The Importance of the Guru

1. Jai Sadguru! Salutations to you, the one who is completely content. You are Supreme Being, the Self within that is Rama. Being beyond all expression of words, your greatness cannot be described.
2. Through you, the true disciple is directly able to attain That which is difficult to attain, That which is difficult for the Vedas to tell, That which is not understood with words.
3. You are That which is the personal secret of the yogis, That which is the abode of Lord Shiva, That which is the resting place of peace, That which is the unfathomable ultimate secret.
4. Because of you, the disciple realizes that he is one with Brahman, and he does not become bound by worldly life at any time.
5. Now, because of the kindness of the Guru, I will describe the attributes of the Guru and disciple in such a way that the one seeking liberation will surrender himself.
6. The brahmin priests (Brahmana31) are the gurus of the masses. Even if one is not performing rituals, one should surrender to a brahmin with a sense of dedication.
7. It is because of the brahmins that God (Vishnu) has taken incarnation. The opinions of others need not to be considered.
8. With the approval of a brahmin even someone from the lowest caste can become a brahmin. Even metal and stone idols are instilled with godliness by the mantras chanted by the brahmins.
9. Before the sacred thread ceremony32 one is considered to be of a low caste. The thread ceremony is the second birth when one is born into the spiritual life.
10. The brahmin priest should be respected by all. This is clearly stated in the Vedas. That which is not in accord with the Vedas lacks authority.
11. The disciplines of yoga, sacred fire rituals, various types of spiritual worship, charities, and pilgrimages, are all performed by the brahmins.
12. Brahmins are the manifestation of the knowledge of the Vedas. The brahmin is himself God. Desires are fulfilled with the blessings of a brahmin.
13. By worshipping a brahmin one's attitude becomes pure and one's life gets turned towards God. Beings are uplifted and arrive on the best path by taking the sacred water from brahmins.
14. In the traditional feast where one-hundred-thousand brahmins are served, only a brahmin is respected there and people of other castes are not served at such a gathering. However with God, only devotional feelings are appreciated. Things such as caste and status are not relevant to God.
15. Let all of this be as it is. The gods respect the brahmins so human beings should do so even more. Even if a brahmin is dull-minded, he should still be respected by all.
16. Someone born of a low caste may well be a Jnani, but it is not proper that he should be put next to a brahmin and worshipped alongside a priest. This will not happen ever.
17. Whatever is done by the people, but is rejected by the Vedas is not considered acceptable, and is therefore referred to as being heretical.
18. Let all of this be like this. Many who are devotees of God have put their faith in brahmins, and by worshipping the brahmins have become purified.
19. One may ask why should one go to a Sadguru if it is possible to attain the state of the greatest of gods by worshipping a brahmin? One may say this, but understand that one cannot get the most precious treasure without the Sadguru.
20. For religious rituals and activities the brahmin is worshipped, however, Self-Knowledge cannot be gained without the Sadguru, and without the Knowledge of Brahman that he gives, one cannot avoid the cycle of birth and death.
21. Without the Sadguru, one can never get Self-Knowledge, and ignorant beings get carried away by the current of worldly life.
22. Whatever is done without Self-Knowledge becomes the root of birth. Therefore, one should hold firmly to the feet of the Sadguru.
23. One who wants to see God must hold on to the company of saints. Without the company of saints, the God of gods cannot be realized.
24. Without a Sadguru many practices become wasted and may even make one go mad. Without the teachings of the Sadguru, one's efforts are futile.
25. I will give some examples: Some perform bathing rituals or do other rituals and make celebrations upon the completion of vows, some give in charity, some sit next to a fire, or consume smoke, or perform other practices like sitting in the midst of fire on all sides.
26. Some listen to narrations of God's stories, or listen to the Puranas (ancient myths), and some respectfully give explanations and travel to difficult pilgrimage places.
27. Some use shining vessels (usually silver and copper) for worship, perform rituals after bathing, make seats of grass, put a red powder mark on their forehead, and make offerings of garlands, sandalwood, and plates marked with various auspicious symbols.
28. Some offer pots and special vessels for water, or pots to keep idols of God in, or copper plates marked with symbolic diagrams of gods and goddesses, or other varieties of beautiful articles used in worship.
29. Some bang and ring bells loudly, some recite spiritual verses, prayers, and praises. Some do various postures, meditation, and offer salutations to various deities.
30. Some worship a set of five gods, some make a hundred thousand symbols of Shiva, and some offer betel leaves and coconuts. Some do many types of worship that are complete in all respects.
31. Some people do regular fasting faithfully, and some take vows or do other practices with great effort. They acquire the fruits of their actions, but still the inner meaning is missed.
32. Various rituals and actions are done while inwardly imagining the expectation of fruits. In this way, one's own desires are the ground for next birth.
33. One may make many efforts to study the various fourteen streams of knowledge, and may even become accomplished in these types of knowledge.
34. However, without the teachings of the Sadguru, it never happens that one is able to uplift oneself, and escape the tortures and pain of death.
35. Without acquiring Self-Knowledge through the teachings of the Sadguru, one is unable to escape the cycle of birth and death, and avoid the return to the womb.
36. Meditation, concentration, symbols, body postures, devotional feelings and devotional songs are all useless as long as one does not obtain the Knowledge of Brahman.
37. One who does not receive the teachings of the Sadguru roams around in the wrong directions like a blind person who eventually stumbles and falls into a ditch or a pit.
38. Like when upon the application of ointment to the eyes one is able to see what was not seen before, in the same way, the words of the Sadguru give the light of Self-Knowledge.
39. Without the Sadguru, life is useless, everything causes sorrow, and anxiety never goes away.
40. While in the protective hands of the Sadguru, God is revealed and the unlimited miseries of worldly life are destroyed.
41. In the past there were many great saints, sages and spiritual authorities of the highest order. They also received the instructions about investigation into Self-Knowledge (Jnana) and Supreme-Knowledge (Vijnana) from the Sadguru.
41. Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, and other incarnations of God like them eagerly worshipped the Sadguru. The accomplished (siddhas), sages (sadhus), and saints all served the Guru.
43. Those who are running the functioning of nature, and even the gods Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma are humble at the feet of the Sadguru. They did not rise to their eminent positions without the Sadguru.
44. Let this talk be. Know for certain that the one who wants liberation should go the Sadguru. Without the Sadguru it is not possible to attain liberation. Even until the end of the universe, it will not happen.
45. Now, how to know who is a Sadguru, a True Master? He is not like other gurus who give various kinds of knowledge. He is the one by whose teachings the light of Pure Knowledge shines forth.
46. The way to recognize the Sadguru is told and explained in the next sub-chapter. The listeners should listen to the explanations given here in sequence.