A Disciple, whose devotion to the Lord is great, and who has as much devotion to the Guru as to the Lord, follows the instructions of the Guru to the letter and spirit. A true disciple is concerned only with the Divine Nature of the Guru. The Guru’s actions as man is not the disciple’s concern. Always remember that the nature of a saint is unfathomable. True discipleship kindles the spiritual fire. It awakens the dormant faculties. It is most necessary in one’s journey along the spiritual path. Guru blesses, guides and inspires the disciple. He transmits, transforms and spiritualises him.

WHO IS QUALIFIED TO APPROACH THE GURU?

To approach a Guru, you must be a proper Adhikari. Non-attachment to worldly objects, restraint of the senses, absence of base passions, faith in the Guru and devotion to God are necessary equipment with which the aspirant has to approach the Guru. The Guru will impart spiritual instructions only to that aspirant who thirsts for liberation, who duly obeys the injunctions of the Sastras, who has subdued his passions and senses, and who possesses virtuous qualities like mercy, cosmic love, patience, humility, endurance, etc. 

GURU-SEVA

Aspirants should direct their whole attention towards removal of selfishness by protracted service of Guru. Serve your Guru with divine Bhava. The cancer of duality will be dissolved. You must watch for opportunities. Do not wait for invitation. Volunteer yourself for the Guru’s service. Serve your Guru humbly, willingly, unquestioningly, ungrudgingly, and lovingly. The more you spend your energy in serving your Guru, the more divine energy will flow into you. He who serves the Guru serves the whole world. Serve the Guru without selfish ends. Scrutinise your inner motives while doing service to Guru. Service must be done to Guru without expectation of name, fame, power, wealth, etc.

OBEDIENCE TO GURU

Obedience to Guru is better than reverence. Obedience is a precious virtue, because if you try to develop the virtue of obedience, the ego, the arch-enemy on the path of Self-realisation,slowly gets rooted out. Only the disciple who obeys his Guru can have command over his lower self. Obedience should be very practical, wholehearted and actively persevering. True obedience to Guru neither procrastinates nor questions. A hypocritical disciple obeys his Guru from fear. The true disciple obeys his Guru with pure love for love’s sake. 

One’s individual ego, preconceived notions, pet ideas and prejudices, and selfish interests should be given up. All these stand in the way of carrying out the teachings and instructions of one’s Guru.Lay bare to your Guru the secrets of your heart. The more you do so, the greater the sympathy, which means an accession of strength to you in the struggle against sin and temptation.The aspirant, before he desires the grace of the Master, should deserve it. The supply of divine grace comes only when there is a real thirst in the aspirant, and when he is fit to receive it.Guru’s grace descends upon those who feel utterly humble and faithful to him. The disciple who has faith in the Guru argues not, thinks not. He simply obeys.

The disciple’s self-surrender to Guru and Guru’s grace are interrelated. Surrender draws down Guru’s grace, and grace of Guru makes the surrender complete. Guru’s grace works in the form of Sadhana in the aspirant. If an aspirant sticks to the path tenaciously, this is the grace of the Guru. If he resists when temptation assails him, this is the grace of the Guru. If people receive him with love and reverence, this is the grace of the Guru. Feel his grace, and be sincere and truthful to him.