Guru is a principle, not a person

Tomorrow is Guru Poornima, it is a Vedic Festival that is celebrated as per the Hindu moon sign calendar to express reverence towards the Guru who is guiding humanity towards the ultimate goal of Enlightenment.

For most people who are too centered on logic, they cannot fathom why a person requires a Guru in his life, let alone having with a living Guru. Only a being, who experiences the heart and the depth of cognitions, will be able to taste the sweetness of a magical life with a living Guru.

What is Guru?

The true meaning of Guru is “one who dispels darkness of ignorance”. “Gu” means “darkness of ignorance” and “Ru” means “one who removes”. Fundamentally, Guru is not a person it is a principle (Guru tattva). The one who has no Guru above him is the true Guru. Guri here refers to the Atmic principle present in every human being. The real Guru who can reveal the Atmic principle is a Jnaanamurthy (embodiment of wisdom); He is the very embodiment of Divine principles; and He is one who takes upon Himself a form to teach the same to the disciples; he is God Himself. Another meaning of the word Guru is “one who is beyond attributes and forms”. Gu stands for Gunaatheetha – one who transcends the three Gunas (Satva, Rajas and Tamas); Ru stands for Rupavarjitha – one who is formless. The One who is beyond all attributes and forms is none other than the Supreme Self (the Brahmam) who resides in the heart within each of us. Only God can be regarded as One who is beyond attributes and forms.

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