It is the greatness of the philosopher poet Sant Kabir that a profound answer to a great dilemma is present in just a couplet. The couplet broadly translates as My Guru and the Lord are there standing Whose feet should I touch first I bow to thee my Guru, For without you, I would have never encountered the Divine The couplet offers a peep into the massive vastness of all the learnings of this land where spiritual exploration formed a part of existence. And hence the urgent need and undeniable importance of the Guru. For, without the hand to guide, the long and entwining path of liberation can never be realised. People often measure value in material terms. So the rich and the poor are people with and without means. But not long ago, our civilisation had seen prosperity of thought that debunked material wealth. There was a time when our sages and sage-like people walked away from wealth to fulfill longings of the soul.

 

The spiritual world was lasting and so a deepening connect was felt necessary. In this blessed land, many saints and philosophers marvelled over creation, sought to unravel its mysteries and helped the society in understanding true riches and actual poverty. Each left behind a treasure trove of knowledge which served not as wealth but as light, illuminating paths for individuals seeking The Truth. Our saints placed this illumination on a higher pedestal than the ‘Light’ itself. For, the destination can come only after the journey - after taking the right path.

 

And who can propel one into the right path but a Guru? Sitting on the heights of material comfort, our lives have become a run for living. Our happiness is bereft of inner joy, our wealth does not bring well-being, our minds are too cluttered to see light. Now is an apt time for a lookback. No wonder then that many young souls are today digging into religious books, listening to modern day ‘Gurus’ on their smart phones, experimenting with inner engineering to understand the art of living. The search for the right path can never be age specific. Each generation has seen true souls who took a different path and saw the light. Our individual personality, our lives, our societies, our nations need more of such souls who can show light. Tomorrow is the auspicious occasion of ‘Guru Pournima’, when heads will bow to those torch-bearers. Time, too, is ripe when we hold hand of these ‘Gurus’ and walk on the illuminated paths.