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Kriya Yoga/Advaita Vedanta
S. SHANK: Never, never, never.
L.M.: It's what you found with Swami Premananda.
S. SHANK: The guru is uncompromising in his adherence to spiritual ethics and values. He will not compromise them for anyone, whether they are president or prima donna. The disciple's external status cannot, and should not, influence the spiritual relationship with the guru. There is an innate knowing and feeling of complete trust in the relationship. But the disciple may have some doubt or hesitation about committing himself to a particular gurueven when the guru is lauded as the guru of gurus, or the satguru—and is a very popular and charismatic guru. When the disciple does not feel that personal element—that his choice is based on a pure inner knowing--the relationship cannot flourish. It also continues for the mutual benefit of both. That is no sin if the disciple chooses to go his or her own way. There are those who would say it is a sin. I do not say it is a sin—if there is any sin, it is not remaining true to yourself.
L.M.: With the right teacher though, does the guru-disciple relationship continue even beyond death?
S. SHANK: That is an eternal relationship indeed. Now, Jesus came to John the Baptist with the express purpose that John should initiate Jesus. Baptism at that time actually meant initiation.
L.M.: It's the second birth.
S. SHANK: But John said to Jesus: I'm not worthy to do that. Jesus rather insists that John must do it: "for thus shall come the fulfillment of the law of righteousness.” Jesus recognized that John had been his master, or guru, in a previous life. And John recognized that Jesus had since surpassed him in spiritual realization. Yet Jesus was honoring that eternal bond and was setting an example: that Jesus had already signed up with him for this guru-disciple relationship.
L.M.: The big boss sent me.
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