ancient times, true seekers have searched their entire lives for a guru or spiritual master. Once found, the guru marks out the path they must follow.

'The guru', an Enlightened Being is free from identification of self as ego, is free from ignorance, and dwells in Ultimate Reality (Sat-Cit-Ananda). The guru embodies Truth. Only such a being can transmit spirituality to disciples — guiding and instructing them to dispel the darkness (disciples' ignorance) and awaken them to Ultimate Reality. The guru and disciples are the same in essence. However, until the disciples' ignorance is annihilated and they experience the Absolute fully and abide in It, they need the guru's guidance. Enlightenment is established only through the experience of the Absolute, not through intellectual understanding.

* guru- The word "guru" is traditionally interpreted as divided into two parts of 'gu' (darkness) and 'ru' (dispeller). A spiritual master is regarded as the dispeller of the darkness of ignorance.

The waves of the mind are still through the guru's darsana**. In silence the guru transmits spirituality directly. This is the great blessing of communion with the guru. The disciples' mind is transformed by the guru's tranquility.

** The word 'darsana' means 'seeing' or 'looking'. It is the blessing given with a glance of Realized One.

In communion with the guru, disciples are immersed in the guru's divine light. Forgetting the ego-created mind momentarily, they become aware of their True Nature. This taste becomes the central force propelling a disciple's sadhana or yogic discipline, which turns the disciples' minds back to its origin rather than to the disciples' mind-created world.

When Lord Buddha was asked how effort is divided between master and disciple, for example, in a 7 to 3 ratio, he replied, "The master's guidance is 10." Everything is the master's guidance.

The Master only bestows the teachings if a disciple has passion, earnestness and makes a sincere effort. Even so, with effort alone, one cannot attain Enlightenment; since the mind can not comprehend beyond the mind, it is powerless to realize the Truth. The guidance of a master who embodies Truth is absolutely necessary.

Whether one is aware or not, meeting an Enlightened Being leaves a holy impression. It is up to the person whether they leave as if nothing happened, or whether they accept the influence and actually practice to realize Yoga.