Welcome to day 19 of our 40 Day Retreat 2009.
Yesterday, I spoke about the Guru Principle and the gift of grace that it is from the Universe. I spoke about expanding our view of life that we may see a greater power at work, working through individuals and not to think that individuals are working by themselves but that they are working in accordance with a greater power, a greater law, and a greater field. It is good when you can expand your view then you begin to see the Guru in a different way, not as a human being but much more, as a power in life that we have been calling a power of grace.
Today, I want to focus on the secret of the inner and outer Guru relationship. How can we understand that relationship in such a way that we can use it in the best way possible? What is the secret to the inner and outer Guru relationship?
Outer Guru A Manifestation of Inner Guru
On the journey we need outer Gurus at certain stages; ultimately we will not need them because we will become established in the inner. The purpose of the outer Guru on the journey is to guide us until such time that the inner Guru takes over. The truth is that the outer Guru is a manifestation of our own inner Guru. The qualities that we see in the outer Gurus and that we admire are the same qualities that exist within us. And so the qualities of the outer Guru stimulate the inner guru within us. That is why we admire them and that is why we want to become like them, because it is in us. It is extremely important to use the outer Guru to awaken the inner Guru. We need to recognize that relationship that the outer is for awakening the inner not for dependency for the rest of our lives. The relationship that we have with the outer must be focused on this, that at some stage we need to take over.
In our human society we see the need for guides, coaches, mentors and teachers. We need them on the journey. Those who have mastered the path, or mastered knowledge, we need their help, until we too begin to master. It is important to understand that we see the teachers from where we are. We select teachers from where we are. If we are on the physical level, then we are looking for physical teachers, their physical characteristics become important. You see that in the fitness arena. We choose those, whom are very fit, we want those to be our Gurus, when fitness is our goal. The same with art and music, we look at the talents of those who have mastered the art and we choose those as our teachers. When we are on the physical path, when we are identified with the physical we see that in the teacher.
We need them on the journey, those who have mastered the path, or mastered knowledge. We need their help until we too begin to master that.
We Select Teachers From Where We Are
It is important to understand that we select the teachers from where we are. If we are on the physical level, then we are looking for physical teachers. Their physical characteristics become important. We see that in the fitness arena; we choose those whom we see as being very fit. We want those to be our Gurus when fitness is our goal. It is the same with art and music; we look at the talents of those who have mastered the art, and we choose those as our teachers. So when we are on the physical path and we are identified with the physical, we see that in the teacher. When we become more aware of our energy body then we begin to notice that in the teachers, and we select the one we feel compatible with energetically.
Transition from the Outer to Inner Guru
When we arrive at the last stage of the journey that I have been speaking about, the rudra granthi the brow, this is where we will make the transition from needing the outer Guru to finding the inner. This is where we make the transition. That is why it is so important to have the awakening of the brow center as it brings in the inner leader, the inner Guide. In the lower centres we need the support because we have not yet awakened our inner Guide. The power to command comes from this chakra.
Selecting a Guru
In selecting the outer Guru we need to select a guide on the path. We need to be certain that the person is compatible with us personality-wise, and energetically. We want to find that person with whom we feel inspired. That is important because masters carry different personalities. Though they may be awakened and established in the higher states, they have a human personality through which they act. Masters may use force or show anger, all under control but that is how they are. Some are softer, gentler or more loving, nevertheless, all the masters have their way of working and they are all true to their art. However, we need to choose the master that we feel comfortable with, and not to be caught up with the personality of some of the masters. Respect them, for that is their way, but do not despise them and think that because their personality is there, they are not there. That is important.
