II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

गुरू की जै जानि के, पानी पीजै छानि I
बिना विचारे गुरू करै, परै चौरासी खानि II

"Kabir says, salvation follows a difficult process of self-transformation. It demands many personal sacrifices on the part of the aspirants, both physically and mentally to undergo a vigorous self-cleansing process without any guarantees and promise of solace. It is a journey through a treacherous course of unknown risks and destabilizing forces, in which the path appears and disappears as you move forward, filled with snares of distraction and demons of deception, which is why we need a Guru in the first place.
Only a Guru can show us the way through the dense forest of delusion and protect us from harm by taking responsibility for our lives and actions. He neutralizes our karma and saves us from evil. A fake Guru does the opposite. He throws us to the demons of doubt and despair and leaves us to our fate. With his ignorance and incompetence, he compounds our problems and leads us into the dark caverns of ignorance and intemperance.
The Spiritual Gurus come in all sizes and shapes. There are some who are really genuine and enlightened and some who are false and mischievous. It is not easy to distinguish one from another by their teachings or their appearance because outwardly they follow the same traditions and speak more or less the same language. Therefore we ought to be careful in selecting our Spiritual Mentors. Choosing a wrong Guru can seriously diminish one's chances of salvation. Taking certain precautions about one's own spiritual life is prudence, especially in a world where truth is not what it seems to be. Spiritual journey is risky and arduous and therefore much depends upon whom you select as your Guru and what is your equation with him. You should know what to look for and what to avoid in selecting your Spiritual Guru, using the faculties of reason and common sense and keeping your emotions and your sense of dependence under control.
God comes to us in many forms, but He comes especially in the form of Spiritually Enlightened Masters to show us the way. He speaks to us through them to address our need for spiritual guidance and inspiration.
It is very easy for people to fall into the trap of bogus Gurus. Therefore, when we are looking for a Guru, we have to make sure that we are making the right decision and not falling into a self-induced trap.
A Guru should be chosen with caution because of the consequences and their lasting effect. A fake doctor may endanger your life or health, but a pretentious Guru will delay your salvation for many lives to come. Many lives are wasted by fake Gurus, playing upon others' religious sentiments and misleading them into total submission. Imagine spending your whole life with a Spiritual Master only to realize in the end that all the while you were chasing a mirage! Many who surrender to the whims of false Gurus are destroyed forever."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II