Daily Readings from the Works of Swami Venkatesananda


Venkatesa Daily Readings Vol 2 (Insights & Inspirtations) - Tune Oneself To The Guru

November 30, 2023

Tune Oneself To The Guru

Gurudev Swami Sivananda & Swami Venkatesananda      The great masters often isolated themselves from society. Even if they did not do so physically, they achieved a psychological isolation by behaving like a fool or ignoramus. Seekers who were mature sought the company of the masters and received instruction and knowledge. Such maturity is purity in thought, word and deed. However, this procedure excluded the vast majority of human beings from the hall of wisdom. They were entertained by lesser teachers; unfortunately such entertainment later came to be known as wisdom! Truth was neglected.   The reaction to this was the trend that is prevalent even today. It is euphemistically called 'knowledge explosion', but in reality it is 'literacy explosion'. We know a lot of words. We can talk as if we are religious, spiritual, intelligent and enlightened, but our life belies all this and reveals the truth which is otherwise.

     How can we tune ourselves to these great masters so that their music is heard in our hearts and the truth they utter becomes our living truth? It is easy. First and foremost we should abandon the foolish habit of translating what we hear in terms of the symbols that are familiar to us. We should have the courage to admit that their symbols are unfamiliar to us. We do not understand their teaching, even if the words are extremely simple. This confession commences an inner search within us. "How is it," we ask ourselves, "that the simple truth that the master thus propounds and which he obviously embodies in himself is impracticable to me?"

     In the light of this enquiry you yourself will discover that either the mind or the emotion rebels against the teaching. Hence it remains unassimilated and it turns into poison within. The seeing of this truth concerning oneself is itself the removal of the psychological or emotional obstruction. You begin to experiment. It is possible if you have a healthy curiosity and seriousness blended. You might fail. In fact you will fail, (remember that), but it is not failure. It is a pointer to the area of weakness which needs to be strengthened. The search itself is success. The intelligence is awakened.  This is immeasurable success.

     This is religious instruction of the future: to hear the truth, and having heard the truth, to examine oneself in its light. When areas of darkness come to light there is light and no darkness. When the seeker takes delight in this, there is no limit to that delight.
 

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