CHAPTER NINE

 

HISTORICAL EVIDENCE

 

WE HAVE the testimony of history to show that one

cannot have access to spiritual regions by one's

own self. In the Shastras it is mentioned that Narad was

refused admittance into Vishnupuri - The Land of Vishnu -

when he by himself attempted to enter into that

kingdom, because he had not been initiated by any Guru.

 

Again, Sukh Dev Swami, the son of Ved Vyas, with

all his spiritual knowledge and learning, right from his

conception in his mother's womb, could not enter the

kingdom of Vishnu until he accepted Raj Rishi Janak

as his spiritual mentor.

 

Nowhere do we come across any instance in which

an uninitiated jiva by himself may have been allowed

to enjoy this privilege.

 

All born Saints, though very few, come into the world

with esoteric knowledge right from their birth but have

for form's sake to adopt a Master.

 

Kabir Sahib, for instance, had to accept Shri Ramananda

as his Master. In spite of their completed spiritual

background, they had to associate with Saints, as one

would do in a refresher course.

 

Guru Amar Das, tells us that it is God's Law that one

cannot even think of Him without being reminded of

Him by some Master of Truth.

 

It is ordained by God Himself that one thinks

of Him only when he meets a Master of

Truth (Godman).

 

Again:

 

No man can come to me except the Father

which has sent me draw him; and I will

raise him up at the last day.

 

JOHN 6:44

 

The generality of mankind simply cannot do without a

Master Soul. Even Lord Rama and Lord Krishna, the

very incarnations of Vishnu, had to bow down before

Maharishi Vashisht and Ingris Rishi, respectively.

 

When such high-souled personages with sway extending

as far as the causal region had to accept a Spiritual

Guide, we ordinary human beings cannot dispense with

this absolutely basic necessity.

 

Guru Nanak emphatically declares that the importance

of Guru can be known from Brahma, Narad, and Ved Vyas:

 

O Brother! without a Guru, you cannot have

absolute Truth (as opposed to relative

knowledge through perception by the

senses). You may verify this by reference

to Brahma, Narad, and Vishnu.

 

Tulsi Sahib says:

 

Who is greater than Rama and Krishna? They

too, had to accept a Master. Lord of the

three regions (physical, astral, and causal),

they too, had to bow before a Master.

 

Everyone who has made any mark in spirituality has had

the backing of some Master Soul. Raj Rishi Janak got

a practical demonstration in spirituality from Maharishi

Ashtavakra. Gorakh Nath received his initiation from

Machinder Nath. Arjuna, the warrior prince of the Pandavas,

learned his lessons in spirituality from Lord Krishna.

Swami Vivekananda sat at the feet of Paramhans Ramakrishna,

the Saint of Dakhshineshwar.

 

Among the Sikhs, Guru Nanak molded Lehna and

made Angad out of him (his ang or limb), and the latter,

in turn, raised Amar Das to the status of a Guru, and

so on.

 

Maulana Rumi tells us that he got his spiritual impetus

from Shamas-i-Tabrez:

 

A maulvi (school teacher) could not become

maulana (leader in theology),

If it were not for the grace of Shamas-i-Tabrez.

 

Again:

 

O Saqi (Master)! come and look with favor

upon the Malauna;

From housetops he cries: he is the slave of

Shamas-i-Tabrez.

 

Many a Mahatma has in his discourses paid homage

to his divine preceptor, and though some have not made

any such mention, there can be no denying the fact that

Light comes from Light, and Life from Life, and that

mind and matter-ridden jivas cannot awaken and arise

in cosmic awareness unless pulled up by some Master

Soul.