Qualities required to be a Disciple

Every seeker in the primary stage has read that in Spirituality the ultimate medium of reaching Moksha is a Guru, whereas a seeker in the advanced stage actually experiences it. Most seekers are unaware of what they should do so that a Guru comes into their life. As a result, not only the present, but several future births are wasted. To be accepted as a disciple by a Guru, one needs to obtain the grace of a Saint. However, for bestowal of the Guru’s continuous grace, one has to constantly earn His blessings. An easy solution to this is to do what Saints and Gurus expect and that is – spiritual practice. This article provides practical information on the qualities of a disciple which are required for continuous bestowal of the Guru’s grace.

Mumukshutva (Desire for God-realisation)

Although the Guru initiates one preaching – ‘You are that Brahman (God) yourself’, one has to live discriminating reality from mere illusion, because the Guru’s teaching is merely for the convenience of spiritual discipline. Ultimately, without the disciple’s intense desire he cannot get liberated from worldly life.

Obeying the Guru’s directives

A. Do not analyse the Guru’s instructions :  A disciple may not be aware of the motive behind the Guru’s instructions, yet he is certain that whatever the Guru says has a benevolent purpose. This is why, a genuine disciple carries out the Guru’s instructions without doubt. We should obey the Guru without using our intellect. Then we will not feel worried about any task we have to accomplish. If we obey the Guru completely, we should not use our mind or intellect. This is the best way to dissolve the mind, intellect and ego.

B. Obeying the Guru in a better manner by using the intellect : If the Guru tells us to do something and if we perform it in a better way using our intellect, it not only amounts to obedience but also pleases the Guru. When we wish to obey the Guru, we are automatically guided by our intellect to act as per the situation. Obeying the Guru is one of the most important qualities of a disciple.

C. The Guru’s question, wish and instructions are all one and the same.

D. The secret in obeying the Guru’s instructions : The strength behind obeying the Guru’s instructions lies in the very instruction ! The Guru does not tell what is not possible for the disciple. Although externally it appears that the instructions cannot be obeyed, the Guru Himself gives us the strength to obey Him.

 Belief, faith, bhav and bhakti

We should have complete faith in the Guru’s words. In Spirituality, the disciple is like an infant without the guidance of the Guru. His belief in his Guru arises out of respect. Belief develops through verbal information, while faith develops from spiritual experiences. There is a proverb – ‘Where there is bhav (Spiritual emotion), there is God’, but there is no such proverb as – ‘There is God where there is faith’. Bhav lies in between faith and bhakti (Devotion). We should not have doubts after offering everything to the Guru. Having complete faith in the Guru, if we ignore happiness and unhappiness, we will experience Supreme God.

 Sacrificing everything for the Guru

Initially, it is not possible to sacrifice the body, mind and wealth all at once. It is possible only gradually as we progress spiritually. The more we sacrifice the intellect, the more we use the Universal intellect, that is, the more the disciple merges himself in the Guru.

The one who does not think of  the offering unto the Guru

Once an offering is made to the Guru, we should not have any doubts about what the Guru does with it as per His wish. Once the offering is made to the Guru, we should think that it is like throwing money into a river from a running train. Now the river will decide what to do with it.

Humility

• A disciple typically would never sit in front of his Guru.

• When with the Guru, the disciple would stand in a corner of the room awaiting the Guru’s instructions.

• A disciple used to always gaze at his Guru’s Holy feet or at the ground; he would never look into his Guru’s eyes.

Serving the Guru

A. The disciple should be mentally prepared to go even to hell to serve the Guru, if He happens to go there. However, in reality since the Guru is Supreme God Himself, there is no question of His going to hell.

B. We should not allow the obstacle of the intellect to interfere in serving the Guru.

C. Once we start acquiring spiritual knowledge which is beyond words, even then we should serve the Guru in gratitude towards Him.

Staying in the company of the Guru

In spiritual practice, the fastest Path for spiritual progress is staying with the Guru, sacrificing one’s own home. To feel real love for the Guru, one needs to be in His company. Only after staying with the Guru can one acquire control over desires.

The objective of the Guru in keeping a disciple in His company is to purify the disciple. It is important to remain close to the Guru till He bestows His grace. Later, this is not necessary since the Guru is Omnipresent and the disciple gets the spiritual experience that the Guru is always with him.

The progressive steps in the behaviour of a disciple with regard to the Guru’s presence – 1. He behaves well so long as he is with the Guru, 2. He behaves well even when away from the Guru, that is, he becomes his own Guru.

(Ref.: Sanatan’s Text – ‘How to become an ideal Disciple ?’)