Citizendia
Your Ad Here

For other uses, see Guru (disambiguation).

Guru (Sanskrit: गुरु) is a term teacher or guide in the religious or sense, and is commonly used in Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, as well as in some new religious movements. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical In Education, a teacher is one who helps Students or pupils often in a School, as well as in a Family, religious or Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Sikhism ( IPA: or; ਸਿੱਖੀ sikkhī, IPA:) founded on the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century A new religious movement or NRM is a term used to refer to a religious faith or an ethical spiritual or philosophical movement of recent origin that is not part The guru is seen in these religions as a sacred conduit for wisdom and guidance, and finding a true guru is often held to be a prerequisite for attaining self-realization.

"Guru" also refers in Sanskrit to Brihaspati, a Hindu divine figure. Brihaspati (or Brahmanaspati) is the name of a Vedic deity, personification of piety and religion the chief offerer of prayers and sacrifices represented as In Vedic astrology, Guru or Brihaspati is believed to exert teaching influences. Jyotiṣa ( Sanskrit jyotiṣa, from jyótis- "light heavenly body" also spelled Jyotish and Jyotisha in English Indeed, in many Indian languages such as Hindi, the occidental Thursday is called either Brihaspativaar or Guruvaar (vaar meaning day of the week). Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is

In contemporary India and Indonesia, the word "guru" is widely used with the general meaning of "teacher", including by the pupils at school. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. In Western usage, the meaning of guru has been extended to cover anyone who acquires followers, though not necessarily in an established school of philosophy or religion. In a further Western metaphorical extension, guru is used to refer to a person who has authority because of his or her perceived secular knowledge or skills.

Contents

Etymology

The word guru, a noun, means "teacher" or Spiritual Master in Sanskrit and in other languages derived from Sanskrit, such as Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati and Nepali, or influenced by Sanskrit, such as Indonesian. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Gujarati (ગુજરાતી Gujǎrātī ? Nepali is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in Nepal, Bhutan, and some parts of India and Myanmar (Burma Indonesian or Bahasa Indonesia, based on the Riau version of Malay language, was declared the official language with the declaration of

As a noun the word means the the imparter of knowledge (jnana) . Jñāna (also spelled Gñāna; Devanagari ज्ञान is the Sanskrit term for Knowledge or Philosophy. As an adjective, it means "heavy," or "weighty," in the sense of "heavy with knowledge,"[1] "heavy with spiritual wisdom,"[2] "heavy with spiritual weight,"[3] "heavy with the good qualities of scriptures and realization,"[4] or "heavy with a wealth of knowledge. "[5] The word has it roots in the Sanskrit gri ("to invoke", or "to praise"), and may have a connection to the word gur, meaning "to raise, "to lift up", or "to make an effort. "[6] Barnhart's "Dictionary of Etymology" compares gravis (Latin: grave, weighty, serious) as cognate with the Sanskrit "guru. Cognates in Linguistics are words that have a common origin They may occur within a language such as shirt and skirt as two English words descended from "[7]

A traditional etymology of the term "guru" is based on the interplay between darkness and light. The Guru is seen as the one who "dispels the darkness of ignorance. "[8][9][10] In some texts it is described that the syllables gu (गु) and ru (रु) stand for darkness and light, respectively. [11]

According to the Advaya-Tãraka Upanishad (verse 16), guru is composed of the syllables 'gu' and 'ru', the former signifying 'darkness', and the latter signifying 'the destroyer of that [darkness]', hence a guru is one characterized as someone who dispels spiritual ignorance (darkness), with spiritual illumination (light). The Upanishads ( Devanagari: उपनिषद् IAST: upaniṣad also spelled "Upanisad" are Hindu scriptures that constitute the core teachings [12]

The syllable gu means shadows
The syllable ru, he who disperses them,
Because of the power to disperse darkness
the guru is thus named.

– Advayataraka Upanishad 14—18, verse 5

Reender Kranenborg disagrees, stating that darkness and light have nothing to do with the word guru. The Upanishads ( Devanagari: उपनिषद् IAST: upaniṣad also spelled "Upanisad" are Hindu scriptures that constitute the core teachings Reender Kranenborg (b1942 was an editor of the magazine Religious Movement in the Netherlands published by the institute of Religious studies of the Free University He describes this as a "peoples' etymology. "[13]

Another etymology of the word "guru" found in the Guru Gita, includes gu as "beyond the qualities" and ru as "devoid of form", stating that "He who bestows that nature which transcend the qualities is said to be guru". [14] The meanings of "gu" and "ru" can also be traced to the Sutras indicating concealment and its annulment. [8]

In Western Esotericism and the Science of Religion, Pierre Riffard makes a distinction between "occult" and "scientific" etymologies, citing as an example of the former the etymology of "guru" in which the derivation is presented as gu ("darkness") and ru ("to push away"); the latter he exemplifies by "guru" with the meaning of "heavy". [15]

The Guru in Hinduism

Adi Shankaracharya, (centre) with the Four Disciples; Sureshwaracharya, Hastamalaka, Padmapada, and Totakacharya. Shankara placed each of the disciples in charge of a matha (a monastery or religious order), one of which was located in each of the cardinal directions.
Adi Shankaracharya, (centre) with the Four Disciples; Sureshwaracharya, Hastamalaka, Padmapada, and Totakacharya. Adi Shankara ( Malayalam: ആദി ശങ്കരന്‍ Devanāgarī: आदि शङ्कर Ādi Śaṅkara, aːd̪i ɕaŋkərə (see below Sureśvara (also known as Sureśvarācārya) c 750 CE) was an Indian philosopher, who studied under Śankara. Hastamalakacharya ( IAST Hastāmalakācārya) (BC 5th century CE) was a disciple of Adi Shankara, the Advaita philosopher Padmapadacharya (fl 8th century CE) was an Indian Philosopher, a follower of Adi Shankara. Totakacharya ( IAST Toţakācārya) (c 8th century CE) was a disciple of Adi Shankara, the Advaita philosopher Shankara placed each of the disciples in charge of a matha (a monastery or religious order), one of which was located in each of the cardinal directions. A maţha (also written math, matha or mutt) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of the Hindu and

The importance of finding a guru who can impart transcendental knowledge (vidyā) is emphasised in Hinduism. One of the main Hindu texts, the Bhagavad Gita, is a dialogue between God in the form of Krishna and his friend Arjuna, a Kshatriya prince who accepts Krishna as his guru on the battlefield, prior to a large battle. Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism Arjuna or Arjun ( Sanskrit: अर्जुन arjuna) is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, whose name Kshatriya (क्षत्रिय kṣatriya from क्षत्र kṣatra) is one of the four varnas (social orders in Hinduism Not only does this dialogue outline many of the ideals of Hinduism, but their relationship is considered an ideal one of Guru-Shishya. In the Gita, Krishna speaks to Arjuna of the importance of finding a guru:

Acquire the transcendental knowledge from a Self-realized master by humble reverence, by sincere inquiry, and by service. The wise ones who have realized the Truth will impart the Knowledge to you. [16]

