teacher | Author – Richard F Holmes

The older I get, the more I understand the teachings of Ramana Maharshi with regard to “The Guru.” The great sage would always meet a devotee exactly where they were on their journey. For those who didn’t understand, he would advocate the guru in the form of a physical being; a teacher. For those who did understand, he would deny that he was anybody’s guru and point them to the one, true guru within; “The Self.”

In simple terms, and in context, a guru can be anyone we cross paths with that we learn from. The obvious examples are parents and teachers at school. But it could also mean people we have difficulties with; even enemies (for want of a better word). As we evolve, those who choose the spiritual pathway may seek out a specific guru. There is also the guru that finds the individual in accordance with the old saying, “when the pupil is ready, the master will come.”

A true guru will reel the pupil in, in order to let them go. A true guru does not require worship. A true guru points the pupil in the direction of themselves in order to seek out the guru within.

When The Guru is realised, the guru disappears.

Whatever you are doing at this moment, I hope you are keeping safe. I have decided not to make a personal comment on the current situation because the world and his cat has either suddenly become an expert on all things medical, or they are giving their take and perspective on the spiritual reasons and implications for what’s happening. Instead I am going to share, what I believe, are a couple of lovely things with you that I found on the internet. Firstly, I found this on the facebook page of Swindon Spiritualist Centre and Healing Sanctuary (author unknown):

A teacher brought balloons to school and asked the children to blow them all up and then each write their names on their balloon. They tossed all the balloons into the hall while the teacher mixed them from one end to the other. The teacher then gave them 5 minutes to find the balloon with their name on it. The children ran around, looking frantically but as the time ran out nobody had found their own balloon. Then the teacher told them to take the balloon closest to them and give it to the person who’s name was on it. In less than 2 minutes everyone had their own balloon. Finally the teacher said:

“Balloons are like happiness. No one will find it looking for theirs only. Instead if everyone cares about each others they will find theirs as quickly as possible.”

Secondly, I came across this video from the wonderful Rupert Spira: