The necessity of a guru, or spiritually realized master, has been debated throughout history, and perspectives vary widely depending on cultural, religious, and individual beliefs. Here are some reasons why having a guru is considered essential by many, as well as arguments against this necessity. It suggests that someone relying on a Guru to begin their spiritual journey should first be content with material appeal and, after that, commence their spiritual journey by comprehending the subject’s fundamentals before initiating any spiritual methods toward higher consciousness. Spirituality requires individuals to be motivated, disciplined, organized, independent, and self-sufficient. 

The journey to self-discovery is through personal effort rather than seeking external guidance. A guru was required during those ancient days due to a lack of information from other sources, like books and online and offline sources. Today, so much information is openly available that the need for a guru has diminished. Yet those who are depressed, under fear, or from want of something rush to a guru expecting some magical results or consolation in some form or another. Further, a guru is to help you on your spiritual journey not when you are in distress but when you wish to know how to check and guide this monkey mind toward the eternal truth, love, god, and ‘who you are’ beyond the body and mind, which you consider as ‘yours.’ However, while most of us are captivated by materialism, including most gurus, it is hard to find a genuine master who is not a psychologist, as most of them are, but an authentic savior who can direct the spiritual path toward the true self from selfishness to selflessness.

As explained in Vedantic philosophy, spirituality is more about uniting and integrating with the divine essence. This philosophy, rooted in ancient Indian teachings and the principles of Advaita, positions itself as the oldest form of Yoga and is based on the wisdom found in the Upanishads. Many religious and spiritual texts on Eastern philosophy emphasize the relationships between gurus and disciples, highlighting the importance of obedience and submission. Those seeking spiritual guidance wonder how to find a guru and receive the right advice. It raises the question: must one fully surrender to a guru? While many texts stress the importance of finding the right guru, its significance ultimately depends on your goals. 

Numerous teachers can guide you through texts, but your options may be limited if you seek someone with firsthand experience who evokes feelings of everlasting truth, love, peace of mind, and the authentic reality in which we live. However, remember that the most essential aspect of spiritualism, as prescribed by Indian philosophy, is in self-discovery to know “Who You Are” where body and mind are but the quantitative factor of ‘what you are.’ I have not encountered a single guru emphasizing this idiom in my three decades of devotion to this subject. They all act as shrinks to solve the mental quest of their followers for gratifying desires or provide solutions for the despair and anguish they go through, and not the actual spiritual pursuit, which is supposed to enquire about the spirit and the soul to check and guide the mind.

The guru-disciple dynamic is one of humanity’s oldest relationships. Unfortunately, it often leans more toward taking advantage of your weaknesses, not knowing yourself, lack of clarity, depression, and selfish wants, culminating in confusion and imagination of superheroes in the garb of gurus that one seeks gratification from rather than depending on your inner self to find the truth of your conflicts. Most of us choose a guru out of confusion or dissatisfaction with life rather than to find a way to transcend into a higher consciousness and a way to experience life mingled with happiness and sadness. 

Many modern gurus focus on material gains—selling products, funding for-profiteering from hospitals, building ashrams, and accumulating wealth—often making access conditional on financial contributions. This troubling trend is disheartening. Whether it is wrong is for you to decide. Consider your choices carefully and critically before submitting to another. Modern-day gurus are more interested in their name, fame, wealth, and increasing followers. You become prone to second-hand borrowed knowledge from their experiences and boast about how much you know now to others, increasing your ego instead of abolishing it.

Traditionally, a guru is a revered teacher or spiritual guide who imparts wisdom and helps disciples on their path to self-discovery for realizing self-awareness. However, the highest teachings of spirituality suggest that the true guru is not an external figure but the inner self or higher consciousness. The Bhagavad Gita, a revered Hindu scripture, emphasizes the importance of self-knowledge and inner guidance. Krishna advises Arjuna to seek the wisdom within and recognize his divine nature. Sri Ramana Maharshi, a renowned Indian sage, also taught that the real guru is within. He believed that external gurus could guide seekers to a certain extent, but the ultimate realization comes from within oneself. He famously said, “The guru is none other than the Self.” This perspective encourages individuals to look inward, trusting their intuition and inner wisdom.

Therefore, the inner guru is that authentic guru residing within, and self-reliance and inner intuition can guide one’s spiritual journey. I reiterate that spiritualism enlightens and helps you know who you are beyond body and mind, which you consider yours. It takes you on a journey of self-reflection that no guru can reach. Spiritual experiences are deeply personal, and direct engagement with the soul can be more authentic than relying on external guidance. It is more of watching and witnessing your monkey mind hopping here and there, multi-tasking into this or that, not focused and centered. 

No outside guru with their experiences can make you spiritual in any manner except for boasting more about the excellence of your guru. You remain confused, seeking solace, shifting from one guru to another, not realizing the peace of mind you desperately require. You keep searching for a way out, entrapped in this maddening world. Moreover, a high risk of becoming overly dependent on a guru can worsen matters, impeding further personal growth in self-sufficiency.

