Guru as a mirror

Evolutionary bias has made our senses extroverted. Therefore, they have been honed to perceive objects, identify opportunities, avoid dangers and ensure survival. While this outward orientation has enabled us to relate to the outer world intelligently, it has also created a profound blind spot. We have learnt to explore the outer world, but we rarely explore the inner world.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji observed, 'Nanak dukhia sab sansar' - the whole world is touched by sorrow. The Buddha began his teaching with the reality of duhkha, revealed its cause, affirmed that it can end, and prescribed the Noble Eightfold Path. Vedanta declares that the root of sorrow lies not in the world but in our mistaken understanding of ourselves. Upanishads proclaim, 'Naalpe sukham asti' - there is no lasting happiness in the limited. Our longing is for the limitless because our true nature is limitless. What we seek outside is what we already are. Therefore, Upanishads assure us, 'Shokam tarati atmavit' - the knower of the Self crosses the ocean of sorrow.

But how does one know the Self? It's revealed through a unique means of knowledge, the Upanishads.


We require a mirror to see own face; likewise, to recognise our true nature, we need the mirror of Upanishadic vision. The one who unfolds this vision removes our misconceptions and enables us to recognise the ever-present Self is the Guru. Shiv Sutra succinctly declares, 'Guror upayah' - Guru is the means, the mirror.