point on guru and disciple

Question: Who can become a Guru?

Answer: Only a realized soul, a liberated soul (jivan mukt), a great soul (mahaapurush) can become a Guru. Therefore until enlightenment has not been attained, God Realization has not been attained, till that time one must not invoke the sentiments of a Guru within themselves. Yes! If someone asks about salvation, then as much as you know on that subject, you must in a simple straightforward manner share it with the other.

He who gives knowledge on a particular subject, he who removes the ignorance in that subject he has become your Guru, whether customarily you accept it or not. But a real Guru is he by whose discourse enlightenment takes place, knowledge is awakened, then thereafter there is not the least bit of need for a Guru. Guru is he who never makes anyone his disciple (follower), he does not form an organization of his own. He who makes everyone a Guru, he in essence is a Guru.

In the scriptures wherever Guru has been described, there it has been said that a Guru must be a "shrotriya" well-versed in the scriptures, Vedas, Puranas and must be capable of delivering the deep insight of the scriptures and the Guru must also be a "Brahmanishth" knower of Brahma (Supreme Being, the Ultimate Consciousness) . If the Guru is only well-versed in the scriptures and is not a knower of Brahma "Brahmanishth" , then he can teach the scriptures, but he cannot awaken the knowledge of Paramatma. On the other hand one who is only a "Brahmanishth" (knower of Brahma) , but is not well-versed in the scriptures, then he can enlighten one on Paramatma, but he cannot help in removing the various doubts that may arise in a sadhak, as he is incapable in doing so. On not being capable of erasing doubts, then too there is nothing lacking in him, there is no doubt in his own mind, there is no suspicion, there is no shortage in him. Therefore if a disciple without too much questioning and inquirying if he wants to know the Essential Element (tattva) then such a one who is "brahmanishth" can give knowledge of Paramatmatattva.

Question: Who can become a disciple (a student)?

Answer: In whom there is not the least bit of desire for rest and relaxation, he who does not even desire to live, in whom there is only desire for liberation, that one alone can become a student, a disciple. By having some desires of your own, no one can become a disciple (an ardent student). He who is a slave of desires, how can he ever become someone's disciple?

Really speaking, both the Guru is present and Bhagavan (God) is present, the quest to know is also present, the qualifications are also present, but it is due to attachment to the perishable that there are obstacles in awakening of knowledge. It is a sadhak's duty to wipe out this attachment to the perishable; because he himself has developed this attachment. Therefore it has been said that by the Self one must lift up themselves - "Udhaaredaatmanaata amnam" (Gita 6/5).