him, is that not true? Therefore, it is because of his own greed that he = has=20 been deceived. And these gurus will not let go of anything that comes = into their=20 hands. Such gurus of the Kaliyug; they are not concerned about their = next birth=20 in the lower life form or what may happen to them as a consequence of = their=20 actions. They just have to find a prey. But what does the guru say? = =93He is my=20 devotee,=94 is that not what they say? At least it is good they call him = a devotee=20 and not a victim or prey, like hunters do!

Then I asked him = if he had=20 done anything in the name of his guru. He replied, =93Yes, I went and = threw his=20 photographs I used for worship in the Tapi River. He was bothering me so = much=20 that I became frustrated, so I threw them away.=94 But why did you = worship those=20 photographs in the first place? And after doing so why did you throw = them into=20 the Tapi River? The guru did not tell you to worship the photos and then = throw=20 them in the river. You should have not worshipped them to begin with. If = you=20 worshipped him, the liability is yours; you have done wrong. One = day you=20 worship the pictures and the following day you throw them in the water? = You=20 yourself are the worshipper and you are the destroyer too. Is that not a = sin?=20 Then why were you worshipping them? And if you need to destroy it, then = make=20 sure you do a vidhi (special prayers) before you do so. This is = not=20 acceptable because it is himsa (violence) to worship a = photo one=20 day, and throw it away in the river the next. If we know that a picture = is a=20 picture of God, and still we throw it in the river, then we are liable = for it.=20 It would not be a problem if it was done in = ignorance.

Questioner: = It was because of = the guru=92s=20 action that he had to resort to doing that, is that not so? Did the guru = not=20 become a nimit in that? Is the guru not at fault? =

Dadashri: = The guru can do = whatever he=20 likes but you must not make a mistake. The karma of your mistakes will = apply to=20 you and the karma of his mistakes will apply to him. If you insult me = and shout=20 abuses at me, and I get angry and shout back, then the karma will bind = to me. I=20 have no need to do such things, do I? You bind karma. If you are = wealthy, if you=20 have the status and the money, then you bind them. I do not have that = kind of=20 energy nor do I have that kind of wealth. If one had that kind of energy = then he=20 would bind karma, is that not so? That is why we say that if this dog = bites you,=20 does that mean that you should bite the dog back? The dog is likely to = bite=20 anyway!

Questioner: = How is it a sin to = throw=20 away photographs of such a guru?

Dadashri: = You should not = speak this=20 way; you cannot say that. God resides in that guru. He may be bad, but = God lives=20 within him! You should see him as faultless nirdosh. It is because of your = previous=20 life demerit karma-sin, that you found such a guru, and became trapped. = If not,=20 you would not find such a guru. It is based upon an account of give and = take=20 from your past life that you met this particular guru. If not, then why = did=20 you two meet? No one else = but you=20 came across him. Why has he come to you?

Later, I did = vidhi=20 special inner = blessings,=20 for him and told him not to speak badly or have ill thoughts or enmity = towards=20 the guru. I made him do pratikraman in his mind and taught him=20 everything. I paved the way for that man and for the photos he threw in = the=20 river. I showed him what kind of a vidhi he had to do. After that = he=20 became free.

Then, for=20 twelve months, he did not go to the guru. Eventually, when the guru = realized=20 that someone had kept him from coming, he wrote a letter saying, =93Come = back, I=20 will not bother you in any way.=94 The habit the guru had of exploiting = his=20 disciples had hurt only the guru; his own greed had hurt him! Now this = man does=20 not go there. Is a fish that escaped likely to enter the net again? He = who is=20 greedy should not take up a guru. The one who has no beggary and is = independent=20 may take up a guru. If the guru tells you, =93Go away from here,=94 then = you should=20 tell him, =93Sahib, as you wish. I do have a home and my wife is a guru=20 anyway!=94

If you do not have = a guru,=20 make your wife your guru!

If you don=92t = find it easy to=20 make a guru, but you feel uneasy being without one, then you should tell = your=20 wife, =93You just sit down. I will treat you like a guru.=94 Don=92t = look at her face,=20 tell her to turn around. After all, this idol is a living=20 idol!

Yes, so make your = wife your=20 guru. What do you want to do? Are you not married = yet?

Questioner: = I am=20 married.

Dadashri: = So go ahead make = her your=20 guru. At least she is right there in your home. She will stay with you = no matter=20 what.

Questioner: = What good does = that do?=20 Don=92t we need a Gnani=20 ?

Dadashri: What are the = gurus out=20 there going to give you? Besides, every man has made his wife a guru. It = is just=20 that no man would admit it!

Questioner: = But one cannot say = that in=20 front of everyone!

Dadashri: = No one says = anything, but I=20 understand people=92s nature. I even tell the young men that they appear = wise=20 because their guru (wife) has not yet come. Just wait until she comes! = There is=20 nothing wrong in you bringing home a wife. But you should have sense = enough that=20 you don=92t take advantage of the situation. When she cooks you good = food =96 she=20 makes fritters, jalebees and ladoos, etc., for you =96 then why not = make her your=20 guru? If you are not impressed with any gurus outside, if you do = not come=20 across a guru that captures your heart, then just tell your wife, = =93Come, you are=20 my guru and I am your guru.=94 Alas! This will bring rise to uchhado here! She will be = fascinated and=20 attracted uchhado to you = and so will=20 you be for her. What is the point of making someone you are not = attracted to,=20 your guru? Why not make your wife your guru! What is wrong with that? = God=20 resides in her, so then it is immaterial whether she is educated or=20 not.

