36 The Guru and the Disciple
key. A master key is a tool the guru has that will not allow him to sink. It is a key, an understanding, which their gurus give them confidentially. The great gurus, the Gnani Purush, give this key confidentially; they give this key in the form of understanding, which tells them,‘ If you work with your disciples in this way, you will not sink and neither will anyone else.’
Questioner: In order to become a guru you need a master key, so what is that master key?
Dadashri: The Gnani Purush gives him an understanding and an assessment of what he is. The Gnani tells him,‘ You are not a guru. You are a guru only by name. You are nameless( anami). Remain laghutam( smallest of the small) and then be a guru— then you will stay afloat and keep others afloat.’ These people don’ t even have a master key and yet they proclaim themselves as gurus. One should attain the understanding; one should attain the master key from the Gnani Purush then there will be a safe side for him and his followers.
People ask me,‘ What are you?’ So I tell them,“ I am a Laghutam Purush. There is no other living being smaller than me in this world.” Now, can such a laghutam person sink in any way?
Questioner: No, he cannot.
Dadashri: Laghutam! It means one may feel the lightweight of the guru, but he will not sink. And if others sit with me, they will not sink because the Gnani Purush himself is laghutam, and is experienced and therefore he can take everyone to the other side. He has swum across the ocean of the worldly life and is completely capable of helping others do the same.
The Difference between a guru and a Gnani
Questioner: Please explain the difference between a guru and a Gnani Purush?