Tonight, in the wonderful weekend programme called Satya Darshana (running for 12 years!) on DD Chandana, Prof. Pavagada Prakasha Rao was answering a query as to how one can repay one's guru or kulaguru.
He began by stating that we often mistake teachers for gurus. All those who teach for a living or as a profession, or those who take fees from students to impart some textual knowledge and training, are not to be confused as Gurus.
The word Guru has a deep meaning in Hindu Dharma. He quoted a verse from Vivekachudamani of Adi Shankara. It was so wonderful that I felt compelled to research and share it tonight itself.
Here is the verse, from the translation by Swami Madhavananda (Advaita Ashrama, 1921):
As explained by Sri Prakasha Rao:
The real guru is at peace, equanimous in all circumstances. He is indeed great, and inspires reverence instantly, at first sight. He doesn't stay in one place, but moves about like the spring breeze. And inspires a welcome from everyone wherever he moves. That is because of his transformative impact, and appealing, pleasing, personality. He has himself crossed the ocean of Samsara, the dreadful ocean of suffering and bondage called life. And he freely, ungrudgingly, aids one and all, with no partiality or discrimination, to cross this ocean, too, WITHOUT any expectation of any return favour, reward or gratitude. Such a person is a true guru.
When I am touched by such a guru, how can I ever repay him? Sri Prakasha Rao said he will take up the answer to this part next weekend!
What a great shloka, what great expression in poetry by the one and only Jagadguru Adi Shankara!
Amen! Hari Om Tat Sat!!
