Le Guru

Posted by Paul Reynolds on Feb 8, 2023 in Blog, Eastern Inspiration, Inspired Readings, Paul's Musings | Comments Off on Le Guru

Question: How is one to decide upon a proper Guru? What is the swarupa [nature or real form] of a Guru?

Ramana Maharshi:
He is the proper Guru to whom your mind is attuned. If you ask, `How to decide who is the Guru and what is his swarupa?’, he should be endowed with tranquility, patience, forgiveness and other virtues; he should be capable of attracting others even with his eyes just as a magnet attracts iron; he should have a feeling of equality towards all. He who has these virtues is the true Guru, but if one wants to know the swarupa of the Guru, one must know one’s own swarupa first. How can one know the real nature of the Guru if one does not know one’s own real nature first? If you want to perceive the real nature or form of the Guru you must first learn to look upon the whole universe as Guru rupam [the form of the Guru]. One must see the Guru in all living beings. It is the same with God. You must look upon all objects as God’s rupa [form]. How can he who does not know his own Self perceive the real form of God or the real form of the Guru? How can he determine them? Therefore, first of all know your own real form and nature.

Le Guru –

Her lineage is impeccable

But from whence has she come?..

She comes when you don’t want her
When you think you’re not ready

Yet,

When you most need her.

She tolerates no lack of attention
She tolerates no lack of love

She sticks pins in your tender spots
To see if

“You’re done yet”

She never forgives

Yet

She never condemns

See her

Flowing robes
Outstretched arms
Piercing eyes
Pinioned wings

See her

Missing teeth
Limping gate
Rheumy eyes
Shopping cart and cardboard box

Feel her rage that is not hate
Feel her love that is not lust

Hold the warmth and delight
In her newborn skin
Hold her strength and wisdom
In the boles and gnarls and knots of her ancient-ness

Seek her out
Across miles of barren waste
In the steppes of the Himalayas

In aisle ‘B’
next to the baked goods

In the mirror

Seek
Her

She
Seeks
You.

-Paul Reynolds
from the book  A Favorite Blanket

Posted by | Paul Reynolds

“Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi, or Zen. Not any religion or cultural system…..” - Rumi

For over 30 years Paul Reynolds has collected and shared inspiration from a wide variety of sources. Embracing the philosophy that at the core of all these expressions is the reminder that we are loved and supported every moment. This unending stream of inspiration, imagination and wisdom is posted via his weekly ‘Living the Question Blog’, which has become ‘home’ for those discoveries. If you would like to receive the readings and share them with those you feel will benefit, please fill out the ‘Subscribe’ form to the right and Paul’s selections will come to your email every Friday.