In the sense mentioned above, guru is used more or less interchangeably with satguru (literally: true teacher) and satpurusha. Satguru or Sadguru means true Guru. (सदगुरू The term satguru distinguishes itself from other forms of gurus such as musical instructors Compare also Swami. Swami (Sw (स्वामी Svāmi, IPA:) is primarily a Hindu honorific title for either males or females The disciple of a guru is called a śiṣya or chela. The guru-shishya tradition lineage or Parampara, is a spiritual relationship in traditional Hinduism where teachings are transmitted from a Often a guru lives in an ashram or in a gurukula (the guru's household), together with his disciples. An Ashram in ancient India was a Hindu hermitage where sages lived in Peace and tranquility amidst Nature. A Gurukul ( Guru refers to "teacher" or "master" Kul refers to his domain from the Sanskrit word kula, meaning extended family The lineage of a guru, spread by disciples who carry on the guru's message, is known as the guru parampara, or disciplic succession. Parampara ( Sanskrit: परम्परा paramparā) denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture

Some Hindu denominations like BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha hold that a personal relationship with a living guru, revered as the embodiment of God, is essential in seeking moksha. In Indian religions, Moksha ( Sanskrit: sa मोक्ष mokṣa) or Mukti ( Sanskrit: sa मुक्ति literally "release" The guru is the one who guides his or her disciple to become jivanmukta, the liberated soul able to achieve salvation in his or her lifetime. Jivanmukta (from the Sanskrit words Jiva and Mukti) is someone who in the Advaita philosophy of Hinduism,

The role of the guru continues in the original sense of the word in such Hindu traditions as the Vedānta, yoga, tantra and bhakti schools. Vedanta ( Devanagari: sa वेदान्त Vedānta) is a spiritual tradition explained in the Upanishads that is concerned with the Self-realisation Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the Tantra ( Sanskrit: तन्त्र; " Weave " denoting continuity) tantricism or tantrism is any of several esoteric Bhakti ( Devanāgarī: भक्ति) is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning devotion. Indeed, it is now a standard part of Hinduism that a guru is one's spiritual guide on earth. In some more mystical traditions it is believed that the guru could awaken dormant spiritual knowledge within the pupil. The act of doing this is known as shaktipat. Shaktipat or Śaktipāta is a Sanskrit word in the Hindu spiritual tradition that refers to the act of a Guru or spiritual teacher

In Hinduism, the guru is considered a respected person with saintly qualities who enlightens the mind of his or her disciple, an educator from whom one receives the initiatory mantra, and one who instructs in rituals and religious ceremonies. The Vishnu Smriti and Manu Smriti regard the teacher and the mother and father as the most venerable influences on an individual. The Manu Smriti ( Sanskrit: मनुस्मृति is a work of Hindu law and ancient Indian society

Some influential gurus in the Hindu tradition were Adi Shankaracharya, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Shri Ramakrishna. Adi Shankara ( Malayalam: ആദി ശങ്കരന്‍ Devanāgarī: आदि शङ्कर Ādi Śaṅkara, aːd̪i ɕaŋkərə (see below Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (also transliterated Caitanya, IAST caitanya mahāprabhu) ( Bengali চৈতন্য মহাপ্রভূ (1486 - Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa ( Bangla: রামকৃষ্ণ পরমহংস Ramkṛiṣṇo Pôromôhongśo) ( February 18, 1836 - Other gurus who continued the yogic tradition into the 20th century include: Shri Aurobindo Ghosh, Shri Ramana Maharshi, Sathya Sai Baba, Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati (The Sage of Kanchi), Swami Sivananda, Paramahansa Yogananda, Swami Chinmayananda, Swami Vivekananda and A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the Sri Aurobindo (শ্রী অরবিন্দ Sri Ôrobindo) ( August 15, 1872 – December 5, 1950) was an Indian Sri Ramana Maharshi ( December 30, 1879 – April 14, 1950) born Venkataraman Iyer, was an Indian sage Sathya Sai Baba ( Telugu: సత్య సాయి బాబా was born as Sathyanarayana Raju on November 23 1926 &mdash or later than His Holiness Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal ( May 20, 1894 &ndash Swami Sivananda Saraswati ( Sep 8, 1887 — Jul 14, 1963) was a Hindu spiritual teacher and a well known Paramahansa Yogananda ( Bengali: পরমহংস যোগানন্দ Pôromohôngsho Joganondo, Sanskrit: परमहंस योगानं‍द Swami Chinmayananda ( May 8, 1916 - Aug 3, 1993) was born Balakrishna Menon (Balan Swami Vivekananda (স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ Shami Bibekānondo; स्वामी विवेकानन्द Svāmi Vivekānanda) ( Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ( Sanskrit:, abhaya-caraṇāravinda bhakti-vedānta svāmī prabhupāda, Bangla: অভয়চরনাবিন্দ See also the list of Hindu gurus. These are some of the most noteworthy Gurus and Saints of Hinduism (in alphabetical order A

In Indian culture, a person without a guru or a teacher (acharya) was once looked down on as an orphan or unfortunate one. An acharya ( acariya in Pali) is an important religious teacher ( Guru) who teaches by his own example (from Sanskrit 'achara' behavior The word anatha in Sanskrit means "the one without a teacher. " An acharya is the giver of gyan (knowledge) in the form of shiksha (instruction). A guru also gives diksha initiation which is the spiritual awakening of the disciple by the grace of the guru. In Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, diksha is the Ritual of Initiation into the worship of Diksha is also considered to be the procedure of bestowing the divine powers of a guru upon the disciple, through which the disciple progresses continuously along the path to divinity.

The concept of the "guru" can be traced as far back as the early Upanishads, where the idea of the Divine Teacher on earth first manifested from its early Brahmin associations. The Upanishads ( Devanagari: उपनिषद् IAST: upaniṣad also spelled "Upanisad" are Hindu scriptures that constitute the core teachings Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism.

Guru and God

Gurus do not appeal to scriptures for their authority, nor are they prophets who declare the will of God. Indeed, there is an understanding in some forms of Hinduism that if the devotee were presented with the guru and God, first he would pay respect to the guru, since the guru had been instrumental in leading him to God. [17][18][19] Some traditions claim "Guru, God and Self" (Self meaning soul, not personality) are one and the same. Saints and poets in India have expressed the following views about the relationship between Guru and God:

Kabir

Guru and God both appear before me. A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity Al-Kabir "the Great" is also one of the 99 names of God in Islam To whom should I prostrate?
I bow before Guru who introduced God to me.

Brahmanand

It is my great fortune that I found Satguru, all my doubts are removed. Swami Brahmananda ( Bengali: Shami Bromhanondo) ( January 21, 1863 - April 10, 1922) was born in Sikra near Kolkata
I bow before Guru. Guru's glory is greater than God's.

