5 Pages -<<Previous [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

The Master and the Method
 Swami Mukundananda Saraswathi

A misconception prevails amongst a few aspirants that surrender to Guru is not consistent with the path of enquiry and that once Upadesa of Mahavakya is received from the preceptor, His guidance is no longer necessary for further sadhana of Manana and Nididhyasana.That they are misled in holding such views will be clear from all that has been stated earlier. Such wrong notions are entertained only because of inadequate experience and insufficient appreciation of the great role of the psychic influence of the Master over the disciple in giving direction to and speeding up his spiritual evolution. A point to be always remembered is that all truly liberated men have laid the greatest emphasis on the devotion to Guru. In this matter, our Guru Maharaj Himself sets an example to His disciples. All His references to His Guru, His Holiness Sri Swami Sivaratna Girt of Jyotir Math (particularly on the day of His Aradhana on Chitra Poornima) are always surcharged with sublime emotion, revealing our Sadguru's extra?ordinary devotion and love for His Preceptor.


Our Master's emphasis on the respect for tradition and Guru Parampara or the line of Preceptors is well brought out by the importance attached by Him to the Pada Pooja or the worship of Padukas of Acharya Sankara, which takes place almost everyday at Thapovanam. The exalted mood in which our Sadguru Himself carried the Padukas on His head on Sankara Jayanthi in 1964 made an unforgettable impression on the minds of all the devotees present. Acharya Sankara Himself says "Gnana Nishta or single?minded devotion to Knowledge is indeed unattainable to those who have not been properly initiated into traditional knowledge by the Gurus (the Great Ones)".

"Lord! You are the Reality Itself remaining as my innermost Self, ruling me during all my countless incarnations ! Glory be to You, Who have now assumed a form in order to instruct me ! How can I ever repay Your great help and Grace which will enable me to attain Liberation? Glory, glory unto your holy feet".

 
5 Pages -<<Previous [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]