Jinvani Guru Garima evam Shraman Jivan Visheshank 2011

Author(s): Dharmchand Jain, Others
Publisher: Samyag Gyan Pracharak Mandal

Page 86

10 जनवरी 2011 जिनवाणी
86
Guru : A Light in Life
Dr. Ashok Kavad
This article shows importance and attributes of a Guru for the real development of moral spiritual life of a Person. It also shows difference among a teacher, a coach, a mentor and a Guru.-Editor
Importance of Guru:
We need teachers to expand our knowledge. We need coaches to deepen our skills. We need mentors to reveal us to our self; we do need guru to realize our spiritual self.
There can be multiple or many teachers, but only one guru. Teachers teach and help us in expanding our knowledge of material world. They are the architects of materialist life. Whereas guru is the beacon to a spiritually aligned life. Teachers are guide to this world. They guide us how to live in this world by providing information, techniques, ideas and knowledge for this material world. Similarly coaches help us in improving skills in various sports. Whereas, Guru is guide to the world beyond.
Mentors help us to revere us to ourself by analyzing our strength and weaknesses. But guru is one who makes us to realize our spiritual self-the true-self.
We need teachers, coaches, mentors and guru the Becons, to go beyond the horizons. We can succeed in our temporary material life without guru, but we can not succeed in our journey of life, the spiritual life without the help of guru. Unless we acquire our true spiritual self we cannot succeed in the lives to come.
If we remove sun from sunrays nothing remains. If we remove the mud from the pot, nothing remains. If we remove cause from the effect nothing remains. Similarly if we remove teachings and our philosophy from the guru nothing remains. Guru, the guide and philosopher, is the beacon for the spiritually aligned life. Guru is the one who shows us the path of liberation. In Namaskar Mahamantra due to this quality of Arihant, showing us the path of attaining pure self is being first revered even before siddhas, the pure liberated souls. The relationship with guru is of deep love, reverence, surrender and faith. Through him we first get the glimpse of divinity. Guru removes the darkness of ignorance from the minds of seeker. He by removing darkness enlightens the seeker with Brightness. With the help of enlightenment one can understand what is right and what is wrong.
Who can be Guru:
Thus guru can only be one who is on the path of liberation and also shows us