Swami Shivapadananda on faith in the Guru

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

Taken from Mother Radha’s
notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.

Day 294

The guru [spiritual preceptor] is described as having ‘radiant feet’.
This light indicates the guru’s attainment and shows the chela’s [disciple’s]
faith in the guru. The guru is the one who has trodden the Path, he knows the
pitfalls, he shows the way – otherwise you will no doubt kick [bump into] something
and fall; and so much time will pass. But if you follow a guru even in this
life you will attain knowledge of the Self. Never doubt the guru. Have supreme
faith. See him as God, not as man. Faith, faith, faith. Faith is power.

Simplicity is the key – till guru and chela become one. Then there is no
separation. For the chela there is only one prayer: O Lord, make the path
clearer and clearer each day. There must be submission to the guru and then
acceptance. Pray thus: ‘O Lord, you put me here, then Lord, use me as you
desire.’ It is our attitude that matters, not theirs. The gopis [cowherd
devotees of Lord Krishna, pictured] and Radha [Lord Krishna’s chief disciple and Shakti (female divine counterpart)] had the highest kind of love, they were
happy in Krishna’s happiness.

A man went to the guru for knowledge of the Path. The guru said, ‘Take
the skin off this mango, eat the fruit, split the stone out and cut it in half.
What is left?’ ‘Nothing,’ said the man. Then the Guru replied, ‘But that
nothing is Shakti, the power which makes all things grow. That nothing is
everything. Shakti Maya [divine illusion/delusion] manifests as all things and
is still beyond that.’

Click on ‘Continue reading’ below to find out about CDs of Swamiji speaking live