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A Guru (, '''') is a teacher in Hinduism , Buddhism and Sikhism . Based on a long line of Philosophical understanding as to the importance of knowledge, the guru is seen in these religions as a sacred conduit, or a way to Self-realization . In India and among people of Hindu , Buddhist , or Sikh belief, the title retains a hallowed meaning. Guru also refers in Sanskrit to '' Brihaspati '', a Hindu figure analogous to the Roman planet/god Jupiter . In Vedic Astrology , Jupiter/Guru/Brihaspati is believed to exert teaching influences. Indeed, in many Indian Languages , such as Hindi , the occidental Thursday is called either ''Brihaspativaar'' or ''Guruvaar'' (''vaar'' meaning day of week). In contemporary India and Indonesia , Guru is widely used within the general meaning of "teacher". In Western usage, the original meaning of guru has been extended to cover anyone who acquires followers, though not necessarily in an established school of philosophy or religion. In a further metaphorical extension, guru is used to refer to a person who has authority because of his or her perceived knowledge or skills in a domain of expertise. The importance of discerning between a true guru and a false one is explored in scriptures and teachings of religions in which a guru plays a role. The assessment and criticism of gurus and the Guru-shishya Tradition are espoused in the discourse about Cult s and New Religious Movement s by Western secular scholars, Theologians , Anti-cultists and by Skeptics both in the West and in India. ETYMOLOGY The word ' means "teacher" in Sanskrit , as well as in other languages derived from Sanskrit, such as Hindi, Bengali and Gujarati . The word is attested from the Rigveda as an adjective meaning "heavy", its opposite being ' "light". It derives from PIE , cognate to Greek ''barus'', Latin ''gravis'', both likewise meaning "heavy". The word holds a special place in Hinduism, signifying both the sacred place of knowledge ( Jnana ) and the imparter of knowledge. The adjective meaning "heavy, weighty" is used in the sense of "heavy with knowledge" , "heavy with spiritual wisdom", "heavy with spiritual weight" , "heavy with the good qualities of scriptures and realization" , "heavy with a wealth of knowledge". A notable esoteric etymology or interpretation of the term "guru" is based on a metaphorical interplay between darkness and light, in which the Guru is seen as the dispeller of darkness . In some texts it is described that the syllables ''gu'' () and ''ru'' () stand for darkness and light , respectively. The syllable gu means shadows The syllable ru, he who disperses them, Because of the power to disperse darkness the guru is thus named. ::Advayataraka Upanishad 14--18, verse 5) A similar interpretation describes the guru as the one that "removes the darkness of ignorance" is based on the Guru Gītā (literally "song of the spiritual teacher"), a spiritual text describing a dialogue between Śiva and his consort Pārvatī on the nature of the guru and the Guru/disciple Relationship . Reender Kranenborg a Dutch religious scholar, dismisses the etymology based on the Upanishads , the Guru Gītā, the Sikh scriptures, the writings of Krishnamurti , and other scholar's opinions such as those of John Grimes, Thomas Murray, and others, by stating that the etymology of darkness and light has noting to do with word guru and describes it is as "people's etymology". In the ''Western Esotericism and the Science of Religion'', the author makes a distinction between "esoteric etymologies" and "scientific etymologies" presenting as an example the etymology of "guru", in which the former is presented as ''ru'' ("to push away") and ''gu'' ("darkness"), and the latter as "guru" as "heavy". Another etymology of the word "guru" found in the Guru Gita, includes ''gu'' as "beyond the qualities" and ''ru'' as "devoid of form", stating that "He who bestows that nature which trascend the qualities is said to be guru". GURU IN HINDUISM The importance of finding a guru who can impart transcendental knowledge (''vidyā'') is one of the tenets of Hinduism. One of the main Hindu texts, the Bhagavad Gita , is a dialogue between God in the form of Krishna and