When the universe becomes your guru
There are four types of gurus in creation. One is a human guru who not only imparts knowledge of the material world but also sets an example for others to follow by actively and purposefully cultivating qualities and values in life. This ethical discipline is critical to obtaining higher knowledge – you could even refer to it as heavenly wisdom. Knowledge without character, intelligence without compassion, and learning without ethical discipline can become a means of exploitation. A teacher whose life reflects the values they teach becomes a living scripture; they become a bridge between information and wisdom, between intellectual understanding and lived experience.
The second kind of guru can be found in all forms within creation itself. The sun is a great teacher; it provides energy to all life on Earth and sustains the natural world. The earth provides nourishment for all living things, including humans, in the form of fruits, grains, vegetables, and greens. Rivers and streams, revered as divine powers in all civilisations and cultures, sustain life.
Nature, being a component of creation, is regarded as the third magnificent moral and spiritual teacher. Since forests are the ideal locations for reflection and meditation, sages of Upanishad retired amidst nature. Every object and creature, be it a tree, a flower, a grass blade, a bird, an animal and an amphibian, unintentionally imparts a specific discipline or virtue from which we can benefit.
Thus, ants teach us order, coordination, teamwork, and organisation skills. In the same way, one can learn stability and modesty from a little blade of grass and joyfulness from birds. The flower teaches us impermanence; butterfly, transformation; dog, loyalty; elephant , memory and strength; bee, diligence; spider , patience and persistence; fish, adaptation to its environment; and the tortoise , withdrawal from sense organs. Nature surpasses all human gurus in that sense. The real question is whether we are attentive enough to learn . A closed mind sees only objects; an attentive mind sees relationships; a contemplative mind sees lessons; and a wise mind sees unity.
The universe as a whole is the greatest guru – the cosmic guru – who imparts and explains its mysteries and the evolving nature of matter through the impermanence principle. The greatest lesson that one can imbibe is that since nothing lasts forever, one need not become too attached to anything in life. Even death, the most difficult teacher, teaches us to value life. This does not mean that life is meaningless. On the contrary, impermanence is what gives life its urgency and beauty.
All living and non-living things in nature and the entire creation, are gurus. The teacher does not always have to stand before us and speak.
Sometimes the teacher crawls beneath our feet, flies above our heads, grows silently beside our homes, or disappears into the forest. Consequently, when you wake up in the wee hours, bow down before the entire creation and convey your deepest gratitude to existence. The sun, sky, land, and nature are all part of the infinite creation, therefore begin your day by giving them your sincere pranams.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
