Deepo Deepantaram Yatha," just as the flame of a lit lamp can light an unlit wick by bringing it close, in the same way, the contact with a Guru enlightens the seeker. The Guru is a lit lamp, and the seeker is an unlit lamp. By staying close to the Guru, the disciple eventually receives the gift of knowledge. The true Guru manifests the essence of the divine within the disciple's heart.
Through the grace of the Guru, the disciple attains self-realization by experiencing inner bliss, and following the path of equanimity and liberation. If knowledge were in books, scriptures, and Upanishads, then go and read them, search them, see them! By reading the Vedas, scriptures, and Shrutis, you may become a scholar, but not self-realized. Self-realization can only be achieved through the grace of a Guru. There is no other way!
Through the grace of the Guru, the first thing that comes to you is equanimity. What does equanimity mean? Right now, you are living your life divided into two parts: one 'I' and one 'you.' Along with 'I' comes the web of 'mine,' and with 'you' comes the web of 'yours.' 'I and my family,' 'you and your family.' This way, there are so many 'I's and so many 'you's. This differentiation between 'I' and 'you' is what constitutes the world.
"I and my family should be happy, prosperous, free from sorrow and bondage, and remain in bliss; we should be free from fear and grief. If, because of you, my happiness is hindered, then I will not even want your existence. I will fight you, I will harm you, so that you cannot cause me pain." Having such feelings is not equanimity. Equanimity means seeing with an equal vision, not differentiating between 'I' and 'you.'
The disciple should not harbor such distinctions between 'I' and 'you' in their mind. They should see everyone as their own. The disciple views their body-related relations as accidental occurrences. Just as you were born due to the accidental meeting of your parents, you too accidentally become the parents of your children. This is how the world operates. In this sequence of the world, there is no one to tell you that this world is false! Your grandparents are no longer here, your
parents will also be gone one day, and one day you too will depart. Therefore, you should focus on that which is eternal, immortal, and indestructible. Seek that which is the true and eternal essence.
Only a true Guru or a saint will tell you this. You can hear these words only in the company of the wise. Otherwise, no one will ask you whether your mind is properly engaged in meditation or not, whether discernment has awakened in your mind or not. People of the world will only ask you how much money you have made or how your business is doing. They might inquire about the well-being of you and your family, but no one will ask if you have entangled your mind in worldly matters or fallen into the mire. Only a saint or a Guru will tell you, "Do not get stuck in the world, do not fall into this mire.
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