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Chapter 17: Statement of the Pupil's Enlightenment
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However, the traveler's case relates to physical thirst, which is going to arise again even after being quenched. The pupil's was the spiritual thirst, which has been so quenched that it would not arise again. In other words, he has been led to the path of liberation, which he no longer has to seek. He therefore feels immeasurably obligated to the Guru, and experiences an incomparable level of contentment.
A question arises here for our consideration, "The pupil heard from the Guru about the six Fundamentals that we so often listen or recite. Then, how come we do not get enlightenment?" One reason is our unworthiness, and the other is the absence of personal contact with a Guru. Being in the physical presence of a Guru makes a big difference. There have been instances when people experienced realization merely by being in the presence of a Guru. This could happen, even if the Guru does not utter a single word; the accomplishment occurs merely by his presence!
Here, the pupil does not merely have access to a true Guru, but he has actually had the opportunity to listen and have his doubts clarified. It can be imagined how much benefit he may have gained. Therefore, the pupil is overcome by the grace of the Guru. But he does not know how to express his gratitude. As a mark of his esteem for the blessed Guru, only the utterance of "Oh! Oh!" comes out of his mouth.
Then he reflects that the uninterrupted stream of knowledge that he experienced can come out only from a high level of compassion. He remembers that compassion lies at the heart of enlightened entities. The entities live only for undergoing the ordained fate and for the sake of benevolence. That gives the pupil an idea of the level of compassion in the heart of the Guru. He finds it beyond his capacity to measure it, and feels content by devoutly addressing him as the unfathomable ocean of compassion.
The pupil also remembers how ignorant he was prior to the teaching of the Guru. Out of humility, he terms that state as
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