Sri Guru

In the Vedic literature our position is nicely described. Our objective is to cross over the ocean of material existence , the ocean of repeated birth and death , and arrive on the safe shores of the transcendental realm , Goloka Vrindavan , the personal abode of the Supreme Divine Couple ,Sri Sri Radha and Krishna and to be engaged in Their eternal loving service. To cross the ocean , this human form of life is described as a good boat , the verses of scripture are the favorable breezes and the expert captain is Sri Guru , the spirtual master, the pure devotee of Sri Krishna . This topmost of all gurus is called an uttama - Guru and the following verse from Shrimad-Bhagavatam 11.3.21 gives his exalted qualifications

tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh shreya uttamam
shabde pare ca nishnatam brahmany upashamashrayam

" Therefore ( because we cannot attain real peace or happiness in this material world ) , a person who seriously desires to inquire about the ultimate spiritual perfection must take shelter of a bona fide Guru. The qualifications of Sri Guru are that (1) he has fully realised the purport of all Vedic scriptures -shabda-brahma - (and therefore can dispel all the doubts of his disciple and answer all questions ) , (2) has full realisation of the Supreme Absolute Truth (para-brahma Sri Krishna ) , and (3) for whom the mundane world holds no charm whatsoever. "

So without the perfect, loving shelter and guidance of Sri Guru , taking us home , we are endlessly adrift in the vast ocean of material life with no direction, no safe passage , simply being carried away by the waves of illusion - alone without a true friend , without true peace, without true joy.Elsewhere this condition of the lost soul is described by Sri Krishna in Bhagavad-gita chapter 18 as being " ...in the wilderness of the mundane existence ."

So I offer my humble obeisances to my spiritual master who , with the torchlight of knowledge has opened my eyes , which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance. Jaya Gurudeva. Kindly engage me in your loving service.