Arjuna a nobleman. Not only does their dialogue outlines many of the ideals of Hinduism, but the discussion and relationship between the two considered to be an expression of the ideal Guru/disciple relationship. In the Gita itself, Krishna speaks of the importance of finding a guru to Arjuna: Acquire the transcendental knowledge from a Self-realized master by humble reverence, by sincere inquiry, and by service. The wise ones who have realized the Truth will impart the Knowledge to you. In the sense mentioned above, ''guru'' is used more or less interchangeably with ". The disciple of a guru is called a '' śishya '' or '' Chela ''. Often, a guru lives in an Ashram or in a '' Gurukula '' (the guru's household) together with his disciples. The lineage of a guru, spread by worthy disciples who carry on that guru's particular message, is known as the guru '' Parampara '' or disciplic succession. In the traditional sense, the word ''guru'' describes a relationship rather than an absolute and is used as a form of address only by a disciple addressing his master. Some Hindu denominations like BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha hold that a personal relationship with a living guru, revered as the embodiment of God, is essential in seeking Moksha . The guru is the one who guides his or her disciple to become Jivanmukta , the liberated soul able to achieve salvation in his or her lifetime through God-realization. The role of the guru continues in the original sense of the word in such Hindu traditions as the Vedānta , Yoga , Tantra and Bhakti schools. Indeed, it is now a standard part of Hinduism (as defined by the six Vedic streams and the tantric Agamic streams) , that a guru is one's spiritual guide on earth. In some more mystical traditions, it is believed that the guru could awaken dormant spiritual knowledge within the pupil, known as Shaktipat . In Hinduism, the guru is considered a respected person with saintly qualities who enlightens the mind of his or her disciple, an educator from whom one receives the initiatory mantra, and one who instructs in rituals and religious ceremonies. The Vishnu Smriti and Manu Smriti regard the teacher, along with the mother and the father, as the most venerable gurus (teachers) of an individual. Some influential gurus in the Hindu tradition (there have been many) include Adi Shankaracharya , Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu , and Shri Ramakrishna . Other gurus whose legacy of continuing the Hindu Yogic tradition grew in the 20th Century were men like Shri Ram Chandra , Shri Aurobindo Ghosh , Shri Ramana Maharshi , Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati (The Sage Of Kanchi) , Swami Sivananda and Swami Chinmayananda . See also the List Of Hindu Gurus . In Indian culture, someone not having a guru or a teacher ( Acharya ) was once looked down upon as being an orphan, and as under a sign of misfortune. The word ''anatha'' in Sanskrit means "the one without a teacher". An acharya is the giver of ''gyan'' (knowledge) in the form of ''shiksha'' (instruction). A guru also gives '' Diksha '' ''initiation'' which is the spiritual awakening of the disciple by the grace of the guru. Diksha is also considered to be the procedure of bestowing the divine powers of a guru upon the disciple, through which the disciple progresses continuously along the path to divinity. The origin of concept of "guru" can be traced as far back as the early Upanishads , where the conception of the Divine Teacher on earth first manifested from its early Brahmin associations. There is an understanding in some sects that if the devotee were presented with the guru and God, first he would pay respect to the guru, since the guru had been instrumental in leading him to God. Some traditions claim "Guru, God and Self (Self meaning soul, not personality) are one and the same. In this context, saints and poets in India, have expressed their views about the relationship between Guru and God:
::''Guru and God both appear before me. To whom should I prostrate?'' ::''I bow before Guru who introduced God to me.''
::''It's my great fortune that I found Satguru, all my doubts are removed.'' ::''I bow before Guru. Guru's glory is greater than God's.''
