Reading sample

GURU AND DISCIPLE

- Gnani Purush Dada Bhagwan

Originally Compiled in Gujarati by : Dr. Niruben Amin

Trimantra

The Three Mantras that Destroy All Obstacles in Life

Namo Vitaragaya

I bow to the One who is absolutely free from all attachment and abhorrence

Namo Arihantanam

I bow to the living One who has annihilated all internal enemies of anger, pride, deceit and greed

Namo Siddhanam

I bow to the Ones who have attained the state of total and final liberation

Namo Aayariyanam

I bow to the Self-realized masters who impart knowledge of liberation to others

Namo Uvazzayanam

I bow to those who have received the Knowledge of the Self and are helping others attain the same

Namo Loye Savva Sahunam

I bow to all saints everywhere who have received the Knowledge of the Self

Eso Pancha Namukkaro

These five salutations

Savva Pavappanasano

Destroy all demerit karma

Mangalanam cha Savvesim

Of all that is auspicious

Padhamam Havai Mangalam

This is the highest

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

I bow to all who have attained the absolute Self in human form

Om Namah Shivaya

I bow to all human beings who have become instruments for salvation of the world

Jai Sat Chit Anand

Awareness of the Eternal is Bliss

Note About This Translation

The Gnani Purush Ambalal M. Patel, also commonly known as Dadashri or Dada, had said that it would be impossible to translate his satsangs and the knowledge about the Science of Self-Realization verbatim into English because some of the meanings would be lost in the process. Therefore, in order to understand precisely the science of Akram Vignan and Self-Realization He stressed the importance of learning Gujarati.

Dadashri did however grant his blessings to translate his words into English and other languages so that spiritual seekers could benefit to a certain degree and later progress through their own efforts.

This is a humble attempt to present to the world, the essence of His Knowledge. This is not a literal translation but great care has been taken to preserve His original words and the essence of His message. For certain Gujarati words, several English words or even sentences are needed to convey the exact meaning; hence, many Gujarati words have been retained within the English text for better reading flow. At the first encounter, the Gujarati word will be italicized followed by an immediate explanation of its meaning in brackets. Thereafter the Gujarati word will be used in the text that follows. This serves as a two-fold benefit: firstly ease of translation and reading and secondly it will make the reader more familiar with the Gujarati words critical for a deeper understanding of this science. A glossary of all the Gujarati words is provided at the back of the book. For additional glossary, visit our website at :

www.dadabhagwan.org

Many people have worked diligently towards achieving this goal and we thank them all. Please note that any errors encountered in this translation are entirely those of the translators.

Introduction to The Gnani

One June evening, in 1958 at around six o’clock, Ambalal Muljibhai Patel, a family man, and a contractor by profession, was sitting on a bench on the busy platform number three at Surat’s train station. Surat is a city in south Gujarat, a western state in India. What happened within the next forty-eight minutes was phenomenal. Spontaneous Self-Realization occurred within Ambalal M. Patel. During this event, his ego completely melted and from that moment onwards, he became completely detached from all of Ambalal’s thoughts, speech, and actions. He became the Lord’s living instrument for the salvation of humankind, through the path of knowledge. He called this Lord, ‘Dada Bhagwan.’ To everyone he met, he would say, “This Lord, Dada Bhagwan is fully manifested within me. He also resides within all living beings. The difference is that within me He is completely expressed and in you, he has yet to manifest.”

Who are we? What is God? Who runs this world? What is karma? What is liberation? Etc. All the world’s spiritual questions were answered during this event. Thus, nature offered absolute vision to the world through the medium of Shree Ambalal Muljibhai Patel.

Ambalal was born in Tarasali, a suburb of Baroda and was later raised in Bhadran, Gujarat. His wife’s name was Hiraba. Although he was a contractor by profession, his life at home and his interactions with everyone around him were exemplary, even prior to his Self-Realization. After becoming Self-Realized and attaining the state of a Gnani, (The Awakened One, Jnani in Hindi), his body became a ‘public charitable trust.’

Throughout his entire life, he lived by the principle that there should not be any commerce in religion, and in all commerce, there must be religion. He also never took money from anyone for his own use. He used the profits from his business to take his devotees for pilgrimages to various parts of India.

