One goes to a Guru to learn skills – it could be a hobby
like music, or it could be about professional skills. But a real Guru in the process of imparting
these skills also transforms the Shishya’s (student’s) character and outlook on
life.
Finding a real Guru is a serious challenge. One may pursue a life-time seeking a Guru and
yet not find one. Sometimes the Guru that you seek may be sitting right next to you - but yet you may not recognise him as one. This is because a real
Guru does not market himself as a Guru and seek disciples. Disciples have to seek him out and implore
him to accept them as a disciple.
It takes time and devotion to develop a Guru-Shishya
bond. Real Guru’s rarely open up quickly
and shower their bounty on a new disciple.
Rather they test them with tit-bits over a period of time, and only when
they feel that the Shishya is ready for wisdom and transformation does he open
up. Lucky is the Shishya who is able to
spend a sufficiently long enough time with his Guru to experience the
transformational experience.
At some point of time, the Guru himself will
inform the Shishya that it is time he sought a new Guru. At that time, the Shishya should graciously
and humbly accept the suggestion and seek a new Guru. When he finally finds a new Guru, the old
Guru continues to remain a Guru and a friend.