History has shown that some gurus may misuse their authority, leading to exploitation or manipulation. Modern resources offline and online, with the advent of books, the Internet, and other resources, allow individuals to have unprecedented access to spiritual knowledge followed by practices provided by spirituality. Many successfully pursue spiritual enlightenment through independent study and practice, using available resources. Spirituality is not one-size-fits-all, and different individuals may find different paths compelling. Some might benefit to some extent from a guru, while others may not.

Whether or not a guru is necessary depends on individual preference, spiritual tradition, and personal experiences. Some will insist a guru provides invaluable guidance, support, and wisdom, helping to navigate the complexities of spiritual practice. For others, the journey of self-discovery and self-awareness based on inner intuition and modern resources might suffice. 

Ultimately, seeking a guru should focus on personal needs, openness to learning, and recognizing what best supports one’s spiritual growth. The role of a guru has evolved over the centuries, with modern-day gurus often being more accessible through media and technology. However, this accessibility has brought about significant concerns regarding the authenticity and intentions of some contemporary spiritual leaders. Here, we explore the potential pitfalls and dangers associated with modern-day gurus.

Many modern gurus run spiritual organizations like businesses, prioritizing profit over genuine spiritual guidance. This commercialization of Spiritualism for name, fame, and wealth can undermine the purity of spiritual teachings. Numerous instances of gurus living in luxury contradict the fundamental principles of humility and simplicity often associated with spiritual leadership. The success of a modern guru is usually measured by the number of followers, leading to aggressive recruitment tactics that may prioritize quantity over the quality of spiritual connection. With the rise of social media, some gurus focus more on increasing their digital footprint and influence rather than offering meaningful spiritual insights. Followers may borrow second-hand knowledge from gurus without deep personal understanding or experience, leading to a shallow grasp of spiritual concepts. Your guru often does not even personally know your name or who and what you are amidst thousands of followers.

This superficial understanding can foster intellectual vanity, where individuals boast about their spiritual knowledge without embodying the true essence of the teachings. The newfound knowledge can inflate the ego, creating a false sense of superiority over others perceived as less knowledgeable by spreading what you see and hear through debates, arguments, social media, etc.

This phenomenon, where spirituality becomes a status symbol, can divert individuals from genuine spiritual growth and selflessness. Followers may develop an unquestioning loyalty by unthinkingly following their guru and accepting teachings and directives without critical thinking or personal discernment. It can lead to isolation from broader perspectives and a detachment from real-world issues and relationships. Some gurus may exploit their followers emotionally, financially, or even sexually, abusing the trust and faith placed in them. 

Given these potential pitfalls, spiritual seekers must exercise astuteness when choosing a spiritual guide. Trust your inner guidance and intuition. Authentic spiritual growth often comes from personal experiences and introspection rather than external validation. Always apply critical thinking to teachings and practices. A true guru encourages independent thought and self-discovery rather than blind obedience. Cultivate self-reliance in your spiritual journey. Use the teachings of a guru as a guide rather than a crutch. Seek balance in your spiritual practice, integrating it with everyday life and responsibilities.

While modern-day gurus sometimes offer valuable guidance, most of them are after name, fame, money, and ego, adding one prefix after another before their name, signifying the desperate urge to become a renowned celebrity. Genuine spiritual growth is through humility, self-reliance, selflessness, and personal experience. By exercising insight and decisive thinking, seekers can navigate the spiritual landscape wisely, avoiding the pitfalls of borrowed knowledge and misplaced devotion.

Generally, those seeking spiritual development look mostly outside themselves for guidance, wisdom, and connection with the divine. But profound teachings from various authentic spiritual traditions tell us that all truth and all divinity are within each of us. “God, Guru, Self: They are all equal inside” underlines this need for self-awareness through reflection on how God, Guru, and Self are interconnected and why people should direct their search for spiritual fulfillment inward. Through divine deeds in divinity for the sake of divineness to awaken the divine within.

In many religions, such as Hinduism, God lives in every person and everything else. “Tat Tvam Asi,” which means “Thou art That,” is one of many Sanskrit phrases found throughout Upanishad texts that express this idea — it talks about how each soul (Atman) is part of the Universal Spirit (Brahman). According to these teachings, looking outside yourself for god would only distract you from realizing where she already resides. God is Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent.

When one realizes that god/guru/self are all one within, it significantly affects one’s approach to practicing spirituality since rituals become less critical than personal reflections based on self-awareness brought by living life itself. By accepting such a truth, people can begin a transformative process whereby they discover themselves as potentially perfect while simultaneously realizing the interconnection between everything else. Henceforth, searching for the ultimate truth should only lead us back home, i.e., within ourselves!

NAMASTE