Sharing Sanjivani -Part 4

Chapter-(517) Why is it necessary to serve Guru and maintain cleanliness...?

(517) Why is it necessary to serve Guru and maintain cleanliness inwardly or outwardly?

In Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Shri Krishna advises us to follow Gyan marg, Karma marg and Bhakti Marg. A Sadhak when follows Karma marg he allots all his time and resources with five Gyanendriya, five Karmendriyas, mind and intellect in doing karma in the best possible manner. He depends on his own skill and labour, his capabilities, potentialities and intensions to do better and to sense all livings in his own way. He may not be in need of Guru. While in Bhakti marg too a devotee surrenders all his pride, body, ego, and karma to Paramatma. He does not take care of his family or self. But Paramatma has to worry about his Yogkshem directly. But when a Sadhak is curious to know Paramatma and he follows Gyan marg. He must have Guru to train him properly.

Guru is like spring that blossoms in a full fledge way only to please others, A pupil who lost in the ocean of Sansar Surrender to Guru,

शान्तो महान्तो निवसन्ति सन्तो वसन्तवल्लोकहितं चरन्तः।

तीर्णाः स्वयं भीमभवार्णवं जनानहेतुनान्यानपि तारयन्ति।।(विवेक चूडामणि-३९)

SHANTO MAHANTO NIVASANTI SANTO VASANTVALLOKHITAM CHARANTAH ।

TIRNAH SWAYAM BHIMBHAVARNAVAM JANANHETUNANYANPI TARAYANTI (Vivek Chudamani -39) because Guru is like moon that cools others and make his pupil free from all the anxiety, worries and puzzles of life .When a pupil surrenders to Guru as

कथं तरेयं भवसिन्धुमेतं का वा गतिर्मे कतमोङस्त्पायः।

जाने न किञ्चित् कृपयाङव मां भोः संसारदुःखक्षतिमातनुष्व।।४२।।

KATHAM TAREYAM BHAVSINDHUMETAM KA VA GATIRME KATMOASTYUHAYH

JANE N KINCHITKRUPAAV MAM BHO SANSARDUKHAKSHATIMATANUSHVA(42)

How could I cross over this battle of life? How would be my journey on this planet and Where would I go after death? Which are the ways to come out from all vices? How could I cross over this ocean? I don't know anything O Guru ! please protect me and help me in abolishing my sorrows and pains.

When a pupil serve Guru in Ashram as Ram and Krihna served their Guru by protecting their Yagna and by bringing back Guru's dead sons or by helping Gurumata in fetching fire wood, cleaning the Ashram or milking the cows. They pleased Guru by serving them through deeds and body. But the real service to Guru is to follow him on the path of spirituality as shown by Guru. If a Sadhak does Swadhyay but he did not serve Guru, he would not be able to get knowledge then how could he be eligible for salvation? Chanakya Niti says

पुस्तकप्रत्ययाधीतं नोधीतं गुरुसन्निधौ।

सभामध्ये न शोभन्ते जारगर्भा इव स्त्रियः।।(१७-१)

PUSTAKPRATYAYADHITAM NODHITAM GURUSANNIDHAU

SABHAMADHYE NA SHOBHANTEJARGARBHA EVA SRTIYAH

Just as a Characterless woman when becomes pregnant cannot earn respect in the society, a person who acquires knowledge only through books could not get respect in the society because knowledge is like deep ocean and what guidance a pupil could not achieve pearls from the ocean. Just as our earth has lots of treasures but if a person does not know when and where to dig the earth , he would not get that treasure