Just like you can’t ‘become’ enlightened, you can’t ‘become’ a guru.

Gu-ru, literally translated, means “remover of darkness or ignorance.” As long as you have a desire to become a wise teacher, you cannot, because you have not yet removed your own ignorance. When you fully realize that all your ego-mind desires are part of your manufactured dream, not Reality, the ego begins to dissolve and you begin to wake up. After this Self-Realization, all your ego-dream’s falsehoods come up to be seen for the phantoms they are and released. Eventually, there is nothing left except Reality. This is usually a very long, painful process, during which the “you” that you thought you were, the “you” that wanted to ‘become’ this or that, totally dissolves.

So by the time you are fully awake to Reality, there is absolutely no part of you that wants to become a guru, or anything else. Oops! Now you are finally ‘ready’ to help remove someone else’s ignorance, and you don’t even want the job! Beautiful irony, isn’t it so?

Without even wanting it, people may see your peace & wisdom and start to come to you and consider you a worthy mentor. You can be sure if you get excited about that, and say,” Hey, I like this idea of being people’s guru!” you are not yet fully whole and awake to reality. If you had, you would not care, would not feel you are wise or special or that these people need your help. You would just be yourself, a human, mostly unrecognizable as anyone especially wise or enlightened…definitely not someone who had ‘become a guru.’ :-)

• Teja

SPIRITUALITY MEANS SPIRIT OF CO-EXISTENCE.

CO-EXISTENCE OF HUMANS AMONGST THEM SELVES

CO-EXISTENCE OF HUMANS WITH OTHER FORMS OF LIFE, SUCH AS ANIMALS, BIRDS, AQUATIC LIFE, PLANTS, MICROORGANISM SO ON SO FORTH.

CO-EXISTENCE OF HUMANS WITH EARTH - ECO SYSTEM,

CO-EXISTENCE WITH SKIES - ATMOSPHERE ABOVE EARTH.

ANY ONE WHO RENDERS THIS HAPPEN EVEN IN WORLD AROUND HIM IS A GURU.

THUS JESUS, MOHAMMED, ABRAHAM, BUDDHA, MAHAVIR JAIN, SUCH PEOPLE.

THUS MAHATMA GANDHI, ABRAHAM LINCON, MARTIN LUTHER KING, NELSON MANDELA AND SUCH PEOPLE,

MANY A SCIENTISTS, IN ALL FIELDS ARE ALL GURU’S.

ONE NEED NOT BE INDIAN.

HE SHOULD BE SINCERE.

THESE DAYS THOSE WHO DO NOT REALLY QUALIFY FOR ABOVE ARE ALSO CALLED GURU’S - THAT IS HYPED FALSEHOOD. AVOID THAT. THEY ARE ONLY EARNING MONEY. AVOID THEM.

BEST WISHES

You can't be a real Guru because to be a Guru you would need followers and there are no followers so there can be no Guru.

There is nothing to teach so no teacher is needed.

There are no students so nobody to learn.

You are this amazing expression of life now appearing and sensing all that is, as life now...

Be still.. Feeling, aliveness.. Its absolutely unpinpointable, its boundless, without any demarcation. Its omniscience.,Its utterly indivisible as itself life… its not my life or your life its life lifeing away as life…as this

Nothing needs to be taught to be here as life.

Any knowledge is a burden on life's immediacy, transiency, and perpetual impermanent nature. It drags the life outa life by weighing life down with ideas, thoughts, beliefs, dogma.. If you meet the Buddha on the path kill him!

This means don't put life into a heirachy with itself. This is division and hence suffering arises here as a “me”.

There is no “me” there is therefore no “you”. No teacher, no student. There is awareness.

Awareness is this..

Awareness is life..

Fantastic!

Hare Krishna!

You cannot become Guru

Shri Krishna makes the Guru and sends the Guru in this world.

That real Guru made and sent by Shri Krishna is A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada!

Ha ha ha! What a great question! Thanks for reaching out, it’s a blockbuster soloprenure idea.

So, you want to be a spiritual guru? And you want the best ways?

Let’s find the easier (desi) ways first. Lot of success stories in India, so you can easily follow the path.