So if you do not = find a good=20 guru, then you can make your wife your guru in the end! This is because = it is=20 better to do things after consulting a guru. If one does not ask, then = one is=20 likely to go astray. Therefore, you should consult your wife; ask her, = =93What do=20 you think? I will do as you tell me to.=94 The wife in turn should make = her=20 husband her guru. She should say, =93I will do whatever you tell me = to.=94 It is=20 better to do this, than to make these fraudulent people your guru; at = least=20 there is no deception at home! Therefore, you should establish your wife = as your=20 guru. You need at least one guru, do you not?

Gurus with=20 kashayas

Questioner: = I have accepted = one saint as=20 my guru. So should I do jaap =20 chant his name, or in someone else=92s = name?

Dadashri: = If you feel = dissatisfied and=20 incomplete, then you can take some other name and recite it. But do you = feel=20 this dissatisfaction? There is no anger, pride, deceit and greed in you, = is=20 there?

Questioner: = That happens a = lot,=20 inside.

Dadashri: = What=20 about worries?

Questioner: = The worries are = there but=20 they are comparatively less.

Dadashri: = If you continue to = have=20 worries, what is the point of reciting that person=92s name? It is = meaningless!=20 What is the point of reciting that name if you experience anger, pride, = deceit=20 and greed? Others have anger, pride, deceit and greed and so do you, = therefore,=20 your work did not get accomplished.

So now, change = your guru.=20 For how long do you want to hang on to that one shop? If you want to = stay there=20 then stay there, but I am giving you this advice. There is no problem if = your=20 work (spiritual progress) is getting done there. If you stay in one = place, then=20 there is no need to meddle with another place.

If there is = separation due=20 differences of opinion matabheda,=20 then what did the guru = do for=20 you? A guru is the = one who=20 relieves all suffering.

Questioner: = Everything you say = about the=20 guru is well and good, but here I, have accepted him as my guru through = inner=20 inspiration.

Dadashri: That is fine; = there is=20 nothing wrong with that. But if you have taken his medicine for twelve = years and=20 have not been cured of your sickness, then let the doctor and his = medicine stay=20 at his home! For infinite lifetimes one has done nothing but this, hence = one has=20 to keep wandering!

Questioner: But in all this, is the guru at fault or = am I at=20 fault?

Dadashri: = It is the guru=92s = fault!=20 Right now, I have with me some sixty thousand people and should any one = of them=20 get hurt, it would be my fault. Why would it be the fault of these poor = people?=20 They are unhappy, which is why they have come to me in the first place, = and if=20 they do not get happiness then it is my fault.

Because the gurus = cannot=20 make others happy they say, =93You are crooked and that is why all this = is=20 happening.=94 The lawyer says to his client, =93Your karma are bad and = that is why=20 things did not work out.=94

What should a guru = be like?=20 A guru should be someone that takes away all your suffering! How can you = call=20 any other a guru?

Questioner: = But I feel as = though it is=20 the fault of my prakruti the non-Self complex of thoughts, speech = and=20 acts.

Dadashri: = There is no = problem with the=20 prakruti. No matter what your prakruti is like, the guru = will=20 embrace it. These gurus that proclaim themselves as gurus, are they = doing so=20 without a selfish intent? People go to any=20 guru and make helpless requests to them. = People=20 disregard the vibrations = of the=20 guru=92s anger, = pride, deceit and = greed. What=20 good are such gurus? But our people have this bad habit of remaining in = whatever=20 shop they visit. They do not look to see whether their anger, pride, = deceit and=20 greed have diminished or not. They do not check whether their weaknesses = have=20 gone, or whether their separation due differences of opinion matabheda have decreased, = their worries=20 have decreased, or their anxieties and external problem reactivity have=20 decreased. If you ask them, they will tell you that nothing has = decreased. Then=20 let it go, forget about it, just get out of that shop! Can you not = understand=20 this much?

These are all = mistakes on=20 the part of the gurus themselves. None of them will admit to it. I have = come to=20 expose the truth. I do not have divisive differences with anyone nor do = I have=20 any problems with anyone! Nevertheless, no guru will admit to having = these=20 faults. They proclaim themselves as gurus and dominate the=20 public!

Clashes end with real=20 guru

A guru is someone = who would=20 give us such an understanding that clash will not occur, not even during = an=20 entire month. And if you experience clashes, then you should understand = that you=20 have not found the right guru. What is the purpose of having a guru when = you=20 still have mental torment kadhapo and=20 restlessness ajumpo? You = have to say=20 to the guru, =93Sahib, it seems that your mental torment and = restlessness have not=20 gone, otherwise why would my mental torment and restlessness not go? If = it is=20 possible for mine to go then I will come back to you.=94 If not then you = should=20 say, =93Ram, Ram, Jai sat chit anand.=94 You have wandered around = for endless=20 lifetimes going in and out of such shops. And if nothing is being done, = then you=20 should tell your guru, =93Sahib, you are a great man, but nothing is = happening to=20 me. So if you have a solution, please help me. If not, then I will be on = my=20 way.=94 Should you not speak frankly? Similarly, when you go to a shop = say, =93If=20 you do not have any silk goods, then I will go elsewhere. Don=92t give = me linen=20 instead.=94

A guru can only be = called a=20 guru when you have worshipped him with an understanding and you have = surrendered=20 all your ownership. Otherwise, how can you call him a guru? He should = remove=20 your darkness (ignorance) and if you walk the road he shows you, then = your=20 anger, pride, deceit and greed will decrease, your matabheda will lessen, and you = will not=20 experience worries or clashes at all. If you experience clashes then he = cannot=20 be a guru; he is a phony!

