The ‘Guru’ within

Instead of expanding our spiritual horizon, we expend our life pursuing the temporal goals. The real purpose of life is lost somewhere in this pursuit. But all of us naturally have an inherent spiritual inclination which stays dormant as we seek worldly success in life. There are no precisely defined goals but we are often driven by an epiphanic sense of accomplishment without realising the insignificance of our actions. 

As soon as some material success is achieved, the spiritual inclination starts emerging as a desire to pursue the real goal of life - the ultimate peace or God attainment. We commence exploring the possibility of finding someone who could guide us. This is mainly due to a deep rooted belief that a Guru is a must to get initiated on the spiritual path. So, the search is on for the right Guru. And finally, in desperation, we end up clutching on to a cult figure heading some spiritual corporate being run by the followers …just like any business distribution network. 

We are lost in the herd like most others, ritually lapping up what is offered as the ‘real path’ or the spiritual journey by these covertly commercialised organisations. Reassured through constant sermonisation by the cult head, we stay addicted and in the state of euphoria for reaching the ever-elusive goal of Self-realisation. 

The lack of discernment between the true & untrue always deludes us and we remain glued in awe to the cult. Struggling with the delusion, forgetting the Self, forgetting to turn inwards to explore the true, infinite, eternal knowledge, we retain this perception of duality, searching for God - the ultimate reality, somewhere outside with the help of an outsider - the Guru.

Do we really need a Guru? 

The answer to this question is very simple. We only need to turn inwards. We just need to recognise the teacher through self-enquiry, discrimination and dispassion. The Guru is within.