Brahmavidya (Divine knowledge) can never be sold.
Brahmavidya is imparted free.
There is no fee in the beginning.
But we pay Guru Dakshina (offering tribute to the teacher) with our life.
We have all kinds of gurus all across India.
Number one thing to be careful about is - Is this guru looking for something from you -
if yes, run away.
Because gurus are supposed to serve us.
My guruji used to say,
when someone asked him one small question, “Guruji, I already have a guru.
I am from such and such a village and we have a common guru for the entire village and we worship him.
Is it okay
that I accept you as my guru, but what will happen to my previous guru?”
So my guruji told him very nicely that, “Look, you continue with your guru.
Give him the Guru Dakshina, all as you can, as per the tradition.
But take my services. Take me as your servant.”
So, this is a lofty culture we have.
Brahmavidya (Divine knowledge) can never be sold.
Brahmavidya is imparted free.
There is no fee in the beginning.
But we pay Guru Dakshina with our life.
That is a spiritual call.
Who has a spiritual call of such an order? Do you have
a true appetite or just because someone says it is good?
Of course, the relationship begins
because someone says so. You know, you go to a particular restaurant
because someone recommended to you, “Oh, it is a nice restaurant.”
And when we go there, then we prove it to ourselves after taking the meals there that,
“Yes, the service is good, the ambience is good, food is good. It is fresh and it is more reasonable.”
I think at least
that much of discrimination or viveka has to be applied
with religious affairs. We should not blindly believe just because somebody is a guru.
No.
This blind faith
has destroyed our country so much.
Even a belief that, “I believe in God,”
has also created so much of a problem. Because, once you say, “Oh, I believe in God,”
then what happens next? Your search will end right then and there.
You think, “I believe, so it is enough.” So, your search will not go further more than that.
So belief may be good, but it must not end there.
You must have a scientific bent of mind, even towards spirituality. All our sages of the past﹘
be it Shandilya, be it Narada, be it Rishi Vashishta, or Atri muni, or
so many, we have a pantheon of Rishis﹘ all of them, they tested their gurus,
sishya (disciple) taking the exams of a guru and then coming to his conclusion that, “Yes,
this guru is worth following.” Otherwise, do not follow. And what is the test of a guru?
Will he increase or double up my business?
Will he cure the Covid of my so-and-so?
Or, will he give peace of mind to me or will he remove the stress and the blood pressure or cancer from me?
It is all possible. But, these are not the tests on which you can rely.
By fluke,
there are always fifty-fifty percent chances of your business going up or going down. Even when you toss a coin,
there are fifty-fifty percent chances.
And if fifty percent chances are there and you are with the wrong person,
and with such a determination you flip a coin and your business goes up, then what will happen?
You will become enslaved to a wrong guru because you flipped a coin on the wrong side.
Many things like that can happen in our lives.
A true test of a guru is, “Can he make me experience the ultimate,
here and now, during my lifetime?
Can I have God realisation?
Can I have Brahmavidya here and now? Can I, at least, experience a little bit of peace in my heart?”
Then, associating with such a guru is the beginning.
And with such a beginner’s relationship, it can mature into an eternal relationship.
Then the guru would take a back-seat and present his devotee or his shishya
to God
and say, “God, this is my dakshina to you.”
And gurus,
they can never become a beggar in front of you.
Remember that.
There are people who come and charge you. You know, how many gurus have come to you.
They stay with you and in order to stay with you, they will charge you some money.
In order to have meals, dinner or lunch at their table, they will charge you some ‘X’ amount of money.
Driving him around in your vehicle, they will charge you ‘X’ amount of money.
Flying to some Mana Sarovar, they will charge you ‘X’ amount of money.
I think yoga has become a kind of Udyoga (vocation) and we have to be careful.