Guru and Disciple

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Mahavideh Foundation

Page 39

The Guru and the Disciple
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The Guru and the Disciple
all the gurus in the past. What is a guru? A guru is someone who practices everything he preaches so others can naturally do the same. Do you understand that?
Questioner: The idea that I too would automatically attain what the guru practices is difficult for me to conceive.
Dadashri: In that case, the books are better than the guru is. Do the books not advise, Do this, do that, do the other? So the books are better than the living beings. And you are expected to bow down before the living gurus.
Questioner: That helps one become humble, does it not?
Dadashri: What good is that humility? What good does it do to go to a place your entire life and yet attain nothing? What good is the water that does not even wet our clothes? So all this is useless, it is a waste of time and energy!
Did you not understand? If I tell you to give up smoking, but you cannot do so, then you should know that the fault is mine; that inherently is a fault within me. If, in spite of all your efforts, you still cannot give it up, what is the reason behind it? The reason is my fault; it is because some fault lies in the one giving you the instruction.
If anyone with vachanbud (energy or power of speech that is effective in the other person) says for you to do something, then it would work. Otherwise, when this energy of speech is lacking, the disciple does not progress. It is simply a wrong habit that one has acquired of telling others to do things.
The total capability of the guru There should be a rule everywhere that the guru should be the one doing everything. Why do people go to a guru? These gurus cannot do anything and so they put the responsibility on others and the disciples by telling them to do things. That is why our people have started believing this. The gurus reprimand them
and people accept it. You should not have to listen to such reprimands but these gurus are constantly after the disciples, constantly chiding them about what to do and how to do it.
Most seekers are humble and meek; not all seekers are strong. So how will a meek person proceed? He would only show his weakness. You have to say, "Sahib, why don't you just do for me, whatever you are asking me to do? As a guru you are in a great position, yet you are asking me to do it for you? I am crippled and weak. You must help me stand up. Should you be the one carrying me on your shoulders or do I have to carry you on mine?' Should you not say this to the guru? But these meek people of our country will say, "Yes, Sahib, I will do it tomorrow, anytime the guru tells them to do something. Why don't you speak up clearly? Can you not speak in this manner? Why are you not saying anything? Whose side am I favoring when I say all this?
Questioner: You are speaking for us.
Dadashri: Yes, you should say, 'Sahib, you are strong and I am weak. I am willing to do whatever you ask of me, but I am not capable of doing it so you must do it for me. And if you do not, then I will simply go to another shop (guru). Please tell me either way if you have the capability, so that I can seek another guru if need be. If it is not possible for you, then I will go elsewhere and seek another guru.'
So whom would you call a guru? It is someone who does not tell you to do anything; that is a guru. Ordinary people call themselves gurus. They even claim, "A guru can even make a crippled climb a mountain (pangu langayate girima)." He also tells the disciple to carry him on his shoulders. Hey you! You are telling me this when you yourself are asking me to put you on my shoulders and walk? I am the one who is crippled, yet you are asking me to carry you on my shoulders? Is this not a contradiction? What do you think?