8.6 - Guru Worship

As we roamed aimlessly through forest, we met a man who works in the forest. He asked us “where are you going in this heat into the forest?” We gave no direct reply. He warned us politely not to get lost into the thick woods and that too needlessly. He offered his food to us. We disdained his advice and walked into the forest.

But in that vast and dense wood we lost our way. To our surprise we met the same forester. He said that by relying on our own cleverness, we had got into a wrong way. He said that a guide is a must to show the way. By saying “Do not refuse offers of food. Such offers are auspicious signs of success in one’s endeavour.” he again invited us to take food with him. Again we declined the food and went away. I soon felt hungry and I went and accepted a bit of bread and ate it and drank some water.

The forester then said, “What was your dispute?” and I told him all our talk. The others left him and did not care for him. But I reverently bowed to him. Then he took me to a well tied up my legs with a rope, and suspended me, head downwards, from a tree by the side of the well. My head was about three feet off the water, which I could not reach. And the forester left me there and went away. I do not know, where he has gone. He returned after 4 or 5 hours and asked me how I felt. I answered, “My time was passed in great bliss”. The forester might be pleased with me. He drew me near him, passed his palm over my head and body and spoke to me tender words dripping with love. He put me into his school where I entirely forgot my father and mother and all attachments and desires. I loved to gaze at him. If he were not there to see, I would not like to have eyes at all. I did not wish to go back. I forgot all other things but the forester, the Guru. My life was concentrated in my sight in him. That was the object of my meditation. In silence, I bowed. Meaning, Realisation flashed upon me, of itself without effort or study purely by his grace.

Guru’s grace is our only sadhana. Jnana comes as experience or in its wake.