Today is
described as Guru Purnima Day. This is not
quite correct. The day got its name because of some gurus who wanted to have an occasion for receiving offerings from their disciples.
The right name for this day is VyasaPurnima.
Vyasa was born on this
full moon day. He completed the codification of the four Vedas on
this day. He completed the writing of the eighteen Puranas on this
day. Owing to the passage of time, Vyaasa Purnima
came to be called Guru Purnima.
When this Self is within
you, where is the need to search for someone to teach you? A teacher who
teaches others has had a teacher himself. The one who has no guru
above him is the true guru. The Sanskrit stanza
that hails the guru as Brahma, Vishnu, and
Maheswara and as the Highest God (Parabrahman)
is misinterpreted. The right approach is to consider Brahma, Vishnu, and
Maheswara as the guru. These three are symbolised
by the three qualities (gunas) Brahma is activity
(rajas), Vishnu is serenity (sathva)
and Siva is inertia ( thamas). The whole cosmos
is constituted by these three qualities. The three three are present in
man. The trinity are present in the form of the three qualities in every
human heart.
Discourse:
30 July 1996
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