His words became the foundation for the new, direct, and step-less path to Self-Realization called Akram Vignan. Through his divine original scientific experiment (The Gnan Vidhi), he imparted this knowledge to others within two hours. Thousands have received his grace through this process and thousands continue to do so even now. ‘Akram’ means without steps; an elevator path or a shortcut, whereas ‘Kram’ means an orderly, step-by-step spiritual path. Akram is now recognized as a direct shortcut to the bliss of the Self.

Who is Dada Bhagwan?

When he explained to others who ‘Dada Bhagwan’ is, he would say :

“What you see here is not ‘Dada Bhagwan’. What you see is ‘A. M. Patel.’ I am a Gnani Purush and ‘He’ that is manifested within me, is ‘Dada Bhagwan’. He is the Lord within. He is within you and everyone else. He has not yet manifested within you, whereas within me he is fully manifested. I myself am not a Bhagwan. I too bow down to Dada Bhagwan within me.”

Current link for attaining the knowledge of Self-Realization (Atma Gnan)

“I am personally going to impart siddhis (special spiritual powers) to a few people. After I leave, will there not be a need for them? People of future generations will need this path, will they not?” ~ Dadashri

Param Pujya Dadashri used to go from town to town, and country to country, to give satsang and impart the knowledge of the Self as well as knowledge of harmonious worldly interaction to all who came to see him. During his final days, in the fall of 1987, he gave his blessing to Dr. Niruben Amin and bestowed his special siddhis upon her, to continue his work. “You will have to become a mother to this whole world, Niruben” He told her as he blessed her. There was no doubt in Dadashri’s mind that Niruben was destined to be just that. She had served him with utmost devotion day and night for over twenty years. Dadashri in turn had molded her and prepared her to take on this monumental task.

From the time of Pujya Dadashri’s mortal departure on January 2 1988 to her own mortal departure on March 19th 2006, Pujya Niruma as she lovingly came to be called by thousands remained true to her promise to Dadashri to carry on his mission of the world’s salvation. She became Dadashri’s representative of Akram Vignan and became instrumental in spreading the knowledge of Akram Vignan throughout the world. She also became an exemplary of pure and unconditional love. Thousands of people from all walks of life and from all over the world have attained Self-Realization through her and are established in the experience of the pure Soul, while carrying out their worldly duties and obligations. They experience freedom here and now, while living their daily life.

The link of Akram Gnanis now continues with the current spiritual master Pujya Deepakbhai Desai whom Pujya Dadashri had also graced with special siddhis to continue to teach the world about Atma Gnan and Akram Vignan. He was further molded and trained by Pujya Niruma who blessed him to conduct Gnan Vidhi in 2003. Dadashri had said that Deepakbhai will become the decorum that will add splendor to the Lord’s reign. Pujya Deepakbhai, in keeping with Dada’s and Niruma’s tradition travels extensively within India and abroad, giving satsangs and imparting the knowledge of the Self to all who come seeking.

Powerful words in scriptures help the seeker in increasing his desire for liberation. The knowledge of the Self is the final goal of all one’s seeking. Without the knowledge of the Self there is no liberation. This knowledge of the Self (Atma Gnan) does not exist in books. It exists in the heart of a Gnani. Hence, the knowledge of the Self can only be acquired by meeting a Gnani. Through the scientific approach of Akram Vignan, even today one can attain Atma Gnan, but it can only occur by meeting a living Atma Gnani and receiving the Atma Gnan. Only a lit candle can light another candle.

PREFACE

The worldly life is of father-son, mother-son or daughter, wife-husband, etc., relationships. Also to be found in the worldly life is the delicate guru-disciple relationship. It is a relationship in which, after surrendering to the guru, the disciple remains sincere to him for the rest of his life, and increasing his param vinay (absolute humility) for his guru, he abides by his instructions and attains the ultimate special spiritual siddhi (energy; power). This book puts forth a beautiful description of what constitutes an ideal guru as well as an ideal disciple.

