Guru Purnima

The full moon day in the month of Ashad (July -August) is an extremely auspicious and holy day of guru Poornima. Guru Poornima is celebrated in the memory of the great sage Vyasa, who is also considered to be the most important person in the Vedic lineage of teachers. Sage Vyasa has done unforgettable service to humanity for all times by compiling the four Vedas, authoring the eighteen Puranas, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata and the Brahma Sootras. The Hindus salute this great person in memory by saluting to their own Guru on this day indirectly saluting the whole lineage of Vedic teachers. In honour of Sage Vyasa, Hindus perform Vyasa Puja on this day, and disciples worship their Gurus.

Q. — Who is a Sad-guru? Swami Vivekananda: A Sad-guru is one on whom the spiritual power has descended by Guru-parampara, or an unbroken chain of discipleship. To play the role of a spiritual teacher is a very difficult thing. One has to take on oneself the sins of others. There is every chance of a fall in less advanced men. If merely physical pain ensues, then he should consider himself fortunate.

Q. — Where should one meditate — inside the body or outside it? Should the mind be withdrawn inside or held outside? Swami Vivekananda: We should try to meditate inside. As for the mind being here or there, it will take a long time before we reach the mental plane. Now our struggle is with the body. When one acquires a perfect steadiness in posture, then and then alone one begins to struggle with the mind. Asana (posture) being conquered, one's limbs remain motionless, and one can sit as long as one pleases.

Q. — Sometimes one gets tired of Japa (repetition of the Mantra). Should one continue it or read some good book instead? Swami Vivekananda: One gets tired of Japa for two reasons. Sometimes one's brain is fatigued, sometimes it is the result of idleness. If the former, then one should give up Japa for the time being, for persistence in it at the time results in seeing hallucinations, or in lunacy etc. But if the latter, the mind should be forced to continue Japa.

Q. — Sometimes sitting at Japa one gets joy at first, but then one seems to be disinclined to continue the Japa owing to that joy. Should it be continued then? Swami Vivekananda: Yes, that joy is a hindrance to spiritual practice, its name being Rasasvadana (tasting of the sweetness). One must rise above that.

Q. — Is it good to practice Japa for a long time, though the mind may be wandering? Swami Vivekananda: Yes. As some people break a wild horse by always keeping his seat on his back.

"Anyone and everyone cannot be a guru. A huge timber floats on the water and can carry animals as well. But a piece of worthless wood sinks, if a man sits on it, and drowns him. Therefore in every age God incarnates Himself as the guru, to teach humanity. Satchidananda alone is the Guru." - Sri Ramakrishna

All teachers are one. The same power of God works through them all. -Sri Sarda Devi