62
The Guru and the Disciple
Everywhere they have become swachhandi (to act on one’s
own ego and intellect). The disciple and the guru fail to respect
each other! The disciple thinks, ‘The guru is lacking in common
sense. I just need to think things through on my own. The guru
can say whatever he wants, but it is up to me whether to listen to
him or not.’ Such is the state that has come to be between the
disciple and guru everywhere. The guru gives instructions to the
disciple, the disciple agrees, but his actions are completely to the
contrary. There is so much swachhand everywhere. The disciple
will say, ‘The guru may talk. He is a little crazy anyway.’ This is
what is happening everywhere. No one has yet been true to his
word.
Otherwise, the relationship between a true guru and his
disciple is so wonderful that whatever the guru says, the disciple
is pleased to hear and follow through. That is the kind of love
there is. But today there is continued quarrelling between the two.
The guru will tell the disciple to do something but the disciple will
not do it. The entire day is spent quarrelling just the way a mother-
in-law and a daughter-in-law do. The disciple thinks about running
away, but where can the poor fellow escape? He left his worldly
home, now how can he go back there? Who would keep him
now? They would not even employ him. Now what can become
of this? Now there is no importance or substance left in the guru
or the disciple and the entire religion is subject to criticism.
The humility of the disciple is the only requirement
There are so many disciples in so many places because of
the gurus. The burden of the disciple falls on the guru’s shoulders.
The disciple is sustained on this basis and this is how their life
proceeds. There are many true gurus in the world and they do
carry the burden of their disciples, hence whatever they do is
correct. The disciple becomes free of responsibility and peace
prevails. Everyone needs some sort of support. A person cannot
survive without any support.