Currently many different beliefs about a guru are prevalent and hence people become very confused about how to find the right guru. Perplexing questions on this matter have been asked to the Gnani Purush Dadashri, and He has given answers to the point of total satisfaction of the questioner.

Gnani Purush means a ‘worldly observatory as well as an observatory of absolute internal science.’ In these proceeding pages you will find answers to questions such as, ‘What does the status of a guru mean?’ ‘Is there a need for a guru in spirituality? And if so, to what extent?’ ‘What qualities must a guru have? Should he be superior or humble?’ ‘Is the guru qualified? Does he have the master keys necessary for a guru?’ ‘Is the guru trapped in greed, desires and illusion?’ ‘Does he have sexual desires or desires to have a following of disciples?’ How do you choose a guru? Whom should you make your guru? How many gurus should one make? If one already has a guru, can he have another one? What should one do if the guru turns out to be unworthy? What are the dangerous pitfalls inherent in the relationship of a guru and the disciple? What should a disciple be like?

This book gives information on various topics concerning gurus and disciples; information related to what the subtle awareness of the disciple should be. How should a guru behave towards the disciples so that it benefits him as well as the disciples in their spiritual progress? How should the disciple conduct himself with the guru? When should a disciple make a guru so that he may attain knowledge and experience? What kind of weaknesses must a guru not have so that he is strong enough to help his disciple progress? How is one to find the kind of devotion Eklavya had for his guru in this day and age? Through Gnani Purush Dadashri, we get answers to questions asked to him regarding whether as a Gnani he had a guru, whether he had disciples, what kind of a state does he move around in, etc.

According to common knowledge, people consider a guru, a satguru and a Gnani as one and same, whereas here in this book, Dadashri gives us a clear distinction between the three.

How can one walk the spiritual path without the one who is already familiar with that path? To be familiar means to be a guide.

Here, in this book, you gain knowledge and understanding of what the leader of the path of moksha – the ultimate guru – should be like.

With the aim and the vision that both guru and his disciple can go forth on the path of liberation, Dadashri, who while moving around in the supreme spiritual state as the Gnani, gives various visions and understanding regarding the guru-disciple relationship. There was no one more humble than He was. The understanding given to us by way of the Gnani’s speech is presented here, which will become a guide to all traveling the path of liberation.

- Dr. Niruben Amin

The Guru and the Disciple

Guru means Guide

Questioner: I have tried many spiritual paths and teachers for the answer to the term ‘Guru’ and everywhere I have searched; I have not received any satisfactory answers.

Dadashri: If you want to go to the station from here and get lost on the way, will you not have to ask someone for help? Whom would you ask?

Questioner: Someone who knows the way.

Dadashri: The one that knows, is a guru. As long as you do not know the way, you need to ask someone; you may even have to ask a small child. Whomever you ask becomes your guru. Only when there is a guru will you find the way. What would happen without your eyes? The guru is the other eye. He clarifies your path and gives you the light to go ahead. This light is called sooj.

Who needs a Guru?

Questioner: Do you mean to say that a guru is necessary?

Dadashri: It is like this: the road on which one gets lost is the road he is not able to figure out. If you do not know the way to the station, then it is a problem. However, if along the way, you encounter someone who knows the way, then you will reach the station quickly, will you not?

Questioner: Yes, that is true.

Dadashri: So you need someone who has the knowledge. It is not as if the person showing you the way is telling you to ask him. You are asking him out of your own necessity, are you not? For whose benefit are you asking?

Questioner: For my own benefit.

Dadashri: Or you can keep on walking without asking anyone and try to experience that! That experience will teach you that there is a need for a guru. I will not have to teach you.

So there is a path, but there is no one to show it to you, is there? Only if there were someone to show you that path can your work be accomplished.

Will you not need a guru or an experienced guide (bhomiyo)? Whoever is the guru, we are considered his followers. The guru walks ahead and shows us the way. Such a person is considered an experienced guide.

If a man takes the road going in the opposite direction of Surat, is he likely to reach Surat station if he keeps going in that direction? No matter how much he roams, he will not be able to find Surat station. The night would fall and the day would come but he would still not find Surat station. Such is the confusion here.

