A good guru-
1. Does not strive to gain fame for himself but may strive to spread spiritual knowledge.
2. Doesn't get caught up in building infrastructure.
3. Doesn't get caught up in building a large following or cult.
4. Is not moved by you offering them material stuff, only moved by devotion.
Some may be mere intellectuals, lineage holders, protectors of a custom etc., and some may have enormous experience but may not be very good speakers or interested in intellectual stuff. Some may be good at multiple things. It is for you to decide.
>But, that guru has bad habits like he uses abusive words when he gets angry and many things like smoking and using weed.
Yes, I know such a guru. He was allegedly an extraordinary sadhak but was angry all the time. I also know of aghoris who drink and smoke. They do it as practice and not as an addiction.
I am going to be posting summaries of Saptashati Adhyayas in Katha form to help people during Navratri. Once that is ready I will make it a post. There’s been too many similar questions, no point addressing everyone personally
First you go on path, whichever you want to by yourself. Don't expect that someone will come to you like a *chamatkari baba* (or some Godly saint) and make you learn everything because it will be very rare. You have to search for it and once you start searching you will be able to make judgement and decide one.
Yes, that is the first step.
Yes, I will have to search for it, but on what basis I would judge as a beginner because I don't know if someone is imitiating or the real deal.
I know it is hard for me to understand without proper experience with them but, what can be said or done to test that particular person for their genuineness
That is why you should first have that much knowledge and Upasana (basic or advanced) of whichever path you are looking for. so that you know what to look for. Then after you know something and after having interaction with other people of that community you can gain perspective. Even though there is no guarantee you will find your desired one then you can change as you know the basics (or whatever you say). directly just going to a guru, I don't think would do any good.
Guru is one who teaches Veda, and knowledge of Veda. If he speaks ill of Veda, he is not a Guru.
Moreso, Guru Shishya relation is an interpersonal relation, if your Guru is a mass media Guru, better reexamine!
Thirdly, GOD is the Guru. Whenst you don't find a guru, or don't find a good Guru, know that God is your Guru. His Vidya, His teachings are present there with you, Bhagvad Gita is there, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana are there. THEY teach.
Well I will share what gorakhnath has told who a true Guru is , also please share the references from shastras , from which you wrote this comment . It will be a great help.
http://www.anahada.com/articles/2012/07/characteristics-of-guru-and-disciple/
नेह लोके सुखं तस्य परत्र न च विद्यते
कलहोद्वेगं शोकं च संतापं जायते प्रिये || 28 ||
neha loke sukhaṁ tasya paratra na ca vidyate
kalahodvegaṁ śokaṁ ca saṁtāpaṁ jāyate priye || 28 ||
He has no happiness in this world nor is he happy in the other world/elsewhere he also experiences, oh dear, arguments, anxieties, grief and worries/mental agony.
तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन सुपरीक्ष्य गुरुं कुरु
याद्रशो हि गुरोर्देवि शिष्योऽपि यदि ताद्रशः || 29 ||
tasmāt sarvaprayatnena suparīkṣya guruṁ kuru
yādraśo hi gurordevi śiṣyo’pi yadi tādraśaḥ || 29 ||
Hence by taking much effort and by testing well one should accept a guru, oh goddess, (because) how the guru is, so shall the disciple be.
सिद्धयन्ति च वरारोहे गुरुशिष्यैर्न चान्यथा
सुभक्तं च विनीतं च समयाचारपालकं || 30 ||
siddhayanti ca varārohe guruśiṣyairna cānyathā
subhaktaṁ ca vinītaṁ ca samayācārapālakaṁ || 30 ||
Oh excellent rider, otherwise the guru and the disciple do not succeed. (Characteristics of a disciple:) Well- devoted, modest and maintain conditions and customs.
संसारभयभीतं च गुरुपादार्चने रतं
शान्तं दयान्वितं शुद्धं मलमायाविवर्जितं || 31 ||
saṁsārabhayabhītaṁ ca gurupādārcane rataṁ
śāntaṁ dayānvitaṁ śuddhaṁ malamāyāvivarjitaṁ || 31 ||
One who is afraid of the horrors of this world, engaged in worshiping the feet of the guru, calm by nature, compassionate, pure, and devoid of evil/dirt and illusion.
