Gurparsaad - The Grace of the Guru
9. Gurparsaad - The Grace of the Guru
In the context of the mool-mantra, Gurparsaad also means that the
Lord who is Saibangh is Himself the compassionate Guru.
The Guru or ateacher' is He who removes that darkness of ignorance.
The Lord or the Reality which is all-pervasive and ever-present in
each and every thing in this universe is veiled due to our ignorance.
Indeed, not only do we not recognize the Truth, but we are not even
aware that we are ignorant. So the all-compassionate Lord in His
supreme kindness manifest Himself as the Guru to inspire us, guide us
and reveal to us His true nature.
He who is the Kartaa Purakh, the one Doer, or Creator, Sustainer and
Destroyer, He alone takes the form of the Guru to liberate us from
the bondage of samsaara. Therefore we say," Guru Brahmaah, Guru
Vishnuh, Guru Devo Maheshwarah, Gurureva Param Brahma, Tasmai Shri
Gurave Namah. Guru is the Creator, Brahma. Guru is the Sustainer,
Vishnu. Guru is the Destroyer, Shiva. Guru is the Lord of the
Universe. Guru alone is the Absolute Reality, the Param Brahma. Unto
that noble Teacher, my humble prostrations.”
Shri Guru Nanak Dev has echoed the very same idea in the"Japji
Sahib": GUR ISAR, GUR GORAKH BARMAA, GUR PARBATI MA-EE. Guru is Isar
or Lord Shiva, for He destroys the ignorance and all the evil in us.
Guru is Gorakh, the protector of the cows-Shri Vishnu, who protects
us, sustains our aspirations for the higher and nourishes us with
noble virtues.
Guru is Brahmaa, who creates in us the desire to know the Truth and
inspires us to live a divine life. Guru is mother Parvati, who
fulfills all our pure desires and feeds us with the milk of Divine
Knowledge.
The lord is the one guru of all. In fact, He is the sole Giver of all
knowledge. Who taught the birds to fly and sing? Who taught them the
fascinating art of building nests? Who taught the animals to find
their food? He is the one Guru of all creatures.
It is the lord alone who is the one Knower and Revealer of all the
sciences including the knowledge of one's own nature, which brings
about liberation. He is the Aadi Guru, the First Guru. He alone
appears again and again in the form of different Gurus to bless the
seekers. He alone is our Guru.
What can be said about one's Guru? What words can describe His
Compassion and Grace, His Parsaad?
A mere side glance of His transform a sinner into a saint. The cool
stream of Ganga flowing from His lotus lips destroys the evil of
ignorance, washes away the sins of countless lifetimes and ends the
burning sorrows of samsaara.
His lotus feet are the one refuge in the many storms of life. They
are the mighty boat, which alone can take us across the samsaara
saagara, the ocean of transmigration. Even the devtas, the heavenly
denizens, cherish the sacred dust of His feet.
How can one describe or even enumerate the infinite glories of the
Guru? The Vedas become silent in Their reverence, the Rishis are
choked with emotion and the poetic saints are at a loss for words.
Shri Kabirdaas once said," SUB DHARTI KAAGAZ KARO, LEKHAN SUB BAN
RAI, SAAT SAMUDRA KI MASI KARO, GURU GUN LIKHEEYA NA JA-EE. If the
entire earth were turned into paper, all the trees in all the world's
forests into pens, and all the seven oceans into ink, still they
would not suffice for me to write about the glories of my Guru.”
Similarly, Shri Guru Nanakji has said: "JE HAU JAANA AAKHA NAAHI,
KAHNA KATHAN NA JA-EE. Even if I knew of Him and all His glories,
still I would never be able to describe Him, for He is indescribable.”
The greatest Parsaad or 'Grace' of the Guru is that Supreme
Knowledge, which reveals to us our true infinite nature, shows us our
identity with God and destroys all our karmas, the bondage due to the
results of actions gathered through millions of lifetimes.
To surrender in devotion at His lotus feet, is the only one direct
means of salvation....”NA GUROH ADHIKAM TATVAM, NA GUROH ADIKHAM
TAPAH, TATVA GYAANAAT PARAM NAASTI, TASMAI SHRI GURAVE NAMAH. There
is no reality higher than the Guru, there is no tapas or austerity
greater than service to the Guru, there is no knowledge higher than
knowledge of the Truth. To that Teacher who is my all, my humble
prostrations.”
At His feet blooms the lotus of the Scriptures. He alone can expound
the mysteries enshrined in the Scriptures. He is that brilliant sun
in whose light and warmth the lotus flower of Knowledge blooms. One
who has surrendered to Him and is in the protection of the Guru shall
certainly realize the Truth.
"ACHAARYAVAAN PURUSHO VEDA," declare the Upanishads of the Vedas.
Gurparsaad is what we should seek. In other words, we should seek the
Lord in the form of the compassionate Guru. Surrender to Him, serve
Him and open our hearts to His ever-flowing parsaad or grace. The
greatest service we can render to the Teacher is obedience to His
instruction, for such instruction is given for our benefit alone.
The Guru requires nothing for Himself, and the greatest offering one
can make to one's Guru is to abide in the Knowledge given by the
Teacher. In this way one can fulfill the purpose of human existence,
which is a rare form of life attained after millions of lifetimes.
Yet, even after gaining the Knowledge, we fail to abide in the Truth.
This is because of the impressions and habits accumulated in the
past, and the countless agitations and dissipations of the mind, as
well as our constant laziness and forgetfulness.
Thus the all-compassionate Guru Nanakji lovingly urges us Jap (Chant).
9. Gurparsaad - The Grace of the Guru
http://esamskriti.com/
Guru Granth Sahib: 1. Mool Mantra - Fundamental Meanings
Guru Granth Sahib: 2. Ik Onkaar - The One God, the Absolute Reality
Guru Granth Sahib: 3. Satnaam - His name is Sat, Ever True
Guru Granth Sahib: 4. Kartaa Purakh - The Only Doer, the One Creator
Guru Granth Sahib: 5. Nirbhau Nirvair - Fearless and All-loving is He
Guru Granth Sahib: 6. Akaal Moorat - His Form (Existence) Transcends Time
Guru Granth Sahib: 7. Ajuni - He is Without Birth or Beginning
Guru Granth Sahib: 8. Saibangh - He is Self-existent and Self-illuminating
Guru Granth Sahib: 9. Gurparsaad - The Grace of the Guru
Guru Granth Sahib: 10. Jap - Chant
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