Brahmanda Purana

Guru is Shiva sans his three eyes,
Vishnu sans his four arms
Brahma sans his four heads. Brahmanda Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text is considered as the eighteenth Purana in almost all the lists of the Puranas and it
He is parama Shiva himself in human form

Adi Shankara begins his Gurustotram or Verses to the Guru with the following Sanskrit Sloka, that has become a widely sung Bhajan:

Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwara. Adi Shankara ( Malayalam: ആദി ശങ്കരന്‍ Devanāgarī: आदि शङ्कर Ādi Śaṅkara, aːd̪i ɕaŋkərə (see below Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical A Bhajan is a type of Hindu Devotional Song, often simple lyrical and expressing love for the Divine. Guru Sakshath Parambrahma, Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha. (tr: Guru is the creator Brahma, Guru is the preserver Vishnu, Guru is the destroyer Siva. Brahma is the Hindu god ( deva) of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva Guru is directly the supreme spirit — I offer my salutations to this Guru. )

Guru Granth Sahib

Guru and God are one and the divine Guru is contained amongst all. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the [20]

Guru Granth Sahib

If a hundred moons were to rise, and a thousand suns appeared
even with such light, there would still be pitch darkness without the Guru. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the

Sai Baba

15th March 2008 - When you see a plane flying in the sky, would you refuse to believe that it is flown by a pilot, just because you do not see him from where you are? You must go into the plane to see the pilot; you cannot deny his existence, standing on the ground below. Sai Baba may refer to Sai Baba of Shirdi (d 1918 Indian saint Sathya Sai Baba (b You have to guess that the plane must have a pilot. So too seeing the Universe, you have to guess the existence of God, not deny Him because you are not able to see him. To see your own eyes, you need a mirror; to see yourself in your native spiritual grandeur, you need a Guru (preceptor). - BABA [21]

The guru-shishya tradition

Main article: Guru-shishya tradition

The guru-shishya tradition is the transmission of teachings from a guru (teacher, गुरू) to a 'śiṣya' (disciple, िशष्य). The guru-shishya tradition lineage or Parampara, is a spiritual relationship in traditional Hinduism where teachings are transmitted from a In this relationship, subtle and advanced knowledge is conveyed and received through the student's respect, commitment, devotion and obedience. The student eventually masters the knowledge that the guru embodies.

The dialogue between guru and disciple is a fundamental component of Hinduism, established in the oral traditions of the Upanishads (c. The Upanishads ( Devanagari: उपनिषद् IAST: upaniṣad also spelled "Upanisad" are Hindu scriptures that constitute the core teachings 2000 BC). The term Upanishad derives from the Sanskrit words upa (near), ni (down) and şad (to sit) — "sitting down near" a spiritual teacher to receive instruction. Examples include the relationship between Krishna and Arjuna in the Mahabharata (Bhagavad Gita), and between Rama and Hanuman in the Ramayana. Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism Arjuna or Arjun ( Sanskrit: अर्जुन arjuna) is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, whose name Rama ( IAST: rāma Devanāgarī: राम Khmer: Phreah Ream Thai: Phra Ram Lao: Phra Lam Tagalog: Hanuman (हनुमत् sa-Latn '''Hanumat''' nominative singular sa हनुमान् sa-Latn ''Hanumān'' known also as ' Anjaneya' (son of Anjana is one of the The Rāmāyaṇa ( Devanāgarī: sa रामायण is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the Hindu sage ( Maharishi) Valmiki In the Upanishads, the guru-disciple relationship appears in many settings (a husband answers a wife's questions about immortality; a teenage boy is taught by Yama, who is Death personified, etc. This article is about the deity Yama in Hinduism For yama in the sense of a code of conduct see Yamas. ) Sometimes the sages are female, and sometimes the instruction is sought by kings.

In the Vedas, the brahmavidya or knowledge of Brahman is communicated from guru to shishya orally. "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation. Brahman ( bráhman-, Nominative bráhma sa ब्रह्म is a concept of Hinduism.

The word Sikh is derived from the Sanskrit shishya. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. [22]

Classification of gurus

According to the Deval Smriti there can be eleven kinds of gurus and according to Nama Chintamani there are ten types.

In his book about neo-Hindu movements in the Netherlands, Kranenborg distinguishes four types of gurus in India:[13]

  1. the spiritual advisor for higher caste Hindus who also performs traditional rituals and who is not connected to a temple (thus not a priest);
  2. the enlightened master who derives his authority from his experience, such as achieving enlightenment. Castes are Hereditary systems of occupation, Endogamy, social culture, Social class, and Political power. In Indian religions, Moksha ( Sanskrit: sa मोक्ष mokṣa) or Mukti ( Sanskrit: sa मुक्ति literally "release" This type appears in bhakti movements and in tantra and asks for unquestioning obedience, and can have Western followers. The Bhakti movement was a Hindu religious movement in which the main spiritual practice was loving devotion to God, or Bhakti. Tantra ( Sanskrit: तन्त्र; " Weave " denoting continuity) tantricism or tantrism is any of several esoteric Westerners can even become one, as have, for example Andrew Cohen, and Isaac Shapiro. Andrew Cohen may refer to Andrew Cohen (baseball (1904–1988 late Major League Baseball second baseman Andrew Cohen (colonial governor
  3. the avatar, a guru who considers himself to be an incarnation of God, God-like, or an instrument of God, or who is considered as such by others. Avatar or Avatara (अवतार IAST Avatāra) is often inaccurately translated into English as incarnation
  4. A "guru" in the form of a book i. e. the Guru Granth Sahib in the Sikh religion;

Attributes of guru

Gurus of several Hindu denominations are often referred to as Satgurus. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. Satguru or Sadguru means true Guru. (सदगुरू The term satguru distinguishes itself from other forms of gurus such as musical instructors

In the Upanishads, five signs of satguru (true guru) are mentioned.

In the presence of the satguru; Knowledge flourishes (Gyana raksha); Sorrow diminishes (Dukha kshaya); Joy wells up without any reason (Sukha aavirbhava); Abundance dawns (Samriddhi); All talents manifest (Sarva samvardhan).

According to the Indologist Georg Feuerstein, the preceptors were traditionally treated with great reverence, granted excessive authority, and identified with the transcendental Reality. Dr Georg Feuerstein (born 1947) is a German-Canadian Indologist specializing on Yoga. In Philosophy, the adjective transcendental and the noun transcendence convey three different but related primary meanings all of them derived from the word's literal He writes that partly to counterbalance this deification, some Hindu schools began to emphasize that the real teacher is the transcendental Self. The soul, according to many religious and philosophical beliefs is the self-awareness, or Consciousness, unique to a particular living [23]

The Shiva Samhita, a late medieval text on Hatha yoga, enshrines the figure of the guru as essential for liberation, and asserts that the disciple should give all his or her property and livestock to the guru upon diksha (initiation). Shiva Samhita (also Siva Samhita) is a Sanskrit text on Yoga, written by an unknown author Hatha Yoga ( Sanskrit हठयोग hʌʈʰʌjogʌ also called Hatha Vidya (हठविद्या is a particular system of Yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama In Indian religions, Moksha ( Sanskrit: sa मोक्ष mokṣa) or Mukti ( Sanskrit: sa मुक्ति literally "release" In Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, diksha is the Ritual of Initiation into the worship of [23]

The Vishnu Smriti and Manu Smriti regard the Acharya (teacher/guru), along with the mother and the father, as the most venerable individuals. The Manu Smriti ( Sanskrit: मनुस्मृति is a work of Hindu law and ancient Indian society The mother and father are the first "guru," the spiritual guru is the second.

The Mundak Upanishad says that in order to realize the supreme godhead, one should surrender one's self before the guru who knows the secrets of the Vedas. "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation.