Do not waste your life stuck with = one=20 guru

People get=20 stuck after having just one guru; you should not. If you are not = satisfied, then=20 change your guru. Where you feel a pleasing quiescence of the mind, = where you do=20 not experience dissatisfaction, where the mind rests, that is where you = should=20 stay. But do not get stuck believing as others have done. Many lifetimes = have=20 been ruined in this way. The human birth does not come very often and = you are=20 wasting it if you sit and stagnate. By searching in this way, one day = you will=20 find the right guru. Will you not? You want to find the main thing. He = who=20 searches will find it. Where a person does not want to look and takes = the=20 approach, =93Oh well! We will go where our friends go,=94 everything is = ruined.

Guru and = Gnani

Questioner: = The person we have = accepted=20 to be our guru is not a Gnani .=20 You are a Gnani . So = do we keep=20 both the guru and the Gnani = or=20 do we forget the guru?

Dadashri: = Keep your guru. = You need a=20 guru for everything. If he is a guru involved in worldly interactions, = then he=20 would be considered beneficial because he looks out for you. If you face = any=20 difficulties in your worldly life, you have to go to him. You need a = worldly=20 guru. You should not push him aside. The Gnani Purush shows you the=20 instruments for your liberation; he does not meddle with vyavahar =96 = worldly life interactions. Therefore, the Gnani Purush is for = moksha.=20 Your guru and the Gnani = have=20 nothing to do with each other.

You are not to let = go of=20 that guru. You must keep that guru. How would you conduct your worldly=20 affairs without a guru? From the Gnani Purush you can learn = about=20 nischaya (Self), if you want to. The other guru will help you in = your=20 worldly life. He will give you the understanding to help you to advance = in=20 worldly life. If there are any difficulties he will advise you. He will = free you=20 from negative deeds and guide you towards good deeds. The Gnani , on the other = hand,=20 takes you above bad or good deeds; he makes you transcend them both and = leads=20 you towards liberation. Do you understand? The gurus of worldly life = teach=20 worldly religion and duties, to do what is right and discard all that is = bad.=20 They make you understand matters of good and bad. The worldly life will = always=20 be there so you must keep that guru, and if you want moksha, that = is what=20 the Gnani Purush is = for. The=20 two are separate. The Gnani=20 Purush takes the side of the Lord within.

You cannot forget the obligation to = your=20 guru

Questioner: = Before meeting = you, if we=20 have a guru, what should we do?

Dadashri: = Then you should to = go to=20 him, however, it is not mandatory that you go. Go if you want to and = don=92t go if=20 you don=92t want to. You should go so that he does not feel hurt. You = should have=20 respect for him. Here, before taking Gnan, if someone = asks me=20 whether or not he should let go of his guru, I would tell him no because = it was=20 his guru=92s grace that has brought him this far. Because of the guru, = people can=20 live with some boundaries. If the guru is not there, then there is no = boundary.=20 You can tell the guru, =93I have found a Gnani Purush. I go to do = his=20 darshan. =94 Some people even bring their gurus to me. The guru = too wants=20 moksha, does he not?

Questioner: = What happens once = we have a=20 guru and then we leave him?

Dadashri: = But it is not = necessary to=20 leave your guru. What can you accomplish by leaving him? And why would I = tell=20 you to leave him? Why would I involve myself in such a mess? I would be = liable=20 if something wrong were to happen. Now you have to appease the guru and = work=20 with him. It is possible do so. If you are not happy with the work he = does, then=20 you can take less work out of him. But what is wrong with just casually = visiting=20 him once in a while?

Questioner: = What if someone = has a guru=20 and then he meets You. Then the guru becomes like =91tea=92 and you like = the=20 =91jalebi=92 (meaning: one finds even tea with sugar bland after one = eats a jalebi!)=20 What do we do about that?

Dadashri: = If the situation = becomes=20 like that of =91tea and jalebi,=92 it is a different matter. That is = natural. If I=20 tell him, =93Let the guru go,=94 then he will take wrong path. Therefore = one is not=20 to leave the guru. If things become bland, let them be, but you must not = drop=20 him. You should go and do his darshan occasionally so that he = does not=20 feel hurt. If he knows that you are going elsewhere, you should tell = him, =93I=20 have found this benefit solely because of your grace. You have put me on = this=20 road!=94 This will make him happy. What is this path of the Self like? = It is a=20 path where one will never forget even the person who had offered him a = cup of=20 tea. What do you think?

Questioner: = I did not = understand; that=20 is why I ask this question.

Dadashri: = That is very well. = It is=20 best to make sure through asking. Make sure of everything by=20 asking.

That is why you = must not=20 reject him. If you have made someone your guru, it is very wrong to = reject him.=20 You did take at least something from him, did you not? He must have = helped you=20 to some extent. He must have helped you climb a step or two, which is = why you=20 must consider this obligation. So whatever you have attained thus far = is, of=20 course, an obligation. You cannot forget a person who has helped you! So = you=20 should not leave your guru. You should do his darshan. If you = reject him,=20 it will hurt him and that will put you at fault. If you have obliged me = in some=20 way and then I leave you, that would be a mistake on my part. That is = why you=20 cannot leave him; you should always be obliged to him. A man is not a = real man=20 if he forgets the slightest obligation.

So let your guru = be. You=20 should keep your guru. You should not move your guru aside. It is not = worth=20 pushing any guru aside. If you try to push them away, then you would = become an=20 adversary of the person you had once leaned on for support. There is no = need to=20 be an opponent.

From the perspective of a=20 disciple

Questioner: = So what kind of a = guru=20 should we go to, in order to progress towards the = Self?

Dadashri: = A guru should be = such that=20 your mind would not spoil towards him your whole life. Your mind will = feel joy=20 whenever you look at him. If you find such a guru then go to=20 him.

Questioner: If negative = thoughts arise,=20 I change my intent bhaavna=20 immediately. What is the role of the grace of the guru in=20 this?

Dadashri: = The guru=92s grace = can help=20 you tremendously. But your intent and love towards him should match = this. Your=20 feelings towards the guru should be such that you do not like it when = the guru=20 is away and that you feel restless being away from him. These are the = feelings=20 you should have for the guru. You should miss his=20 presence.

