My guru Om Swami has done some fantastic talks on Audible. While I love the lectures, I wait for the Q&A sessions. Swami sometimes takes the most mundane questions and gives you answers that would blow your mind.
A seeker asked Swami why different people see him differently. His answer reflects us as a society and why gurus are the embodiment of kindness. Listening to him made me realize how pure the love of a few devotees is and how much we need to work to reach and maintain that state.
Swami stated when you look at a stone idol in a temple, there is nothing extra special about it. However, for a true devotee, that altar means everything.
He goes on to say that four types of people approach a saint.
The first is a sad person who is going to various people to find some relief from the pain. They come to see if you can help them. The second is the one who wants more success and fame. They feel with a saint’s blessings, they can achieve a lot more in life. The third is the curious kind, so they come to validate if the saint is really who he claims to be. They are walking on the path of spirituality and have spiritual curiosity. They come to find some answers. The fourth is the people who have gotten most of the answers. They simply come to seek and meet someone with whom they can share their thoughts. They want to validate if they are correctly walking the path and if their experiences have any meaning. If all these four people find answers or gain some benefit from meeting a saint, they consider that saint as a divine being. If their desires are not fulfilled, they watch for a while and say the saint is useless. A true saint can take praise and criticism with equal detachment and not get affected by it. A special fifth kind of visitor also comes to test the guru. They don’t have any challenges or curiosity. They come only to try the guru. Four people approached the Buddha, and one of them had a bird in their fist. They asked Buddha to determine if the bird was dead on alive. The Buddha replied I don’t believe in losing or winning. If I say alive, you will close your fist and kill it. If I say dead, you will open your fist and let it fly. I don’t want to answer this question. There is a special sixth kind of person. They are only three to four people out of a thousand who are the purpose of me being alive. I sit here for them, teach for them, and do everything for them. These are the only people from whom I get my motivation. The first four people will find others to address their pain, desires, and wishes. I don’t have anything to offer to someone who comes to test me. The Devi that I offer my prayers to has fifteen companions who are constantly with me, and they are the ones who decide what needs to be given to all seekers who approach me. These special 3–4 people will cross the seven seas to come and meet me. They may be sick or struggling, but they will come and see me. It does not matter if they don’t have enough means, but they still find ways to come. When they genuinely come with that sentiment, I give myself to them. That’s the only rule of my life. There is nothing more to it.
Om Swami
This talk was humbling because it showed me the purity of a relationship between a Guru and a shishya.
This article is a submission at the lotus feet of my guru Om Swami – the founder of the Vedic Sadhana app. The app helps you identify your ishta and then perform daily rituals that deepen your relationship with them. This incredible app makes the ancient rituals and practices followed by the sages of India available to you.