When you are lost, a guide is your friend

Questioner: None of the gurus shows the right path.

Dadashri: But those gurus themselves do not know the way, so what can anyone do? No one has found an experienced guide yet. If he had, then he would not have these problems. If you had found such a guide, in addition to showing you the station he would also tell you which train to take. He would show you everything and your task would be finished. Here we have a situation where the guide, too, is lost and, therefore, he makes his follower wander around life after life. So find yourself a true, experienced guide who can show you the station. If not, he will make you wander around aimlessly.

If a blind person leads another blind person, where will they both end up? A true, experienced guide will immediately show you the way. Nothing will be pending; you will see instant results. You have not found a real experienced guide (bhomiyo). Therefore, find such a person.

Questioner: But would such a guide not be our superior?

Dadashri: The experienced guide is a superior – but to what extent? Only to the extent, that he takes us to the final destination.

That is why you absolutely need someone above you, someone to show you. You need an experienced guide. You always need a guide. You will need a guide in every situation. No work can be done without a guide. If we want to go to Delhi and we look for a guide, then what is he if not a guru? If we give him money, he becomes our guide. A guru is someone who shows you the way as a guide.

Questioner: Therefore, one definitely needs someone who clarifies and shows the path.

Dadashri: Yes, the person who shows you the path is a guru, whoever he may be.

Support of a Guru is necessary at every level

Questioner: I walk along the path shown by the guru. Thereafter, do I need him? Alternatively, do I need to leave him?

Dadashri: No, he is necessary until the very end.

Questioner: Why do we need him afterwards?

Dadashri: You do not have accidents because you have brakes in your car. Should you remove the brakes?

Questioner: What is the need of hanging on to him once he shows me the way?

Dadashri: You will need a guru until the very end. The guru needs his own guru. When do we need schoolteachers? Don’t you need them when you wish to become educated? And what if you do not want to study? If you do not want to benefit from anything then there is no point in making someone your guru, but if you wish to benefit, then you need to have a guru. It is not mandatory; it is voluntary. If you want to learn, you need a teacher. If you want to know about spirituality, then you need a guru, and if you do not wish to know anything, then it does not matter. There is no law that says you have to do it this way.

Here, even if you want to go to the station, you need a guru. Therefore, won’t you need a guru for religion? You need a guru at every level.

There is no knowledge without a Guru

Without a guru, no knowledge of any kind can be attained. Neither worldly knowledge nor spiritual knowledge can be attained without a guru. It is wrong to have expectations of knowledge (Gnan) without a guru.

Questioner: One man says that Gnan (Gnan Vidhi in Akram) is not something that is to be taken or given, but rather it is something that happens. Can you explain this?

Dadashri: This is a discovery of people who are deluded. They claim, “Gnan is not to be taken, neither is it to be given. Gnan happens spontaneously”, but that state of delusion never leaves.

One grows up learning the knowledge he has been given. The teacher gives you knowledge and you take it. You in turn give that knowledge to others. Knowledge by its nature involves give and take.

Questioner: But can one not attain Gnan spontaneously?

Dadashri: Only rarely will one attain Gnan spontaneously, however, that is an exception; he may not have a guru in this lifetime, but he must have had one in his previous life. Otherwise, everything is dependant upon a nimit (someone who is instrumental evidence in a process). When you come across a nimit like me, your work is done, but until then you have to work on furthering your spiritual progress by yourself. Then, if you meet the Gnani Purush as a nimit, because of that nimit, everything will manifest.

Questioner: So a person cannot become Self-realized on his own?

Dadashri: Nothing can be attained with one’s own effort. No one in this world has ever attained that. If one were meant to attain the experience on his own, then there would be no need for schools, would there? There would be no need for colleges either, would there?

Spontaneous enlightenment is extremely rare

Questioner: The Tirthankaras are considered to have become enlightened spontaneously (swayambuddha), are they not?