The weaker the = guru=92s gnan, the longer it takes = his=20 disciple. Exact and precise gnan will yield immediate = results. It=20 does not matter that I have not attained keval Gnan (absolute perfect = knowledge),=20 but I have attained bhed = Gnan (the=20 knowledge that separates the real and the relative), and that gives = immediate=20 results.

The Gnani=92s love is=20 unconditional

Questioner: = When can we know = that the=20 guru is really pleased prasanna?

Dadashri: = If you remain and = abide by=20 his agnas, then he is pleased. You would recognize that he is = pleased.=20 Day and night, the guru will surround you with = love.

Questioner: = We=20 need to have a certain conduct in order to please the guru, however, = if the=20 guru witnesses certain flaws or weaknesses in our conduct, he is also = likely to=20 become disappointed in us, is he not?

Dadashri: = To=20 become really pleased prasanna = means=20 never to become disappointed. The = disciple=20 is bound to make mistakes, but the true guru-Gnani will not become=20 displeased.

Guru=92s = Extraordinary=20 Gift

Questioner: = Since the = spiritual (adhyatmic) guru is without = inner=20 inclinations nispruhi, then = how can=20 one give him = gurudakshina=20 (gift for a guru)?

Dadashri: = By following his=20 agnas. If you follow his agnas, this gift to him will reach him. If = you=20 follow the five agnas that I give you, then your gift to me will = reach=20 me.

Questioner: = If a guru that = teaches us=20 anything, is nispruhi, then = what kind=20 of gift should I give him?

Dadashri: = If the guru is nispruhi without inclinations, = then you=20 can serve him, offer physical services, run errands for him; you can pay = him=20 back in this way. There are many other ways. There are other ways to do = service=20 for those who are nispruhi.

Antaryami Guru =96 the Guru that is = within

Questioner: = Can we worship = both the=20 external guru and the antaryami inner=20 guru at the same time?

Dadashri: = Yes, if the inner = guru keeps=20 showing you the path, then you do not need the external=20 one.

Questioner: = One=92s effort=20 (purusharth) can be more if a guru is in the physical form=20 (embodied).

Dadashri: = Yes, if the guru = is living=20 and present, then you will be able to do purusharth right away. = The=20 antaryami (inner guru) will give you a great deal of guidance; = that state=20 is very high. It is very difficult for the inner guru ,the Self to = manifest. The=20 external guru will help you more.

Otherwise make = your Self your guru; it is = called=20 =91Shuddhatma.=92 You tell him, =93O Shuddhatma Bhagwan, = you guide me,=94=20 and He will.

Who does not need a guru?=20

Questioner: = If we become = exactly=20 Self-realized from You, then we do not need a guru do = we?

Dadashri: = Then you do not = need a guru?=20 Who has no need of a guru? A Gnani=20 Purush, such as myself, has no need for a guru. The One = who can=20 =91see=92 absolutely all his mistakes does not need a = guru.

Questioner: = To keep continuous = awareness=20 in the Gnan that You = have given=20 us, do we need the guru=92s satsang or his presence or=20 proximity?

Dadashri: = Yes, all that is = necessary.=20 You need to follow the five Agnas. Everything is=20 necessary.

Questioner: = Then the guru is = necessary,=20 is he not?

Dadashri: = The=20 guru is not=20 necessary. Who is the guru when you become the sadhya (i.e., when = you=20 become that which you worship, the Self). A sadhak (the one who = worships,=20 seeks) has a guru. I have sixty thousand people as mahatmas. They do not = need to=20 have a guru.

Questioner: = Do they need=20 satsang?

Dadashri: = Yes, they need=20 satsang and thereafter they need to follow the five=20 Agnas.

Questioner: It is necessary = for me to=20 come here every day when you are here, no?

Dadashri: = While I am here, = take the=20 benefit of it. And if you do not come every day but come once a month, = even then=20 it does not matter.

Questioner: = In your absence, = is this=20 kind of awareness necessary or not? Is satsang needed or=20 not?

Dadashri: Of course, it is = necessary!=20 But do as much as you can; do however much you can. That way you will = benefit=20 more.

Questioner: = When you go = abroad, it is=20 very empty here. No one here gets together for = satsang.

Dadashri: = You just feel that = it is=20 empty. None of them (mahatmas left in India while Dada is abroad) feels = that it=20 is empty. Dada Bhagwan stays with them throughout the entire day, = constantly for=20 twenty-four hours. He stays with you even when I am abroad! Just as Lord = Krishna=20 stayed with the gopis (female devotees of Lord Krishna) = constantly, that=20 is how he stays!

The ideal = disciple

Did you understand = everything clearly or not? If you understand clearly, then you can come = to a=20 solution. If not, then how can you resolve anything? I have shown you = the same=20 understanding with which I have understood; the same clarification with = which I=20 have been liberated, completely liberated. I have shown you the path = that I have=20 opened up.

Questioner: = But how would an = outsider=20 understand this?

Dadashri: = This is not for = outsiders to=20 understand. This is for you to understand. It is not something that you = can make=20 others understand. Whatever is digested is digested! Not everyone will = be able=20 to understand. Everyone must have that much energy. They need to have = the energy=20 to digest this do they not? And there is no telling about these people. = There is=20 no order to their minds; they become irritated and fight wherever they = go. The=20 people before them were much more still.

These people have = all become=20 weary from their wanderings! At work, = the boss=20 rebukes him; at home, his wife rebukes him. Only a certain number of = people are=20 saved from all this, but right now everywhere one is beaten down. Why do = people=20 go to the guru nowadays? They go because of their greed, =93He will fix = my=20 problems. If something happens to me then the guru will bestow his = blessings on=20 me and I will be fine,=94 they believe.

