𝗝𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗱𝗴𝘂𝗿𝘂 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘆𝗮 𝗦𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗯𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝘆𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗮𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻
Disciple : Is a Guru necessary for one who desires mokṣa (liberation)?
Acharyal : Very much.
D: What is the chief characteristic of a Guru?
A: Guru should be a jñānin (one who has realised the Truth). Further, he should be interested in the well-being of his disciple.
D: Nowadays, many pose as sages. Such being the case, how is one to identify a real Guru?
A: No specific rules exist regarding this. If we are very sincere, Īśvara Himself will lead us to a Guru. We can see for ourselves whether the person whom we wish to have as a Guru is a jñānin and desires our well-being. Though it is difficult to conclude whether one is a jñānin or not, we can use the description of a jñānin contained in the Bhagavadgītā as a yardstick. However, while doing this, it should be remembered that the description was not given to select jñānin-s.
– From 𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴
Note: The characteristics described by the Jagadguru of a Guru are exactly the same as what Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada has enunciated, in Prashnottara Ratnamalika. Bhagavatpada puts forward a question and answers it:
को गुरुः?
Who is a Guru?
अधिगततत्वः शिष्यहितायोद्यतः सततम्॥
The one who has realized the Supreme Reality and is constantly striving for the interests of the pupil.
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