SANATANA DHARMA AND THE MODERN WORLD

Should One Follow a Traditional Guru?

One should follow a teacher who gives us peace and who connects us with the Universal Truth. The place of their birth is a secondary matter, particularly in the modern world of global travel and mass communication. But connection with a tradition can be important.

There is a built in safety in following teachers who are part of greater and older enlightenment traditions. Human personalities are always limited. What one person has done, however right, may not be an appropriate model for another person to follow. Whatever the limitations of the person, the strength of the tradition and its many teachers protects us. The tradition offers proven teachings and various examples how to apply them which transcend the traits of any particular personality.

There is a danger in following self-proclaimed gurus who are not part of any tradition because the support of the greater tradition does not exist behind them. There is a danger in following one person traditions who have the same basic teaching for everyone, because the limitations of the person must imprint themselves on the teaching. There is a danger in following one person's synthesis of many traditions because even though the synthesis may appear broad, it must still reflect the limitations of the person.

Most of the problems people have had with gurus today have occurred by emphasizing the personality of a particular teacher over the greater universal teaching. This naturally occurs more with teachers who are outside of any greater tradition. The teacher is just an exponent of the universal tradition of Truth. We should never lose sight of this in our following the teaching.

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