II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

गुरू बिचारा क्या करै, शब्द न लागै अंग I
कहै कबीर मैली गजी, कैसे लागे रंग II

Rarely does humanity witness a combination of a great Guru (Spiritual Teacher) and equally capable Shishya (spiritual disciple) as Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda were. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa sculpted the most wonderful masterpiece in the form of Swami Vivekananda out of skeptical and rational, but fearless and dynamic Narendranath. The Guru is necessarily the perfect spiritual preceptor, but the disciple too must fulfill his obligations by cultivating in himself a true spirit of dedication to the Guru. The entire matrix upon which the relationship is founded is the familiar idea of reciprocity. The gracious act of giving by the Guru would lose much of its benefits, if the acceptance of such gifts was not equally gracious and spontaneous.

Anand was the cousin of Mahatma Buddha and one of His main disciples. He devoted and surrendered himself to Buddha yet he had some doubts. Once he asked Buddha, “You sit on a higher platform while we sit at your feet, can’t we sit at the same level and communicate like friends. What is this tradition that those who want to know, the seekers, must sit at a lower platform while the Master sits on a higher level.” 
Buddha replied, “Anand, have you ever drank water from a natural spring?”
Anand said, “Yes, I have” Then Buddha asked, “You drank while standing at the top of the fountain or beneath it?” 
Anand said, “To drink water, a thirsty man must bend down because water always flows downward”.
Then Buddha said, “Understand that the container in which you collect water, ought to stay at a lower level. And the urn from which water is being poured must be kept at a higher level.”
He continued, “Unless the deservingness gets developed, you cannot receive anything. And if you are at a lower level, that does not mean you became insignificant, rather being at a lower level means you are deserving, you are humble and you understand how to bow down before the Guru. Such modesty is the first condition of receiving anything.”

"Kabir says, the mind of the disciple must be receptive, otherwise the teachings of Guru fall on deaf ears. Just like a soiled cloth cannot be dyed, teachings of the Guru cannot make impact if the disciple is devoid of eagerness to learn. Light is not lacking, but then it is also true that we have to ask, we have to seek and we have to knock, and having done it we must be ready to receive the wisdom, for then only the teachings of Guru works all wonders; it will flow into us and raise us to the highest realm of immortality, eternal light and Infinite Bliss."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II