The Guru System and Gurus

Lalit A Patel

From a royal sacred word, Guru has now become a commonplace marketing word. Some men these days pause to be shopping gurus to sell their books or websites to shopaholic ladies, who have shopping in their blood and need no shopping guru. Some ladies these days pause to be hunting gurus to market their looks or homesites to huntaholic men, who have hunting in their blood and need no hunting guru. Language keeps on changing in space and time. Every dozen miles, one finds a different dialect. Every dozen years, a word gets a new meaning. It is, therefore, not surprising if the word Guru has now got a new dress.

In the ancient Hindu culture, known as Vedic culture, there were four stages in a human life. The first twenty five years were spent in learning, first through parents at home and then through a guru in the guru’s private boarding school. The next twenty five years were spent in enjoying, first with the spouse and then with children. The next twenty five years or so were spent in assisting, first to grandchildren and then to the needy. The last twenty five years or so were spent in burning, first in forests and then on mountains. In this old system, based on a closed economy, a guru (teacher) was generally equated to parents, and shishyas (students) were generally equated to children. On the other hand, in the modern system, based on a global economy, a guru is generally equated to a shepherd, and shishyas are generally equated to goats.

In the first phase of Hinduism, the entire universe was deemed to be and worshipped as God, and each and everything was treated as a networked part of this God. Most people could not (and can not) digest this complex and abstract concept. In the second phase of Hinduism, materials were given prominence, and three main Gods were invented: Indra for solid materials, Varun for fluidic materials, and Agni for gaseous materials. While materialistic gents were happy with this idea, processistic ladies were unhappy. In the third phase of Hinduism, processes were given prominence, and a new set of three main Gods was invented: Brahma for creation, Vishnu for protection, and Shiva for cleaning up. This led to too many deities, too many rituals, and a chaos everywhere.

In the fourth phase of Hinduism, principles became prominent. Through his own life and his acquaintances’ lives, Krishna brought forth the karma principle and illustrated that no one is immune to the karma principle. As part and parcel of this karma principle, Krishna devised and advocated the continuous reincarnation principle, which replaced earlier ideas of heaven and hell. Krishna taught that there is no heaven or hell other than this life itself. Who was or is Krishna? God? Not in the first phase sense. A god? Not in the second or third phase sense. Krishna was and is a charismatic and friendly guru, who taught and teaches many principles for the self and society. If you understand and follow Krishna's preaching, there is perhaps no need for gods and God.

Krishna’s was a powerful message. But, traditions die hard. Old ideas continued. People continued worshipping God and gods and goddesses. People continued ignoring people and principles. It was in this background that Buddha and Mahavira came up. They advanced the karma principle by making severe blows to God and gods and goddesses. They advocated a strong need for better living for the self and better caring for others. They became gurus of the masses. They became very popular. With royal backings, Buddhism replaced Hinduism in India and became widespread outside India.

Vedic concepts were abstract, material god Indra or his concept became corrupt, process god Shiva was not in tune with human needs and greeds, principle guru Krishna was misinterpreted for wars and brides, and subsequent developments led to exploitation of the led by leaders. Already complex Hinduism became too complex to be of any value to the masses. Krishna, Buddha, and Mahavira had already paved a way towards worshipping a guru. Later gurus took advantage of this situation. They preached that gurus are more important than gods. This preaching is true, and is false too; it all depends on the interpretation and circumstances.

In the west relative to India and east relative to America, Asho, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed advanced the ideology of one God and no more than one God. They tried to break down and blow up old concepts of varieties and idols of gods and goddesses. Basically, they were enlightened gurus, who preached that all human beings are equal and should be treated as equal. They have played a very pivotal role in changing and shaping the world. They have, in a way, replaced village-level and riches-level gods by a single universal God. No one can dispute their wisdom and significance. Their new ideology has contributed to many social and economic revolutions. Every (flat) coin has two sides; it is ironic that this ideology has become a reason for so many wars.

Gurus are after all human beings. They too need daily dreams, frequent food, routine rest, occasional orchestra, and sometime secs. It should not surprise or annoy anyone if someone, like the author of Stripping the Gurus, finds some faults in gurus. Unless a guru lives in a cave outside political boundaries, feeds on free flowers and fruits from trees, and happens to see human beings only occasionally at huge gatherings (like kumbh melas), gurus are vulnerable to corruptions. For their own survival, and for the survival of their schools and charities, they need to raise money or money-like resources. For fighting against fierce forces, they often become wild and get crazy. Unable to control their natural organs and urges, they may fall back on whatever sacs game they get.

Who does not have a bipolar syndrome in one form or other? Once a while, every logical person becomes illogical, every mild person becomes wild, and every kind person becomes crazy. Who does not have a “bitalker” syndrome in one form or other? Once a while, every person tells a lie, which is different from the truth or his or her knowledge or beliefs or actions. It is rarely possible for a guru to overcome these natural human tendencies.

Like different colors of a rainbow, gurus come in different forms and flavors. Whereas some are down to earth, some fly high without looking at realities. Whereas some are shy, some are flamboyant. Whereas some maintain or try to maintain brahmacharya (celibacy), some live in the world of apsaras (guess what). Whereas some believe in and preach universal brotherhood, some are militant minded.

It is difficult for an employer or employee to get a perfect employee or employer. It is very difficult for a bridegroom or bride to get a perfect bride or bridegroom. It is utterly difficult for a guru or shishya to get a perfect shishya or guru. It all depends on luck, which ultimately revolves around the karma.

Look at what has happened to all leaders and gurus after their death. Almost all leaders and gurus have more than one followers and shishyas. Unless the leader or guru appoints a successor before his or her death, there is a tussle for power amongst contenders. Unless the leader or guru, or the appointed successor, wins the heart and mind of other contenders, there is a tug of war amongst contenders. Unless the appointed or self-posted or duly-elected successor is an exact replica of the leader or guru, there comes out a new party or cult.

If you are ever in search of a guru, keep the following things in mind.

• There is no perfect recipe for perfect success. No advice is meant to be the final word.

• Do the necessary homework before making any guru. Divorce is always tragic.

• Never expect a guru to be perfect. Gurus have shortcomings like any other human being.

• Understand guru’s expectations and let the guru understand yours. No signatures, please.

• Make different gurus for different needs. Animals or nonliving beings can become gurus.

• Conquer the self. Unless you are good, do not expect others to be good.

May God (or the Self) bless you in your search for a guru!

(Some of the views presented here are my own. Please excuse me if I have offended anyone.)