From the desk of Swami Niranjan

June 1989

On the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of BSY, this year the Guru Poornima holds a special importance. We are celebrating this poornima as Shishya Poornima. It is the time when the shishyas must open to the spark of awareness which leads them to the guru's flame inside.

Receiving diksha is just the first stage of spiritual life. Afterwards the inner link between the guru and disciple must be strengthened and tempered. Then as our knowledge and understanding grow, we must also prepare ourselves to become the vessels and transmitters of the light. Otherwise, how can the guru's blessings and grace reach the multitudes of unenlightened people?

Spiritual life must be progressive, not static. But neither a. man nor a disciple can progress without, so to speak, being thrown into the deep end and forced to swim under the watchful eyes of the trainer. If guru would allow us to cling and depend upon him lifelong, as so many have done, we would all remain spiritual dwarfs.

We have to begin to grow in our own right and the opportunity has been provided, to us by Poojya Swamiji in order to assess our own strength and limitations, realizing full well that his guiding spirit is beside us at all times.

This Shishya Poornima is a time when we recommit ourselves to the discovery of the guru within us and gain strength to apply his teachings, not just listen to them. As we move from one stage of life into another, the presence and concept of guru grows within us.