The Teacher (Guru)
The realized guide who hands on the truth — for many traditions, indispensable to the path.
The guru is the spiritual teacher — the one who has realized the truth and can transmit it, guide the disciple past pitfalls, and in many traditions confer initiation. Hindu thought holds the living teacher to be all but indispensable: the scriptures are terse and easily misread, and the path needs a guide who has walked it. In the more devotional and tantric streams the guru is revered as a window onto, or even an embodiment of, the divine itself.
How it traveled
- VivekacūḍāmaṇiŚṛṅgeri (Sringeri) · 1400applies
Key passages(20)
Vivekacūḍāmaṇi · Śaṅkara (traditionally ascribed; authorship doubted)
Know that, by prostrating thyself, by questions, and by service; the wise, those who have realised the Truth, will instruct thee in that knowledge.
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'For I have heard from men like you, Sir, that only knowledge which is learnt from a teacher (Âkârya), leads to real good.' Then he taught him the same knowledge. Nothing was left out, yea, nothing wa
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Vivekacūḍāmaṇi · Śaṅkara (traditionally ascribed; authorship doubted)
If these truths have been told to a high-minded man, who feels the highest devotion for God, and for his Guru as for God, then they will shine forth,--then they will shine forth indeed.
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Then they all said: 'Upakosala, this is our knowledge, our friend, and the knowledge of the Self, but the teacher will tell you the way (to another life).'
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He (the Self) of whom many are not even able to hear, whom many, even when they hear of him, do not comprehend; wonderful is a man, when found, who is able to teach him (the Self); wonderful is he who
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Sukesas Bhâradvâga, and Saivya Satyakâma, and Sauryâyanin Gârgya, and Kausalya Âsvalâyana, and Bhârgava Vaidarbhi, and Kabandhin Kâtyâyana, these were devoted to Brahman, firm in Brahman, seeking for
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The father said: 'You know me, child, that whatever I know, I told you. But come, we shall go thither, and dwell there as students.' 'You may go, Sir,' the son replied. Then Gautama went where (the pl
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That doctrine is not to be obtained by argument, but when it is declared by another, then, O dearest, it is easy to understand. Thou hast obtained it now; thou art truly a man of true resolve. May we
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