Welcome to day 18 of our 40 Day Retreat 2009.
I have been speaking about the inner space, exploring the inner space, the journey of Kundalini along the chakras, an energy journey. I also spoke to you about our need of an energy boost to help us to experience this. I spoke about shaktipat initiation, that boost of energy that allows us to begin to experience this. I also said that we need that support from the world outside of us.
Today, I would like to focus on the idea of the Guru Principle on the journey. There is a power in the universe that is seeking to help us out of this ignorance and that is the power of grace.
Five Fold Acts of the Divine
In one of the philosophies of India, Kashmir Shaivism, it is said that the Supreme Power in the universe has five powers: one is creation, we see the creative power everywhere; the next is maintenance, we see that power being maintained or sustained; the third is re-absorption or we may call it dissolution; the fourth is concealment, that this great power is concealed or is involved in matter to the extent that it is concealed.We can understand this because we can feel that there is something concealed within us. The other is Grace, in order for that concealed consciousness, power, to be expressed once again in fullness, Grace is required. These are the fivefold acts of the Divine or the Supreme. The idea of Grace is called Anugraha in the Shaivism philosophy.
How to Have a More Enlightened View of the Universe
This is how I see the Guru Principle in life. Many people see Guru as a person, the moment they hear the word ‘Guru’ they think of a person. When I hear the word ‘Guru’ I think of this Supreme Power in life that guides us. If we can lift our vision a little bit to see the principle beyond persons, then we have a more enlightened view of the Universe.
For example, when we look at the Universe as it is, we may see a variety of things, all kinds of forms in the Universe. In our ignorant view or lack of full understanding, we see all of these forms as being personal. When we become a little more aware, when we acknowledge all of these forms are held in a Supreme Consciousness or Supreme Power, we will begin to see that all these forms are being governed by a higher power. Do you have that point of view?
Do you see the person or do you see what is beyond the person? What is at the very heart of the person? Do you see that power operating in the person or do you just see a human being or a form operating?
Our Acts Are Governed By a Supreme Principle
If we believe, as a lot of us believe, that there is a higher principle in life, that there is a Supreme Power, there is a God, then how can we believe in the individuals existing by themselves without this Supreme Power working, governing and directing their lives? Do you think we all exist as individuals in separation from this great power? Do you think we can just act and there is no consequence and that our acts are not governed by some Supreme Principle?
If you begin to really think of that, that there is a Supreme Power in life, then you will see in every person, something else operating and governing their lives. Of course, we have the power of choice, we can act and we feel a sense of individuality as we act. We are acting in a space that is governed by a law of cause and effect. Whenever we act there is a consequence and our universe responds in a certain way.
It is important to see the principle. When I think of the Guru Principle, I think of this principle in all of life that is offering support to us, that we may express that part of us that is concealed and seeking to be expressed or needing to be expressed.
Expand the Point of View from Personal to the Greater
Then we will realize that we have the power to attract. Whenever we meet someone in our universe we may think, “Oh this is a random event, this person just ended up here.” But if you could expand your point of view you might ask yourself, “How did I attract this person here? How did this person come to me?” If you keep on opening up your mind you may think, “Why did the universe send that person?” “How did I attract the universe in sending this person to me?” We expand the point of view from personal to the greater. This is an important thing how we can move away from the personal to the greater, to the universal.
This gives an expanded view of the universe. We never see again only the personal. This is how the wise sees the world. This is how we are challenged to see the world. This is how we will ultimately see the world.
Grace Will Come if We Can Attract It
This Guru Principle that I speak about that is in the universe is called Guru tattva. That Guru Principle or Grace is inside of us but we cannot find it, we cannot find that guidance from inside. We search for it but we cannot find it. When we cannot find it within, it becomes easier to find it outside.
When we see it in the universe coming towards us, we need to know that it is being attracted by something within us. That is why I say when we are ready it will appear. Grace will come if we can attract it, if we can pull it towards us.
When we seek to understand these power centers within us, when we seek to understand the energy within us and we are really sincere in our seeking, the universe is going to respond. People will come to us, information will come to us, books will come to us and Beings from other realms will come to us because we are attracting this. When they come to us we need to recognize their presence and recognize their presence is coming as a gift from the universe. Not that they are doing this out of their own individual will. It is happening in the context of being governed by a Greater Power. When there is readiness within us, we have the power to attract those persons who can help us. They come towards us and that meeting creates the initiation process. Something happens within us. The universe is dispensing Grace. That energy boost that we require is an important step. I said to you that there are different stages within us when we need this strong energy boost. I spoke about the granthis and these are powerful knots.
When you have this awareness then you begin to understand, that outer Gurus entering our lives when they do, is a gift from the universe. We should see their importance when they come. We should use that relationship to go deeper inside and to find our own inner Guru. The outer Guru is there only to help so we may find our own inner Guru. They are not there to be with us forever. They are there to help us find that Guru Tattva within us.
Experience of an Awakened Ajna Chakra
When that guru tattva is awakened in us we begin to feel the power of Guru inside us, we begin to feel this intuitive response from inside guiding us and we feel the power to guide others outside. This happens when the ajna chakra becomes awakened. You begin to feel a different kind of power inside. You begin to know more intuitively. You begin to feel a power to help others on the outside. You feel this commanding power that you can help others and you can direct them.
When I see that guru principle in people awakened, it is a joy to see it! They take charge of their lives in a different way and they bring about a wonderful response in the world by virtue of their positive influence. This guru principle is in us.
Appreciate All Gurus As Gifts
Sometimes, I see people saying they are going to stick to one guru and they become so caught up in this one guru, not being able to appreciate all the other gurus that exist, all being are gifts to us.
The truth is when you become awakened to the inner Guru, you will see the Guru Principle wherever it exists and you will lose the sense of “this is my Guru, I will not have any other Guru”. You lose that sense, and see that the Guru is a Principle, that acts through so many human beings. In whichever one it acts through, it is coming from a divine space inside and they all need to be honored. That is how I see the world. I love to see the principle in people. It draws my respect immediately whoever they are.
Let us begin to see that principle inside of us. Let us move beyond the person to the principle. Let us move beyond the personal to the universal. If you can expand your point of view you will see how your universe is bestowing grace in every moment, Anugraha.
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