• You must read & write. Knowing English helps. Speaking it redoubles your chances.
• Speaking up with an accent, rocks it up!!
• Foreigner, white skin?? Success is guaranteed.
• Grow a white beard (Very Important). Just let them grow, why bother? Saves money anyway.
• Or, Clean save your head (For Bhakti Path). Another great alternative btw. Comes with free Prasad, Hostels and Book Selling options.
• Have a paste of Chandon (Sandalwood) and Sindoor (Kumkum). Wait, order it from Amazon otherwise, it’s even faster and more sexier in fragrance. Perfume attracts bhakts (devotees)😉
• Don a Tilak on the forehead. Styles vary basis your lineage. (Shivait or Vaishnavs etc.)
• Don’t forget to wear orange colored Kurta and Paijama. Both are show stoppers!
• Sit somewhere where you can utter n mutter some chants.
• Smile vigorously as if you have constipation.
• Have some fools to follow wherever you go,
• Have a YouTube Channel to blabber your hypothesis of Karma. Upload videos daily.
• You can follow the path of Quorafied Gurus and Spiritual Masters who have dedicated their lives to answer & solve questions. Have an eye on partner program and monetizing modes.
• Now wait for your turn. Every dog has a day. You are in queue. Your day will come dear one! Your day will come.

===========================

Jokes apart!! On a serious note, do you want to know The harder way?

No Spiritual Guru ever wishes to be a Guru in the first place; neither searches the best or worst ways to become a better Guru. He / she searches the path of his / her own salvation through awareness, awakening and spiritual enlightenment. The enlightened one, radiates eternal bliss, his words become doctrines, his aura lasts for ever, removing darkness of ignorance. No one tries to be a Guru my dear.

The relentless pursuit of righteousness and virtues just transcends you with this Title. Irrespective of cast, creed, religion and devotional values, The Title of Guru is earned and revered for ever for its Honor, Honesty, Intellect and Wisdom 😊.

Jai Gurudev 🙏🏻

OM Tat Sat 😊🙏🏻

Update: 1:

Removed the photos of convicts, rapists and cheats as it might distract true seekers towards negativity.

A Guru is not a linear being, He’s multidimensional. Most human constructs being linear (if i do this ill become that) cannot fathom the multidimensional Guru and thereby try to ‘do’ things to become a Guru. But the Guru hasn't ‘done’ anything to reach multi dimension-ness. He is. The state of multi dimension-ness is known by many labels, self realization, nirvana, enlightenment, state of grace etc. The only thing that comes close to ‘doing’ is ‘centering’ which isn't a verb, its a state of being.

(the aspects of multidimensionality is something i cannot explain since im not realized :) but i can say that a Guru can perfectly perceive various aspects of existence being compassionate without prejudice to everything. He can effortlessly guide the spiritual development of a disciple towards the ultimate goal)

We are all born with innate intelligence, but we have so much ‘stuff’ piled on top of us. A multi-dimensional being has successfully removed all these piles of ‘stuff’ and touched his center. Touching ones center through continuous practice is ‘centering’. Many paths / sects / schools of spirituality teach ‘centering’ in many different ways. Meditation is one of the many ways of ‘centering’. This is an umbrella label i’m using. The Guru has successfully tapped the innate intelligence and freed it. This could be called self realization. Now, his innate intelligence can guide others in the right way (allowing for individual idiosyncrasies of disciples) and at the right pace. A Guru therefore isn't in the driving seat. He’s the medium through which the innate intelligence guides his disciples.

In other words the Guru has removed himself from the equation of ‘his’ inner intelligence and his disciple. Even the ‘his’ in the previous sentence is inaccurate, I've only included it because; before becoming a guru, before becoming a self realized being, this person was a normal being like us with ‘his’ issues and stories piled on top of this innate intelligence.

So, to become a Guru, you need to first acknowledge that there is an innate intelligence at work within us. You then need to ‘center’ yourself to reach that intelligence eventually removing ‘you-ness’ and allowing that intelligence to operate within and without. Once it starts operating outside guiding others, without hindrance, prejudices, vices, greed - all the ‘stuff’ we all are holding onto; you will hopefully be a guru.

I cannot say for sure as i too am not a Guru :)

The guru is not made. They are unmade. The journey is not forward - but inward. One disappears, and only Truth remains. No one becomes a guru. Ego craves a title.

Stillness teaches. Presence radiates. Others gather - not to follow, but to remember. The true guru points back to you. Silent. Knowing. Whole.

In love,

nobody

💛✨️

Easiest way to become a Spiritual Guru is to always chant the holy names of Krishna. One, on whose tongue the holy names of Krishna always dances, can become a Guru. This is the only required qualification.

