Guru and Disciple

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Mahavideh Foundation

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The Guru and the Disciple
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The Guru and the Disciple
for the entire world. This current time is so odd that one can never find a living idol of faith. Occasionally, such a being takes birth on this planet. An idol of faith means you will be filled with faith the moment you set eyes on him. You do not have to ask anything; faith will come automatically. The scriptures have called such a person, "an idol of faith.' Occasionally, and rarely, such a being can be found and he will accomplish the work of the world's salvation. This incarnation (avatar) of Mine is such that people will have faith in Me, without fail.
All we need is an idol of faith. Even the most worthless person will have faith immediately upon looking at the face of such a person. The moment he looks upon the idol of faith, his entire inner intentions and state will turn around. Such an idol of faith is born very rarely. The Tirthankara Lords used to be such.
So what should one become like? He should become the idol of faith. Why will faith not come to people? He himself is the reason why. Then he will claim, 'What can I do when people don't keep faith?' Now the guru that has no substance will keep telling people to have faith in him. Hey you! What about the fact that faith never comes to people where you are concerned? You become the idol of faith so that people will begin to have faith in you the moment they see you. How canvairagya (dispassion towards worldly things) arise?
Questioner: Those who preach; their conduct is different from what they say, so how can that lead to any faith? This happens, does it not?
Dadashri: Now where will dispassion (vairagya) arise? From what kind of speech? Dispassion will arise in that speech which is the truth; it will come from speech that is not being used for the wrong path: it will come from speech that leads to the Self; it comes from that which has vachanbud (speech with special spiritual powers and energy). Otherwise, how can dispassion arise? These are all speaking books'! Just as dispassion does not arise from books that talk, it does not arise from the gurus who recite books. These gurus have become like books. If dispassion does not arise within you, then know that the guru you are listening to is a book. The energy of speech has to be there, does it not? If the listener does not develop faith, the guru is at fault
Questioner: Often, when about twenty-five people or so sit together to listen to a spiritual talk, five of them are touched by it while the other twenty remain unaffected. Who is at fault here, the listener or the preacher?
Dadashri: How can the poor listener be at fault here? The one giving the sermon is at fault. The listeners are that way, to begin with anyway. They openly declare, 'Sir, I don't know anything and that is why I have come to you.' But the preachers have found a way to escape and save themselves. They will say, "You are not doing this or that.' They cannot speak this way. People come to you for help and you say this in response? The fault lies with the preachers. This situation is not like that of a schools where the children don't do any work. Here people come for the benefit of their Self and they do not have any bad intentions. They do not come here expecting worldly or material things. Therefore, the preachers are the ones who have to do everything.
I tell everyone, "If you are not able to do anything, then I am to be blamed. You are not at fault.' If you come to me asking me to 'repair' you, and the repair is not done, then who is at fault?
Dadashri: Yes, it is no ordinary event, that this faith becomes established. Most of the religious talks are for the entertainment of the mind, because the content is not true. These only entertain the listener.
Questioner: These talks only entertain and that is why the effect of dispassion (vairagya) does not arise.