And so, the story goes...
First off, let me give thanks to my dear friend Janardan Debelvue, who called the other day out of the blue. I don't even remember the last time we spoke, but it must have been at least 10-15 years ago. I can usually count on something special coming my way after a call of this nature. It brought me great joy to speak with him, as his knowledge has obviously matured over these years. I'm happy to say that Janardan seems to have made the best of what he received. Unfortunately, there are many who have received as much as Janardan, yet have allowed wrong understanding to creep in and cloud their thinking. Anyway, as a result of our conversation, I have gained a little more clarity into a crucial issue. Crucial, because it's of vital importance to all of us. I imagine that Baba and Gurumayi are quite pleased with Janardan. What follows was inspired by our conversation:
The story goes that in ancient India there were two Sages of renown, each representing a different approach to the role of Guru. One was Vishwamitra and the other Vasishtha.
Vishwamitra spread his teachings far and wide and as a result, amassed a tremendous following. He had thousands of good, yet ordinary students in terms of their attainment. Many of these students in turn went out and gave lectures and programs that delivered even more students to Vishwamitra.
Vasishtha on the other hand, chose to cultivate relatively few students. He selected only those students who had the capacity to hold onto and develop the Teachings in ways that would benefit future generations. A good number of Vasishtha's students acquired great attainments, and some went on to become great teachers in their own right, thus preserving the Power and integrity of his lineage.
Whereas Vishwamitra had thousands of students- and fame that stretches this far into the future*, it was Vasishtha's method of Guruhood that allowed the sublime Shakti and Teachings to live on and directly impact future generations, including ours. (If you read the translation of the morning and evening Arati, you'll see that Vasishtha is credited as being a link in the lineage of our Gurus!)
Think about this: Are you happy with the way your spiritual development has progressed? I mean, really think about it! When you're all alone take a good look in the mirror and allow yourself to gaze into your mind and heart. Is the Inner Self pleased with you? If you're completely honest with yourself, you'll immediately receive an answer! If the answer is yes, then this is cause to rejoice! If not, then I invite you to consider the great Blessing you have received and contemplate how to keep it active in your life.
Now think about this: Vasishtha didn't have to select all the students himself. Some of those students selected him!
YOU DON'T NEED THE GURU TO SELECT YOU- IT'S YOU WHO NEEDS TO SELECT THE GURU!
Here's where you need to cultivate right understanding! It's not important whether or not the Guru chooses you to be their student. It's only important that you choose the Guru! Take the cases of Kabir and Eklavya. Both were prohibited from entering their respected Guru's Ashrams- Kabir because he was of a low caste and therefore not allowed to mingle with the community of Ramananda's students; and Eklavya, who was an Adivasi (Aboriginal) and thus prohibited from participating with the students of Drona Acharya. (in the past, there were strict protocols surrounding these issues.)
Due to their one-pointed effort to secure the Favor of their Gurus, both Kabir and Eklavya went on to become beloved disciples of Ramananda and Drona Acharya- despite the fact that both were considered outcastes, and kept from entering their Guru's Ashrams! It was their desire and subsequent effort that allowed them to receive the full measures of their Guru's Grace! They accomplished this by taking their Guru's Teachings to heart and applying them right there in their lives. They weren't hindered in the least by the fact that they couldn't see their Gurus or visit their Ashrams. Their one desire was to please their Gurus and obtain their Grace! How beautiful is that?
In Buddhist history, the two Sages credited with producing the greatest number of enlightened students are Hui-Neng and Milarepa. Hui-Neng was also considered an outcaste, yet went on to succeed his Guru, who was the Fifth Patriarch in the Chinese Zen school of Buddism. Milarepa, who everyone knows, spent the majority of his teaching years living in high mountain caves, inaccessable to the vast majority of students, yet many of his students went on to greatness, and secured the power of the Kagyu Lineage for future generations leading up to the present day.
So, bottom line for you who feel neglected and left out in the cold... have you chosen to be a 'good, yet ordinary student' like those of Vishwamitra; or a great student like those of Vasishtha, who will blaze a path into the future, sustaining and enriching the legacy of this glorious lineage? It's all in your attitude...nowhere else! It doesn't take much, just a slight shift in your desire and understanding.