::''Guru is Shiva ''sans'' his three eyes, '' ::''Vishnu ''sans'' his four arms'' ::''Brahma ''sans'' his four heads. '' ::''He is parama Shiva himself in human form''
::''Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu Guru Devo Maheshwara'' ::''Guru Sakshath Parambrahma Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha'' ::This means: ''Guru is creator Brahma ; Guru is preserver Vishnu ; Guru is also the destroyer Siva and he is the source of the Absolute. I offer all my efforts to the Guru. '' '' Guru Purnima '' is the day when the disciple wakes up in his fullness and expresses gratitude. The purpose of the Guru Purnima (or Poornima) celebration is to review the preceding year and see in how much one has progressed in life, to renew one's determination and to focus on the progress in the spiritual path. ''Guru Puja '' (literally "worship of the guru") the practice of worshiping the guru through the making of offerings and requesting inspiration from the guru. Vows and commitments made by the disciple or ''chela'', which might have lost their strength, are renewed. ''Guru Bhakti '' (literally "devotion to the guru") is considered important in many schools and Sect s. Gurus of several Hindu denominations, including the Surat Shabda Yoga are often referred to as Satguru s. In the Upanishads, five signs of satguru (true guru) are mentioned. In the presence of the satguru; Knowledge flourishes (Gyana raksha); Sorrow diminishes (Dukha kshaya); Joy wells up without any reason (Sukha aavirbhava); Abundance dawns (Samriddhi); All talents manifest (Sarva samvardhan). According to the Indologist Georg Feuerstein , the preceptors were traditionally treated with great reverence , in correlation with the perceived identification of the enlightened master with the '' Transcendental Reality'' . Also , that traditionally, gurus were granted excessive authority and strongly tended to be deified. He writes , probably to counterbalance this, that some Hindu schools began to emphasize that the real teacher is the transcendental '' Self ''. The Shiva Samhita , a Late Medieval text on Hatha Yoga , enshrines the importance of the guru for Liberation and asserts that the disciple is supposed to give all of his or her property and livestock to the guru upon '' Diksha '' (initiation). The Vishnu Smriti and Manu Smriti regard the Acharya (teacher/guru), along with the mother and the father, as most venerable individuals. The mother and father are the first "guru". The spiritual guru is the second. The Advaya Taraka Upanishad states that the true teacher is well-versed in the Veda , a devotee of Vishnu , free from envy, knows Yoga and is intent upon it, and always has the ''nature'' of yoga. The text continues by stating that he , or she , who is equipped with devotion to the teacher, has knowledge of the '' Self '' and who possesses the above mentioned characteristics, may be designated as a ''guru''. The Mundak Upanishad says that, in order to realize the supreme godhead, one should surrender one's self before the guru, who knows the secrets of the Vedas . On the role of the guru, Swami Sivananda asks: "Do you realize now the sacred significance and the supreme importance of the Guru's role in the evolution of man? It was not without reason that the India of the past carefully tended and kept alive the lamp of Guru-Tattva. It is therefore not without reason that India, year after year, age after age, commemorates anew this ancient concept of the Guru, adores it and pays homage to it again and again, and thereby re-affirms its belief and allegiance to it. For, the true Indian knows that the Guru is the only guarantee for the individual to transcend the bondage of sorrow and death, and experience the Consciousness of the Reality." Some scriptures and gurus have warned against false teachers, have recommended the spiritual seeker to test the guru before accepting him, and have outlined criteria on how to distinguish false from genuine ones:
According to Kranenborg (2002), the fact that some people follow false gurus is seen, in India, as due to bad Karma on the part of the follower. In his ''Encyclopedic Dictionary of Yoga'' (1990), Feuerstein wrote that gurus occasionally exploit their followers because only a few gurus enjoy full enlightenment themselves. He further writes that many gurus in traditional Hinduism expect unquestioned obedience and constant service, and possibly request hefty remuneration for initiation. Continuing the work of the skeptic Sri Lanka n professor Abraham Kovoor , the Indian amateur Magician Basava Premanand ,(who is a former follower of several gurus) , tours around the villages of India to educate people by debunking gurus, Godmen , and Fakir s whom he considers Fraud s or Self Deceived , especially if they claim to perform Paranormal feats, or to possess Siddhi s, or actively promote belief in Miracle s. The Gandhi an Rationalist , physicist, and educationalist H. Narasimhaiah founded ''The Committee to Investigate Miracles and Other Verifiable Superstitions'' in the 1970s to investigate the