The word Guru means he who takes you from darkness into light. A Guru gives illumination to the student. Contact with a divine teacher and interaction with guru clears the path of a seeker. This makes self-realization easier. A guru is one who practices the following four fold precepts at all times, the following are also the guidelines for all those on the path of spiritual seeking.

A Guru embodies all these precepts in person and shows us that it is possible for us too.

All three broad paths-Karma, Bhakti, Jnana all have only one ultimate end-the vision of god, the merging with the self within. To be on any of the paths we have to submit our activities and our thinking to these broad precepts.

The fourfold precepts (purusharthas) are (1)Dharma (2) Artha (3) Kama (4) Moksh. An understanding of these and living according to them is the precondition of any Sadhna.

(1) Dharma-generally translated as righteousness. The exact interpretation of Dharma of course depends upon place, time and station in life. But to generalize it one can say that Dharma means- nonviolence (Ahimsa), truthfulness (Satyam), non stealing (Asatyam), cleanliness (Soucam), sense restraint (Indriyanigraha).

Ahimsa-Must be understood in relation to natures laws of killing and preservation. Satyam - speak what is true.

Astyam - Do not takeaway from people what is theirs or refuse them what is theirs.

Soucam - Cleanliness is external i.e. physical but mental and of the heart too.

Indriyanigraha - is senses restraint. The senses create either of two basic reactions-desire and hate, raga and devesha.

The right way(Dharma) consists in the constant effort to keep away desire and hate.

(2) Artha- is the wealth you acquire out of your own direct effort. This is the best that is uttama. Next is that which is bequeath to you. This is second best. Third kind is adhama which you gain by virtue of your marriage.

(3) Moksha-means freedom. What is this freedom? Freedom from earthly desires.


(4)Kama-(Desire)has been the object of your pursuit. You are bound by these. Ultimately you must free yourself from this bondage. Seeing the temporariness of the body and what it creates should be enough to set the efforts for freedom in place.

You must live well but you must be able to leave it too. The ultimate contentment shall come from your own self. Live your life with a view to abandon it in the end. Foster desires and fulfil them with a view to dispensing with them altogether in the end.

Do work always but with a view to renouncing it. Court bondage with the sure object of cutting it finally. Keep the primary tenets of righteousness (Dharma) in mind, always match your deeds with these and see how far they are right or wrong. Correct yourself constantly see that you progress towards fulfillment. Cultivate virtues like compassion, love, forbearance and forgiveness.

From the changing to the changeless, from ignorance to knowledge from bondage to liberation, from misery to happiness - these should be your watchwords.

A guru embodies all these qualities and urges the same for the disciples.