Guru Kripa: Baba and me

[GanjaPrince]

A technique I am involved in is called Gurukripa. It is the realization of the one consciousness beyond time/space and in all time/space with no seperation, through being involved with an advanced being. This is a well-respected and popular practice in mystical Hinduism, “Acquire the transcendental knowledge from a Self-realized master by humble reverence, by sincere inquiry, and by service. The wise ones who have realized the Truth will impart the Knowledge to you.” (Bhagavad Gita c4 s34) I first read about “the guru,” who is a master of introspective inquiry, through Ram Dass. He put down looking for the guru in cosmic joke way, writing, “I’m going to look for the guru, how absurd! You are it. It’s really just another cop-out to be searching for the guru. He’s your fingernail just bite your fingernail and your eating him alive.” (78) Despite reading this, I wanted to find a guru type. Thus I began the search for a guru to help me to Be Here Now.

After following a false master for a few months and getting confused, I settled upon Neem Karoli Baba as my main guru, who is also the guru of Ram Dass.
http://www.neemkarolibaba.org/photopages/Gallery3/images/Maharaj-ji_255.jpg
Love, Serve, Remember and Feed

I commune with Baba’s consciousness through a picture of him, dreams, visions, visualizations, studying stories about when he was in a body, and his quoted words. Through this communing he helps me with my introspective inquiry for the guru is a mirror that points inward. He encourages his devotees to follow other gurus, so I’m into several others living and dead, modern and ancient. It’s a cosmic joke because the guru technique sounds dualistic and yet, “the guru, as a separate entity, exists only within the illusion of separateness, within the dream. The minute the method of the guru has worked, it’s awakened you, and it ceases to be anything at all.” (170) The yoga of this practice is to eventually become the guru, who knows the one consciousness enough to impart the knowledge, something a beginner like me can’t do.
One engaging in this practice begins to see the guru’s wisdom manifest in everyday people. For example, I’ll be in class looking at Rodger Jackson teaching about moral philosophy. While I am registering the information, I can get confused, so I often have a picture of my guru sitting at my desk that I can look at. I will casually glance down and get a blast from Baba’s eyes deepening my connection to God. As I look back at Professor Jackson, I see him transformed into my guru, and I feel unconditional love and acceptance shining from him. Then he holds up one finger making a point about something, which is like my guru who does this often for it is a mudra that means to remember that it’s all is one. Then in the course of talking he says the word, “now.” So even though he is talking about a confusing materialistic philosophy of Nietzsche on one plane of reality, he is also transforming into my guru, furthering my sadhana by reminding to use the now to deepen my realization of the one consciousness on another more real plane of reality. “When you know how to listen, everybody is the guru, speaking to you. It’s right here… always.” (Ran Dass 78)


IT IS such a freaking cosmic joke, friends!

[spook13]

Excerpt from a speech delivered by Sri Abhay Charan De, later A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, on the occasion of the Vyasa-puja of his guru, February 25, 1935:
"How Shall I Serve You?"

Abhay also composed a speech, which he read before the assembled guests and members of the Gaudiya Math. Although his first language was Bengali, his English was clear and natural.

Gentlemen, the offerings of such a homage as has been arranged this evening to the Acharyadeva is not a sectarian concern, because when we speak of the fundamental principle of Gurudeva or Acharyadeva, we speak of something that is of universal application. There does not arise any question of discriminating my Guru from that of yours or anyone else's. There is only one Guru who appears in an infinity of forms to teach you, me and all others. The Guru or Acharyadeva, as we learn from the bona fide scriptures, delivers the message of the absolute world, I mean the transcendental abode of the Absolute Personality where everything non-differentially serves the Absolute Truth.

Like the poem, the speech was personal, but even more than the poem it was authoritative, philosophical preaching. The Godbrothers were impressed to hear Abhay presenting the Vaisnava philosophy so expertly. How was it possible? Of course, it should not have come as a surprise; he had heard the Vaisnava philosophy from Srlla Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, lust like his Godbrothers. Why should he not be able to enunciate the teachings of his spiritual master, having heard from him and having read Gita and Bhdgavatam and Bhakti-rasdmrta-sindhu? Was he not a devotee in the parampara? But until now, no one knew he could preach in English so expertly.

Therefore, if the Absolute Truth is one, about which we think there is no difference of opinion, the Guru also cannot be two. The Acharyadeva to whom we have assembled tonight to offer our humble homage is not the Guru of a sectarian institution or one out of many differing exponents of the truth. On the contrary, he is the Jagatguru, or the Guru of all of us, the only difference is that some obey him wholeheartedly, while others do not obey him directly.

The guru of whom Abhay spoke, of course, was Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati...

There is possibly some relevance here to your words about Sri Neem Karoli Baba...the principle of guru is eternal and universal.

