Swami Shivapadananda on Guru-Chela relationship

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

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

Day 384

The words of the guru are law. Carry them out to the last letter. If you think your guru is [only] at the ashram [monastery], you are limiting him. See him smiling in your heart now.

Devotee: But how do we know what the guru is, Swamiji?

Swamiji: Do not think about that, just be. Be content with what comes. This is a blessing. In the whole world, only the guru's love is pure, because he is the only one without motivation. But we do not see that, we doubt him.

Meditate on Christ as a child, innocent. *** [see footnote] He did not see saint or sinner, he smiles on all. We take [holy] communion as on Christmas Day so that we may sacrifice the body as he did. The wine is the blood, the heart.

Christ's teaching was all love, love, love. He was childlike. All must have a guru. Even Jesus went to John the Baptist, though Christ was greater than he was.

Here's a story that illustrates misunderstanding the guru's words: The guru said to the chela [disciple], 'Go and die.' The chela went and hanged himself. He [the Guru] said this [same thing] to another chela who went and meditated, and died to himself [i.e. the ego].

When I take instructions from the guru I must remember that he is telling me, specifically.

Never raise your voice in front of a superior.

When will you stand firmly on the guru? The guru is like an ice block which floats on the sea.

There is a reaction when the discipline does not come from within. Whatever discipline the guru advocates must enter into you, and bless you from within – just as a flower comes from within a plant.

*** Pictured: Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, a.k.a. St. Theresa of Lisieux, whose focus of adoration was the Child Jesus.

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