Questioner: = So what kind of = qualities=20 should the disciple have in order to have a guru?

Dadashri: = How can there be good = qualities=20 in a disciple during these times? Who is worthy of being called a = disciple? He=20 would be someone whose faith in the guru would remain unshaken even if = the guru=20 acts crazy. When the guru acts crazy, even then the disciple does not = lose faith=20 in him. That is the quality of a disciple. Does that ever happen to=20 you?

Questioner: = As yet, that kind = of=20 situation has not occurred.

Dadashri: = What would you do = if it were=20 to occur?

Yes, when you = place your=20 faith on your guru, do it in such a way that you will never have to take = it away=20 after you have placed it. If not, you should not place that faith in the = first=20 place.

Just yesterday, = you looked=20 upon him as your guru, but when the guru started acting crazy, you = shouted=20 obscenities at him. You lashed out with all sorts of abuses. Hey you! = Why did=20 you place your faith in him in the first place? And if you once you = accepted=20 him, then stop abusing him. Until now, you took care of a tree; you gave = it=20 water and nurtured it and now you are cutting it down! What is going to = become=20 of you? Whatever will become of the guru, let it be, but what will = become of=20 you?

Questioner: = Does this happen = because one=20 has put the guru on a pedestal, and then becomes disappointed in=20 him?

Dadashri: = Either you don=92t = make one=20 your guru or, if you do, then even if he starts to act crazy, your view = of him=20 should not be tarnished.

The crazy guru is a guru=20 still

People=20 will find faults with the guru in just five days, questioning, =93Why do = you do=20 this?=94 Hey you! Are you pointing out the guru=92s mistakes? Do people = not tend to=20 do this?

Questioner: = Yes, one must = never point=20 out a guru=92s mistake!

Dadashri: = Yes, but they = cannot refrain=20 from doing so. These people belong to time cycle of Kaliyug! That is why = they go=20 to a lower life form. At the present time, gurus are not perfect. Where = would=20 you find a perfect guru in the present time cycle? These gurus, too, are = the=20 gurus of Kaliyug!

3D"Rounded If your guru were = to make a=20 mistake, you should not leave him. This is because everything is an = effect of=20 karma. Can you not understand this? Why are you looking at something = else? Just=20 do namaskar = salutation and=20 revere his position! You do not have to see what he does. At this time, = his=20 karma are unfolding and that is what he is suffering. So how does it = concern=20 you? Why do you need to look at what he is doing? Just because he has = cramps in=20 his stomach, does it mean that his status as a guru is gone? Moreover, = if one=20 day he vomits does that mean he is no longer a guru? Just as you have = your=20 unfolding karma, would he not have the same? What do you=20 think?

Questioner: = That is=20 right.

Dadashri: = If he has stomach = cramps,=20 should all the disciples go away? If right now I had stomach cramps, = would you=20 all go away? So do not commit such a fault, do not become an opponent. = Have you=20 become an opponent of the one you used to worship and follow? Then what = sort of=20 a state will you be in? That gurupad (the status of a guru) = should not=20 go; do not look at him in any other way. But today so many people look = at their=20 gurus from different perspectives, don=92t they?

Reverence must not=20 break

If this happens = (guru making a=20 mistake) to your guru of forty years, even then you must not allow any = changes=20 to overcome you. You should maintain the same view about him that you = always=20 had. If not, then it would be a terrible crime. I am telling you, if you = have a=20 guru, then be very careful. If he turns out to be wild and crazy, then = you must=20 not look at the wildness and craziness in him. You should look upon him = the same=20 way you did the day you made him your guru. If I worship a guru, then no = matter=20 what he does, whether he beats me, drinks alcohol, or eats meat, I would = not=20 stop worshipping him. This is because when I saw him for the first time, = he was=20 different, and today he displays another kind of behavior because he is = under=20 the control of his prakruti. What is more, it is all happening = against=20 his own intent. This is what you must understand immediately. Once you = have=20 chosen and certified a diamond, then what? Does it then turn into glass? = No, it=20 remains a diamond.

I will give you an = example=20 of this. Say I plant a tree myself and then I have to build a railway = line. If=20 that tree becomes an obstruction to the railway line, I would not allow = that=20 tree to be cut down. I would say that I planted, watered and nurtured = it, so=20 turn the course of the railway line. But don=92t cut down this tree. By = the same=20 token, if I have worshipped one guru, then whatever he does, my vision = of him=20 will not change. The reason for this is that he is controlled by his = karma.=20 Whatever you see is dependent upon karma. I would understand that his = karma are=20 unfolding. Therefore, you cannot look at this in any other way. Listen! = If you=20 wanted to cut down the tree, you should not have grown it in the first = place and=20 if you want to grow it, then do not cut it. This has been my principle = from the=20 beginning! What is your principle? When the time comes, should you cut = it down=20 quickly?

Therefore, = whomever you=20 praise, you should not criticize him. If you have praised him for forty = years,=20 and in the forty-first year you criticize him, then you will lose all = that you=20 had gained in the forty years and on top of that, you bind a karmic=20 fault.

Do not worship = anyone; if=20 you do, then your reverence for him should not break. Sincerity is the = essential=20 requirement of spiritual progress. This is all you need to=20 understand.

Who is at fault in=20 this?

Questioner: = But in this world, = whoever=20 we consider praiseworthy, as long as they behave in a way that is = acceptable to=20 us, that relationship will last. But if the other person does something = even=20 slightly wrong, then our relationship will spoil!

Dadashri: = Yes, it becomes = devastated.=20 Not only does it spoil, but he also becomes an adversary of the other=20 person.

Questioner: = Whatever good feelings he had for = that person=20 goes away.

