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"The way to overcome lifeless rituality and the bare knowledgeable state is to give up one's own views and to rest at the feet of a true Guru. The lifeless ritualists have taken recourse to wrong gurus, who do not have self-realization and do not know the right way. They know the path of rituals and physical hardships, to which they draw the people and get them attached to the family tradition. Thereby such people cease to have the inclination to come in contact with a true Guru. If they happen to come in such contact, they are not receptive to the true teaching on account of their rigid sectarian approach.
"The bare knowledgeable persons also have not taken the shelter of a true Guru. They have read the spiritual books according to their own fancy and consider themselves knowledgeable thereby, or by listening to the bare knowledgeable ones. To be considered as knowledgeable confers a position of honor and they cherish it.
"From a peculiar consideration, the scriptures have laid the parity of pity, charity, violence and worship. Without understanding its implications the bare knowledgeable makes use of such words merely for being considered knowledgeable. He does not know how such words are to be utilized for gaining the ultimate benefit. As the scriptures have said about the futility of pity, etc. so have they said about the futility of learning up to nine Poorvas. That signifies the negation of barren knowledge. The bare knowledgeable person, however, does not look at it on account of his ego and the craze for being considered knowledgeable. That does not give him scope for the right thinking.
"Both the lifeless ritualists and bare knowledgeable people have been on the wrong track. Their claim to have gained the right path clearly shows their vain persistence. If they had taken refuge at the feet of a true Guru, they would have been induced towards the means for self-realization, whereby they could be treading the right path."
different activities views. All such exercises hathee guidance from a
Prior to getting access to a true Guru, the spiritual aspirant might have undertaken different activities as per his understanding. He might have resorted to various gurus and adopted their views. All such exercises have not been helpful in realizing the self, because they were undertaken in absence of the guidance from a true Guru. Shrimad therefore says that whatever the worldly soul has gained so far has been acquired from the mundane perspective, not from the enlightened one. If one now comes in contact with an enlightened Guru, he must be prepared to leave all other gurus and to give up all his notions and beliefs. He should be ready to adopt the shelter of the true Guru and undertake whatever he commands. Since true Guru has already treaded on the path and knows the obstacles on the way, he can guide the disciple suitably. He knows the shortcomings of the disciple and can therefore instruct him about the right scriptural study and the appropriate means of detachment. Treading on that road under the right guidance is the way of gaining self-realization.
Atmajnän Samadarshitä, Vichare Udayprayog; Apoorva Väni Paramashrut, Sadguru Lakshan Yogya.
Knowledge of Self, equanimity, activities as ordained, unparalleled words and mastery over scriptures are the characteristics of a true Guru. (10)
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