In the words of the realized souls,

strī-śūdra-pukkaśa-yavanādi kena naya kṛṣṇa-nāma gāya, seo guru pūjya haya

‘’Those who chant the Name of Kṛṣṇa, whether they are women, labourers, persons of mixed caste, outcasts, or otherwise, become worshippable Gurus.’’- Prema Vivarta [151]

Thank You

Hare Krishna

A large crowd of ascetic nomadic beggars (ascetic mendicants) once visited the Ramana Ashram. During the time for lunch, Ramana’s disciples did not allow these mendicants inside saying, “There is no place inside the Ashram for mendicants”. They were driven out.

After a while, everyone was searching for Ramana, and he was not found in the Ashram. Then all the disciples started search for him frantically everywhere in the town of Tiruvannamalai.

Finally, they found him finally in a remote pond around the hill, sitting silently. When they asked him, he said, “I overheard people in the Ashram speaking that there is no place for Paradesis inside. Since I am also a paradesi, I had to leave. There cannot be a special rule for me against other mendicants”.

Then the disciples fell on his feet, asked forgiveness, agreed to bring all those mendicants back to the Ashram. Only then, Bhagwan returned to the Ashram.

He had all the followers from the world, the rich, intelligent, enlightened, powerful, beautiful, and global.

So what’s special?

He himself remained a paradesi throughout. While Vedantists were preaching the Vedanta until your ears would go deaf, He was silently living it every breathe. His presence and silence alone uplifted many to unimaginable Spiritual realms.

He was the same paradesi as a teen, when ran away from home after self-realisation.

He was the same paradesi as an adult when he was roaming in Tiruvannamalai.

He was the same paradesi in middle age moving around the hill all the time.

He was the same paradesi when old, when more and more took refuge in His Holy feet.

He was the same paradesi with renowned yogis who visited him.

He was the same paradesi with revered scholars surrendered their knowledge and took pride in being his humble disciples.

He was the same paradesi with monkeys, cows peacocks, elephants, crows and dogs. Some of them are Self-Realized and there are separate shrines for them in the Ramana Ashram today. We pray and meditate there. The Guru’s Grace- what to say ?

He was the same paradesi in disease, with cancer in hand, and when he admitted that his body feels the pain.

He was the same paradesi in death, when few minutes before dying, he told the crying disciples to stop crying and understand that, “Where can I go. Where I am Not, for me to go there ? I am everywhere and in everything. When I see you all crying like this, I feel you have not got the essence of my life and teaching. I feel my whole life with you was wasted. Stop crying and realise that the Self is all”. - (Paraphrased).

There was another great Enlightened Master Nisargadutta Maharaj, who lived much later. He is revered equally to Ramana Maharishi by the Spiritual seekers, mainly of Advaita or Neti method.

According to David Godman, when Ramana Maharishi’s grandnephew Ganesan visited Nisaragadutta Maharaj, the Maharaj stood up, cleared space and did a full prostration on Ganesan’s feet, saying that since he didn't get a chance to see or prostrate on Ramana Maharishi’s feet, at least this will be somewhat equal to that.

This, from the Nisargadutta Maharaj, who lived as the pinnacle of Advaita, as much as Ramana Maharishi did.

What more to say ? Just look at Him one more time..

Edit 1- Removed the word “Pandaram” and replaced it with equivalent English word - ascetic mendicant/mendicant.

Edit 2-

It happened at his age of 16. Maharishi explains it in his own words.

It was about six weeks before I left Madura for good that a great change in my life took place . It was quite sudden. I was sitting in a room on the first floor of my uncle’s house. I seldom had any sickness and on that day there was nothing wrong with my health, but a sudden, violent fear of death overtook me. There was nothing in my state of health to account for it; and I did not try to account for it or to find out whether there was any reason for the fear. I just felt, ‘I am going to die,’ and began thinking what to do about it. It did not occur to me to consult a doctor or my elders or friends. I felt that I had to solve the problem myself, then and there.”

