ECOTRAIN QOTW: "DO WE NEED A GURU OR TEACHER IN ORDER TO GROW SPIRITUALLY?"
Having read a few posts on this particular topic, I got interested and decided to make mine so soon that I had to go research online to fully understand who a guru actually is. Though I have always watched movies featuring some gurus who are always placed to guide people's feet in the right path.
This is #Ecotrain community where there is always insightful and inspiring QOTW every week and here comes another topic which is fun. Here is the link
Now, let's define those three terms; Guru, Teacher and Spirituality.
WHO IS A GURU? This is someone who is seen as God himself in human form in Hinduism. A guru can be a male or female who guides and mentors others in the spiritual way and helps them discover who they really are.
WHO IS A TEACHER? This is someone who inspires, teaches and educates sets of people and helps them gain knowledge.
Note that a teacher could be someone who is learned in a particular field which many have knowledge in all areas of study.
WHAT IS SPIRITUALITY?
Spirituality is a broad concept of a belief in something greater or beyond one's self.
Spirituality is a deep concept that requires believing in the most high God whom we serve.
While trying to understand the topic because I also see it from another angle, especially the teacher aspect. I think teacher in this aspect isn't talking about one who is concerned with education alone because I was made to know that a spiritual leader could also mean a teacher because when they mount the pupit to lead in the spiritual way, they are actually teaching us.
Though in the Education sector, there are differences between a teacher and guru.
A teacher requires obedience and discipline while a Guru requires trust and humility.
A teacher explains the world and its nature to you, while a Guru explains yourself and your nature to you.
A teacher would teach to boost your ego, while Guru would puncture your ego.
A teacher would instruct you, while a Guru would construct you. Etc.
Now, you can see the differences between a teacher and guru in that line.
To answer the question;
Do we need a teacher or guru to grow spiritually?
To me, I would say I need both of them, provided that they are spiritually sound and can help with challenging questions in the spiritual way and one who leads an ordinary life.
As we are growing, we can't actually rely on ourselves to get answers. We need those who have experienced and learned more than us to guide us in the holy way. Even though our parents are the first person we would see to guide us in the right path.
Just as the Bible refers to those babies who still drink milk but need to start cracking bones. An adult would be in the position to help and train us into cracking bones and not stay at a lower level of drinking milk instead of starting to dig deep in the word of God.
Spiritual teachers or Guru are needed to help guide our lives and provide answers to every disturbing question about our existence and purpose for our lives.
If Samuel never wanted the help of Eli, he wouldn't have gone to meet him asking if he was the one calling him as he was hearing a voice calling him. Eli had to guide and mentor him on what to say in case the voice calls out to him again.
What I would say is that these spiritual leaders must lead by example and always practice what they teach. In this way, one wouldn't have to question or doubt their abilities in the spirit realm. They must be obedient and also destroy their egoistic nature if they really want to discipline people.
And to those of us who think having a spiritual leader is okay, we must not only live by what they say alone without going to check what the bible says which would be a proof to what they are teaching us.
Thanks for reading.