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Guru Purnima 2017: A teacher is not a trickster

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Prerna Koul Mishra
Prerna Koul MishraJul 09, 2017 | 10:06

Guru Purnima 2017: A teacher is not a trickster

This is the most beautiful memory of my childhood. Most Sundays in Srinagar, my parents would drive me to Ishwer Ashram in Nishat. It was the abode of the last surviving scholar of Shaivism in the world - Swami Lakshmanjoo. I grew up to recognise him as my guru. 

You may not have heard of him because he was not a brand propogated by his followers as a man of miracles. Instead, he was a scholar and a teacher.

My parents would earnestly sit through the classes and I would vagabond across the ashram, coming back only to savour the kehwa or milk tea served with local breads and sweets, at the end of the class.

But as I look back though baby eyes, even my association with him through purposeless wandering at the ashram turned out to be a precious learning. 

For instance, I noticed two types of people - a bunch of foreigners rigorously taking notes, making recordings of Swamiji's discourses as he unveiled the secrets of the Shiva consciousness. Their dedication of purpose stood in stark contrast to the other group, mostly Kashmiris, who were there because they expected miracles to happen in their lives.

And for miracles, they thought they needed a guru.

Incidentally, much later, these foreigners, who had spent decades at the ashram learning Sanskrit and translating every facet of Shiva consciousness into English, were driven out of Kashmir under some inane charges.

The other group was delighted for now they had their guru all to themselves! I have no clue about whether the miracles happened in the lives of what I call the "other group".

But till date, I follow how the foreigners are publishing book after book on Shiva consciousness from their interactions with Swamiji through his lifetime. And I have learnt to recognise that as Guru Kripa. A real guru is a universe that shall grant you only what you seek.

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A guru was never meant to be the one who could cure your illness with magical babut. Photo: PTI

Another learning came on his birthday when thousands would partake the prasad comprising heavenly Kashmiri delicacies.

On one such occasion, a lady barged in to complain to him about how Muslims from the adjoining areas were coming in hordes to eat. "Why are they here?" she yelled. He responded with a smile: "Am I not their bab (grandpa) too?" That was my lesson on religious tolerance.

One of the most entertaining annual exercises that I particularly enjoyed at the ashram was the day when Swamiji would sit at his second floor window and throw everything out at people below to catch. He emptied his entire room every year. In it, I saw the streak of complete detachment. 

A guru teaches you the rules of worldly detachment to make sure your soul finds its ultimate anchor.

Gradually, I grew up to focus on some of what was being said during the classes. While my biggest regret in life is that I was too tiny to assimilate what was being said, I have miraculously latched on to the most important lesson - "Shiva resides in all of us". 

If you ask me, practising that one tenant of Shaivism would be enough for a lifetime. It delivers me both from bringing harm to the Shiva in me and prevents me from hurting the Shiva in others. To me, all this and more is what a Guru does. He or she sets the path for you to walk towards your ultimate goal which is self-awareness. He or she nudges your soul to experiment, learn and be aware.

A guru was never meant to be the one who could cure your illness with magical babut. Nor was he to be a trickster giving you tips for "kripa". Unfortunately, that is what it has come to now.

Today, while I congratulate India for celebrating Guru Purnima, I also put across my disappointment on how we have abused the term over the years. 

Time to review definitions.

Also read: Guru Purnima: Spreading the message of India's gurus

Last updated: July 09, 2017 | 10:06
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