On the role of the guru, Swami Sivananda asks: "Do you realize now the sacred significance and the supreme importance of the Guru's role in the evolution of man? It was not without reason that the India of the past carefully tended and kept alive the lamp of Guru-Tattva. Swami Sivananda Saraswati ( Sep 8, 1887 — Jul 14, 1963) was a Hindu spiritual teacher and a well known It is therefore not without reason that India, year after year, age after age, commemorates anew this ancient concept of the Guru, adores it and pays homage to it again and again, and thereby re-affirms its belief and allegiance to it. For, the true Indian knows that the Guru is the only guarantee for the individual to transcend the bondage of sorrow and death, and experience the Consciousness of the Reality. "

Some scriptures and gurus have warned against false teachers, and have recommended that the spiritual seeker test the guru before accepting him. Some have given criteria on how to distinguish false from genuine ones:

Rituals

Guru Purnima is the day when the disciple wakes up and expresses gratitude. The day of Full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh of the Hindu calendar is traditionally celebrated as Guru Purnima ( IAST: Guru Pūrṇimā The purpose of the Guru Purnima (or Poornima) celebration is to review the preceding year to see how much one has progressed in life, to renew one's determination, and to focus on one's progress on the spiritual path.

Guru Puja (literally "worship of the guru") the practice of worshiping the guru through the making of offerings and requesting inspiration from the guru. This article is about Hinduism. Puja or "pooja" may also refer to certain devotional practices performed by Balmikis Buddhists (see Vows and commitments made by the disciple or chela, which might have lost their strength, are renewed.

Guru Bhakti (literally "devotion to the guru") is considered important in many schools and sects. Bhakti ( Devanāgarī: भक्ति) is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning devotion. In the Sociology of religion a sect is generally a smaller religious or political group that has broken off from a larger group for example from a

In modern Hinduism

Main article: Contemporary Hindu movements

The German Indologist Axel Michaels in his 1998 book on Hinduism, called "guruism" a form of modern Hinduism (arising since 1850). Hinduism is going through a phase of regeneration and reform through the vehicle of several contemporary movements collectively termed as Hindu reform movements. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Indology refers to the academic study of the languages texts History and Cultures of the Indian subcontinent, and as such a subset of Asian studies Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is going through a phase of regeneration and reform through the vehicle of several contemporary movements collectively termed as Hindu reform movements. He described it as a Western-oriented and especially active proselytizing form of Hinduism founded by charismatic persons with a corpus of esoteric writings, predominantly in English. Proselytism is the practice of attempting to convert people to another opinion and particularly another religion The word charisma (origin from the Greek word χάρισμα (kharisma, "gift" or "divine favor" from kharizesthai, "to favor" [26] According to Michaels the best known representatives include Krishnamurti, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (Transcendental Meditation), Sai Baba, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Balyogeshwar (also known as "Guru Maharaj Ji", "Maharaji", and "Prem Rawat") (Divine Light Mission), and Rajneesh (Sannyasis). Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ( January 12, 1917 &ndash February 5 2008) founded and developed the Transcendental Meditation technique and Transcendental Meditation or TM is the trademarked name of a Meditation technique introduced in 1958 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1917-2008 Sai Baba may refer to Sai Baba of Shirdi (d 1918 Indian saint Sathya Sai Baba (b Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ( Sanskrit:, abhaya-caraṇāravinda bhakti-vedānta svāmī prabhupāda, Bangla: অভয়চরনাবিন্দ Prem Pal Singh Rawat (born December 10 1957 in Haridwar, India) also known as Balyogeshwar, Guru Maharaj Ji, and The Divine Light Mission (DLM (Divya Sandesh Parishad was an organization founded in 1960 by Guru Shri Hans Ji Maharaj for his following in northern India "Rajneesh" Chandra Mohan Jain (रजनीश चन्द्र मोहन जैन (December 11 1931 – January 19 1990 also known as Acharya Rajneesh The Osho movement is a New religious movement founded and inspired by the Indian Guru and Philosopher Osho (formerly known as Bhagwan [27]

Guru in Buddhism

Part of a series on
Buddhism

History

Foundations

Key Concepts

Major Figures

Practices

Countries

Branches

Texts

Portal

view full index

In the Theravada Buddhist tradition, the teacher is a valued and honoured mentor worthy of great respect, and is a source of inspiration on the path to Enlightenment. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The History of Buddhism spans the 6th century BCE to the present starting with the birth of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama. Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term A number of noted individuals have been Buddhists. Historical Buddhist thinkers and founders of schools Individuals are grouped by nationality except in cases where the The Schools of Buddhism. Buddhism is classified in various ways Buddhist texts can be categorized in a number of ways The Western terms "scripture" and "canonical" are applied to Buddhism in inconsistent ways by Western scholars History Origin of the school The Theravāda school is ultimately derived from the Vibhajjavāda (or 'doctrine of analysis' grouping which was a continuation Bodhi (बोधि is both the Pāli and Sanskrit word traditionally translated into English as "enlightenment

Blessed by the guru, whom the disciple regards as a Bodhisattva, or the embodiment of Buddha, the disciple can continue on the way to experiencing the true nature of reality. In the Buddhist context a bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व bodhisattva;; Vietnamese Bồ Tát; बोधिसत्त bodhisatta In Buddhism, buddhahood ( Sanskrit: buddhatva. Pali: buddhatta. The disciple shows great appreciation and devotion for the guru, whose blessing is the last of the four foundations of Vajrayana Buddhism. Vajrayana Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayana, Mantranaya, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices

In the Tibetan tradition, the guru is seen as the Buddha, the very root of spiritual realization and the basis of the path. Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including In Buddhism, buddhahood ( Sanskrit: buddhatva. Pali: buddhatta. Without the teacher, it is asserted, there can be no experience or insight. In Tibetan texts, great emphasis is placed upon praising the virtues of the guru.

The Dalai Lama, speaking of the importance of the guru, said: "Rely on the teachings to evaluate a guru: Do not have blind faith, but also no blind criticism. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people according to Tibetan Buddhism. " He also observed that the term 'living Buddha' is a translation of the Chinese words huo fuo. In Tibetan, he said, the operative word is lama which means 'guru'. A guru is someone who is not necessarily a Buddha, but is heavy with knowledge. The term vajra is also used, meaning 'master'.

Tantric teachings include visualizing the guru and making offerings praising the guru. Tantra ( Sanskrit: तन्त्र; " Weave " denoting continuity) tantricism or tantrism is any of several esoteric The guru is known as the vajra (literally "diamond") guru. Vajra ( Devanagari: वज्र Tibetan: dorje ( is a Sanskrit word meaning both Thunderbolt and Diamond Initiations or ritual empowerments are necessary before the student is permitted to practise a particular tantra. The guru does not perform initiation as an individual, but as the person's own Buddha-nature reflected in the personality of the guru. The disciple is asked to make vows and commitments which preserve the spiritual link to the guru, and is told that to break this link is a serious downfall.