Personally, I think having a Guru-type, as you call it, is important at any stage...in Gaudiya Vausnava philosophy, the guru-disciple relationship is eternal, and does not end upon the "enlightenment" or "liberation"of the disciple...the disciple remains the eternal servant of the guru.

[GanjaPrince]

Thanks for the deep words friends... I wish only to remain a servant of my guru, the protection and grace the guru grants my form as I work towards ultimate liberation in Sat Chit Ananda is overwhelming to me at times. I wish only to be at his feet always, his head resting on them, as tears stream down endlessly on the floor.

[Bhaskar]

Guru kripa anjana paayo mere bhaayi
Raam binaa kachu dekhata naahi

I have receieved the eyeliner of grace from my guru, O brother,
(with it in my eyes) I can see nothing other than Rama.

Antara Raama Baahira Raama
Upar Rama Niche hai Raama
jahan bhi dekhoon Raama hi Raama,
jahan bhi dekhoon Raama hi Raama.

Rama inside, Rama outside,
Rama above, Rama below,
everywhere I look is Rama alone.
everywhere I look is Rama alone

[BlackBillBlake]

A technique I am involved in is called Gurukripa. It is the realization of the one consciousness beyond time/space and in all time/space with no seperation, through being involved with an advanced being. This is a well-respected and popular practice in mystical Hinduism, “Acquire the transcendental knowledge from a Self-realized master by humble reverence, by sincere inquiry, and by service. The wise ones who have realized the Truth will impart the Knowledge to you.”
There is a similar idea in Persian Sufism. Realization through identification with the consciousness of a master is called fana-al-shiek. It is however, seen to be only a step or a stage on the way, and falls short of fana-fila or comlete realization of the Real.
I don't know if it is a realistic possibility without the actual physical presence of the realized being.
A higher and intermediate level of realization is said to be fana-al-rasul - absorption in the consciousness of the messenger of God. In the case of the Sufis, either the prophet of Islam or Kidr, the hidden prophet. But it would correspond roughly to the Hindu conception of the avatar.
My own view is that one is better off with a direct relation to God with as few intermediaries as possible.

[GanjaPrince]

My own view is that one is better off with a direct relation to God with as few intermediaries as possible.
Direct is through guru in my eyes... "God, Guru, and Self are one" - Ramana Maharshi....

[spook13]

I think it's possible to have a relationship with a master who is no longer in the body through visual representations such as photographs and murtis, as well as through biographical materials and the particular guru's teachings and books. It's awesome that Ganja has developed this type of relationship with Neem Karoli Baba.


No one has yet shown me a convincing argument that a living master is necessary.

Srila Prabhupada often said that his books and teachings were much more important than his personal presence, and that these and the chanting of Hare Krishna would survive him and are sufficient for all spiritual needs. Of course a big controversy in ISKCON is between those who believe a living guru is necessary and those who don't...Prabhupada's surviving instructions regarding physical succession were cryptic at best.

I know that Self-Realization Fellowship initiates disciples on behalf of Paramahansa Yogananda, who had clearly stated that he would be the last physically present guru in his lineage.

Of course, there's Christians and Jesus Christ.

Bhaskar...What is the policy of the Divine Life Society in this regard? From the website it looks as though the present leading acharyas are very elderly.

[BlackBillBlake]

I think it's possible to have a relationship with a master who is no longer in the body through visual representations such as photographs and murtis, as well as through biographical materials and the particular guru's teachings and books. It's awesome that Ganja has developed this type of relationship with Neem Karoli Baba.


No one has yet shown me a convincing argument that a living master is necessary.

Srila Prabhupada often said that his books and teachings were much more important than his personal presence, and that these and the chanting of Hare Krishna would survive him and are sufficient for all spiritual needs. Of course a big controversy in ISKCON is between those who believe a living guru is necessary and those who don't...Prabhupada's surviving instructions regarding physical succession were cryptic at best.

I know that Self-Realization Fellowship initiates disciples on behalf of Paramahansa Yogananda, who had clearly stated that he would be the last physically present guru in his lineage.


.
Myself I don't think a living master or guru is necessary.
It's good if Prince has developed a psychic inner connection with Maharaji. If one fills one's mind with the works and so on of a particular master, then I think such a connection is perfectly possible. This is something I have experienced. If one focuses enough attention on a particular saint, they 'come' - as a kind of inner presence perhaps...


But I think things vary with different individuals. For some, a living guru might be useful, for others not at all.

[GanjaPrince]

You comments are kind...

I indeed have a connection to baba, although it is subtle and not as strong as I wish... he is def with me and communing with me through certain planes of reality... if only my mind was less restless and calm, I could get his messages more clearly. His vibe and presence are very relaxing and soothing to me more so then any other guru type.

[spook13]

[QUOTE=GanjaPrince]You comments are kind...