Guru is the person who dispels darkness. Guru can be split into two root words - Gu and Ru. Gu means darkness and Ru is light. The darkness here refers to the lack of clarity in the mind owing to muddled thinking patterns that have formed grooves in the psyche. These thought grooves do not allow a person to progress in life. They are highly limiting in nature and this does not allow an individual to know his true nature, which is a limitless consciousness. A guru is a person who functions like a master sculptor, chiselling a big piece of rock, which is the disciple. He sees the idol in the rock and chips out all the unwanted bits and pieces. What remains is a fine ideal of a personality that was hidden within the maze of confusing thoughts.
While we talk of a guru as a person - one who ideally teaches a spiritual way of life to the disciples, anyone who is a master in any area of expertise is called a guru. We have therefore a music guru, a dance guru, an art guru or even a guru for financial and materials management and corporate gurus. In its essence, guru is not a person, but a quality. Anything that helps to dispel the confusions in our mind and give clarity - there the guru expresses through them.
The gurus that we come across outside of us as masters, teachers and swamis are a total manifestation of this dimension of the universe called the guru. The true Guru only comes to those who are blessed by God, and who are ready to recieve guidence with humility. Understand the rare gift it is to come into contact with such a pure Guru. Listen quietly and sincerely to the untainted words of such a genuine Guru and allow yourself to learn and absorb his teachings to you.