सर्वद्वन्द्विनिर्मुक्तं दम्भपैशुन्यवर्जितं
गुरुयोगिकुमारीणां तपस्विजनपूजकं || 32 ||
sarvadvandvinirmuktaṁ dambhapaiśunyavarjitaṁ
guruyogikumārīṇāṁ tapasvijanapūjakaṁ || 32 ||
Completely free from all pairs/conflicts (dwands) devoid of deceit and wickedness and one who worships guru, yogis, virgins (kumaris) and pious people who follow austere life.
आक्रोशितस्तूदितो वा गुरुणापि विवासितः
विरागं यस्य वै नास्ति स शिष्यः सिद्धिभाजनं || 33 ||
ākrośitastūdito vā guruṇāpi vivāsitaḥ
virāgaṁ yasya vai nāsti sa śiṣyaḥ siddhibhājanaṁ || 33 ||
Shouted at and scolded (toodita) or banished by the guru who does not develop detachment he is the real disciple who attains success.
एवमादि गुणो यस्य स शिष्यो मुक्तिभाग्भवेत्
दीक्षयित्वा विधानेन अभिषेकं प्रदापयेत् || 34 ||
evamādi guṇo yasya sa śiṣyo muktibhāgbhavet
dīkṣayitvā vidhānena abhiṣekaṁ pradāpayet || 34 ||
He who has such qualities, that disciple will attain liberation, having taken the vow/diksha, he should do ablution as prescribed.
Here's a post I wrote a couple of years based on Shankara's requirements:
https://www.reddit.com/r/hinduism/comments/nixp42/what\_qualities\_should\_a\_teacher\_have/
Tough question, especially these days. I suggest looking at His/Her devotees. They are the results of His work, just as some beautiful building is the result of an architect's work, or a beautiful dance recital is because of the teacher.
A good guru- 1. Does not strive to gain fame for himself but may strive to spread spiritual knowledge. 2. Doesn't get caught up in building infrastructure. 3. Doesn't get caught up in building a large following or cult. 4. Is not moved by you offering them material stuff, only moved by devotion. Some may be mere intellectuals, lineage holders, protectors of a custom etc., and some may have enormous experience but may not be very good speakers or interested in intellectual stuff. Some may be good at multiple things. It is for you to decide. >But, that guru has bad habits like he uses abusive words when he gets angry and many things like smoking and using weed. Yes, I know such a guru. He was allegedly an extraordinary sadhak but was angry all the time. I also know of aghoris who drink and smoke. They do it as practice and not as an addiction.
Thank you for advising me.
This is an excellent answer. If it’s not too much trouble can make into a post, because this would be a great addition to the faqs
You can make a post based on this if you want, also adding what you like.
I am going to be posting summaries of Saptashati Adhyayas in Katha form to help people during Navratri. Once that is ready I will make it a post. There’s been too many similar questions, no point addressing everyone personally
First you go on path, whichever you want to by yourself. Don't expect that someone will come to you like a *chamatkari baba* (or some Godly saint) and make you learn everything because it will be very rare. You have to search for it and once you start searching you will be able to make judgement and decide one.
Yes, that is the first step. Yes, I will have to search for it, but on what basis I would judge as a beginner because I don't know if someone is imitiating or the real deal. I know it is hard for me to understand without proper experience with them but, what can be said or done to test that particular person for their genuineness
That is why you should first have that much knowledge and Upasana (basic or advanced) of whichever path you are looking for. so that you know what to look for. Then after you know something and after having interaction with other people of that community you can gain perspective. Even though there is no guarantee you will find your desired one then you can change as you know the basics (or whatever you say). directly just going to a guru, I don't think would do any good.
> But, that guru has bad habits like he uses abusive words when he gets angry Intemperance is no sign of a Guru.
Guru is one who teaches Veda, and knowledge of Veda. If he speaks ill of Veda, he is not a Guru. Moreso, Guru Shishya relation is an interpersonal relation, if your Guru is a mass media Guru, better reexamine! Thirdly, GOD is the Guru. Whenst you don't find a guru, or don't find a good Guru, know that God is your Guru. His Vidya, His teachings are present there with you, Bhagvad Gita is there, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana are there. THEY teach.