The shock of the fear of death drove my mind inwards and I said to myself mentally, without actually framing the words: ‘Now death has come; what does it mean? What is it that is dying? This body dies.’ And I at once dramatized the occurrence of death. I lay with my limbs stretched out stiff as though rigor mortis had set in and imitated a corpse so as to give greater reality to the enquiry. I held my breath and kept my lips tightly closed so that no sound could escape, so that neither the word ‘I’ or any other word could be uttered, ‘Well then,’ I said to myself, ‘this body is dead. It will be carried stiff to the burning ground and there burnt and reduced to ashes. But with the death of this body am I dead? Is the body ‘I’? It is silent and inert but I feel the full force of my personality and even the voice of the ‘I’ within me, apart from it. So I am Spirit transcending the body. The body dies but the Spirit that transcends it cannot be touched by death. This means I am the deathless Spirit.’ All this was not dull thought; it flashed through me vividly as living truth which I perceived directly, almost without thought-process. ‘I’ was something very real, the only real thing about my present state, and all the conscious activity connected with my body was centred on that ‘I’. From that moment onwards the ‘I’ or Self focused attention on itself by a powerful fascination. Fear of death had vanished once and for all. Absorption in the Self continued unbroken from that time on. Other thoughts might come and go like the various notes of music, but the ‘I’ continued like the fundamental sruti note that underlies and blends with all the other notes. Whether the body was engaged in talking, reading, or anything else, I was still centred on ‘I’. Previous to that crisis I had no clear perception of my Self and was not consciously attracted to it. I felt no perceptible or direct interest in it, much less any inclination to dwell permanently in it.

Edit 3-
An extremely happy note, I wrote an email to Shri David Godman, and was Blessed with a reply from him correcting two mistakes-

-Bhagwan referred to Himself as Paradesi. This is a word casually used in Taminadu to refer to the nomadic beggars and vagabonds, most times in a derogatory sense.

- Bhagwan refused to enter the kitchen for dining, and not to the Ashram itself.

I felt like receving a reply from Bhagwan Himself when I received the reply from Shri Godman, whose consciousness is filled with nothing but Shri Bhagwan.

Please visit His page at Sri Ramana Maharshi: his life, his teachings and his devotees - David Godman , and there will nothing more to know in Nondualism and Ramana Maharishi.

Ramana Saranam^

You don't need to. Does cow needs to know that she bears milk, No! But it happens. Enlightenment is an incident which is the result of constant journey of one's spiritual self towards fulfillment. When the incident finally happens you know it and not just you but the universe knows it because its so rare and its so beautiful and fulfilling that the whole Being rejoices after it.

Hence the stories that, when Buddha attained enlightenment the bodhi peepal tree went green with new leavea and all around him flowers blossomed although it was not the season for that. When guru nanak slept in a farmland alone, a snake came and gave him shade.

Its just a state of soul that we all want, we strive for but few gets the right path.

May u b a guru someday…

Firstly..as a career choice, this is a great one. Secondly..be careful that if you succeed, you have to have your moral compass right so that you don't mislead people and pile further suffering on them. In order to become a guru, I think you need to have great communication and networking skills. That will give you the required publicity. It's important in today's world. That however comes later. The first thing you at least need is spiritual understanding, if not spiritual enlightenment. That is, you need to understand your subject and your job role. Once you have that, start small. You must understand that this is self employment. You just iron out the issues before you go big. Once you're confident enough, contact the TV channels, local politicians, religious governing bodies. All these will give you better publicity. Now you are set to go.

ANSWER: Bharat will become a Vishwa Guru under the able leadership of our beloved Captain Vishwa Guru ❤️

As of now, Captain Vishwa Guru made Bharat an Amrit Kaal like this 👇🏻

Reference:

Footnotes

How can I find a Guru? How can I make myself ready for the Guru to arrive? Brilliant Spiritual Science Question. My Honest Conviction. It is said that Guru arrives when the Shishya is ready. Hence, equip yourself with the fundamental knowledge of every question you want to ask your Guru. No use going to a Guru without the Big Battery of Intricate Questions. A real Guru is expected to answer every question with mathematical precision. Guru means who can remove your ignorance. Being a Yes Man in front of a Guru is a criminal waste of time and energy for both, the Guru and the Shishya. Guru Paramapara demands healthy intellectual discussion to get impeccable wisdom. I want logical and scientific evidence for the question of existence. I am certain that an Enlightened Guru can create a New Uniform Rule Book for entire humanity even today. The intention has to be perfect to find the perfect Impeccable Wisdom.

Hence, every aspirant of Humanity should have great intentions for the benefit of every living and non-living being of the universe.

The Guru can lead you to find impeccable wisdom.

Are you ready for that impeccable wisdom knowing that everything is perfectly known?

For the sake of ease and convenience, I am not including the deities worshipped in India, the ancient seers of the Vedic hymns and the authors of the Purana-Itihasas.

When we look at every other spiritual guru in India, in all of history, there has only been one man who defied every idea of limits. He single handedly revived a culture and strengthened it to the core in the whole Indian Subcontinent. He ensured that Sanatana Dharma will stay as eternal as the name states. It is his blessings that we are still enjoying Hinduism as it is today.