claims of miracles performed by gurus and godmen. GURUS ARE OF TWO TYPES 1) Swateh Sant Gurus: They are born Sants who come into the world with direct commissions; as for instance, Kabir Sahib and Guru Nanak. They start the work of spiritual knowledge and instructions right from a tender age. They need no special training from anyone, since they come from the Most High for this purpose. Such beings, when they come, simply flood the world with the light of Spirituality, and establish a line of; 2) Gurmukh Gurus for carrying on the work long after them. But in course of time, substance comes to be sacrificed for show, and gradually Spirituality disappears altogether. Then comes another Master Soul to re-orient this most ancient science according to the needs of the age. In this way, "old wine" remains in circulation for souls athirst. Such Master Souls do appear from time to time in different lands and among different peoples. Besides Swateh Sants there are Sants who by, devotional practice and spiritual discipline under the guidance of some Master Soul acquire spiritual merit here and are granted a commission to work as a Guru. They already have a rich spiritual background ripe for fruition, and in the present span of life simply seem to complete the process. Gurmukhs are always in the making from life to life, and acquire perfection in this life. GURU IN BUDDHISM The guru's blessing is the last of the four foundations in Vajrayana Buddhism . In this foundation, the disciple can continue in their experiential path on the way to the true nature of reality. The disciple regards the guru as the embodiment of Buddha , or a Bodhisattva , and he or she shows devotion and great appreciation toward the guru as such. In the Theravada Buddhist tradition, the teacher is a valued and honoured mentor worthy of great respect and is a source of inspiration on the path to Enlightenment . In the Tibetan Tradition , however, the teacher is viewed as the very root of spiritual realization and the basis of the entire path. Without the teacher, it is asserted, there can be no experience or insight. The guru is to be seen as the Buddha . In Tibetan texts, great emphasis is placed upon praising the virtues of the guru. Tantric teachings include generating visualizations of the guru and making offerings praising the guru. The guru becomes known as the '' Vajra '' (literally "diamond") guru, the one who is the source of initiation into the tantric deity. The disciple is asked to enter into a series of vows and commitments which ensure the maintenance of the spiritual link , with the understanding that to break this link is a serious downfall. In tantric Buddhism, a guru is essential for initiation, practice and guidance along ''the path''. The importance of a guru-disciple relationship is demonstrated by ritual empowerments or initiations where the student obtains permission to practice a particular Tantra . The Dalai Lama , speaking of the importance of the guru, said: ''"Rely on the teachings to evaluate a guru: Do not have blind faith, but also no blind criticism."'' According to the Dalai Lama, the term 'living Buddha' is a translation of the Chinese word 'ho fu'. In Tibetan, the operative word is 'lama' which means 'guru'. A guru is someone who is not necessarily a Buddha but is heavy with knowledge. The term ''vajra'' is also used, meaning 'master'. The guru plays a very special role in Vajrayana ( Tantric Buddhism) as ''the way'' itself. The guru is perceived as the "state of enlightenment". The guru is not an individual who initiates a person, but the person's own Buddha-nature reflected in the personality of the guru. In return, the disciple is expected to shows great devotion to his or her guru, who he or she regards as one who possesses the qualities of a Bodhisattva . See also
GURU IN SIKHISM The title Guru is extremely fundamental to the religion of the Sikhs . Indeed, the Sikhs have carried the meaning of the word to an even greater level of abstraction, while retaining the original usage, and apply it to an understanding of imparted knowledge through any medium. Sikhism comes from the word Sikh, which means a strong and able Guru disciple. The core beliefs of Sikhism are of belief in one God and in the teachings of the Ten Gurus , enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib , the Sikh holy book. Guru Nanak , the first guru of Sikhism, was opposed to the caste system prevalent in his time in India and he accepted Hindus, Muslims and people from other religions as disciples. His followers referred to him as the Guru (teacher). Before his death he designated a new Guru to be his successor and to lead the Sikh community. This procedure was continued, and the tenth and last Guru, Guru Gobind (AD 1666–1708) initiated the Sikh ceremony in AD 1699. For Sikhs, the Gurus were not in the Christian sense “Sons of God”. Sikhism says we are all the children of God and by deduction, God is our mother/father. Guru Nanak in speaking about God, says: There is but One God, His name is Truth, He is the Creator, He fears