> > HERE IS WHAT RAMANA SAID: THE SELF, OR THE ATMAN, IS THE GURU. HE > ALSO SAYS THAT THE SELF - OR GRACE - MAY GUIDE THE SEEKER TO FIND AN > OUTER (LIVING) GURU. > > I'VE NOT HEARD ABOUT RAMANA HAVING AN EXTERNAL GURU. PLEASE HAVE YOUR > GURU SEND YOU THE SOURCE OF HIS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS GURU SO WE CAN > LEARN ABOUT HIM OR HER.
**Here is one excerpt from my gurus writtings: As Ramana melted within Arunachala obedient and surrendered and never did he leave his Guru's side. He came amidst all obstacles and Surrendered to it's wisdom as Shiva. He stayed once home without ever a thought of leaving. I have made a seperate post about Ramana, his Guru, and comments about needing a Guru > > AN APPOINTED GURU IS NO GUARANTEE OF AUTHENTICITY. ON THE CONTRARY, > SPIRITUAL LINEAGES AND MOVEMENTS OFTEN CARRY A LOT OF POLITICAL > BAGGAGE. AN APPOINTED, "BONA-FIDE" GURU - REALIZED OR NOT - IS JUST A > BODY WITH A REPUTATION ATTACHED TO IT. ** First of all, I have promoted here that based in my experience, I recommed that for the unfoldment of enlightenment, one should have two things- a Sat Guru, then work one to one with this Guru. The reason why is it has been pointed out that it is a very rare one that will make it without this. I buy into this, so herewith is my beliefs expressed, as it usually is- I cant preference every line with this is my belief, but most of my posts, that is what it is. Now, I think most will not go along with this so not really to much need to figure out which guru is for real and which is not. What good is that? for one to fill up their encyclopedia brain? However, if there happens to be one here interested in a Sat Guru and working one to one, then he has to use his discrimination in picking. First thing is to see what is available, then narrow things down. when all is said and done, it is going to take faith for the part that is unknown to him and claimed to be known by the mentor. So, they can weigh all the logic presented and then choose the way they are going to choose. The complications are unlimited- Sai Baba and his boys, Muktananda and his girls, MMY and his kings and queens, If you research Muktananda, you get writtings as in TM where on the one hand he is not appointed by his Guru, on the other, things surface which claim he is- and this is only a short time into history- imagine what happens in a few hundred years, things will really be distorted > > > AND MANY APPOINTED GURUS HAVE ALSO BITTEN THE DUST IN PUBLIC > HUMILIATION AND DISGRACE. Who? each situation has to be looked at > > THE PLAYING FIELD IS EVEN: NEITHER THE APPOINTED NOR THE SELF- > PROCLAIMED HOLD ANY ADVANTAGE OVER THE OTHER. Once you are interested in a guru, which most are not, then it is not just weather they are self proclaimed or not as the only criteria to pick a Guru. For example, my guru would recommend spending time with both the Guru and the sadakas to see how the consciousness and progress looks. In spending a short time, I have seen the real essence of the claims come to the surface and fall apart. Each seeker has to use his discretion, then procede > > > HOLINESS IS MERELY APPEARANCE AND THERE ARE NO OUTER BEHAVIORIAL > CRITERIA TO JUDGE WHETHER SOMEONE IS ENLIGHTENED OR NOT. IN my case, for example, a lasting exalted state of consciousness came about within a few days of being with my Guru and it is here now as a platform from which I am writting this. This again is a part of the discrimination used but a significant one. Each seeker has to weigh as much as he needs to weigh in order to choose. There is nothing on the outside with my guru that makes her seem any different than anyone. > > I'VE MET MANY PROFOUNDLY WOUNDED PEOPLE AFTER STUDYING UNDER HIGHLY > ACCLAIMED, APPOINTED GURUS. As I said, if sadakas are like that, then this is a sign that this guru may not be a Sat Guru. Again, it is good to not only check out the Guru but also the sadakas > YES, IT IS. SO PLEASE TRY NOT TO SOUND SO CERTAIN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT. My post is formulated by both my experience, then belief beyond my experience. I am certain about both but the belief part is revealing in that you know it is my belief- so then one can have their own beliefs and opinions- if they state if forcefully or not, either way is ok- we know it for what it is.