His knowledge was sky high, his intelligence was Supreme, his influence was strong, his will was unbendable. An outsider would scarcely believe that such a man could have lived in our land. He accomplished in mere 32 years what anyone else couldn't have done in a full life.

He is the most influential spiritual master, the greatest of philosophers, the Supreme author and the most important reformer of Sanatana Dharma - Sripada Adi Shankaracharya.

Popularly known as Shankara Bhagavatpada Acharya, he was born 1231 years ago and lived only till 32 years of age but went on to become one of the most revered Gurus of India. Shankaracharya was an early 8th century Indian philosopher and theologian who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta.

Shankaracharya is named in all the major lineages of Gurus like the ones originating from Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.

सदाशिव समारम्भाम् शङ्कराचार्य मध्यमाम्।

अस्मदाचार्य पर्यन्ताम् वन्दे गुरु परम्परां।।

Starting from Lord Shiva, through Shankaracharya and till my own Guru, I pay obeisance to the lineage of all my Gurus.

नारायणं पद्मभुवं वसिष्ठं शक्तिं च तत्पुत्र पराशरं च व्यासं शुकं गौडपदं महान्तं गोविन्दयोगीन्द्रमथास्य शिष्यम् ।

श्री शंकराचार्यमथास्य पद्मपादं च हस्तामलकं च शिष्यम् तं तोटकं वार्त्तिककारमन्यान् अस्मद् गुरून् सन्ततमानतोऽस्मि ॥

The Guru Parampara or lineage starting from Lord Narayana and through Lord Brahma, Maharishi Vasishthha, his descendents, Veda Vyasa, Shuka, Adi Shankaracharya and his students, I pay obeisance to all of the Gurus before me.

The Acharya was born in a poor family and his father passed away when Shankara was but a boy. As a child, Shankara proved himself proficient in learning Sanskrit and becoming an expert of Vedas, Puranas, Shastras and other scriptures. He was not content with it and wished to become a Sanyasi (hermit).

His mother agreed only after a dramatic event wherein a crocodile got hold of Shankara in the local river. When his mother agreed to let him pursue Sanyasa, the crocodile spared him. It is unclear as to where all Shankara went and whom all he met but it is agreed upon by everyone that this travel was when he met his teacher Govinda Bhagavatpada.

Shankara learned from his Guru, in more detail, the Vedas, Upanishads, Brahma Sutra, and different philosophical ideas like Mimamsa, Dvaita, Advaita Vedanta etc. It was Govinda Bhagavatpada who introduced Shankara to the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta.

Shankaracharya travelled far and wide in the Indian Subcontinent participating in public philosophical debates with different orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy while also with scholars among Buddhists, Jains, Arhatas, Saugatas, and Charvakas.

Shankaracharya gained prominent and knowledgeable disciples like Padmapada, Sureshvara, Totaka, Brahmendra, Sadananda etc. He also set up four monasteries at Puri, Dwaraka, Badrinath and Sringeri to propagate the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta.

अवतीर्णश्च कालट्यां केदारेऽन्तर्हितश्चयः।

चतुष्पीठप्रतिष्ठाता जयताच्छङ्करो गुरुः ॥

Bhagavatpada Acharya is considered to have authored over 300 texts including भाष्य (Bhashya) or Commentaries, प्रकरण ग्रन्थयः (Prakarana Granthaya) or original compositions and स्तोत्र (Stotra) or poetries praising different deities.

He is known for his commentaries on ब्रह्मसूत्र (Brahma Sutra) and the eleven major Upanishads.

• बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद् (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad)
• छान्दोग्योपनिषद् (Chandogyopanishad)
• ऐतरेयोपनिषद् (Aitareyopanishad)
• तैत्तिरीय उपनिषद् (Taittiriya Upanishad)
• केनोपनिषद् (Kena Upanishad)
• ईशोपनिषद् (Isha Upanishad)
• कठोपनिषद् (Katha Upanishad)
• मुण्डकोपनिषद् (Mundaka Upanishad)
• प्रश्नोपनिषद् (Prashna Upanishad)
• माण्डूक्योपनिषद् (Mandukya Upanishad)
• श्वेताश्वतारोपनिषद् (Shvetashvatara Upanishad)

Shankaracharya is also attributed to have written commentaries on सनत्सुजातीय (Sanat Sujatiya), विष्णुसहस्रनाम (Vishnu Sahasranamam), गायत्री मन्त्रं (Gayatri Mantram), Bhagavad Gita

