By merely pleasing the Guru one attains everlasting divine power
– Swami Muktananda
Honour your Guru with all your heart. Worship him sincerely. Have true love for him. All miraculous powers will be ready to serve you. You will never have to resort to a cheap display of clever tricks like a magician. The scriptures say:
JwégÝVmof_mÌoU {g{Õ^©d{V emídVr &
AÝ`Wm Z¡d {g{Õ… ñ`mX{^Mmam` H$ënVo &&
Meaning: “Everlasting divine power is attained only when the Guru is pleased. Otherwise there will be no true power but only a short-lived illusion. You may repeat your mantra indefinitely, practise severe austerities, meditate for long hours, be liberal in charity, perform elaborate sacrifices, or take dips in the Ganges, but you will never attain realisation unless the Guru feels pleased to bless you with his favour.”
The various failings which we may observe among the students of Siddha Yoga,-weakness, lack of perseverance, lack of inspiration and enthusiasm-are all due to the displeasure of the Guru. It is by the grace of the Guru alone that the mind becomes agile and the intellect sharp, that all suffering ceases and that a genuine interest is developed in sadhana. Only by the Guru’s favour does one enjoy repeating God’s name and perform yogic exercises spontaneously. Then alone is it possible to attain the samadhi state of detachment while being engaged in worldly activities, to see God everywhere in the universe. Remember, therefore, the importance of pleasing the Guru. When a tiny spark of the Guru’s grace enters into the disciple, it gives rise to a divine feeling. Even chintamani, parasmani, kalpataru and kamdhenu fade into insignificance compared to the Guru in whom the Universal Consciousness is active. Sunderdas celebrates the glory of such a one in his poetry:
JwéXod gdmo©n[a A{YH$ {damO_mZ,
JwéXod g~ hr V¡ A{YH$ J[aîR> h¢ &
JwéXod XÎmmÌo` ZmaX ewH$m{X _w{Z,
JwéXod kmZKZ àJQ> d{gîR>> h¢ &&
JwéXod na_ AmZ§X_` Xo{I`V,
JwéXod da dar`mZ hÿ d[aîR> h¢ &*
gw§Xa H$hV H$Nw> _{h_m H$hr Z OmB,
Eogo JwéXod XmXy _oao {ga BîQ> h¢ &&
“The Guru is above everyone, he is most brilliant; he is greater than all. The Guru himself is Dattatreya, Narada, Shuka and other seers; He is the treasure of wisdom like the sage Vasishtha. The Guru appears full of divine bliss; He is supreme in all respects. Sundar is unable to sing his glory adequately. Such a Gurudev is Dadu, my most adorable deity.”
Whoever has attained spiritual perfection has attained it from a Guru. By the Guru’s grace the individual soul, bound by samskaras reaches supreme freedom. The favour of a Guru is essential for everlasting liberation.
What is the job of the Guru?
The Guru’s job is not to hold hands with the disciple and wipe away his tears, but to cut into pieces the disciple’s ego and all that stands between the disciple and freedom. The Guru does not allow dependence.