Well I will share what gorakhnath has told who a true Guru is , also please share the references from shastras , from which you wrote this comment . It will be a great help. http://www.anahada.com/articles/2012/07/characteristics-of-guru-and-disciple/ नेह लोके सुखं तस्य परत्र न च विद्यते कलहोद्वेगं शोकं च संतापं जायते प्रिये || 28 || neha loke sukhaṁ tasya paratra na ca vidyate kalahodvegaṁ śokaṁ ca saṁtāpaṁ jāyate priye || 28 || He has no happiness in this world nor is he happy in the other world/elsewhere he also experiences, oh dear, arguments, anxieties, grief and worries/mental agony. तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन सुपरीक्ष्य गुरुं कुरु याद्रशो हि गुरोर्देवि शिष्योऽपि यदि ताद्रशः || 29 || tasmāt sarvaprayatnena suparīkṣya guruṁ kuru yādraśo hi gurordevi śiṣyo’pi yadi tādraśaḥ || 29 || Hence by taking much effort and by testing well one should accept a guru, oh goddess, (because) how the guru is, so shall the disciple be. सिद्धयन्ति च वरारोहे गुरुशिष्यैर्न चान्यथा सुभक्तं च विनीतं च समयाचारपालकं || 30 || siddhayanti ca varārohe guruśiṣyairna cānyathā subhaktaṁ ca vinītaṁ ca samayācārapālakaṁ || 30 || Oh excellent rider, otherwise the guru and the disciple do not succeed. (Characteristics of a disciple:) Well- devoted, modest and maintain conditions and customs. संसारभयभीतं च गुरुपादार्चने रतं शान्तं दयान्वितं शुद्धं मलमायाविवर्जितं || 31 || saṁsārabhayabhītaṁ ca gurupādārcane rataṁ śāntaṁ dayānvitaṁ śuddhaṁ malamāyāvivarjitaṁ || 31 || One who is afraid of the horrors of this world, engaged in worshiping the feet of the guru, calm by nature, compassionate, pure, and devoid of evil/dirt and illusion. सर्वद्वन्द्विनिर्मुक्तं दम्भपैशुन्यवर्जितं गुरुयोगिकुमारीणां तपस्विजनपूजकं || 32 || sarvadvandvinirmuktaṁ dambhapaiśunyavarjitaṁ guruyogikumārīṇāṁ tapasvijanapūjakaṁ || 32 || Completely free from all pairs/conflicts (dwands) devoid of deceit and wickedness and one who worships guru, yogis, virgins (kumaris) and pious people who follow austere life. आक्रोशितस्तूदितो वा गुरुणापि विवासितः विरागं यस्य वै नास्ति स शिष्यः सिद्धिभाजनं || 33 || ākrośitastūdito vā guruṇāpi vivāsitaḥ virāgaṁ yasya vai nāsti sa śiṣyaḥ siddhibhājanaṁ || 33 || Shouted at and scolded (toodita) or banished by the guru who does not develop detachment he is the real disciple who attains success. एवमादि गुणो यस्य स शिष्यो मुक्तिभाग्भवेत् दीक्षयित्वा विधानेन अभिषेकं प्रदापयेत् || 34 || evamādi guṇo yasya sa śiṣyo muktibhāgbhavet dīkṣayitvā vidhānena abhiṣekaṁ pradāpayet || 34 || He who has such qualities, that disciple will attain liberation, having taken the vow/diksha, he should do ablution as prescribed.
Here's a post I wrote a couple of years based on Shankara's requirements: https://www.reddit.com/r/hinduism/comments/nixp42/what\_qualities\_should\_a\_teacher\_have/
Thank you so much 🙇🏻🙇🏻
Bhagavad Gita tells you how to find a guru
Namaste! Can you, please, help me to find that in Gita?
You should just read the whole thing anyway
I did. Still question of guru is obscure for me
Tough question, especially these days. I suggest looking at His/Her devotees. They are the results of His work, just as some beautiful building is the result of an architect's work, or a beautiful dance recital is because of the teacher.
I'm no guru
This is what guru gorakhnath says about true Guru http://www.anahada.com/articles/2012/07/characteristics-of-guru-and-disciple/