Dadashri: = It goes away and = on top of=20 that he becomes an opponent.

Questioner: = Then whose mistake = is=20 it?

Dadashri: = The =91one=92 who = sees the=20 mistake, it is his mistake! There is nothing wrong in this world. The = world is=20 for =91seeing=92 and =91knowing=92, what else? What are you calling = right and wrong? It=20 is your intellect within that is deceiving you.

Questioner: = But the one who = sees things=20 as right or wrong is the one at fault, is that not what you are=20 saying?

Dadashri: = Yes, it is the = fault of the=20 intellect (buddhi). You should understand that the intellect = makes you=20 see things as positive, negative, right or wrong. Therefore, You must = remain=20 separate from it. As long as the intellect is there, it will surely do = that, but=20 You should understand whose fault it is. If your eyes happen to see = something=20 negative, You should be aware that such negativity was seen by the eyes. =

The prakruti is changing=20 constantly

If you=20 have revered a Gnani = Purush or=20 a guru, or anyone else for that matter, then if ever he becomes = delirious and=20 bites you, hits you, or even swears at you, you must not see a single = fault in=20 him. Are people likely to remain calm if someone yells abuses at them?=20 Therefore, they lack such understanding. That guru is the one and the = same that=20 you worshipped but the change is in his prakruti. Regardless of = who the=20 person may be, it does not take long for their prakruti to become = delirious =96 the reason being the body is made up of kapha, = vayu=20 and pitta. If the kapha, vayu or pitta increase = within, a=20 person becomes delirious. (In Ayurveda, these tridosha, or = humors, govern=20 all biological, psychological and physio-pathological functions of the = body,=20 mind and consciousness. They act as basic constituents and protective = barriers=20 for the body in its normal physiological condition; when out of balance, = they=20 contribute to disease processes.)

Do not=20 speak ill of the guru

What are=20 the jivas (the human beings) of this fifth time cycle like? They = are the=20 very beings jivas who have criticized in their previous = lifetimes.=20 Therefore, if the guru makes a mistake due to a fault of his prakruti, people will = criticize him.=20 Once you have made someone your guru, if you are going to criticize him = and this=20 weakness is going to get in the way, then it is better that you do not = make him=20 your guru. Otherwise, there is a terrible liability in doing so. After = making=20 someone your guru, do not criticize him. No matter what the guru is = like, revere=20 him until the end. If you cannot revere him, then never criticize him = because to=20 look at the fault of the guru is the fifth ghati karma (one of five grave = demerit=20 karma).That is why they teach, =93Be careful =96 the guru is the fifth = ghati, so if you look at the = guru=92s=20 fault, know that you will fail.=94

A man came=20 and told me that his guru had told him to leave and not to go back to = him and=20 since then he has not had the desire to go back. So I explained to him = that it=20 did not matter whether he goes back or not, but he should ask for = forgiveness=20 from his guru. =93When you ask for forgiveness, you become free from the = world.=20 You may have asked for forgiveness verbally. Now, ask for forgiveness = through=20 your mind and do your pratikraman at home according to whatever I = have=20 written on this piece of paper.=94 So someone here wrote down the = pratikraman=20 vidhi for him.

Do not=20 fall into gossip about the guru you have chosen because everything is = according=20 to unfolding karma udayakarma. Man=20 cannot do anything. Now, to not raise objections is also wrong but you = must=20 raise them with vitaragata, i.e., detachment or without=20 raag-dwesh, not by throwing dirt. You can say, =93It = should not be=20 this way,=94 but do it dramatically, because the guru=92s karma is = unfolding.=20 Besides, what are you going to do by finding faults in him? What do you=20 think?

Questioner: = Yes, that is=20 right.

Dadashri: And = you should=20 be thankful to the guru because he pulled you out of these boundaries, = he made=20 you progress, so do not forget that. How can you forget the grace of = your guru?=20 So go and visit him. After making someone your guru, you should not = spoil your=20 bhaav feelings for him at all. Be very careful of this.

The=20 danger in the guru-disciple relationship

If a guru says to his disciple, = =93You have no=20 sense,=94 the disciple will go away. He goes away because he feels = insulted. If he=20 retaliates and say to the guru, =93Your brain does not work and you have = become my=20 guru?=94 things would get even worse.

You were bowing = down to him=20 yesterday and today you are throwing insults at him? You can never do = that to=20 the one you have been holding in the highest regard. Do not revere him = again if=20 you are going to attack him.

If your guru says = that you=20 are not to go anywhere from here after eleven, you should not do so even = if your=20 mind becomes very = restless. Some=20 people remain completely in compliance adhinata with the guru=92s = instructions.=20 But the gurus today are so weak and inadequate, that the disciple, out = of=20 frustration, will say, =93This guru is useless.=94 Once a disciple says = this, all=20 efforts and attainments of the disciple goes to = waste.

Say a disciple has = done has=20 done a lot of work for the guru, say for ninety-nine years he has done = good=20 things, and for just six months the guru does something wrong. By = criticizing=20 the guru, the disciple can ruin all his spiritual = gains.

Therefore, if one = does not=20 remain compliant and surrendered adhin to the guru, he can ruin = everything in no time, the reason being that the relationship of a = guru-disciple=20 is like a gunpowder factory; nothing else is like that. Only this = relationship=20 is explosive. You may have done everything, but this explosive is very = loaded.=20 Therefore, be very careful, be = very=20 aware, because even a small spark will destroy ninety-nine years worth = of work.=20 And, in addition to that, you will get burned.

Negative=20 thoughts of the guru converted to positive thoughts

One man told me, = =93There is a=20 great Sant Purush saint,=20 that I go to see and whose darshan I do. But lately I am having = bad=20 thoughts about him.=94 When I asked him what kind of thoughts, he said, = =93I have=20 thoughts like he is worthless and wicked.=94 I asked him if he likes = having such=20 thoughts. He told me that he did not and then asked me how he could stop = them.=20 He asked if there was a solution.

