Embracing Guru Tattva: Swami Prakashanand's Wisdom for Guru Purnima

Guru tattva is the divine power that helps a soul unite with God. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, a revered spiritual leader, illuminates the essence of this power for the benefit of all souls sincerely longing for God’s love. His guidance on the occasion of Guru Purnima encourages them to reawaken their desire for the divine love of Radha-Krishn and emphasizes the Guru’s vital role in connecting the soul to its Supreme Beloved. Swami Prakashanand reveals that the path to God’s lovelies in understanding and embracing Guru tattva. Through his wisdom, he inspires a journey of faith, surrender, and loving devotion to God.

Swami Prakashanand Saraswati teaches that...

Guru Purnima comes every year to remind us that we have to find God's love. We celebrate Janmashtami, Radhashtami, Shivaratri, Holi, and Diwali. These great occasions relate to the form of God, and all give the same message: "Oh souls, wake up, it is truly the time to find Him in this lifetime."

On Guru Purnima, you worship your spiritual Master. You remember your Guru many times in your mind every day, but Guru Purnima is a special day to receive a specific message: God's message.

Internally, Saint and God are one. Although God is omnipresent, you cannot see Him. But you can see your spiritual Master, and he can guide you to your Supreme beloved Krishn.

Guru tattva is a Divine substance; "tattva" means substance. Guru tattva is the same as your beloved form of God. Krishn, and the Saint who has attained Krishn are one. Vishnu and the Saint who has attained Vishnu are one, and Shiva and the Saint who has attained Shiva are one. The Saint becomes one with the form of God he has attained. Guru tattva is the power that takes you to your desired Divine beloved. All the forms of God are Divine beloveds, but we teach the path to attain Radha-Krishn. Radha-Krishn are your Supreme Guru, the Supreme beloved and Divine friend. The one who shows you the path to your Divine beloved is your Divine guide, your Guru.

Diksha is a Sanskrit term that means to give. A real Master gives you something spiritual, but you have to have a faithful heart to receive the devotional affinity which he imparts.

Suppose the Ganges is flowing, and you go to the river. If you bring a large bucket, you get more water than if you bring a shallow pan. Like the Ganges, a Saint is freely giving. It depends upon how much you can take. Whatever is the capacity of your heart, your faithfulness, surrender, sincerity, accordingly you receive. A Saint gives to all in the same style, but each person receives according to their own heart.

If you go to someone, and he gives you a mantra to repeat on a jap bead, you say "Oh yes, I've received initiation (diksha)". He may tell you not to speak the mantra to anyone else, or the power will go away. Nowadays, this is a customary practice, but five hundred years ago in the Ashrams of the great Masters, in whose names traditions are formed, Guru diksha was given freely and openly.

Vallabhacharya gave Guru diksha to his initiated devotees with a message called "brahm-sambandh". The message was that a devotee with all his belongings, including his soul and mind, are for the service of Radha-Krishn. This is not just a mantra to merely repeat, it is an understanding and dedication.

In those days, whoever reached those great Masters received devotional experiences on the basis of their devotion and surrender. If they were critical, they received nothing; if they were faithful, they received devotional happiness. That was called diksha, spiritual diksha, mantra diksha. Mantra literally means any name, sentence or statement that, if practiced, takes you to God. All the names, chantings and teachings of our great Masters are mantras. They cannot be secret. There are personal, family, and business secrets. Worldly people have secrets. But God has no secrets, because God is for all. Guru diksha, mantra, and initiation means to give Divine happiness.

The power that unites a soul with Radha-Krishn is called Guru tattva. We worship that Guru tattva. This day reminds you that you have to surrender to Radha- Krishn because the world is not enough to make you happy forever. Don't waste time. Devote yourself to Radha-Krishn, and you'll find that They are very close to you. You don't have to look for Them somewhere else. Just feel Them close, and They are there.

In conclusion, Swami Prakashanand Saraswati's teachings on Guru Purnima remind us of the invaluable role of the Guru, who is one with Radha-Krishn and guides us toward Radha-Krishn’s love. This sacred day reminds us to appreciate the role of the Guru as we work to improve our devotion, surrender, and faith - for it is through Guru tattva that we find the divine connection we seek.