That thou are!

The ancient holy texts call Lord Shiva – Aadi Guru Shankar Pitaa or the first Guru and the father Shiva. The same title has been given to the Guru in the physical or human form. Although the Guru might not be really Lord Shiva but in essence, in his virtues he is Shiva. He is also said to be the manifest form of the Supreme whom the texts call Parbrahm, Pramaatmaa and Sachidanand who is omnipresent and who is responsible for creation, preservation and destruction. He is omniscient and all knowing, possessing knowledge of all Shastras and sciences.

The Guru who is  Shiva-like establishes Dharma or righteousness in the world and works for the welfare and good of the entire mankind. His basic power or Shakti is known as Sati, Uma, Parvati and Bhagwati Jagdamba. This basic energy or Shakti helps the all powerful Guru to establish Dharma. When we talk of the Guru we do not refer to his gross physical form but we contemplate on his Shiva like subtle form that  holds within it the Shakti.

It is through the discourses and divine words of the Sadguru that a person is able to enjoy all the pleasures of life and still attain to spiritual upliftment or Moksh.

Once Lord Shiva said to Mother Parvati–
Ahimsaa Paramo Dharmo Hyahimsaa Paramam Sukham .
Ahimsaa Dharmshaastreshu Sarveshu Paramam Padam.
i.e. Ahimsaa or non violence is the greatest virtue. It is the source of true peace and joy. In all the ancient texts Ahimsa is said to be the best quality. Also the texts state that a person who is non violent, truthful, angerless, peaceful, pure, kind, obedient and respectful to the Guru and parents and who acts in a pure manner distancing himself from evil ways is loved by the gods and lives long.

A person who lies, is lazy, crafty, impure in thoughts and action, atheist, evil, angry, quarrelsome, violent, disobeys the Guru, consumes meat and liquor and feels jealous of the Guru suffers much in life and even in after life. Such a person having lived for a short time as a human is reborn in lower forms. Such souls are condemned to lead a troubled life.
On the other hand a person who is not violent and is kind to all living beings gains much spiritually and enjoys the good results of his actions. One who has a simple nature, and who is kind to all souls, beings and has the feeling of love for all is a real human. One who wishes to tread on the path of Dharma and who has adopted this path should keep some important points in mind.

One should always treat a guest well and serve him or her. One should offer food and gifts to please the guest. There is no greater action than charity and no greater virtue than truthfulness. And there is no worse person than one who is crafty, cruel and false.

Men who lead a family life and serve their parents, the women who remain faithful to their husbands and the Brahmins who regularly perform Yagyas are blessed by all the gods like Indra and all the ancestors. Such a person attains to true joy through Dharma.

But the most unfortunate thing is that man is today indifferent to these virtues. He wants pleasures, comforts and luxuries but he does not want to work hard for them by following Dharma.    He is neither worried about his afterlife. He feels happy living in a delusory world, running after mirages, revolting against society, disrespecting the elders, acting craftily, lusting after pleasures, harming others to fulfil his selfish interests, feeling jealous and hatred for others and worrying only about himself. This is why mankind is suffering so much today.

He is not aware of the fact that lust can never be satisfied by attempting to fulfil it. In fact more one lusts more the craving becomes strong. It is like pouring petrol into fire instead of water. There is no end to lusts and lust only ends in sorrow and suffering. There is no better source of joy than renunciation. By giving up lust and craving, a man can attain to the divine state of Brahm.

Simplicity is the best virtue and being crafty and vile is a bane. One who follows the divine ancient texts and nurtures love and affection for all living creatures is automatically elevated spiritually. A person who is social, principled, peaceful, righteous, nonviolent, kind and loving, moral, virtuous and has control over senses surely obtains the grace of the Lord. A person who is knowledgeable, virtuous, and not subdued by laziness, anger and violent tendency is eligible for quick spiritual progress.

The person who keeps remembering the Lord right from the time he gets out of bed to sleeping time and at the end of the day prays to the Lord for forgiveness for that day’s mistakes is able to become pure in mind.

The person who  overlooks a person’s mistakes and considers everyone the pure soul, who easily forgives others and seeks the Lord’s grace for his own mistakes, who prays to the Lord to free him of his bad Karmas of all past lives, who learns from his mistakes and promises not to repeat them, who  attempts to lead a truthful life and tries to keep away from evil, who never has bad thoughts for the Guru, who obeys the Guru and does as asked, who tries to share the work load of the Guru to the best of his capacity, who makes other people aware of the Sadguru’s presence, who has unmovable faith in the Guru, who has simple and kind feelings is always loved and cared by the gods and the Guru.
In the society such a person acts as a guide who leads the people to the Guru’s doorsteps. And for his selfless work he is able to make quick spiritual progress.

When the mind is pure the conscience is enlightened by the radiance of true knowledge and he remains ever devoted and full of faith. It is then that he is able to realise the soul. The soul is but pure energy. The thoughts that rise in the soul are true and all pervasive. The soul always remains untainted and selfless. All good actions, wishes, experiences and feelings rise from the soul.

The soul is in everyone. It is beyond the experience of physical senses. The essence of the Guru’s discourses is that  the soul is the true self and it resides in the lotus of one’s heart. It is the torch of enlightenment that can lead the mankind to the pinnacle of its glory.

One should always think – Who am I? Where have I come from? What is my aim? What is the essence of  life?
If one continues to focus one’s thoughts on these queries then one day or the other through the grace of the Guru one would be able to know the meaning of life and visualise one’s true aim in the light of the radiance that pours forth from the soul. If a person always remembers his soul then one day he realises that he is but a part of the Infinite and merging into the Infinite and becoming total is his birthright.

Tattvamasi !
May you realise the soul, for That thou are!