See also: Tibetan Buddhism

Guru in Sikhism

Main article: Sikh Gurus

The title Guru (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ) is fundamental to the Sikh religion. Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak over the period of 1469 to 1708. Gurmukhī (ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ Shahmukhi:) is the most common script used for writing the Punjabi language. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. Indeed, the Sikhs have carried the word to an even greater abstraction, while retaining the original usage, and use it to relate to an understanding or knowledge imparted through any medium.

Sikhism is derived from the Sanskrit word shishya, or disciple. Sikhism ( IPA: or; ਸਿੱਖੀ sikkhī, IPA:) founded on the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century The core beliefs of Sikhism are of belief in one God and in the teachings of the Ten Gurus, enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book. Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak over the period of 1469 to 1708. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the

Guru Nanak, the first guru of Sikhism, was opposed to the caste system prevalent in India in his time, and he accepted Hindus, Muslims and people from other religions as disciples. Guru Nanak Dev (ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ (गुरु नानक گرونانک Gurū Nānak ( 15 april 1469, Nankana Sahib His followers referred to him as the Guru (teacher). Before his death he designated a new Guru to be his successor and to lead the Sikh community. This procedure was continued, and the tenth and last Guru, Guru Gobind Singh (AD 1666–1708) initiated the Sikh ceremony in AD 1699. Guru Gobind Singh (ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ gʊɾu gobɪn̪d̪ sɪ́ŋg ( December 22, 1666 &ndash 7 October, 1708) was

For Sikhs, the Gurus were not in the Christian sense “Sons of God”. Sikhism says we are all the children of God and by deduction, God is our mother/father.

On the importance of guru, Nanak says: Let no man in the world live in delusion. Without a Guru none can cross over to the other shore.


# Name Date of birth Guruship on Date of ascension Age
1 Nanak Dev 15 April 1469 20 August 1507 22 September 1539 69
2 Angad Dev 31 March 1504 7 September 1539 29 March 1552 48
3 Amar Das 5 May 1479 26 March 1552 1 September 1574 95
4 Ram Das 24 September 1534 1 September 1574 1 September 1581 46
5 Arjan Dev 15 April 1563 1 September 1581 30 May 1606 43
6 Har Gobind 19 June 1595 25 May 1606 28 February 1644 48
7 Har Rai 16 January 1630 3 March 1644 6 October 1661 31
8 Har Krishan 7 July 1656 6 October 1661 30 March 1664 7
9 Tegh Bahadur 1 April 1621 20 March 1665 11 November 1675 54
10 Gobind Singh 22 December 1666 11 November 1675 7 October 1708 41
11 Guru Granth Sahib n/a 7 October 1708 Eternity n/a

In addition to the Ten Gurus of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib, their holy book, was made the eleventh perpetual guru of the Sikhs. Guru Nanak Dev (ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ (गुरु नानक گرونانک Gurū Nānak ( 15 april 1469, Nankana Sahib Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Guru Angad Dev Ji was the second of the eleven Sikh Gurus. Lehna was born in the village of Sarae Naga in Muktsar district in Punjab, on March 31, Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Guru Amar Das ( Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਅਮਰ ਦਾਸ ( 5 May 1479 - 1 September 1574) was the third of The Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Guru Ram Das (ਗੁਰੂ ਰਾਮ ਦਾਸ (Born in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan on 24 September, 1534 &ndash 1 September Events 622 - Prophet Muhammad completes his hegira from Mecca to Medina. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Guru Arjan Dev Ji or Guru Arjun Dev Ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਦੇਵ (born in Amritsar, Punjab, India on 15 April, Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Guru Har Gobind (ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਾਹਿਬ also Sacha Padshah (ਸੱਚਾ ਪਾਦਸ਼ਾਹ True King Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Events 1085 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo Spain back from the Moors. Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule Guru Har Rai (ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ ( 26 February 1630 - 6 October 1661) was the seventh of The Eleven Gurus of Sikhism Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate. Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Guru Har Krishan (ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ( 7 July, 1656 &ndash 30 March, 1664) was Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Guru Tegh Bahadur ( 1 April 1621 – 11 November 1675) became the 9th Guru of Sikhism on Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Events 1600 - The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Guru Gobind Singh (ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ gʊɾu gobɪn̪d̪ sɪ́ŋg ( December 22, 1666 &ndash 7 October, 1708) was Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1708 ( MDCCVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1708 ( MDCCVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a While in the popular mind eternity often simply means existing for a limitless amount of Time, many have used it to refer to a timeless existence altogether outside of Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak over the period of 1469 to 1708. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. Together they make up the Eleven Gurus of Sikhism. And today Sikh children are sometimes named Guru (Guru Darshan, Guru Mundir, etc)

See also: Sikhism

Succession and lineage (parampara)

Main article: Parampara

The word parampara (Sanskrit परमपरा) denotes a long succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture. Sikhism ( IPA: or; ਸਿੱਖੀ sikkhī, IPA:) founded on the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century Parampara ( Sanskrit: परम्परा paramparā) denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Hinduism Dictionary defines parampara is "the line of spiritual gurus in authentic succession of initiation; the chain of mystical power and authorized continuity, passed from guru to guru. " In Sanskrit, the word literally means: Uninterrupted series of succession. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical

The Guru (teacher) Shishya (disciple) parampara or guru parampara, occurs where the knowledge (in any field) is passed down undiluted through the succeeding generations. It is the traditional, residential form of education, where the Shishya remains and learns with his Guru as a family member. The domains may include spiritual, artistic (kala कला such as music or dance) or educational. Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality Music is an Art form in which the medium is Sound organized in Time. Dance (from French danser, perhaps from Frankish) is an Art form that generally refers to movement of the body usually rhythmic Education encompasses both the Teaching and Learning of Knowledge, proper conduct, and technical competency

David C. Lane, a professor of sociology, and, since 2005, an ex-member and critic of Radha Soami Satsang Beas, argued in 1997 that based on his research of the Radha Soami movement that few gurus have a flawless and well-documented lineage, and that there is quite often conflict between different disciples claiming to be the only legitimate successor of their guru. David Christopher Lane (born April 29, 1956, Burbank California) is a professor of Philosophy and Sociology at Mt Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB was founded by Baba Jaimal Singh Ji Maharaj in 1891 at a site on the East bank of the River Beas in Beas Punjab Northern India Radha Soami "Radhasoami" (also Radhasoami Satsang and Radha Swami) is a Spiritual movement founded in 1861 by Soamiji Maharaj [1]

See also: Guru-shishya tradition and Gurukula

Views on gurus from a Western cultural perspective

Swami Vivekananda in London, 1896
Swami Vivekananda in London, 1896

As an alternative to established religions, some people in Europe and the USA who were not of East Indian extraction have looked up to spiritual guides and gurus from India, seeking them to provide them answers to the meaning of life, and to achieve a more direct experience free from intellectualism and philosophy. The guru-shishya tradition lineage or Parampara, is a spiritual relationship in traditional Hinduism where teachings are transmitted from a A Gurukul ( Guru refers to "teacher" or "master" Kul refers to his domain from the Sanskrit word kula, meaning extended family Swami Vivekananda (স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ Shami Bibekānondo; स्वामी विवेकानन्द Svāmi Vivekānanda) ( London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. This article refers to the region in the Indian subcontinent. Gurus from many denominations traveled to Western Europe and the USA and established followings. One of the first to do so was Swami Vivekananda who addressed the World Parliament of Religions assembled in Chicago, Illinois in 1893. Swami Vivekananda (স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ Shami Bibekānondo; स्वामी विवेकानन्द Svāmi Vivekānanda) ( There have been several meetings referred to as a Parliament of the World’s Religions, most notably the World's Parliament of Religions of 1893 the first attempt to create Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States.

