Guru and Disciple

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Mahavideh Foundation

Page 21

The Guru and the Disciple
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The Guru and the Disciple
Dadashri: Nothing will work. The pictures do not endorse anything. Today, if you were to take a picture of Indira Gandhi, will it have any power to sign any documents? You want the one that is living today. So today, neither Indira Gandhi nor Jawaharlal Nehru (both previous Prime Ministers of India) can help. Right now, only the one in power and present will be able to help you, no one else can. Only the signature of the one who is present will be acceptable. Even if you do not have their full signature but just their initials, it will do, but even if you have the full signature of Indira Gandhi, it will not do.
Idol worship is indirect worship (paroksha bhakti)
Questioner: One saint says that we should not depend upon inert things such as photographs or idols. He said we should take support from the one who is living and present in front of us.
Dadashri: He is right. If you find a living guru who is good, then you will feel satisfaction. But, until you find such a guru, you should do darshan (see with devotion and reverence) of the murti (that with a form; an idol). The murti is a step; do not let go of it. Until you attain the amurta (the formless, the Selfi.e. the Soul), do not let go of the murti. The murti will always give the benefit of) murta (that which has form). The murti does not give amurta (the Soul). A thing can only express and bestow its own attributes. The murti is paroksha bhakti (indirect worship). Even the guru is indirect worship, but the guru is a quicker vehicle to attain pratyaksh bhakti - direct worship. He is a living idol. So, you should go where there is pratyaksh (a living guru). You should do the darshan of the Lord's murti, there is nothing wrong in doing darshan. When we do that, we are expressing our reverence and we bind merit karma (punya) in the process. Therefore, in doing darshan of the murti, our work will move forward, but the murti will not say anything to you. You need someone to tell you and show you your mistakes, don't you? Have you not found anyone like that yet?
Questioner: No.
Dadashri:So when will you find someone? Egoism can be stopped only through the living Guru
That is why it is said that you should not be without a sajeevan murti (an awakened being, the living Gnani). Find yourself a living Gnani and sit there with him.
If the guru is even two cents better than you are; learn from him. If you are at the level of twelve cents and he is at the level of fourteen cents, then sit with him. Those who have departed will not return to show you your mistakes. Only the living guru can show you your faults.
That is why Krupadudev said,
"Sajeevan murti na laksha vagar jey kai pan karvama avey chhe tey jiva ney bandhan chhe. Aa amaru hridaya chhe."
"Without your exclusive focus on the living Gnani, whatever you do will bind you. These words represent my heart."
This one sentence itself explains everything because without the living Gnani, whatever you do is swachhand actions guided by one's own ego). Swachhand can only be prevented in the presence of a living guru, not otherwise.
Questioner: It has also been said that if one does not have contact with a living satguru(Gnani), then he can take the words of those who have become satgurus and use them as a support to dopurusharth (independent spiritual effort); this too has been said. Is this true or not?
Dadashri: That is what they are doing! And when they attain the Self, you will notice their 'fever' has come down! When one becomes Self-realized, can you not tell that his 'fever' has gone down? Can you not tell the difference between a state with fever and a state without fever? Would you not know whether