Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 163

DOCTRINAL DISPUTES
123
variation in rites as in doctrines.
The heads of these
sub-sects dislike and avoid each other.
They often quarrel
over the various points of doctrine which cause such
divisions.
But these are forgotten, or, at any rate, allowed
to remain in abeyance, should it be necessary to make
common cause in defending the interests of the sect as
a whole, during the disputes which occasionally arise
between the Vishnavites and
Sivaites.
CHAPTER X
—
—
The Gurus, or Hindu Priests. The Portrait of a true Guru. Their
Temporal and Spiritual Power. The Fear and Respect that they
inspire.
Ecclesiastical Hierarchy composed of the Superior and
Inferior Priests.
The Honours paid to them. Priestesses.
—
—
—
—
shall begin
this chapter
by giving an accurate
descrip-
tion of a true guru belonging to the sect of Siva.
This
picture is taken from the Vedanta Sara \ to which it serves
At the same time I must warn
as an introduction.
readers that it would be difficult to find any points of
resemblance between this picture and the gurus of the present
day, who are very far from attaining to this pitch of per-
I
my
fection.
The sketch will, however, prove that even the
very highest moral virtues were not unknown to the Hindus,
though now they regard them only as subjects for specu-
lative discussion.
A true guru is a man who is in the habit of practising
the virtues
who with the sword of wisdom has lopped
off all the branches and torn out all the roots of sin, and
who has dispersed, with the light of reason, the thick
shadows in which sin is shrouded who, though seated on
a mountain of sins, yet confronts their attacks with a heart
as hard as a diamond
who behaves with dignity and
independence who has the feelings of a father for all his
4
all
;
;
;
;
who makes no
between
but shows equal kindness to
both who looks on gold and precious stones with the
same indifference as on pieces of iron or potsherd, and
values the one as highly as the other
whose chief care is
disciples
;
his friends
and
difference in his conduct
his enemies,
;
;
1
A
Series.
translation of this,
Ed.
by Jacobs,
is
included in Triibner's Oriental