For the seeker of truth, the Guru should be the foremost thought in the mind. Lord Shiva says, first thing every morning, seek the direction where the feet of the Guru shines and prostrate in that direction. The word Nama, which is used for salutation and surrender, refers to softening of the mind to a higher reality. The mind that is stiff cannot realise. Prostration is a physical act which indicates the subtle act of surrender of the mind and the intellect towards the teaching of the Guru.
In that direction do all the wise ones prostrate with folded hands and it is the right conduct in life to follow what the wise ones do, without a question. In that direction of our surrender and salutations shines the awakened master who is indeed an emperor witnessing constantly the drama of birth and destruction of this world.
Lord Shiva sings the glories of the galaxy of Gurus or enlightened masters beginning with Sri Natha. May we worship the feet of that Guru by whose grace alone we can remove the strong force of mental impressions and not by crores of pranayama or sadhana.
The thought of the form of the Guru is equal to endless contemplation on God. The singing of the praise of the Guru is equal to endless paeans to God.
I worship that Guru, the speck of the dust of whose feet helps as a bridge to cross this ocean of tumultuous change. I salute that master of masters whose grace helps wipe out the greatest of all ignorance—the delusion about who I am.
The feet of the Guru wipes off in a trice the sorrow caused by the fire of this world of change and suffering. Samsara means constant change. How can constant change be suffering? If I find myself in a happy situation, there is still suffering because I know it is not permanent and I do not know what is in store for me the next moment.
If I am in a miserable situation already, experiencing it is indeed painful and not knowing whether the tide will take a turn for the better or the worse keeps me in pain, until sorrow has become my habit in life.
Guru is that state of mind which is the witness to the creation of all the worlds of experiences, energises and sustains it. It is the eye of wisdom that gives the right knowledge of all that we see. It is the pointer to the path of freedom and liberation.
In a beautiful prayer to the Guru, Lord Shiva says that the enlightened sage is the pole on which this stage of the world stands. The grace of the Guru is like a rain of compassion of the flowers of all words of realisation. May that Guru always be present in my intellect and guide my vision.
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