by Swami Radhanandaji
There are so many self-proclaimed gurus in the world today. While it's difficult to recognize a true guru from outward appearances, there are some definite signs given in the scriptures, particularly Gitaji.

The Gita tells us:

• A guru or a man of Self-Realization is called Sthitapragyaha (Gita 2:55-72); or a Karma Yogi (3:9-12); a Devotee (12:13-20); or a man of knowledge (13:7-11); or Gunatita (14:22-27)
• If he/she is free from attachment and aversion, we may be safe in dedicating ourselves to him for our ultimate goal. It is indeed rare to find such a human guru.
• Gitaji clearly states that he/she should be one who has realized the Truth (4:34)

In simple terms, you may avoid teachers, no matter how many followers they have or how famous, knowledgeable, and religious they are, if they:

• Want to eagerly become your guru directly or indirectly. True saints are rarely interested in becoming gurus, although they shower their love and blessings unconditionally.
• Collect funds and prefer wealthier disciples.
• Want to build temples, ashrams, institutions, hospitals, or schools in their name or in the name of their institutions or their gurus.
• Wish to be worshiped directly or indirectly through their photos, statues, books or their followers.
• Use gimmicks, magic, threats, or other practices to induce faith or fear.
• Keep close ties within their own denomination or institution and deny followers the freedom to "take honey from all flowers."

Since spirituality is beyond perception, avoid clinging to personalities; just cling to virtues (16:1-3).

If a seeker is genuine, he/she will find guidance in many forms. The Lord will certainly through his/her grace see that, if the devotee is sincere, he/she receives proper guidance and even appropriate help. The Lord may provide guidance through intuition, or provide proper books, dreams or experiences through which one will be guided towards the Truth.

It is not due to the lack of a true guru, but the lack of sincerity on the part of the seeker that causes problems in the field of spirituality. Our first job is to become honest devotees.

Gitaji can be a sure guru if you put efforts into learning and practicing her teaching to the best of your ability, without excuses.

Remember that in the Bhagavatam, the Lord tells us that Avadhut had twenty four gurus (none of them was a religious guru). Observing the mode of their lives, he learned the Truth.  

Nature provides us with complete guidance, if we observe it and practice based on what we learn from it. There's no chance to be deceived since learning through Nature is directly under the Lord's command, but this is possible only if our mind and intellect are pure.

It is true that in worldly matters, we need a teacher to learn various arts, but here we are talking about spirituality where a Satguru is so very difficult to find. Krishna, Buddha, Mahavir, Jesus, Mirabai, Ramakrishna and Mahatma Gandhi have already taught us through their lives and messages. May these manifestations of God guide us through their compassion and love for all mankind.

Let us listen to the true guidance on this subject from a genuine Saint:

"Usually, those would-be gurus or guides who chase after souls should not, quite rightly, be trusted. Those genuinely moved by the spirit of God have not, as a rule, so much eagerness and complacency. They prefer to wait until they are summoned by God and even then they come forward rather hesitatingly.

In Kalyuga, people will have very little knowledge of true scriptures. It will be difficult for a true devotee to find holy companions or holy company because real saints will be very rare; they were rare even in Satyug. In spite of this situation, a genuine devotee can find "satsung" but the difficulty in Kalyuga is that vanity, pretence, deceptions, selfishness, lust, greed, or desire for name and fame are predominant everywhere. Many vain deceptive, selfish, lustful, greedy or self-loving persons pretend to be saints or gurus. Thus, it is very difficult to recognize a true saint. Often, worldly people, being greedy themselves, want something for nothing i.e. without Yama-Niyama and Yagna-Tapa-­Dana. They, in reality, get nothing from those so called gurus who are also devoid of these disciplines. The blind leading the blind end up nowhere except in dark-ignorance, often described as hell."

The following Mantra depicts more vividly who is or can be qualified to be a Guru:

"One whose vision (all five senses) is stable without the need of an object of desire (even God) for staring; one whose mind is stable without meditation or any need for any support; one whose Prana (breath or energy) is stable without performing conscious Pranayama, She or He alone is the Yogi, or the Guru worthy of our attention and services."

A guru in human form is almost impossible and need not be sought. This is a state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi such as Shri Ramakrishna, Mirabai or Buddha had experienced. They never posed as gurus, but lived like true servants of God and loved mankind. They taught love for God; they never sought wealth, lust, greed or name and fame, not to think of any disciples or large crowds.

Wake Up! And seek that great guru within you through the Gitaji or Truth. Don't be blinded by gimmicks, tricks, shows, music, dancing, lectures, styles, traditions, beliefs, meditations, rituals, chantings, etc. of those who only try to establish their own self-love and glorify their own name rather than glorifying God.

May our Lord grant us wisdom to follow the Truth as Truth is and not as maltreated by the so called dharma gurus of all religions of the world.