none, he is without hate, He never dies, He is beyond the cycle of births and death, He is self illuminated, He is realized by the kindness of the True Guru. He was True in the beginning, He was True when the ages commenced and has ever been True, He is also True now. On the importance of ''guru'', Nanak says: ''Let no man in the world live in delusion. Without a Guru none can cross over to the other shore. '' ; The Gurus of Sikhism In addition to The Ten Gurus Of Sikhism , the Guru Granth Sahib was made the eleventh perpetual guru of Sikh s. Together they make up the Eleven Gurus of Sikhism TYPES OF GURUS According to the Deval Smriti there can be eleven kinds of gurus and according to Nama Chintamani there are ten types. According to his function gurus are categorized as Vaishnava traditions usually categorize gurus as:
In his book about neo-Hindu movements in the Netherlands, Kranenborg distinguishes four types of gurus in India: #the ''spiritual advisor'' for higher Caste Hindus who also performs traditional rituals and who is not connected to a temple (thus not a priest); #the ''enlightened master'' who derives his authority from his experience, such as achieving Enlightenment . This type appears in Bhakti Movement s and in Tantra and asks for unquestioning obedience , and can have Western followers. Westerners can even become one, as have , for example Andrew Cohen , and Isaac Shapiro . #the '' Avatar '', a guru who considers himself to be an incarnation of God, God-like, or an instrument of God, or who is considered as such by others, for example Sathya Sai Baba and gurus from the Sant Mat lineage; #A "guru" in the form of a book i.e. the Guru Granth Sahib in the Sikh religion. SUCCESSION AND LINEAGE (PARAMPARA) See Also: Parampara The word parampara (Sanskrit परमपरा) denotes a long succession of teachers and disciples in traditional India n culture. The ''Hinduism dictionary'' defines parampara is "the line of spiritual gurus in authentic succession of initiation; the chain of mystical power and authorized continuity, passed from guru to guru." In Sanskrit , the word literally means: ''Uninterrupted series of succession''. Parampara is also known as ''Guru (teacher) Shishya (disciple) parampara'' or guru parampara, where the ''knowledge'' (in any field) is passed down (undiluted) through the succeeding generations. It is the traditional method of the residential form of education wherein the Shishya remains with his Guru as a family member and gets the education as a true learner. The domains may include Spiritual , artistic ('' Kala '' कला such as Music or Dance ) or Educational . The teachings of the Vedas received through guru parampara are known as Amnaya . David C. Lane , a professor of sociology, and As Of 2005 an ex-member and critic of Radha Soami Satsang Beas , argued in 1997 that based on his research of the Radha Soami movement that only few gurus have a flawless well-documented lineage and that there is quite often conflict between different disciples claiming to be the only legitimate successor of their guru. {Link without Title} See also Guru-shishya Tradition , Gurukula . GURU IN A WESTERN CULTURE CONTEXT As an alternative to established religions, some people in Europe and the USA who were not of East India n extraction have looked up to spiritual guides and gurus from India, seeking them to provide them answers to the meaning of life, and to achieve a more direct experience free from intellectualism and philosophy. Gurus from many denominations traveled to Western Europe and the USA and established followings. One of the first to do so was Swami Vivekananda who addressed the World Parliament Of Religions assembled in Chicago, Illinois in 1893 . In particular during the . One example was ISKCON/Hare Krishna founded by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1966 that made demands on their followers that some considered strong. According to the professor in Sociology Stephen A. Kent at the University Of Alberta and Kranenborg (1974), one of the reasons why in 1970 s young people including Hippie s turned to gurus was because they found that drugs had opened for them the existence of the transcendental or because they wanted to get ''high'' without drugs. According to Kent, another reason why this happened so often in the USA then, was because some anti- Vietnam War protesters and political activist became worn out or disillusioned of the possibilities to change society through political means ,and as an alternative turned to religious means. See also Conversion To NRMs And Cults , Conversion To Indic Religions , Theories About Joining Cults Gurus in the West Gurus who established a discipleship or who are/were spiritual leader of notable organizations in Western countries include:
According to Kranenborg (1984), Jesus fits the Hindu definition and characteristics of a guru. Assessment and criticism
Notable scandals and controversies Some notable scandals and controversies regarding gurus or the groups that they founded are:
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