The Guru

     I am writing this post a day after Gurupournima, a day earmarked for offering gratitude unto the Guru. This day is celebrated specially by spiritual and religious organizations.

 

     The word ‘Guru’ is widely misused / misinterpreted. According to Hinduism, ‘Guru’ is the one who guides disciple and leads him unto liberation. He is one evolved soul, who is in constant mission of enlightening the lives of others. H.H. Dr. Athavale, the founder of Sanatan Sanstha, a spiritual organisation, explains the importance of the Guru and Gurupournima the following way

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 Gurupournima is the day to worship the Guru and to express complete gratitude for what we have received and have been receiving from Him. On this day, remembering the great Guru-disciple tradition, seekers from all faculties who represent the Sanatan Hindu culture and who preserve the Guru-disciple tradition worship the Guru. The Guru-disciple tradition is a gift of Sanatan Hindu culture to the world. The tradition is at the core of the system of imparting of knowledge and learning, in which the relationship of the one who imparts knowledge and the one who receives it are exemplary. The knowledge-giver does not shoulder the responsibility of imparting knowledge only, but also teaching the seeker life values. Here, the one who absorbs knowledge is not a student who learns for the sake of livelihood only, but is a seeker who learns with the aim of development of his knowledge. In our culture the concept of ‘knowledge’ is related to attainment of God. It is called the ‘Supreme Knowledge’, because only those who have the authority to do so – the Gurus – impart this knowledge! Words fail to describe the grandeur of a culture that boasts of worship of such a glorious Guru-disciple tradition!

    

     So the Guru occupies utmost position in a disciple’s life. But some uncivilized minds have made mockery of the ‘Guru’ principle. Daisy von Scherler Mayer directed movie The Guru (2002 released) is one such example. This movie creates wide misconception in the minds of people and should never be accepted. The latest hollywood movie The Love Guru (2008 released) starring Mike Myers is another example. It grossly denigrates the Guru principle. An online campaign is active against this movie and you can voice your opinion here. We in the land where we worship Guru, should come together and condemn such unpardonable acts.

The Alchemist

When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it

 

     This is one of my favourite quotes from the book. The alchemist is a novel by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho. The book is about chasing dreams and realizing them. It was a nice read. The book evokes a sort of positive feeling and guides how one should realize his dream. This is narrated using a story of a Shepherd boy, Santiago, who undertakes a journey to pyramids in order to realize his dream.

 

     The book speaks about ‘Omens’ throughout which are the gestures of God. When one is on the path of realizing his dream, God helps him by showing signs. Santiago reads these omens, such as rolling out of the stones Urim and Thummin from his pocket when he was robbed and left moneyless, in desert he studies the flight of the hawks and infers about the threat in the future. ‘The Language of the world’ is something which the book refers very often. It is the language which the world speaks. It is the language the sheep speaks to look for food and water; the Camels speak to the desert and so on. Every object in this world communicates using this language.

 

     The principles of Alchemy come somewhere in the middle of the book. In the mid way through his jouerny, boy meets Alchemist who guides him for the remaining of the journey. The book also refers to ‘The philosopher’s stone’ which transforms any metal into gold and ‘The Elixir of life’ which can cure any illness. Alchemists posses these.

 

     The book is written using a simple language. But i did find some philosophical parts hard to understand. I am considering reading the book a second time to get some more insights. If not anyone, at least Paulo Coelho has realized his dream by writing this book!

 

Maktub !