In particular during the 1960s and 1970s many gurus acquired groups of young followers in Western Europe and the USA. According to the American sociologist David G. Bromley this was partially due to the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act (United States) in 1965 which permitted Asian gurus entrance to the USA. David G Bromley is a professor of Sociology at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA and the University of Virginia, Charlottesville VA The Chinese Exclusion Act was a United States federal law passed on May 6 1882 following revisions made in 1880 to the Burlingame Treaty of 1868 [28] According to the Dutch Indologist Albertina Nugteren, the repeal was only one of several factors and a minor one compared with the two most important causes for the surge of all things 'Eastern': the post-war cross-cultural mobility and the general dissatisfaction with established Western values. [29] According to the professor in sociology Stephen A. Kent at the University of Alberta and Kranenborg (1974), one of the reasons why in 1970s young people including hippies turned to gurus was because they found that drugs had opened for them the existence of the transcendental or because they wanted to get high without drugs. Sociology (from Latin: socius "companion" and the suffix -ology "the study of" from Greek λόγος lógos "knowledge" Stephen A Kent, is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The University of Alberta (U of A is a public research University located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Hippie Subculture was originally a Youth movement that began in the United States during the early 1960s and spread around the world [30][31] According to Kent, another reason why this happened so often in the USA then, was because some anti-Vietnam war protesters and political activists became worn out or disillusioned of the possibilities to change society through political means, and as an alternative turned to religious means. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia [31] Some gurus and the groups they lead attracted opposition. Opposition to Cults and to New religious movements (NRMs comes from several sources with diverse concerns One example of such group was the Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON) founded by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1966, many of whose followers voluntarily accepted the demandingly ascetic lifestyle of bhakti yoga on a full-time basis, in stark contrast to much of the popular culture of the time. The Hare Krishna Mantra, also referred to reverentially as the Maha Mantra ("Great Mantra" is a sixteen-word Vaishnava mantra made well The International Society for Krishna Consciousness ( ISKCON) also known as 'the Hare Krishna ' movement is one of several Vaishnava groups Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ( Sanskrit:, abhaya-caraṇāravinda bhakti-vedānta svāmī prabhupāda, Bangla: অভয়চরনাবিন্দ Bhakti Yoga ( Devanāgarī: भक्ति योग is a term within Hinduism which denotes the spiritual practice of fostering loving devotion to God [32]

In his book about neo-Hindu movements in the Netherlands, Kranenborg distinguishes four types of gurus:[13]

  1. the spiritual advisor for higher caste Hindus who also performs traditional rituals and who is not connected to a temple (thus not a priest);
  2. the enlightened master who derives his authority from his experience, such as achieving enlightenment. Castes are Hereditary systems of occupation, Endogamy, social culture, Social class, and Political power. In Indian religions, Moksha ( Sanskrit: sa मोक्ष mokṣa) or Mukti ( Sanskrit: sa मुक्ति literally "release" This type appears in bhakti movements and in tantra and asks for unquestioning obedience, and can have Western followers. The Bhakti movement was a Hindu religious movement in which the main spiritual practice was loving devotion to God, or Bhakti. Tantra ( Sanskrit: तन्त्र; " Weave " denoting continuity) tantricism or tantrism is any of several esoteric Westerners can even become one, as have, for example Andrew Cohen, and Isaac Shapiro. Andrew Cohen may refer to Andrew Cohen (baseball (1904–1988 late Major League Baseball second baseman Andrew Cohen (colonial governor
  3. the avatar, a guru who considers himself to be an incarnation of God, God-like, or an instrument of God, or who is considered as such by others. Avatar or Avatara (अवतार IAST Avatāra) is often inaccurately translated into English as incarnation
  4. A "guru" in the form of a book i. e. the Guru Granth Sahib in the Sikh religion;

According to Kranenborg (1984), Jesus fits the Hindu definition and characteristics of a guru. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) [33]

Gurus in the West

Gurus who established a discipleship or who are/were spiritual leaders of notable organizations in Western countries include:

Viewpoints

Gurus and the Guru-shishya tradition have been criticized and assessed in the West by secular scholars, theologians, anti-cultists and skeptics. The guru-shishya tradition lineage or Parampara, is a spiritual relationship in traditional Hinduism where teachings are transmitted from a Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective The " anti-cult movement " ( ACM) is a term used by academics and others to refer to a perceived collectivity of groups and individuals who oppose cults and new religious Scientific skepticism or rational skepticism ( also spelled scepticism) sometimes referred to as skeptical inquiry, is a scientific or practical

Notable scandals and controversies

Some notable scandals and controversies regarding gurus or the groups that they founded are:

See also

References

  1. ^ Tirha, B. The Sociologist Max Weber defined charismatic authority as "resting on devotion to the exceptional sanctity heroism or exemplary character of an individual person Darśana ( Darshan, दर्शन is a Sanskrit term meaning "sight" (in the sense of an instance of seeing or beholding from a root The Guru Gita is a Hindu scripture of 182 verses authored by the sage Vyasa. Hinduism is going through a phase of regeneration and reform through the vehicle of several contemporary movements collectively termed as Hindu reform movements. These are some of the most noteworthy Gurus and Saints of Hinduism (in alphabetical order A This is a list of figures of various faiths who are considered to be Avatars of a deity or higher being by either themselves their followers or by others Lifestyle gurus use principles vaguely related to Metaphysics to advise people how they can make themselves happier through changes in their lifestyle Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religious identity or a change from one religious identity to another B. A Taste of Trascendence, (2002) p. 161, Mandala Press. ISBN 1-886069-71-9

    "Guru: a spiritual master; one who is heavy with knowledge of the Absolute and who removes nescience with the light of the divine. "

  2. ^ Lipner, Julius J. ,Their Religious Beliefs and Practices p. 192, Routledge (UK), ISBN 0-415-05181-9
  3. ^ Cornille, C. The Guru in Indian Catholicism (1991) p. 207. Peeters Publishers ISBN 90-6831-309-6
  4. ^ Hopkins, Jeffrey Reflections on Reality (2002) p. 72. University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-21120-0
  5. ^ Varene, Jean. Yoga and the Hindu Tradition (1977). p. 226. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-85116-8
  6. ^ Lowitz, Leza A. (2004). Sacred Sanskrit Words. Stone Bridge Press, pp. 85. 1-880-6568-76.  
  7. ^ Barnhart, Robert K. (1988). The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology, pp. 447. ISBN 0-8242-0745-9.  
  8. ^ a b Grimes, John. A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy: Sanskrit Terms Defined in English. (1996) p. 133. SUNY Press. ISBN 0-7914-3067-7

    "The etymological derivation of the word guru is in this verse from Guru Gita: 'The root gu stands for darkness; ru for its removal. The Guru Gita is a Hindu scripture of 182 verses authored by the sage Vyasa. The removal of the darkness of ignorance in the heart is indicated by the word "guru'" (Note: Guru Gita is a spiritual text in the Markandeya Purana, in the form of a dialog between Siva and Parvati on the nature of the guru and the guru/disciple relationship. Markandeya Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text is in the style of a dialogue between the sage Jaimini, and the sage ) [. . . ] the meanings of gu and ru can also be traced to the Panini-sutras gu samvarane and ru himsane, indicating concealment and its annulment.

