Let’s examine the concept of the guru/disciple relationship in a new light. The guru is defined as a wise sage who assumes the task of teaching spiritual truths to a disciple. A disciple is a ‘follower’ or ‘student’ of another. The teaching aim of the University of Spirituality is that the student is a disciple aspiring to be his or her own guru. Students learn to follow the inner guidance system of their soul. The inner guidance system is centered in the heart. The primary function of the student is to listen, absorb, decipher and create utilizing a new method of learning through this inner guidance system.
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In this respect, let’s attempt to redefine the nature of the traditional guru-disciple relationship. There are many seekers of spiritual truths who would like nothing more than to have their very own guru, especially during the initial stages of self-discovery after learning about the gurus that some other seekers have had. This sort of one on one guru-disciple relationship is nothing less than wonderful if one is fortunate enough to find it, but it is unrealistic, impractical and more fantasy driven than anything else. There are simply no where near the number of gurus available for the number of prospective students interested in spiritual truth. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the guru-disciple relationship from a different perspective. Instead of looking to someone or something to teach you, consider the idea that you are your own best teacher. You can and do learn a great deal from someone else (a teacher) and something else (books & life experience), but does not the true learning experience occur within the perceptual reality of each individual? Buddha sat under a tree and went within until he reached enlightenment. The University of Spirituality teaches the principle that the individual is both a teacher and a student. In other words, you are both a guru and a disciple. Such a relationship already exists within you. The guru is the spirit within you whose job it is to teach the disciple in you that longs to learn. Think of your guru teacher as your soul. It really doesn’t matter how you perceive your soul teacher, only that you approach the endeavor with an open mind and receptive heart. There are basically two steps in implementing the teaching process. First, acknowledge and accept that this relationship exists within the confines of the new home you are building (YOU). Second, learn to trust in the unseen part of you, the higher consciousness within you that knows your potential and what you must do in order to exercise that potential. The soul, through the Love of the Holy Spirit, is a high powered leader who leads you through continuous expanding awareness of self while traversing one plateau after another. In short, the soul teaches you to lead yourself through renewed self-confidence, discipline, self-responsibility and self-reliance.
In the traditional guru-disciple relationship, the guru often requires the disciple to undergo lengthy periods of silence, service orientated work, and other rigorous tests that are demanding on both the mind and physical body of the disciple. The same tests will come about from a deep inner connection with the soul. Sound hard to believe? Many people would question the idea that there is a hidden part of us that can guide us through life. We say ‘can guide us’ because we must allow this guidance to occur of our own free will. The problem in relying on this guidance is when we go through the myriad of obstacles in life, especially accidents, injuries, heartbreaking relationships, and other unfortunate circumstances that we experience in life. Whether one chooses to accept this guidance or not is another matter. The truth is that the soul is always guiding us through life’s mishaps, but since the average person considers a mishap a mistake that wasn’t supposed to happen, they would be less apt to acknowledge the soul’s inner guidance, much less trust themselves. Think about it. Aren’t accidents and other mishaps, including those inflicting heavy trauma, a wake up call for self-examination? The disparity between believing and not believing in the guidance of the soul boils down to trusting in oneself. In other words, you cannot trust one part of you and not trust another part because it is all the same. It is the same perception, the same consciousness and the same home you are building. Yes, a duality does exist in you, however, it is our intention to help you close the gap of self-opposition and enlighten your understanding as to why you feel, for example, love one moment and anger the next. You must be willing to accept the myriad of diverse experiences life serves you. In fact, it is not so much the good experiences or the bad experiences that make you wiser in life. It is the experience itself, how you deal with it, and what you learn from it that imparts wisdom.
Conclusion; As a earnest seeker of spiritual truth, you have no choice but to place all of your trust, devotion and hope in the divine compass of your spirit and soul. Let’s face it, if you want to learn about spirituality, what better place to learn than from the heart of your own spirit.