Dadashri: Yes, the Tirthankaras are all swayambuddha (spontaneous enlightened), but they bound a birthright as a Tirthankara in their previous life because of a guru. Thus they are considered swayambuddha with reference to the perspective that they do not have a guru in this life. It is a relative thing. Those who have become swayambuddha today had asked many questions in their previous life. Therefore, everything in the world happens through asking. Only a rare one will become swayambuddha

enlightened spontaneously, but that is an exception. Otherwise, there is no gnan (knowledge) without a guru.

Questioner: It is said that Lord Rushabhdev destroyed his karmic bondage on his own, so does that mean that he did not need anyone?

Dadashri: But he had taken some help earlier on. He asked for help from a guru two or three lives before. No one has become free without enlisting help. There is a nimit even in this. It was the people during the time of Lord Rushabhdev who claimed that the Lord destroyed his karmic bondage on his own. However, it is not possible to do this on one’s own – it has never happened that way before and it never will. That is why you will always need a nimit.

Questioner: Who were the gurus of Lord Mahavir?

Dadashri: Lord Mahavir had many gurus, but not in his last couple of lifetimes. It is not so easy to become spontaneously enlightened. Tirthankaras do not need a guru in their final life.

How long is a guru necessary?

Questioner: Eklavya (a student of Dronacharya who trained Arjun in archery but refused to train Eklavya) attained powers (siddhi) and became a master archer, even though he had no guru. So is it not possible?

Dadashri: The siddhis that Eklavya acquired were exceptional, but this is not always the rule. Every rule can have an exception; moreover, these exceptions are rare. However, because of the exception, we cannot accept the rule as a blanket rule. If a person does not have a guru in this life, then he would have definitely met one in his previous life!

Questioner: In Eklavya’s case, he did not learn from Dronacharya guru, but instead he learnt in front of the guru’s idol!

Dadashri: He learned everything in his previous life. The idol was his nimit in this life. One needs a guru in every lifetime.

Questioner: Then can one say, “Only the guru from my previous life will do everything for me.” So is it necessary to have a guru in this lifetime?

Dadashri: But you may not be able to find him in this lifetime and you may not even need him. You may even meet him in another lifetime.

Nevertheless, you still have a very long way to walk ahead of you. You will need many gurus. You will need a guru until you attain moksha (final liberation). You will not need a guru after you attain the right vision (samkit). These talks about a guru are very serious. You cannot do without a guru.

‘Guru is not necessary’ is a false statement

Questioner: Many saints say that there is no need to have a guru.

Dadashri: People who say such a thing are only talking about themselves. The world will not accept what they say. The entire world accepts the guru. Sometimes you may get a bad guru, but eradicating the word ‘guru’ altogether, will not do.

Questioner: Many people do not make a guru.

Dadashri: That is never so. The reason behind India’s current predicament is that people have started to preach, ‘Do not make a guru.’ Otherwise, India has always been a country that believed, “No matter what, you must have at least one guru (spiritual master).”

Guru is necessary in worldly and spiritual endeavors

Questioner: What difference does it make whether there is a guru or not?

Dadashri: If you do not have a guru, what would you do if while walking on a road, you come across seven more roads? Which road will you pick?

Questioner: I would take the road that my mind accepts.

Dadashri: No, the mind will accept the one that will make you wander. You cannot call that a path. That is why you need to ask and make someone your guru. Make someone your guru and ask him which way you are supposed to go. One cannot take even a small step in this world without a guru.

Did you have teachers when you were at school?

Questioner: Yes.

Dadashri: Wherever you go, you need a teacher. Tell me an instance when you have not needed a teacher.

Then did you not need a professor in college?

Questioner: Yes I did.

Dadashri: Therefore,one will need a guru above him the moment he is born as a human. He will need a guru when he goes to school and he will need one when he goes to college. There are so many kinds of gurus. Those studying high school will need a high school guru; at that level, a first grade teacher will not do. There are many different types of gurus. No one has just one type of guru. The kind of guru one will have, will depend on what he is studying.

Then when you read a book, is the book not your guru? Unless a book is your guru, you will not read it. Do you not read something only if it is educational and beneficial to you?

Questioner: Yes, that is right!

Dadashri: You have been learning from books and you have benefited because of them. If a book shows you the way and gives you directions, then is that book not your guru? Therefore, even a book is your guru.