  9. ^ Ibid.

    "Guru: remover of darkness, bestower of light'"

  10. ^ Krishnamurti, J. The Awakening of Intelligence. (1987) p. 139. HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-064834-1
  11. ^ Murray, Thomas R. Moral Development Theories - Secular and Religious: A Comparative Study. (1997). p. 231. Greenwwod Press

    [. . . ] the term is a combination of the two words gu(darkness) and ru (light), so together they mean divine light that dispells all darkness. "

    "guru is the light that disperses the darkness of ignorance. "

  12. ^ Burley, Mark (2000). Hatha Yoga: Its Context, Theory, and Practice. Motilal Banarsidass Publ, 65. 8-120-81706-0.  
  13. ^ a b c Kranenborg, Reender (Dutch language) Neohindoeïstische bewegingen in Nederland : een encyclopedisch overzicht page 50 (En: Neo-Hindu movements in the Netherlands, published by Kampen Kok cop. (2002) ISBN 90-435-0493-9 Kranenborg, Reender (Dutch language) Neohindoeïstische bewegingen in Nederland : een encyclopedisch overzicht (En: Neo-Hindu movements in the Netherlands, published by Kampen Kok cop. (2002) ISBN 90-435-0493-9 page 50
    Dutch original: "a. De goeroe als geestelijk raadsman Als we naar het verschijnsel goeroe in India kijken, kunnen we constateren dat er op zijn minst vier vormen van goeroeschap te onderscheiden zijn. De eerste vorm is die van de 'geestelijk raadsman'. Voordat we dit verder uitwerken eerst iets over de etymologie. Het woord goeroe komt uit het Sanskriet, wordt geschreven als 'guru' en betekent 'zwaar zijn', 'gewichtig zijn', vooral in figuurlijk opzicht. Zo krijgt het begrip 'guru' de betekenis van 'groot', 'geweldig' of 'belangrijk', en iets verdergaand krijgt het aspecten van 'eerbiedwaardig' en 'vererenswaardig'. Al vrij snel word dit toegepast op de 'geestelijk leraar'. In allerlei populaire literatuur, ook in India zelf, wordt het woord 'guru' uiteengelegd in 'gu' en 'ru', als omschrijvingen voor licht en duister; de goeroe is dan degene die zijn leerling uit het materiële duister overbrengt naar het geestelijk licht. Misschien doe een goeroe dat ook inderdaad, maar het heeft niets met de betekenis van het woord te maken, het is volksetymologie. "
    English translation "a. The guru as spiritual adviser If we look at the phenomenon of gurus in India guru then we can see that there at least four forms of guruship can be distinguished. The first form is that of the 'spiritual adviser'. Before we will elaborate on this, first something about the etymology. The word guru comes from Sanskrit and is written as 'guru' en means 'being heavy', 'being weighty', especially metaphorically. In that way, the concept of guru gets the meaning of 'big', 'great', or 'important' and somewhat further it also gets aspects of 'respectable' and 'honorable'. Soon it is applied to the 'spiritual adviser'. In various popular literature, in India herself too, the word 'guru' is explained in the parts 'gu' and 'ru', as descriptions for light and darkness: the guru is then the person who bring the student from the material darkness into the spiritual light. A guru may indeed do that, but it has nothing to do with the meaning of the word, it is people's etymology. "
  14. ^ Gurugita v. 46 gukāram ca gunatitam rukāram rupavarjitam gunatitasvarupam ca yo dadyātsa guruh smrtah
  15. ^ Riffard, Pierre A. in Western Esotericism and the Science of Religion Faivre A. & Hanegraaff W. (Eds. Wouter Jacobus Hanegraaff (born 1961 is full professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy and related currents at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands ) Peeters Publishers( 1988), ISBN 90-429-0630-8
  16. ^ Bhagavad Gītā, c4 s34
  17. ^ Ranade, Ramchandra Dattatraya Mysticism in India: The Poet-Saints of Maharashtra, pp. 392, SUNNY Press, 1983. ISBN 0-87395-669-9
  18. ^ Mills, James H and Sen, Satadru (Eds. ), Confronting the Body: The Politics of Physicality in Colonial and Post-Colonial India, pp. 23, Anthem Press (2004), ISBN 1-84331-032-5
  19. ^ Poewe, Karla O. ; Hexham, Irving (1997). New religions as global cultures: making the human sacred. Boulder, Colo: Westview Press, p. 106. ISBN 0-8133-2508-0.  
    "Gurus are not prophets who declare the will of God and appeal to propositions found in a Scripture. Rather, they are said to be greater than God because they lead to God. Gurus have shared the essence of the Absolute and experienced the oneness of being, which endows them with divine powers and the ability to master people and things in this world. "
  20. ^ Guru Granth Sahib, 5th(53/1/179) Rahi, Hakim Singh (1999). Sri Guru Granth Sahib discovered: a reference book of quotations from the Adi Granth. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, p. 125. ISBN 81-208-1613-7.  
  21. ^ Radio Sai, Thought for the Day
  22. ^ Singh, Harbans, Guru Nanak and the Origins of the Sikh Faith. pp. 13, (1969), Asia Publishing House
  23. ^ a b c d e f Feuerstein, Georg Dr. Dr Georg Feuerstein (born 1947) is a German-Canadian Indologist specializing on Yoga. Encyclopedic dictionary of yoga Published by Paragon House 1st edition (1990) ISBN 1-55778-244-X
  24. ^ Swami Vivekananda Karma-yoga and Bhakti-yoga (1937)
  25. ^ Sathya Sai Baba Sandeha Nivarini: Clearance of Spiritual Doubts available online published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust (undated) ISBN 81-7208-010-7
  26. ^ Michaels, Alex "Hinduism Past and Present" (2004) Princeton University Press, ISBN 0-691-08952-3, translated from German "Der Hinduismus" (1998) page 46
  27. ^ Michae, Alex Michaels] "Hinduism past and Present" (2004) Princeton University Press, ISBN 0-691-08952-3, translated from German "Der Hinduismus" (1998) p. Swami Vivekananda (স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ Shami Bibekānondo; स्वामी विवेकानन्द Svāmi Vivekānanda) ( 22 and p. 46. Alex Micahels bio
  28. ^ Bromley, David G., Ph. David G Bromley is a professor of Sociology at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA and the University of Virginia, Charlottesville VA D. & Anson Shupe, Ph. Anson D Shupe is an American Sociologist who studies religious groups and the Anti-cult movement. D. , Public Reaction against New Religious Movements article that appeared in Cults and new religious movements: a report of the Committee on Psychiatry and Religion of the American Psychiatric Association, edited by Marc Galanter, M. D. , (1989) ISBN 0-89042-212-5
  29. ^ Nugteren, Albertina (Tineke) Dr. (Associate professor in the phenomenology and history of Indian religions at the faculty of theology at the university of Tilburg)Tantric Influences in Western Esotericism, article that appeared at a 1997 CESNUR conference and that was published in the book New Religions in a Postmodern World edited by Mikael Rothstein and Reender Kranenborg RENNER Studies in New religions Aarhus University press, (2003) ISBN 87-7288-748-6
