Gurugita 012: Trying to change Sadguru is the beginning of the worst downfall

Just like Deepaka’s story, the story of Aruni from Mahabharata also details how Guru’s imposes the harshest tests upon his disciple.

Not realizing that their Guru is putting them to test, ignorant people consider these tests as flaws in their Guru. Instead of striving to come out successfully from the tests laid down by Sadguru, there are many fools in this world who begin to see the faults in the Guru. It is akin to saying ‘there is a flaw in the lesson taught by the teacher. This is the reason behind my failure in exams’. Due to this conclusion, the person changes his earlier selection and now entertains the thought of selecting another Guru. In the beginning, the person believed- ‘Oh my Guru is brahma, He is Vishnu, He is Parabrahma. He is my sole refuge and protector’. Now with the onset of tests, he thinks of changing the Guru itself!

Is Guru some object that one can buy in the market? Just as one cannot change parents, one cannot also change his/her Spiritual Guru. ‘O that Guru has many followers; he speaks sweetly, let us now go to him’ if a person gets such thoughts, it is the beginning of the greatest fall!

Swamiji is now giving a great caution- you commit any mistakes, Guru will tolerate, but if you get the thought of changing your Guru, then in this lifetime, you will never get a Guru. Before selecting a Guru, conduct not 1 but 100 tests and satisfy yourself. But once you have selected him, you cannot change him.

For selecting your Guru, Swamiji has given certain guidelines. In addition to them, you can go ahead and conduct as many tests as possible and satisfy yourself thoroughly He alone is your Sadguru. Take time. But be clear before making the final decision. Once you have firmed up your mind, you lose the right to alter your decision. Guru’s tests begin only after your selection.