THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A GURU

By Stephen Knapp,

In brief, a guru is a spiritual teacher who is knowledgeable in the Vedic scripture and the traditions and can teach them to others. He or she is also experienced in the spiritual Truths, the goal of the Vedic path, and can show the way by example to those who enquire.

The word guru means one who is heavy with knowledge, not only cultivated knowledge acquired through personal training and practice but also knowledge attained through personal experience and realizations of the spiritual perfection that is discussed in the Vedic scripture and by previous spiritual authorities. Such a qualified guru is one who should be approached with respect and served with humility and honor because such a guru who has seen the Truth can give one knowledge and guidance for attaining the Truth. Such a guru gives the second birth to a person into the spiritual understanding, beyond the common first birth one acquires from parents. Thus, a genuine guru can awaken a disciple to a new world of spiritual reality, a higher dimension. Such an awakening creates an eternal bond between the spiritual master and the disciple.