His Prakarana Granthas, works like विवेकचूडामणि (Viveka Choodamani) and उपदेशसाहस्री (Upadeshasahasri) are renowned. He has also written:-

• पञ्चीकरण (Panchikarana)
• आत्म बोध (Atma Bodha)
• अपरोक्षानुभूति (Aparoksha anubhuti)
• निर्वाण शतकम् (Nirvana Shatakam)
• मनीषा पञ्चकम् (Manisha Panchakam)
• वाक्य वृत्ति (Vakya Vritti)
• प्रश्नोत्तर रत्न मालिका (Prashnottara Ratna Malika)
• वाक्यसुधा (Vakyasudha)
• प्रबोधसुधाकर (Prabodhasudhakara)
• मातृ पञ्चकम् (Matr Panchakam)

Acharya’s major composition of hymns

• गणेश पञ्चरत्नं (Ganesha Pancharatnam)
• कालभैरवाष्टकं (Kalabhairava Ashtakam)
• दक्षिणामूर्तिस्तोत्रम् (Dakshinamurti Stotram)
• भज गोविन्दं / मोहमुद्गरः (Bhaja Govindam) / Mohamudgara)
• शिवानन्दलहरी (Shivanandalahari)
• सौन्दर्यलहरी (Saundaryalahari)
• श्री लक्ष्मीनृसिंह करावलम्ब स्तोत्रं (Shri Lakshmi Nrisimha Karavalamba Stotram)
• शारदा भुजङ्कं (Sharada Bhujangam)
• कनकधारा स्तोत्रं (Kanakadhara Stotram)
• विष्णु भुजङ्कं (Vishnu Bhujangam)

Shankaracharya is considered by many as an incarnation of Lord Shiva himself. He is regarded as the greatest reformer and teacher of both Advaita Vedanta and Smarta Tradition

The Acharya was a scholar par excellence, proficient linguist and an expert in debates. His teachings and works, along with the traditions and practices he started, still are followed by millions of people and have reformed Sanatana Dharma unlike any other modern day philosopher could ever imagine of.

That's why Adi Shankaracharya is one of the foremost, if not the greatest Guru of Sanatana Dharma and India.

Footnotes

Both will not work out

Because if we will seek , we will encounter several disastrous frauds from VIP famous guru to aghori naga baba.

And why any accomplished human will seek us, until they need it.

So be safe

Be in home

And when time is right, it happens

Or else you will be found wandering chanting allah or Jesus or Radha or Shiva on roads , begging and roaming. Lost all your money, family, mental state, body, job and education.

Otherwise you will become slave in name of brahmacharis and using material is beautiful eligible good slave women. THAT'S FACT of every religion. (Be it in America, India, Africa etc.. )

Thank you for reading

🪔🤗🪔

**If guru need discipline, discipline will know and success is sure.

You should first think of becoming a bonafide/authentic spiritual disciple only by following a Bonafide Guru, who himself will be having a Bonafide guru and so on till the Supreme Lord Krishna, who is the original Guru or Spiritual master. Serving under the instructions of a bonafide Spiritual master strictly can only one become a Spiritual Master.
Otherwise one can become a so called guru and by this earn good money, but will have to suffer severe punishment in Hell (described in Garuda Puran) for misguiding simple hearted people or society. Cheating society in name of spirituality is a grave offence.

Is it common for people to have a guru in their life?
Yes, having a good is common but this is not in the traditional sense. The traditional model is of a person going to a remote place and staying for years learning from one mode spiritual and vice persons in a formal education system.

How can one find a guru?
In modern times it is more likely to be someone who helps you to make critical connections in your thinking attitude and behavior. At first it may seem to be very small but with time leads to big changes.

The traditional definition of a guru is a teacher who stays in one place and the students go to him to learn similar to a professor in the University who does not teach or interact outside the University with the student.

Most people do not realize such people or relationships while it is happening because it is a discovery and journey leading to the self realization of one's potential.

Finding a guru is not simple. It is much easier to describe who is not likely to be a guru.

It is best to avoid all of types of GodMen, please and self proclaimed spiritual leaders, Satan's and prophets. They are only filling their system of imagining nonexistent problems and magical solutions empty promises.

Can anyone be a guru, even if they are not aware of it?
Potentially anyone can be a guru. They can be a teacher, a casual meeting with a stranger, a spouse or parent and children and many of my patients are in the category of a guru .

There are some qualities which are common to guru. It is useful to look for them.

