Lord Shiva says, “The guru is immovable, both inside and outside the cosmos just like I am the source that gives light and I am immovable. The guru is the enlightening light who is pure. In principle, the guru and I are one.” Through the scripture Ribhu Gita of Shiva Rahasyam, Lord Shiva has further insisted on the above truth and the essence of this shloka. He had revealed mystical truths to his son Karthikeya as well as his devotee Ribhu.
Ribhu in turn passed on this knowledge to his disciple Nidagha. In chapter 47 in the sixth Amsha called Shankara of Shri Shiv Rahasya, Ribhu states – “I am indeed the supreme Brahman, I am indeed Sadashiva, I am verily consciousness and I am indeed attribute-less. I am indeed the void, I am permanent. I am the self of all. I am indeed, full of awareness. I am the great lord, I am the witness of the world, I am the liberated self, I am the one without blemishes. I am the pure self alone.”
We must not spoil the purity of our mind. We are not pure due to our bad karmas. One jyoti or ray of guru’s knowledge is enough to burn away our karmas, which if ignited will burn up everything. That is why the guru’s teachings must be taken very earnestly. We must contemplate on how to follow the guru’s teachings in our day-to-day life. Otherwise, guru Jnana is of no use.
A disciple must always think – “Do we need the guru or does the guru need us?”
Spirituality is not meant as an alternative to entertainment. It is the virtue of intertwining ourselves with our supreme master—our guru who is none other than our soul – Sadashiva. It is a way of life.
When we think in the right direction, we will automatically transform ourselves. We must do intense sadhana. What we are doing is not enough. Everyday we must think – “What can we do today?” Automatically, we will get an inspiration from the guru to direct ourselves, our time and energy according to the will of our creator and we naturally go into the state of doing sadhana.
In Shri Guru Charitra which explains how Narhari becomes the great saint Narasimha Saraswati, this truth is revealed. Thus Narahari imparts wisdom to his mother saying that this body is perishable. What is its guarantee? So long as one has sound body, one should act virtuously. He asks,”Mother, your advice to follow religion and spirituality in old age is for those, who have won victory over death”. They can say that they will follow religion later. One should do religious deeds in childhood. There are three stages of life - childhood, youth and old age. But it is not certain when one will die. Yamraj (God of death) is counting every moment of man’s life, day and night. Knowing that the life is running fast, those who do not lead religious and virtuous life are like beasts. House, property, wife, children, and even parents—nothing is eternal.
Therefore, the wise man should do virtuous deeds at a young age. He should bend and blend with spirituality in young age itself.
Life is like a dream. The body may perish in a moment, but the soul is imperishable.
Excerpt from The Force of Nirvana by Shri Shri Nimishananda