TALK 35 ( APR 20, 12.21 )
Let us contemplate on Guru the supreme reality you have heard this sloka,
‘Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu Guru devo mahaeswaraha
Guru sakshat parabrahma tasmai sri guruve namaha’.
Guru is called Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara, what is the meaning of this?
The supreme reality Parabrahma plays five different roles in the creation. As Brahma he becomes the creator, as Vishnu he becomes the ‘sustainer’, as Maheshwara or Shiva he becomes the ‘destroyer’, as Maya Shakti he creates the ‘bondage’ and as Sadguru he creates ‘freedom’. These are fivefold roles of supreme reality, out of that the last role Sadguru is to create freedom from Maya, or bondage. The other four roles are in the domain of Maya, the creation, sustenance, and destruction and Maya. Only one role Sadguru is for liberation from the bondage of Maya.
The Sadguru is spoken as Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. Don’t confuse these with the roles with the general concept of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. Here, it refers to Self-Realisation or Atmagyan. Guru as the role of Brahma, gives birth to desire for Mukti or liberation in those who seek. Guru as Brahma creates the desire for liberation. Guru as Vishnu sustains the desire in the form of teachings, Guru as Shiva destroys the ignorance of ‘I am the body, I am the mind, I am the intellect’, that is why Guru is called Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara, don’t confuse with the creation, sustenance of Parabrahman. Here, these are related to knowledge aspect enlightenment.
Now what about the ‘Guru sakshat parabrahma tasmai sri guruve namaha’ .Guru is the one who gives knowledge of Atmagyan and helps you do become free from bondage of Maya and bondage of karma. One who gives the knowledge, he himself should be first liberated, otherwise he cannot give wisdom and clarity to you. A blind man cannot lead another blind man. It requires a person with eyes to guide a person without eyes. Similarly a person who has realised the supreme reality is only fit to be called Sadguru or realised person. Such a person is called Parabrahma, ‘Guru shaksat prabrahma, tasmai sri guruve namaha’
Only such a Self realised person is able to teach the wisdom. Let us see what he has realised, he has realised that his individual consciousness is one with the supreme consciousness Parabrahma. That means Jiva has merged with the Brahman just like a salt doll that goes to the ocean and what finally remains there is the ocean alone. Similarly when Jiva merges with Parabrahma, only Parabrahma or supreme reality remains. That is what is called Self-realisation or God-realisation.
The body of such person is alive until the Prarabhdha karma of the body is exhausted. The universe maintains such body and the purpose of maintaining such body is to help the seekers get wisdom in the form of teachings. Now who speaks through that body? Is it the Jiva? But there is no longer any Jiva, it is merged with the Parabrahma. Then it is Parabrahma only. So supreme reality itself speaks through that body-mind complex. That’s why Guru is called Sakshat Parabrahma. This refers to Sadguru, a Atmajnani, a Self Realized being.
Transcription by Atmajyothi Satyavathi
Light of The Self Foundation 