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SEPTEMBER 2014
PRABUDDH JEEVAN
37
Importance of Guru in life and Mahatma Gandhi
O PROF. DR. YOGENDRA YADAV
Dr. Yogendra Yadav is Gandhian Scholar of Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India ]
Guru is Sanskrit term. It means who guided anyone as the one who dispels the darkness of ignorance. Main difficulties. Who show the way? Who knows every- hatma Gandhi suggested, 'The longer I am in India, thing? Mahatma Gandhi wanted a Guru who show him the more I see that some people believe I have set path in life. Mahatma Gandhi said, 'I have come to In- myself up as a guru. I cautioned them against this is in dia to learn. My revered guru, Mr. Gokhale, gave me a South Africa and caution you here again. I know utterpiece of advice: One who had been out of India for 25 ing such at this meeting an address was presented to years should express no opinion about affairs here Mohanlal Pandya. Caution can itself be a way of seekbefore he had studied things carefully. Accordingly, I ing honour. Even at the risk of seeming to do so. I shall keep my ears open and my mouth shut.'1
say that it is not for me to be anyone's guru. I am not fit Mahatma Gandhi told, 'Following the advice of my to be that. Even in South Africa, when there were halguru, Mr. Gokhale, I do not enter into argument with lowed occasions like the present one, I had refused anyone. With New Year, I must remind myself of this the position and do so today once more. I am myself in and, since the issue has come up, I shall say that it is a search of a guru. How can a man, himself in search of very delicate one and the question cannot therefore a guru, be a guru to anyone else? I had my political be answered without some discussion. I am not partial guru in Gokhale, but I cannot be one to anybody else to anyone.'
becauase I am still a child in matters of politics. Again, Mahatma Gandhi wrote: 'I consider to be my politi- if I agreed to be a guru and accepted someone as my cal guru, has really foundation in fact, but I do believe disciple, and the latter did not come to my expectations that there is much to be said to justify it in so far as or ran away, I would be very much hurt. I hold that a educated India is concerned: not because we, the edu- man should think, not once, but many times before decated portion of the community, have blundered, but claring himself anyone's disciple. A disciple proves his because we have been creatures of circumstances. Be discipleship by carrying but any order of the guru the that as it may, this is the maxim of life which I have moment it is uttered, much as a paid servant would. accepted, namely, that no work done by any man, no
Whether or not he has made himself such a servant matter how great he is, will really prosper unless he will be known only when he shows that he has fully has a religious backing.3
carried out the order. The work I have been doing has Mahatma Gandhi said, 'I seek guru. That a guru is
brought me in the public eye. It has been such as would needed I accept. But, as long as I have not come upon appeal to the people. If I have shown any skill in this a worthy guru, I shall continue to be my own guru. The struggie, it has been only in seeing the direction in which path is arduous certainly, but in this sinful age, it seems
the current of popular feeling was flowing and trying to to be the right one. 4. Mahatma Gandhi told, 'The true
direct it into the right channel with happy results.'6. disciple merges himself in the quru and so can never Mahatma Gandhi told, 'I tihnk it very dangerous, in be a critic of the guru. Bhakti or devotion has no eye for this age, for anyone to accept another as a guru or be shortcomings. There can be no cause for complaint if another's guru. We attribute perfection to a guru. By the public do not accept the eulogies of one who re- accepting an imperfect man as our guru, we are led fuses to analyses the merits and shortcomnigs of his
into no end of error. '7 Mahatma Gandhi told, There subject. The disciple's own action are, in fact, his com- can be no jnana without a guru is a golden maxim. But mentary on the master. I have often said that Gokhale it is very difficult to find a guru, and it would not be was my political guru. '5
proper to accept any person as a guru in the absence A traditional etymology of the term 'guru' is based of a good one and so drown ourselves right in the middle on the interplay darkness and light. The quru is seen of our voyage accross this ocean of life. A Guru is one
