The Guru
Principle – The Essence of Sai
The Guru Principle – The Essence of Sai
Everyone can speak about the Guru principle, but very few truly live it. Shirdi Sai Baba said, “The Guru is the path, the Guru is everything. Constant remembrance of the Guru leads to the ultimate truth.” He not only taught this — he walked this path himself. He described faith in the Guru as the highest form of spiritual practice.
The word “Guru” itself is a divine mantra. Let us all worship Sai as our Guru. Let us deepen our trust in Sai — not merely by saying we “believe,” but by becoming that belief. Our very life should embody that faith. Every action we perform should be infused with that sincerity. Only then does that trust transform into Shraddha (devotion with awareness), just as Baba described. That is how we do justice to what he meant by “Shraddha.”
A Guru is none other than the Supreme Being — the source of creation, sustenance, and dissolution. That is why we recite:
Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwaraḥ.
If we give form to the Supreme, if we try to express that truth in human terms, it emerges as the Guru.
This universe is ever-changing — it's made of names and forms. But the entire cosmos is a form of the Guru. Is it enough to place a small idol and say, “This is my God, this is my Guru”? The Guru resides in all bodies, in all forms — moving or still. The Guru is the conscious presence in all beings.
That’s why Sai Baba said:
“I am not just this body of three and a half cubits. Don’t think I am confined to Shirdi.”
Whether accepting food as a fly from Nana Saheb, or as a dog from Lakshmibai’s offering, or appearing in many forms to bless devotees — through all these, he demonstrated his all-pervasiveness. That is the Supreme Truth — the real Guru principle.
To Understand the Guru Principle Deeply:
We must first accept Sai as our Guru. We must learn to revere him as Guru. It’s
often said that God gives what we ask for, but the Guru protects us across
lifetimes.
Namāmi Sadgurum Śāntam,
Pratyakṣa Śiva Rūpiṇam
Śirasā Yoga Pīṭhasthaṁ, Mukti Kāmyārtha Siddhaye
“I bow to the peaceful Sadguru, the visible form of Shiva. Seated in the yoga
pīṭha, I prostrate with my head for the fulfillment of liberation.”
Here, “Shiva” represents the Supreme Soul, and “Yoga Pīṭha” refers to the seat
of consciousness within — whether that’s the Sahasrara (crown chakra) or the
heart. I bow to such a Sadguru for the sake of liberation.
A true Guru is one whose worship destroys illusion and attachment, who
eliminates the forces of passion and ignorance, and creates a calm, clear mind.
That’s why he is called Śāntam — peaceful. We must realize that this Guru
resides within us — in our heart lotus, in our Sahasrara padma.
During daily meditation, visualize bathing the divine form of the Guru. As the
water flows over his head and body, imagine it cleansing your own body and
soul. Let that divine form purifies your inner being. This blend of form and
formless worship elevates one’s birth. Sins are burned away, and the seed of
wisdom sprouts within.
How to Worship the Guru
Make it a habit to visualize the Guru from his feet to his crown. Let your
mental eye first rest on the Guru’s feet. Only then will his gaze fall upon
your head. This mutual glance dispels ignorance. One becomes immersed in
knowledge. Constantly serve the Guru, and as long as this body exists, keep
worshiping him.
Everything should become Sai-filled — see his consciousness in all. Understand
that Sai is not just a form, but a presence that pervades all.
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