You learn from teachers, from books, from people; all are considered gurus. So is the whole world not your guru?

Questioner: Today’s psychology says that one should leave the outside support and rely on one’s own support. The outside support, whatever it may be, makes a person dependant. If a seeker uses external support he becomes dependant and therefore handicapped.

Dadashri: That should not be the way; one should not become handicapped by relying on external support. One should leave the external support and live on his own support, but until one can rely on his own support, he must rely on external naimittic (instrumental support). Does a book become a nimit (an instrument) or not? Is everything not in a nimit form? That is why if today’s psychology tells you to let go of your support, you should let go of that support to some extent. However, you do need to take support to some extent; you need the support of books and many other things.

One man was saying that he did not need a guru, so I asked him, “Tell me who did not have a guru? Is your mother, who instilled noble values within you, not a guru? The one who said to you, ‘Son do this way, okay? Be cautious. Be careful here’ etc.; if she is not a guru, then what is she?”

Questioner: That is true.

Dadashri: So the mother is the first guru. She will teach the son how to wear clothes. A child has to learn even that and his mother teaches him. She teaches him how to walk and do other things. In which lifetime has he not walked? He has walked for infinite lifetimes, but he has to learn the same thing again and again.

If the wife is not at home and you want to make kadhee (thin gravy made out of yogurt and various spices, usually eaten with rice), you will have to ask someone about the ingredients! Whomever you ask is a guru. So there is a need for a guru wherever you go. You need a guru for everything. Now, if you need some legal work done, your lawyer is your guru. Do you agree? So regardless of what you do and where you go, you need a guru. The guru is necessary everywhere.

Questioner: So if one wants to go all the way to moksha, he will need a guru.

Dadashri: You need a guru for wherever you want to go. If you are traveling by car and want to take the highway, then you (may) need to ask someone, if not, you will end up traveling in the wrong direction. A guru is necessary in matters related to the worldly life and a guru is needed in matters of nischay (spiritual path). Therefore, it is important to understand what a guru is and who can be called a guru.

A Guru is anything or anyone you learn from

Questioner: So as far as religion is concerned, should we have just one guru or should we have multiple gurus?

Dadashri: It is like this: You should maintain the intention (bhaav) of being a student or a disciple in every situation. In reality, you should make the whole world your guru. You can learn from even the trees. What do we do to the mango tree? In order to pick the mango off the tree, we use a stick and beat at the branches, but even then, the tree gives us its fruit. If we learn just this virtuous attribute from the tree, how well we would progress spiritually! The tree too is a jiva (embodied soul)! It is not just a piece of wood.

Questioner: Dattatreya made some animals his guru. In what sense was this?

Dadashri: Not only Dattatreya, everyone does that.

Everyone makes animals their gurus, but these people do not call the animals their gurus, whereas Dattatreya did! If someone were to beat an animal, it would flee. That is what people have learned; they have learned that if someone beats them, they should run away. People have learned this from the animals.

Moreover, you will not attain liberation by calling just the animals your guru; you will have to make the entire world your guru in order to attain liberation. If you make every living being your guru, and learn whatever you can from them, you will attain liberation. God is present in every living being so if you embrace and learn from them, you will attain liberation.

Did you understand the concept of a guru?

Questioner: Yes.

Dadashri: Your experiences too are your guru. Your experiences will guide you from within. The experience, which does not become a cause to guide you, is not an experience. That is why these are all gurus.

One man was limping and another man began to make fun of him and laugh at him. A little later, he happened to meet me and told me that he had made fun of someone, but then suddenly he realized what he was doing and asked himself whether he saw the Soul within the limping man. He said he immediately became aware of Gnan.

So everything teaches us. Every experience teaches us something. If just once, someone were to pick your pocket, that experience will teach you a lesson and that lesson will remain with you.

If you can learn from a dog, you should learn from it. Even dogs can be considered gurus. A dog can be sitting here for an hour and half, then if we give him some food, he will eat only as much as he can and will leave the rest. He will not be greedy or have

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Texte: Dada Bhagwan Aradhana Trust
Bildmaterialien: Dada Bhagwan Aradhana Trust
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 07.07.2017

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