1% RULE - they make you 1% or more – efficient, tolerant, capable, accepting and stronger. Even more intelligent and realizing your potential more completely.
They listen to you, Heart to Heart.
They help you in accomplishing - not “tell” you what to do.
Above all the real guru are there with you - give you a piece of yourself and of the guru - no strings attached - for you to use in your life.
Milton H. Miller, MD [H-UCLA] used to explain and help in operationalizing these.

Most of the real guru I have encountered were teachers, doctors, scientists, persons who had demonstrated training and expertise in some field.
Not a single GodMan or anyone claiming to be enlightened or saved turned out to be a guru.
None who offered personal stories as proof of being a guru.
Even my patients that I consider my guru - did not claim to be guru or teaching me, they shared their life being-there. I had to add my 2 cents and make the change in myself [while focused on helping the patients].

What about guru on the internet or in a book?
NO. When I am lecturing or giving a presentation it is to an imaginary audience - so impossible to be a guru to any one person or persons.
Difficult even in a small group.
1on1 or a small group of 2–3 possibly.
With more persons the individual personal discovery and epiphany is rarely possible.
The guru experience does not happen.
One can still learn a lot but much of the work is done alone not in a training mentorship bicameral relatedness dialectic with the guru.

Is it possible for the guru to know they are not guru?
Yes. They are kind, generous, helping persons. May even be too honest. They know they are trying to help. They usually do not claim to being a guru and may not be aware that you have discovered a guru in them.

Thank you for asking:-) warning! it will be a very lengthy answer.

The answer stated below should not be considered as a model answer it is just an attempt by me using my almost negligible knowledge and observations throughout my tiny life. Such answers require expert analysis and thorough knowledge, I am just a novice and whatever I have written is just straight from my heart, I also want my country! my nation! to be the leader of the world.

Bharat (India, Hindustaan, Aryawrat, Jambudweep…) was Viswa Guru (Teacher of the whole world). World’s first University was established here, here decimal system was developed, our ancestors were the first to discover that earth is round, theorems of Mathematics, Science etc., our Medical Science was also a state of art in front of the world. Many pathbreaking inventions and discoveries took place here, which we people even after 100’s or 1000’s of years feel proud.

Bharat will??? not sure :-(

Bharat can? Yes! Definitely Yes! No doubt about it. :-)

It is my personal observation that in order to become world leader in terms of knowledge, progress and technology etc. a country needs to invest a lot in its education, medical science, freedom of thought and fitness. (Although a country needs to work on many fields in order to become a true world leader; but here I am mentioning only some crucial stepping stones, according to my little bit of knowledge)

Education:

Education (True education only!) makes people aware about nature and develops curiosity among them which leads to many discoveries and inventions. In ancient India Gurukul system was followed where complete devotion to words the Guru was observed, guru too had the sole ambition of making his student the best in the world. Such a system where there was no interference of the outside world specially the family of both the parties involved. It also included 100% Cut-off from the external deviations and disturbances and allowed students to focus hundred percent towards their goal.

Medical Science:

Medical Science helps to enhance healthy life and ensures longevity of life. Ancient sages like Charaka ji, Patanjali ji etc. discovered the various ways to ensure healthy recovery from various kind of deadly diseases in fact Charak ji was the one who discovered the art of surgery and developed various surgical instruments which led to many delicate surgical procedures to be conducted with ease.

Freedom of thought and expression:

Freedom of thought and expression is very necessary in order to progress as a country because brainstorming leads to various kind of creative ideas which ultimately pave the way towards success. In ancient India people were free to speak, they used to conduct debates or shastrarths which were intense discussions about almost all the aspects of life many books many manuscripts many kind of streams of knowledge were evolved due to these discussions. Level of freedom of speech was such that the famous Sage Ashtavakra ji could criticise entire group of ministers in front of their king in his own palace and king instead of punishing him appreciated his truthfulness.

Fitness:

Fitness ensure that entire population is ready for any kind of challenge. As Swami Vivekananda ji once said, "You will be nearer to heaven through football than through the study of the Gita." Various kinds of exercises and sports, wrestling etc. were a part of day to day life in ancient India. People actively participated In those activities and attuned their physical abilities as they say “body is the temple where God himself resides”,special care was also taken to ensure cleanliness of body as well as of surroundings.

I feel that these were the basic requirements which were followed in ancient Bharat (India). Many more many more things are required in order to become a world leader but I think these are the Basic ingredients required for success of a nation.

so an action plan to become Vishwa Guru should revolve around these three pillars as per me. I truly hope our people, our system, our government everyone will work towards achieving or I say re-achieving the aforementioned title.