If you're looking to make a New Year's Resolution, how about considering what's written above? Is there something more important? I hope not! Happy New Years!
*Vishwamitra's fame comes primarily from the power of his self-effort in performing his spiritual practices.
The story goes that in ancient India there were two Sages of renown, each representing a different approach to the role of Guru. One was Vishwamitra and the other Vasishtha.
Vishwamitra spread his teachings far and wide and as a result, amassed a tremendous following. He had thousands of good, yet ordinary students in terms of their attainment. Many of these students in turn went out and gave lectures and programs that delivered even more students to Vishwamitra.
Vasishtha on the other hand, chose to cultivate relatively few students. He selected only those students who had the capacity to hold onto and develop the Teachings in ways that would benefit future generations. A good number of Vasishtha's students acquired great attainments, and some went on to become great teachers in their own right, thus preserving the Power and integrity of his lineage.
Whereas Vishwamitra had thousands of students- and fame that stretches this far into the future*, it was Vasishtha's method of Guruhood that allowed the sublime Shakti and Teachings to live on and directly impact future generations, including ours. (If you read the translation of the morning and evening Arati, you'll see that Vasishtha is credited as being a link in the lineage of our Gurus!)
Think about this: Are you happy with the way your spiritual development has progressed? I mean, really think about it! When you're all alone take a good look in the mirror and allow yourself to gaze into your mind and heart. Is the Inner Self pleased with you? If you're completely honest with yourself, you'll immediately receive an answer! If the answer is yes, then this is cause to rejoice! If not, then I invite you to consider the great Blessing you have received and contemplate how to keep it active in your life.
Now think about this: Vasishtha didn't have to select all the students himself. Some of those students selected him!
YOU DON'T NEED THE GURU TO SELECT YOU- IT'S YOU WHO NEEDS TO SELECT THE GURU!
Here's where you need to cultivate right understanding! It's not important whether or not the Guru chooses you to be their student. It's only important that you choose the Guru! Take the cases of Kabir and Eklavya. Both were prohibited from entering their respected Guru's Ashrams- Kabir because he was of a low caste and therefore not allowed to mingle with the community of Ramananda's students; and Eklavya, who was an Adivasi (Aboriginal) and thus prohibited from participating with the students of Drona Acharya. (in the past, there were strict protocols surrounding these issues.)
Due to their one-pointed effort to secure the Favor of their Gurus, both Kabir and Eklavya went on to become beloved disciples of Ramananda and Drona Acharya- despite the fact that both were considered outcastes, and kept from entering their Guru's Ashrams! It was their desire and subsequent effort that allowed them to receive the full measures of their Guru's Grace! They accomplished this by taking their Guru's Teachings to heart and applying them right there in their lives. They weren't hindered in the least by the fact that they couldn't see their Gurus or visit their Ashrams. Their one desire was to please their Gurus and obtain their Grace! How beautiful is that?
In Buddhist history, the two Sages credited with producing the greatest number of enlightened students are Hui-Neng and Milarepa. Hui-Neng was also considered an outcaste, yet went on to succeed his Guru, who was the Fifth Patriarch in the Chinese Zen school of Buddism. Milarepa, who everyone knows, spent the majority of his teaching years living in high mountain caves, inaccessable to the vast majority of students, yet many of his students went on to greatness, and secured the power of the Kagyu Lineage for future generations leading up to the present day.
So, bottom line for you who feel neglected and left out in the cold... have you chosen to be a 'good, yet ordinary student' like those of Vishwamitra; or a great student like those of Vasishtha, who will blaze a path into the future, sustaining and enriching the legacy of this glorious lineage? It's all in your attitude...nowhere else! It doesn't take much, just a slight shift in your desire and understanding.
If you're looking to make a New Year's Resolution, how about considering what's written above? Is there something more important? I hope not! Happy New Years!
*Vishwamitra's fame comes primarily from the power of his self-effort in performing his spiritual practices.
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