Guru Inspires with Shaktipat
In that relationship when we have selected the guide for us, we need to keep in mind that this is only a temporary physical relationship and we need to switch to the inner. At all times we must keep in mind, “This is not going to be a relationship of dependency. I need to learn from this master how to find my own inner master.” At all times that needs to be within us. Then we begin to look at what the master does to us. How is the master inspiring us? And the inspiration is what is called shaktipat. It is transference of energy from the powerful energy state of the Master, to our energy state that needs lifting. When we begin to feel that and to become inspired by it, we need to own it, not to think that it is the property of the master, so we need to be around the Master all the time. We need to be around the physical Master until we can begin to feel the energies moving within us, and we need to identity with the inner Guru. That is where the inner Guru or inner Guide comes in.
Identify With Your Own Energy Inside
Being around the master we see this energy at work. But we need to identify that it is our own and not his or hers, because when we feel something stirring up inside, it is our own. The Master is only lighting the flame inside of us, but the fire is our own. We need to claim that fire, and we need to follow that fire as it moves in us. Of course, the value of the master is that the Master is established, so the Master is not going to fluctuate as we do.
See the Master as Your Model
We therefore need to see the Master as the model, especially the Master we have chosen, we admire and we are compatible with. We need to see the Master as a model of where we want to go, and begin to look at what is happening within us and begin to follow the journey that is taking place inside of us. We need to take responsibility for what is happening within us.
Guided by the Inner Energy
In my own life, that became very evident. For two years I did not meet the physical Master. The inner Guru became active in the ashram of the outer Guru. He was not there but the energy of the place impacted on me. I could feel this inner Guru awakening and I felt guided by this energy inside of me. Of course I admired and respected him because I knew that in some way his energy was responsible.
When I met him two years afterwards, it was difficult to come to terms with a physical being. I did not know how to do it because for two years I was so much in this relationship with the inner. In the beginning I struggled, “This is a man”. I was seeing a man. Of course, my vision was mixed. I was feeling energy and also I was still rooted in the physical world.
Taking Charge
Then one day I decided that this is enough. I am not going to look outside. I closed my eyes and I centred inside in my energy and in the energy of the Master, and suddenly I felt a shift in my consciousness. But that voice of the Master was not just an ordinary voice. It was coming from such a place that stimulated my inner being, and I looked for some kind of depth in his voice and I could find none. That was coming from such a deep place. And I said to myself, “That is where I want to be. I want to be in that place.” He became a model for me. I did not need to ask him any questions. I was simply happy to sit around him and to feel what was happening inside of me, and I began to claim that.
It was very easy to practice because I was following the journey from inside of me. I was watching the inner Guru. Ultimately, at some point my brow chakra opened up to the extent that I could now feel, “I can do this!” I took charge of it, of course, being supported by the inner, the Supreme inside. Ultimately, with the teachings and the inspiration of the outer, the pull and support of the inner, I claimed my journey and I found that place of freedom inside.
Understanding Comes From Within
It was only then that I really understood the outer Guru. It was only then that I saw the perfection. Before that, I could not see it. On the journey at every stage we see the outer Guru only as we are, and from where we are. If in our outer being there are imperfections, we begin to see the same in the Guru. And as we grow more into inner perfection, we begin to see more and more of it in the outer Guru. Therefore, the only way we could really understand the outer is by understanding the inner. And we need to have that perfect coordination between inner and outer.
When you have decided who your Master is going to be, do not be critical of the Master because you do not understand the Master. It is more important to invite discussion and dialogue to understand why the Master is acting how the Master is acting. If you engage in the right dialogue and you have the right Master, the Master will be only too happy to clear your mind.
Recognize the Real Master
Real Masters want nothing of us but our own growth. Any master who wants money for their services, any master who promises you some kind of package to take your karmas away, any master who holds you in servitude, gives you a lot of responsibilities and tries to imprison your life, that is not the true master. They may have some kind of mastery but they are not the true master. The best masters are those who are selfless; they ask nothing of us, but only want to give.
This is the journey. It is marvelous when you can use the outer to touch the inner and create a beautiful relationship between outer and inner. That takes us away from servitude, dependency, and allows us to reclaim our own power and forge our own way, our own path to freedom.
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