Significanace of Guru Poornima by Swami Chinmayananda and Aadi Shankaracharya

A young seeker once questioned Swami Chinmayananda:

'Whatever you teach is there in the books.
What do I need a Guru for?'
Swamiji replied: “Why don't you ask this question to the books?'

The very fact that we have such questions such as the one asked by the young seeker indicate that we need teachers to teach us. Is there anything we do well, with confidence, or mastery if it has not been taught to us? If, for every perfect act in the world we need the guidance of an instructor, we can well understand the need for a guru on the spiritual path. On this path we have to deal with the subtlest forces and enormous confusions of the vehicle called the mind with its varied moods and delusions!

Consider – the full moon day in the month of Ashada as per the Hindu calendar, is Guru Purnima – a day of veneration to the Guru. Followers of Buddhism also celebrate this day in honour of Lord Buddha who gave his first sermon at Sarnath on this day. Hindus celebrate this day as Vyasa Purnima, as not only was Sage Veda Vyasa born on this day, but is also said to have commenced the great work, Brahmasutras, on this day.

                       

"Worshipping that Guru with deep devotion, when he is pleased with your surrender, humility and service, approach him and ask him to explain what you must know.

तमाराध्य गुरुं भक्त्या प्रह् वप्रश्रयसेवनैः।
प्रसन्नं तमनुप्राप्य पृच्छेज्ज्ञातव्यमात्मनः॥ [- विवेकचूडामणि ३४]

tamārādhya guruṁ bhaktyā prahvapraśrayasevanaiḥ,
prasannaṁ tamanuprāpya pṛcchejjñātavyamātmanaḥ.
[- Vivekacūḍāmaṇi 34]

Commentary :
"It is clear that no amount of enquiring into or discussing with a Teacher is of any avail unless the student has taken enough time to tune himself up to the Teacher. Spirituality is not something that we can start discussing and arguing among ourselves to while away an idle hour. It is to be understood in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity – for this understanding is an attempt at comprehending the deep experiences of the Master expressed not so much through his words.

Shri Adi Shankaracharya, in his composition 'Vivekachoodamani' explains that a seeker should approach the Teacher and learn, first of all, to love him, trust him and later on, through love-inspired acts of service, become receptive and establish a rapport filled with reverence. Thus, Vedanta is almost over-emphasising the method of approaching the Teacher

These days, unfortunately, we find seekers who think nothing of calling the Teacher over the phone to enquire from the Teacher about the goal of life, the path, the means and so on. Such telephone-tuition is not possible in spirituality and the seeker of a spiritual life and religious truths should approach the Master in an attitude of reverence and surrender