By: Sri Ganeshnath Maharaj (Bhima Shankar)
The Mahabharata narrates the story of Ekalavya, a tribal with immense potential who aspired to study archery from Dronacharya, the Guru of Kuru royalty. Since Dronacharya did not accept to teach him, he made his statue and daily sought guidance and support from it. In course of time, he evolved himself to be a magnificent archer.
Who really was Ekalavya’s Guru? Was it just his own aspiration inspired by Drona’s skill or was there some kind of Divine intervention? When relating to a Guru, people often confuse the physical body or mental intelligence to be the Guru. They may even compare different Gurus. The truth is, that there is only one Guru in the universe – the Divine.
Sai Baba has stated that the ‘Divine’ has assumed different names and forms and has manifested in realized persons so that they could guide sincere seekers on the path of transcendence. Some great spiritual experiences bestowed upon disciples through their Guru may not be even known to the Guru. This is because Divine Consciousness is utilizing the form of the physical Guru as an instrument to help genuine seekers in their evolution. Thus, all Gurus, avatars and prophets put together represent ‘One Reality’. This Divine Consciousness is timeless and omniscient. ‘Dakshinamurthy’ is the earliest teacher – the teacher of all teachers.
When we surrender ourselves before the Divine, this seed of omniscience is positioned in us and in due course of time it sprouts and flourishes, thereby dissolving all falsehoods. Whenever a seeker has the sincere aspiration to progress, Divine Consciousness graciously appears on the scene either in its original formless state or by assuming a form to guide the person. There are some seekers who keep on searching for an ideal Guru! What is required is deep faith. Do not bother about external attributes or practices.
Sai Baba is ‘Atmananda’ personified, for he is close behind our thoughts as an avatar of Divine Consciousness. His devotees do not require mantra, tantra, pothi, pilgrimage, fasting, rituals and study of love because he himself is the final destination to be sought (Satchidananda). He is love, truth, ananda.
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