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India Today
6 days ago
- Science
- India Today
Guru Purnima: A commitment to individual evolution
A few years ago, when I was interviewed by an American magazine, one of the questions I was asked was, 'Who is the most significant person in the West to have worked for human consciousness?' Without hesitation, I said, 'Charles Darwin.''But Charles Darwin is a biologist,' they but he was the first person in the West to tell people that it is possible to evolve - to become something more than who you are right The word 'evolution' means something transforming itself into a higher possibility gradually. Charles Darwin told you that you were all monkeys, and then your tail fell away, and you became human – you know the story. When you were a monkey, you did not choose to become a man. Nature just pushed you on. When you are in animal nature, evolution happens anyway – you do not really have to participate in it. But once you become human, once a certain level of consciousness has come, there is no more unconscious evolution for you. Only if you consciously seek it, will it birth of the Yogic SciencesDarwin talked of biological evolution about 200 years ago. Shiva, the Adiyogi or the first Yogi, talked of spiritual evolution more than 15,000 years ago. Guru Purnima signifies one of the greatest moments in the life of humanity. It was on this day that Adiyogi transformed into the Adi Guru, or the first guru. The essence of his teaching is that every atom in this existence – including the sun and the planet – has a consciousness of its own; but what they do not have is a discerning mind. Once consciousness arises with a discerning mind, it is the most powerful possibility. This is what makes human life so Guru Purnima, Adiyogi started the transmission of the Yogic Sciences to the Saptarishis, his first seven disciples, and opened up this phenomenal possibility: that a human being can evolve beyond all limitations set by his physical nature, if willing to we say 'yoga,' we are not talking about twisting your body or holding your breath. We are talking about the very mechanics of life and how to take this piece of creation – you – to its ultimate possibility. This phenomenal dimension of human consciousness, or the possibility of the individual becoming a window to the universal, was unleashed on this long was the actual teaching where Adiyogi propounded everything to the Saptarishis? The numbers are probably more metaphorical than factual. Maybe it took 12 months, or 12 years, or 144 years. We do not know. But everything that can be explored was explored by these seven people. After Adiyogi's transmission was complete, the seven sages set forth to spread the Yogic Sciences throughout the thousands of years, the spine of knowledge that Adiyogi created is still the source of almost everything that you can call spiritual on the planet. Today, nearly 2 billion people around the world are practicing some form of yoga. Over all these years, there was no campaign, papacy, or enforcement. Other teachings and belief systems have been forced upon people. But nobody put a sword to someone's throat and said, 'You must do yoga!' It has lived for over 15 millennia because of its sheer for commitmentadvertisementGuru Purnima is a celebration of the possibility of individual evolution, emancipation, and liberation – mukti. More than just a celebration, it is a commitment that 'we will evolve.' Being a guru is not an exalted position of power, but of commitment and sacrifice. Adiyogi sacrificed his own freedom, blissfulness, and ecstasy, and was committed to transmitting what was happening within him. So many other wonderful beings have committed themselves to this along the way in these thousands of years – do not waste that commitment. It is time that you commit, if not for everyone's wellbeing, at least for your wellbeing, that this must happen. (Ranked amongst the fifty most influential people in India, Sadhguru is a Yogi, mystic, visionary and a New York Times bestselling author. Sadhguru has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in 2017, the highest annual civilian award, accorded for exceptional and distinguished service. He is also the founder of the world's largest people's movement, Conscious Planet– Save Soil, which has touched over 4 billion people)- Ends(Views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author)Must Watch
Hans India
6 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Be indebted to your Guru for now and forever
Guru Sakshat Param Brahma Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha! Guru Purnima celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Aashaadha, which this year falls on Thursday (July 10), holds tremendous significance in today's context as it emphasises the value of teachers and mentors in guiding individuals towards knowledge, enlightenment and personal growth. It is a day to express gratitude and respect for those who illuminate our path, whether they are academic teachers, spiritual guides or even parents. In essence, Guru Purnima is not just a religious or cultural festival; it is a timeless reminder of the profound impact of teachers and mentors in shaping individuals and society fostering a culture of learning, gratitude and spiritual growth. This is the time of the year when the Adi Yogi's attention fell upon his first seven disciples—the now celebrated Saptarishis. In the yogic tradition Bhagwan Shiva is not worshipped as God, but is considered the Adi Yogi—the first Yogi and Adi Guru, the first guru from when the yogic science originated. So, this month is considered as the best and most auspicious time to receive the grace of the Guru and make one receptive to the process. The Saptarishis had done some simple preparatory steps for 84 years, without a moment of attention from Him, the Adi Yogi. During the shift of the southern Sun which is called Dakshinayan, Adi Yogi noticed these seven people with undivided attention. Then on the first Solstice, He decided to teach them and become a Guru. He could not ignore the efforts of the Saptarishis and became compassionate, loosened up himself and became a teacher, which He never intended. The Saptarishis were competent enough to grasp whatever was offered and the Guru shared everything that he wanted to pass on. Guru Purnima is also known as Vyasa Purnima, which is celebrated to honour the birth anniversary of Maharishi Veda Vyasa, the sage who compiled the Vedas and authored The Mahabharata, a major epic in Hindu literature, which includes 'The Bhagavad Gita' revered by every Indian and people from all over the world. He is considered the Adi Guru or the first Guru in the Hindu tradition. He is revered for organising the vast body of Vedic knowledge into four parts-Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajurveda and the Atharva Veda. He is also the author of eighteen Puranas and the Brahma Sutras. The term 'Guru' itself signifies one who dispels darkness and ignorance, leading disciples towards enlightenment, a role that Vyasa embodied through his teachings. He is considered as one of the immortals, the 'Chiranjeevi' who would be alive in the current age the 'Kali Yuga'. Siddhartha Gautama attained Enlightenment on this day and became the Buddha, which involved understanding the true nature of reality and transcending suffering and escaping the cycle of rebirth. He is the preacher of 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' to the world. He is honoured on the Buddha Purnima Day commemorating his first sermon at Sarnath. It is for all such reverential reasons that this month is deemed as the best time to receive the grace of the Guru and a good time to earn the Grace of Adi Guru and every other guru. Grace is like mantra for growth that a human being can catapult himself to another dimension of existence, capability and possibility. If as a human being you are ready to strive, every door in the existence (universe) is open. On Guru Purnima there is a certain alliance between the moon and the planets, which creates receptivity in people to the very dimension that we refer to as the Guru.