What would you do = here? Who is=20 at fault here? Is the guru at fault?

Questioner: The fault lies = with the=20 one who has bad thoughts.

Dadashri Yes, so what did = I tell=20 him? I told him, =93Realize that negative thoughts such as, =91He is = worthless and=20 wicked,=92 are not in your control. At that time, you should say, =91He = is very=20 beneficial to me.=92 If the mind says, =91He is very bad,=92 just say, = =91He is very=20 beneficial to me.=92 This way it will be taking away through subtraction = all the=20 additions you have done and bring everything down to a zero. This is the = solution I am showing you.=94

The Khojas have = the true=20 guru worship

I have observed = one thing=20 amongst the Khojas (a = sect of=20 Shi=92a Ismaili branch of Islam); they all worship the same guru = and claim=20 him to be the greatest guru. When a guru of the Hindu religion went to = America,=20 and got married, his followers started to call him worthless. All = disciples were=20 upset and said that he should not commit such a crime. Hey you! Are you = calling=20 your guru whom you have been worshipping until now useless? Therefore, = they=20 asked me whether such a guru was not considered worthless. I told them, = =93Go ask=20 these Khojas. I find that their disciples are the greatest in the = entire=20 world. When their guru married a foreigner, even then his disciples = celebrated=20 the occasion. His followers will tell you, =93How can we object to that. = He has=20 all the right to do so. We should celebrate immediately.=94 His = followers became=20 very happy and celebrated with a procession. We, on the other hand, get = upset=20 even when our guru marries one of his own. You should not do as your = guru does=20 but do as he tells you.

If anyone in the = entire=20 world has the knowledge of how to have a guru, it is the Khojas. = If your=20 guru were to get married or for that matter even if he interfered with = someone,=20 you would beat him up. The Khojas, on the other hand, celebrated = even=20 when their guru married a European woman. That is what we call a = disciple. You=20 should not look for faults in a guru. If you must, look for faults in = everyone=20 else, but not in the guru. It is a grave liability to do so. Otherwise, = do not=20 make anyone your guru.

I am not asking = you to=20 worship your guru, but do not talk negatively about your guru. Indeed, = if you=20 were to worship him, your work would be accomplished. However, people do = not=20 have the capacity to worship in the right way. What I am saying is this; = make a=20 crazy person your guru =96 the craziest one you can find =96 but if you = remain=20 sincere to him, you will be blessed. All your kashayas will come = to an=20 end if you remain sincere to a crazy guru. But you have to understand at = least=20 this much. A person=92s intellect should reach this level, should it = not? That is=20 why idols of stone have been placed for you, knowing the kind of people = there=20 are, so that they cannot look for faults in them. But, alas, people find = faults=20 even in an idol of stone. These people are thinkers and so they are = likely to=20 find faults in a guru. Instead of looking at their own faults, they look = for=20 faults in their guru. That is how =91alert=92 they = are.

I give you a = guarantee that=20 it is possible to attain moksha within just three more lives if = you stand=20 by your guru, no matter how crazy he may be. But that guru must be = living. That=20 is why people have started keeping idols, because they could not afford = to have=20 a living guru.

So what I am = saying is do=20 not destroy what you have decided upon. It is not an ordinary or an easy = thing=20 to make a guru. So make sure before you make a = guru.

The non living guru

Questioner: When a = person makes=20 someone his guru, he does not have a complete understanding at the=20 time.

Dadashri: But=20 when he becomes a =91sack of understanding=92=92 does that mean he can = call the guru=20 worthless? Instead, it is better to adopt what Bhima (An important man = in Mahabharata Indian Epic) had = done. Do=20 not adopt what others do. Every time Bhima had to bow to a guru, he = would get=20 the shivers; he felt insulted. So what solutions did he come up with? He = thought, =93I cannot afford to have these gurus. All my brothers sit = here=20 unaffected, but my ego starts to jump around the moment I see them. I = start=20 having negative thoughts. I must have a guru because otherwise what = predicament=20 will I be in without one?=94 So he found a solution for it. =

He buried a clay pot upside down in the = ground, painted=20 it black and wrote on it in red ink, =91Namo Neminathaya.=92 (I = pay obeisance=20 to the Lord Neminath). Neminath was dark skinned so he painted the pot = black and=20 then he worshipped it. Yes, that pot was the guru and he, the=20 disciple.

Here, where the guru was not = directly visible=20 to him, he did not feel shy, whereas he felt shy in the presence of a = living=20 guru. He would not bow to him yet he continued to worship the black pot = buried=20 in the ground. Although he began worshiping this way, he still he reaped = benefits from it. That is because there is no risk of any negativity = arising=20 here, to poison the guru-disciple relationship. Even here in this = situation, if=20 one were to feel happy and elated, one will attain salvation.=20

So Bhim would go and sit there from dawn till = sunset.=20 This guru was better because at least he would not get upset or have any = problems. And if he ever got offended, all he had to do was dig up the = pot and=20 throw it away. But the faith that you put in a living guru can poison = you. There=20 is God within the person whereas here there is merely your projection of = God in=20 the pot.

Questioner: Did=20 he get any benefit out of making the pot his guru?

Dadashri: He=20 did benefit for sure. He did not do it directly, but at least he did he = it=20 indirectly. Did he not bow down to Lord Neminath? Here some parents tell = their=20 small child to bow down to Dadaji but the child would not do that. Then = when=20 they insist, the child would eventually turn around and bow down. What = does that=20 suggest? It is the ego. That is how even Bhima had an ego and so he = worshipped=20 the pot in this way. Still, he definitely received benefits in return. = This=20 actually happened. Lord Neminath, the twenty-second one of the past = twenty-four=20 Tirthankaras, was alive at that time.

