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Summary of Question:	Living Guru
Category:	General Q's from Non-Sikhs
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 3/14/2006 6:29 AM MDT

Since Sikhism acknowledges that there may be enlightened beings/SatGurus living on the earth at present, wouldn't it be most beneficial for Sikhs to follow a living SatGuru to obtain direct guidance from them? While the Sri Guru Granth Sahib contains the teachings of Gurus who realized God, it seems that there would be greater benefit from following a living SatGuru in that he or she would be able to provide personal guidance and would assure that one is not mislead by the ego.

It is said that a SatGuru takes a person's mental, physical, emotional and spiritual makeup into consideration when providing guidance regarding the type of sadhana that would be most beneficial for their spiritual development in this lifetime. They also take the unique constitutional makeup of each disciple into consideration when initiating

them in a particular mantra, with the understanding that what might work for one person, may be inappropriate for another. As a Hindu, I have been taught that only a true Satguru, who has gone beyond mind and ego, knows what mantra and what sadhana will be most effective for each disciple.

Because they have realized their oneness with the Supreme Being, any advice one receives from a true SatGuru can be considered to be guidance from God. Thus, it seems that it would be most helpful to receive this kind of direct guidance from a living SatGuru rather than following the teachings of Sikh gurus who are no longer embodied and who can thus no longer give one personal advice and guidance.

In addition, it is said that the mere presence of a SatGuru can help one progress much faster than if one were to do sadhana without a living Guru, and that the true Guru creates the necessary circumstances which will enable the disciple to weaken his or her vasanas and relinquish the ego.

These concepts come from my background in Hinduism and study of the Vedic scriptures, and I am presenting them here in the hope that you may be able to provide clarification with regard to the Sikh understanding of these matters. It is not my intention to assert my personal beliefs as "Truth" but to gain a clearer understanding of Sikhism, particularly with regard to views about living Satgurus. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Gratefully,

Nischala

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reply
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Sat nam. You have not really studied Sikhi then. The Siri Guru Granth Sahib is a living Guru. Egoless. It is Satguru, and the true gursikh understands this and knows exactly how to access the spirit, the teaching, the divine understanding in it. We don't need a human to do this for us. We access the Satguru, the Divine, but opening its pages and meditating on its divine words and guidance.
Guru rakha,
DKK