The Guru and the Disciple
9
and gives you directions, then is that book not your guru? Therefore,
even a book is your guru.
You learn from teachers, from books, from people; all are
considered gurus. So is the whole world not your guru?
Questioner: Today’s psychology says that one should
leave the outside support and rely on one’s own support. The
outside support, whatever it may be, makes a person dependant.
If a seeker uses external support he becomes dependant and
therefore handicapped.
Dadashri: That should not be the way; one should not
become handicapped by relying on external support. One should
leave the external support and live on his own support, but until
one can rely on his own support, he must rely on external naimittic
(instrumental support). Does a book become a nimit (an
instrument) or not? Is everything not in a nimit form? That is why
if today’s psychology tells you to let go of your support, you should
let go of that support to some extent. However, you do need to
take support to some extent; you need the support of books and
many other things.
One man was saying that he did not need a guru, so I asked
him, “Tell me who did not have a guru? Is your mother, who
instilled noble values within you, not a guru? The one who said to
you, ‘Son do this way, okay? Be cautious. Be careful here’ etc.;
if she is not a guru, then what is she?”
Questioner: That is true.
Dadashri: So the mother is the first guru. She will teach
the son how to wear clothes. A child has to learn even that and his
mother teaches him. She teaches him how to walk and do other
things. In which lifetime has he not walked? He has walked for
infinite lifetimes, but he has to learn the same thing again and again.
If the wife is not at home and you want to make kadhee