Thank you.

If you are using the word accidentally then all you can do is sit and wait for the moment when a guru will come to your life. If you are looking for a guru consciously then look around and contact the person you like the most. But in Hinduism it is said that guru chooses the disciples they can not choose the guru. I would advise pray. In my case, it happened totally accidentally. At first I didn't like him. Even after coming into his contact, I was still looking for a master. Then gradually I started liking him, a strong feeling developed and one day I realized that I can not accept any other person as my guru. Now, not a single day passes now without his thoughts. In every emotional moment, his face comes to my mind. He has changed my life completely. Jai Guru.

Dear Paul,

If you consider Guru to be a person, then, the best way to relate with him/her as your best friend. Relate to him with love and respect.

We all want God; but do we ever trust Him fully?

But still we want Him.

Forget God, Do you trust peace, or awareness or whatever?

You don’t. But still you want that, don’t you?

Aren’t you following somebody? Whom do you follow?

Sure, there is an authority.

Inquire. Inquiry is the way. You don’t need to have trust on a Guru or accept his authority.

Just pay attention. Trust can sometimes blind people. So, better listen.

Offer your best. Offer ‘your’ best. The best is not going to be possible for you.

Offer your best and then probably the best might come.

Listen to the teacher because he is speaking on your behalf. He is only saying that you have always wanted to say. He is expressing only that which is waiting within you to be expressed. You had been unable to express because you have taken so many things on yourself that is blocking the essence. You have worn lot of covers and mistakenly taken them as your essence.

Your real essence is waiting patiently to gain manifestation. The teacher is you minus your conditioning. That is why you love him. He is what you essentially are. He is what you are missing out on. He is what you love to be and he is what you are destined to be.

The teacher is not a supplier of new knowledge. Had he said something new, you could not have agreed so deeply with him. You cannot immediately and instinctively test it.

With the teacher you do not feel the need to test anything because whatever is being said is anyway eternally established as the Truth, not by others, established in your own heart. You just know that it is right.

By this you know how not to approach a teacher and how not to think about the teacher.

Who is considered the first or real-life Guru in India, and why is he so unique among all others who were later called Gurus? Brilliant Spiritual Science Question. Please forgive me for my honest conviction and answer. I called Lord Dattatreya the first Guru. Why? He represents Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Shiva, and Guru Para Brahma together. He has helped me recognize, conceive, and reveal Divyank, the Divine Constant, Divyank Ratio, and Divyank Sequence.

The Scientific Evidence:

Lord Dattareya.

Divyank- The Divine Constant.

1. 22/21 represents Lord Brahma and the first stage of Creation.

2. 10 represents the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu and the ten stages of development of perfect objects of Divine Nature.

3. 0.34419 represents five elements of Lord Shiva and the last stage of maturation.

4. 1.618034 represents Lord Dattareya and the most economical algorithm of Divine Nature.

Now, a simple question.

Has any other Guru revealed so much so far?

For detailed knowledge, please read Akhand Sutra from Akhand Vidyashram.

The eBook is free.

Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi experienced a profound awakening when he was 16 years old.

It’s often said he had a panic attack and thought he was dying. Whatever happened, Bhagavan entered a state of perfect peace.

(If you've ever had a near-death experience, you can probably relate.)

In death, he found nothing. The “nothing” he found is pure being, or Reality itself.

Bhagavan discovered that Silence is who we really are, underneath all the confusion. Soon after, he became a “classic” mendicant.

He lived on a sacred mountain, wore a loincloth, and never married or had a career. He ate what people gave him and stayed silent.

When people approached him, they could feel immense peace, so they came from miles around to be in his presence.

Bhagavan sat on the mountain Arunachala, absorbed in the bliss of the Self. Silence was his primary teaching.

When people couldn’t assimilate his silence and peppered him with questions, he encouraged them to look toward the source of their questions.

This source is not different from the Reality they were trying to reach.

So, he tried to help them turn back to the Silence out of which their questions emerged.

Bhagavan didn’t attempt to teach anything or change anyone. He didn’t see others as “unenlightened” or in need of enlightenment from him.

His “teachings” consist of answers to questions.

These answers are easy to digest, and compatible with any religious view, or none.

The simple clarity of his pointing is very helpful for modern seekers.

You can be a ‘health and wellness guru’ with a pinch of spirituality here and there like dressing on a salad, which is fashionable these days. It’s very easy.