  30. ^ Kranenborg, Reender (Dutch language) Zelfverwerkelijking: oosterse religies binnen een westerse subkultuur (En: Self-realization: eastern religions in a Western Sub-culture, published by Kampen Kok (1974)
  31. ^ a b Kent, Stephen A. Dr. Tilburg University is an academic institution of Higher education, specialising in Economics and Law, located in Tilburg in the southern CESNUR (Italian Centro Studi sulle Nuove Religioni) is a Center for Studies on New Religions, based in Turin, Italy. Aarhus Universitet or the University of Aarhus is the second largest University in Denmark (after the University of Copenhagen) based in Stephen A Kent, is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. From slogans to mantras: social protest and religious conversion in the late Vietnam war era Syracuse University press ISBN 0-8156-2923-0 (2001)
  32. ^ Barrett, D. Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religious identity or a change from one religious identity to another The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Syracuse University (SU is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York. V. The New Believers - A survey of sects, cults and alternative religions 2001 UK, Cassell & Co. ISBN 0-304-35592-5 entry ISKCON page 287,288
    ”Devotees don’t have such an easy time. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness ( ISKCON) also known as 'the Hare Krishna ' movement is one of several Vaishnava groups They who choose to live in the temples – now a very small minority -chant the Hare Krishna mantra 1,728 time a day. The Hare Krishna Mantra, also referred to reverentially as the Maha Mantra ("Great Mantra" is a sixteen-word Vaishnava mantra made well […] Those living in an ashram – far fewer than in the 1970s – have to get up at 4am for worship. All members have to give up meat, fish and eggs; alcohol, tobacco, drugs, tea and coffee; gambling, sports, games and novels; and sex except for procreation with marriage […] It’s a demanding lifestyle. Outsiders may wonder why people join. "
  33. ^ Kranenborg, Reender (Dutch language) Een nieuw licht op de kerk? Bijdragen van nieuwe religieuze bewegingen voor de kerk van vandaag (En: A new perspective on the church? Contributions of new religious movements for today's church), the Hague Boekencentrum (1984) ISBN 90-239-0809-0 pp 93-99
  34. ^ Lane, David C., Exposing Cults: When the Skeptical Mind Confronts the Mystical (1984)
  35. ^ Feuerstein, Georg Dr. David Christopher Lane (born April 29, 1956, Burbank California) is a professor of Philosophy and Sociology at Mt Dr Georg Feuerstein (born 1947) is a German-Canadian Indologist specializing on Yoga. The Deeper Dimension of Yoga: Theory and Practice, Shambhala Publications, released on (2003) ISBN 1-57062-928-5
  36. ^ Storr, Anthony Dr. Feet of clay: a study of gurus 1996 ISBN 0-684-83495-2
  37. ^ Preece, Rob, "The teacher-student relationship" in The Noble Imperfection: The challenge of individuation in Buddhist life, Mudras Publications
  38. ^ Palmer, Susan, article in the book NRMs in the 21st century: legal, political, and social challenges in global perspective edited by Phillip Charles Lucas and Thomas Robbins, (2004) ISBN 0-415-96577-2
  39. ^ Deutsch, Alexander M.D. Observations on a sidewalk ashram Archive Gen. Doctor of Medicine ( MD or MD, from the Latin Medicinæ Doctor meaning "Teacher of Medicine" is a doctoral Psychiatry 32 (1975) 2, 166-175
  40. ^ Deutsch, Alexander M. D. Tenacity of Attachment to a cult leader: a psychiatric perspective American Journal of Psychiatry 137 (1980) 12, 1569-1573.
  41. ^ Lans, Jan van der Dr. (Dutch language) Volgelingen van de goeroe: Hedendaagse religieuze bewegingen in Nederland, written upon request for the KSGV published by Ambo, Baarn, 1981 ISBN 90-263-0521-4
  42. ^ Schnabel, Paul Dr. Paul Schnabel (born 17 July 1948, Bergen op Zoom) is a Dutch sociologist and As of 2006 the director of an agency of the Dutch (Dutch language) Between stigma and charisma: new religious movements and mental health Erasmus university Rotterdam, Faculty of Medicine, Ph. D. thesis, ISBN 90-6001-746-3 (Deventer, Van Loghum Slaterus, 1982) Chapter V, page 142
    "Wat Van der Lans heir signaleert, is het gevaar dat de goeroe een instantie van absolute overgave en totale overdracht wordt. Johannes (Jan Maria van der Lans ( July 10, 1933 -2002 was a Dutch professor in the Psychology of religion at the Catholic University of Nijmegen De leerling krijgt de gelegenheid om zijn grootheidsfantasieën op de goeroe te projecteren, zonder dat de goeroe daartegen als kritische instantie kan optreden. Het lijkt er zelfs vaak eerder op dat de goeroe in woord, beeld en geschrift juist geneigd is deze onkritische houding te stimuleren. Dit geldt zeker ook voor goeroe Maharaji, maar het heeft zich -gewild en ongewild ook voorgedaan bij Anandamurti en Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. [. . ] De vergoddelijking van de goeroe is 'een traditioneel element in de Oosterse spiritualiteit, maar, losgemaakt, uit dit cultuurmilieu en overgenomen door Westerse mensen, gaat het onderscheid vaak verloren tussen de persoon van de goeroe en dat wat hij symboliseert en verwordt tot een kritiekloze persoonlijkheidsverheerlijking' (Van der Lans 1981b, 108)"
    Partial literal English translation "The deification of the guru is a 'traditional element in Eastern spirituality, but, detached from this cultural environment en used by Westerners, the distinction between the person of the guru and that what he symbolizes is often lost en it degenerates into an uncritical glorification of the personality. '(Van der Lans 1981b, 108)"
  43. ^ Kramer, Joel, and Diana Alstad The guru papers: masks of authoritarian power (1993) ISBN 1-883319-00-5
  44. ^ Kester, Sacha “Ticket naar Nirvana”/”Ticket to Nirvana”, article in the Dutch Newspaper De Volkskrant 7 January 2003
  45. ^ Times of India article dated 3 Jan. 2004
  46. ^ Rethinking the Lessons of Tokyo
  47. ^ Brown, Mick,Divine Downfall, The Telegraph, October 28, 2000, Available online
  48. ^ Chogyam Trungpa biography (undated). De Volkskrant (literally "the people's paper" is a national daily Dutch morning Newspaper. Events 306 - Maxentius is proclaimed Roman Emperor. 312 - Battle of Milvian Bridge: Constantine 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.
  49. ^ The dance of 17 lives

Further reading

Video

External links

Dictionary

guru

-noun

  1. A Hindu, Sikh or thereupon modeled sectarian spiritual teacher.
  2. An advisor or mentor.
  3. A leader or expert in a field.
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic