The Awakening of the Inner Guru

"Two things are to be done, first to find the Guru outside yourself and then find the Guru within."

"The Master is within; meditation is meant to remove the ignorant idea that he is only outside." ~ Ramana Maharshi

A spiritual teacher or Guru is considered of vital importance in a student's growth towards Self realization. Guru literally means one who "brings the Light" and "removes the darkness". In the Vedic tradition the Guru is seen as the same as God, and God is seen as the same as the Great I AM, the Supreme Self or Brahman. Therefore, the Guru is understood as identical to the Self. The Guru can be a living person, a person no longer living, or a non-human being who provides spiritual guidance and acts as an example and inspiration. This is what most people refer to as the Outer Guru.

Now, why is this Outer Guru so important to the seeker and why can't the consciousness within each of us alone be the teacher? In other words, "Why can't most of us be our own Guru?" First, higher consciousness is most often experienced in the presence of someone who already has it. One who is "aflame" in Spirit quite naturally shares that flame with those around him. Secondly, a student who is not free from ego, attachments and limited belief systems, rarely has the clarity or purity to use that inner consciousness to free himself. Reaching the Guru within, the Inner Guru, almost always requires the help of an Outer Guru. One of the responsibilities of the Outer Guru is to introduce the student to his own Inner Guru.

Now, what is the Inner Guru? It can be understood as the inner guiding consciousness of God Himself radiating as the Great I AM in the heart of the student. The Inner Guru can also be understood as the awakening of the Outer Guru's Shakti in the life, body and personality of the student. Under the guidance of the Outer Guru the student realizes the Inner Guru. The silent voice of the Inner Guru is only understood under the guidance of the Outer Guru.

How is the Inner Guru awakened? Of course, purity and freedom from attachments are very important, but nothing happens without the Grace of the Outer Guru. Of equal importance, is the ability to surrender. The student must be able to merge so completely with their Guru that he no longer makes any distinction between "inner" and "outer". The student and the Outer Guru must quite literally become "one". When this occurs, then the Inner Guru is awakened.