We have read in the prior teachings about the Grace of the Guru or the Guru Kripa. It is a unique force, a divine blessing, a benevolent radiation from the Guru which bestows on the disciple blessings of knowledge, Holy Scriptures, long life, wealth, wisdom and the highest state which is self realisation. Sadananada, Aruni, Kalyan, Maharaj Shivaji and many others received extraordinary blessings and knowledge through Guru Kripa or Grace of the Guru. All that the disciple seeks to attain in life and much more are attained when the Guru blesses the disciple and the Guru Kripa flows into the disciple. Guru Kripa seems to set aside all norms and laws that operate at the higher plane and grant the receiver the bliss of the Supreme. On the face of it, it would seem that it is only the will, blessings and Grace of the Guru that matter and not the regular sadhana or practices on the part of the disciple. The Holy Scriptures tells us that there is nothing other than Guru Kripa which helps us to attain perfection in life.
The Supreme Power takes on the form of the ParamGuru to guide the soul back to Godhead. The Guru is an ocean of compassion and he showers his love and grace equally on all. Why is it that only some of the disciples seemed transformed and not the others? We can see that majority of the disciples fall prey to their lower selves and suffer. They suffer from delusions and ignorance and are deceived by the lures of the world and personal desires. This is a seemingly worrying situation. The Holy Scriptures declare that Guru Kripa is the ultimate for attaining everything worthwhile and the Guru who is extremely loving showers love and grace on all. The Grace of the Guru is a divine force which is more powerful than the Philosopher’s Stone. The ParasMani or the Philosopher’s stone turns base metal into gold while the Guru transforms a normal disciple into a realised being and a being worthy of helping and transforming others. Guru Kripa transforms a base disciple into another ParasMani or Philosopher’s stone. Then why is it that all disciples are not full of bliss? Where are we going wrong?
Serious reflection on this particular question can give the answers. We then understand that it is not just enough for the Guru to give the Guru Kripa or bestow his Grace on the disciples. It is equally or perhaps even more important on part of the disciple to receive the Grace. When the disciple receives the Grace or Kripa, it brings a transformation, a metamorphosis, a change - from mere mundane man into the Supreme Being. A man immortalises himself when he receives the Grace of the Guru. He transforms from a mere human being into a Divine Being.
This fundamental rule is easy to understand. We all know that we can take the horse to the water but we cannot make it drink. Only when the horse drinks the water, it can quench its thirst. The bountiful Nature gives wholesome gifts of grains, pulses, fruits and vegetables. We need to go to the places where they grow, pick them and prepare them in order to eat them and satisfy our hunger. We must all learn to be a good receiver. The Supreme Power, ParamGuru and Nature are all generous givers. We must learn to be good takers.
How can we learn to be good takers? We can do so by being good disciples. Love, compassion and blessings of the Guru are available for all, even for those who are not disciples. Those who love the Guru and are devoted to him but are not his disciples receive the Guru’s love, mercy and blessings. But it is only for the category of those who are the disciples, that Guru Kripa or Grace of Guru is bestowed. By being good disciples we can receive this Guru Kripa which bestows the highest realm of immortality, light and infinite bliss.