Question: So he=20 was pratyaksha (present)!

Dadashri: Yes,=20 he was pratyaksha.

Questioner: So=20 in the end he worshipped=20 him.

Dadashri: Yes,=20 but he worshipped Lord Neminath through naming naam and establishing sthapana him as the=20 pot.

Questioner: But=20 worshipping the pot =96 is it not an inanimate = object?

Dadashri: It is=20 like this: everything in this world that you see through your eyes is = all=20 inanimate jada ; nothing is = animate=20 (chetan).

Questioner: A=20 pot cannot give answers to our questions like you do, can=20 it?

Dadashri: A pot=20 will not give you the answer, but do not make someone your guru if you = are going=20 to let him down or if you are going to ruin things for him. Make him = your guru=20 only if you are going to remain sincere. I give you good advice, and = then it is=20 up to you what you do with it. There is grave danger if you discard your = guru=20 halfway through. It is better to kill yourself than to hurt a=20 guru.

Grave danger in = uprooting a=20 guru

Do not accept a known guru as guru, and if you = do, then=20 do not turn your back on him. Use a pot if you do not like him. The pot = will not=20 have any problems. Worship it because your buddhi intellect will = not be=20 active there and your work will get done. Now who would be so careful = that he=20 would not allow his intellect to interfere? How can one understand all = this?=20

Questioner: At=20 the time we make someone our guru, he appears to be very good, he = appears to=20 have good attributes; he appears incomparable. But what should we do = when he=20 does not turn out to be fraudulent and dishonest after we make him our=20 guru?

Dadashri:=20 Instead of that, you should not establish him as a guru. It is better to = use a=20 pot instead. At least you will not have to get rid of it some day. The = pot will=20 not create problems for you, will it? It will not do much, but it will = give you=20 some help.

Questioner: The=20 guru has been established, but the intellect does not go right away and=20 therefore we see negativity in him. What should we do about=20 that?

Dadashri: You=20 will see the negative, but you should not do anything wrong once you = have=20 established him as a guru. You have to tell the buddhi, =93What I = say goes=20 and not what you say. Now we are competitors; there is you and there is=20 me.=94 =

It is very dangerous to uproot him = once you=20 have made him your guru. People in India are paying the price for such = mistakes.=20 One does not know how to establish a guru. They establish one today and = uproot=20 him tomorrow. This is not acceptable. Why do you have to interfere with = whatever=20 the guru is doing after having made him your guru? At one time you were=20 satisfied and made him your guru because you did not see any problems = with him.=20 Now you are finding faults with him? The who makes this mistakes, does = not=20 attain moksha; he goes to hell.

You Cannot Find = Faults with=20 the Guru Later On

So look=20 for a good guru, someone who will win your heart. You need a guru that = will make=20 your heart happy; a guru that will still your heart forever, a guru over = whom=20 you will never spoil your mind. Make such a person your guru. Make the = one with=20 whom you will feel peaceful forever, your guru; you will never have = negative=20 feelings towards him after making him a guru. Otherwise, you will have=20 differences with him later. If differences occur after having accepted = him, do=20 not allow those differences. If, once you have accepted him, you start = to judge=20 him by thinking, =93Some guru he turned out to be!=94 then that is not = acceptable.=20 Tell your buddhi, =93He cannot turn out any different. He is the = same=20 person that you saw before.=94

So=20 what did I say? Make someone your guru that your eyes will accept. Then = one day,=20 if that guru gets upset with you, do not look at that. You should look = at him=20 the same way you did when you accepted him. Did you not approve him? = What a=20 woman saw in her husband the day she approved him as her husband, is the = same=20 face she will hang on to, even if his face becomes ruined because of = small pox.=20 What else can she do? Only then can her life go on; how else is she to = pass her=20 days? Similarly, you should see the guru in the same light if you want = to get=20 rid of your swacchand ego and intellect guided acts. You should = not look=20 for faults in your guru. Once you choose a guru, that is it! Live your = life=20 without looking at a single fault of his. Otherwise, you can go = somewhere else.=20 Therefore, find one that is acceptable to you and then do not find = faults in=20 him. But people do not understand this point and then they choose = gurus.

The Gnani Purush = is the=20 idol of faith

Questioner: If=20 we have faith shraddha in a = guru=20 regardless of what he is like, will that faith bear=20 fruits?

Dadashri: Your=20 faith will bear fruits only if you do not develop negative feelings and = intent=20 abhaav for him, even when = he acts=20 crazy.

Questioner: So,=20 if we have faith in the guru, can we excel beyond our=20 guru?

Dadashri: You=20 certainly would, for sure, only if you do not develop negative feelings = for him.=20 There is a living God within that guru. It worked for Bhima even when he = made a=20 pot his guru. It is your faith that works, is it not? A person who has a = habit=20 of faulting others will go down if he does the same for his guru, that = when his=20 guru says something wrong. If you have the energy to take care of your = guru,=20 then no matter what crazy things he does or whether he become delirious, = if you=20 can take care of him, it is worth making him a guru. But people do not = put up=20 with the guru until the end. They do not know how to do that, do=20 they?

Questioner: If=20 we place complete faith even in an unworthy person, it will bring forth benefits, = will it not?

Dadashri: Why=20 not? But you should not change after establishing = it.

What is all this?Shall I tell you the truth? = Shall I say=20 it openly? It is not the guru, but your faith alone, that gives you the = fruit.=20 Whoever the guru may be, it is your faith that gives you the result. Not = even=20 this idol gives you the results; it is your faith that will bear = fruits-results.=20 The stronger your faith, the greater the instant = benefit.