Question:

To many people born in the west the worshipping of a guru seems difficult to accept. I am not saying that this is bad but am finding the mind is working over time to try and understand when acceptance may be the correct path. Is it not just an unloading of the search for god by that person on to the Guru.? This will have to be taken back by that person if he or she is to attain a higher state will it not.The guru will appear to shine like gold but is not that persons gold being transposed to the Guru and mistaken for the Guru's gold? (Not my description)

Will a search for god or the true self be helped in all cases by the
intervention or help of a guru or similar to get the person over a
particular advanced stage of spiritual development or can a person reach that stage without help? I realize that this may vary with the individual but generally I am told there is a block that cannot be overcome by a singular person at a certain stage. Would a major life trauma be the trigger to get a person from one level to another?

I am personally struggling with spiritual changes in me but the old person keeps roaring back to life very strongly which seems to blanket any insights temporarily until slowly the new returns but never seems strong enough to have the upper hand in my mind. Sorry about all the questions.

Baba:

We appreciate your question, since ancient times, in India, The Guru, giver of Knowledge and Wisdom is always considered equal to God. However in Yoga Vasista, Sage Vasista recommends that a realized teacher is worthy of being worshiped because total ego of imagined individulaity has merged with The God once for all and hence there is only God manifested there in the form of Guru.

It is not an unloading of search but the real search on the right path starts. If one is genuine in seeking the real Self and spiritual Truth, actually it is The God who will guide and create such circumstances to reach such a Guru who is realized and there is God's manifestation.A realized real Guru never spoon feeds a student but guides and inspires to put in efforts just like a Mother trying to teach the child to stand on it's own feet.

You are guided to The Guru not to unload the search but surrender and have faith to the guidance of the Guru who can help and dispel the darkness of ignorance and give the finest points of proceeding on the path putting in efforts. To have revernce and to be devoted is essential so that one shall adopt such methods as taught by the Guru, to put in efforts and achieve the target.One's reverence and devotion to the Guru is the real worship. Worship means not simply performing some rituals like offering flowers and Arathi etc. Reverance and devotion means one's respect to the Guru in it's highest pitch. Rituals of worship are good and proper mannerism. Like conveying Namaste, touching feet etc.

Shining like gold vibration is always earned by the Guru by Guru's own effort Sadhana and when a person's mind is receptive enough , is able to experiance the appearence.

Guru's help is needed. When the time is ripe for the person, help may come from wit in or from outside. Guru can be in any form... need not be in a physical form. Even if it is coming from within it is God acting as Guru to guide. Even from outside also when a Guru helps it is actually God acting as a Guru to help.It is person's faith in the name Guru which can work wonders.

A major life trauma can be one of the reasons to get a person from one level to another. An unknown ego can be reason for struggles. These struggles give rise to confusions. Pray to God to show you the path . God will show you a Guru. When you come across such a Guru it will be appealing and inspiring to you. Pray genuinely God will help you.

Guru is not a thing to be imposed on anyone. Inspiration should come from within, then such a relationship with a Guru will always be, an advantage.

Saint Kabir says, with a question in his mind, what if both God and Gurucome together and stand in front of me, to whom shall I prostrate first. Then the mind becomes clear and decides, let me prostrate to The Guru first because it is The Guru who told me about God. This Guru can be anything , from anywhere.It will definitely, be God.

Never mind about the questions, you are welcome.

With love and blessings,
Baba Shivarudra Balayogi, 26 Jan 2004