Swami Shivapadananda on understanding the Guru

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

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

Day 260

In the waking state the body, mind and intellect all share in the
Consciousness. In dream, only the mind and intellect share in Consciousness. In
deep sleep there is no body, mind nor intellect. You have gone beyond. We want
to do this consciously and so we come and go all the time.

A river has two banks, faith and devotion. And the river is the ever-flowing
stream of life. What do drops of water cry out all the time? “The sea, the sea, the
sea.” The river twists and winds but it must get to the sea. The river serves
many purposes, it waters the land, it carries goods, it serves man. But what
does man do? He puts filth into it. But this makes no difference to the river.

Fold your hands and say, “Please, please Lord, tell me what you want me
to do, because I want to help you Lord.” Irritation is attachment to the body.
‘Just let me serve Thee Lord.’

Devotee: It is ridiculous to be attached to the
body of the guru. Swamiji: It may be ridiculous, but it is true. Rather say, “I will allow
myself to be hanged if it will serve my guru. Nothing must stand in his way.”

Swamiji: What
does your guru want? He wants you to do your sadhana [spiritual practice] and
be pure in thought, word and deed. How? By watching every thought word and
deed. You feel attached to me because you want to be best. You do not
understand what your guru wants. The guru might say, “I only want to teach you
what is for your good.” It may seem cruel but I ignore you for two or three
weeks, till you simmer down and you learn that I am not only in the body. You
must learn to go inside and find me there. You must see the guru in everyone’s
heart.”