The Invaluable Guidance of Shri Guru
While making a pot, the potter first needs to burn it in fire before the pot can be of any use. Similarly, the mind of the devotee first needs to be purified in the glaze of “Guru Shakti” and needs to be strengthened, before he can step into the spiritual path. Guru gives knowledge and experience and takes test of the devotee. Sometimes he creates impediments (for the spiritual growth of the devotee), and sometimes he resolves them.
If a devotee surrenders wholeheartedly before the Guru, he guides the devotee and takes him in the path of God-realization. The Guru advises the devotee to slowly become dispassionate towards worldly matters, while discharging his duties. By controlling his outer senses, the shuttle inner senses of the devotee get activated and energized. If anyone fully submits himself at the lotus feet of the Guru, he becomes fearless. Further, the devotee develops his mind and remains in this world like “water on the lotus leaf “- ever active and at the same time without attachment, feeling inwardly that he is not the doer.
Attachment is the first child of Illusion (“Maya“). Parents, off-springs, siblings and friends are all ephemeral in this life. Hence, Guru advises the devotee not to become greedy and control the thirst for possession of objects, people, and wealth. This possession of objects generates selfishness, which causes greater attachment. Hence, the whole circle of “Maya” begins to evolve.
When anyone follows the advice of Shri Guru, his thoughts become pious and the journey of life becomes easy. Guru helps him to cross from mundane to spiritual world and takes away all his pain and suffering. By carrying out many religious activities, the devotee treads in the path shown by his Master, and repays the debts of past lives (“Prarabdha“). By shedding his worldly attachments, the devotee proceeds in search of god and god-realization, through his shuttle inner senses. By realizing that he is a speck of dust, the devotee surrenders himself and all his actions (“Karma“) at the feet of Shri Guru.
Source: Shri Guru Bhagavat Prashnottari (compiled by Shri Sai International School, Bhubaneswar in Odia language)