________________
19
TRAINING FOR MEDITATION
Near the Guru, day and night, let him be! Only then does the seeker's sadhana
blossom forth; Walking, standing, sitting, sleeping,
eating or speaking, Ever guided by the Guru's doubt-resolving
gaze!
Q. For training in meditation, the need of an effective - guide cannot be denied. That guide directs the seeker in the form of a guru. Is it necessary for the pupil to be near the guru all the time or is it possible for him to visit the guru every now and then for guidance, and make progress on his own?
Ans. In ancient literature, the adoration of the guru
has been held in great esteem. The Hindi word, upasana, meaning adoration, means sitting near the guru. He who stays near the guru, who loves and reveres him, often finds something which he who stays away can never find. One who stays near the guru, not only has the occasion for hearing and knowing him, but also he
92
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org