Guru Poornima
Guru Poornima is that day in which we can connect with the universal guru energy and to the inner guru tattwa or master element.
Yogis do not regard Shiva as a god. Shiva is considered the Adiyogi, the first yogi and Adiguru, the first guru.
On Guru Poornima Adiyogi became Adiguru; he decided he would become a facilitator for the spiritual upliftment of others. On this day over fifteen thousand years ago, he started the transmission and teachings of yogic science to the saptarishis – the seven rishis, who divulged yoga and spirituality worldwide.
The purpose of Guru Poornima
We are all born with the possibility of illumination, but the path through which the energy must travel is blocked. It is congested by those mental, emotional and physical impurities we have accrued during our existence.
Guru Poornima is that day in which we can connect with the universal guru energy and to the inner guru tattwa or master element. If we are successful, this energy is capable of removing these impurities and clearing the path for our energy to rise.
The Guru
The word Guru itself does not actually mean master or teacher. Gu means “dispeller” and Ru means “darkness”. The Guru is one by “whose grace we are able to remove the darkness from our life”.
The Physical Guru is a spiritual catalyst. The one who shows us the path towards the guru tattwa, the cradle of unlimited inspiration.
But in the absence of a physical guru, we must look within and connect with the guru element, present within all of us.
Embark upon your spiritual journey
Our spiritual journey does not start with asanas or pranayama, which condition the body. They do not start with meditation which conditions the mind.
They start when we are able to look within and discriminate what is real. Only when we are able to see our faults and habits, and are able to break them apart through willpower and awareness, only at that moment, does our spiritual journey begin.
Asana, pranayama and meditation are practices that facilitate a condition of body and mind which is conductive to the expansion of consciousness; they are not the start of our spiritual journey.
Practices for Guru Poornima
1. Turn Within
Guru Poornima, is a day in which we turn within, towards our spiritual nature. It is a day to forget the world and its people. If possible, even put your worldly duties and responsibilities to the side just for a day. A day to be yourself and look within. To let your awareness and consciousness expand; a day to converse with your spirit.
2. Cultivate Faith and Surrender
Let yourself be inspired by the light of the guru, following it relentlessly like the sunflower chases the sun. This is the most conductive day for spiritual upliftment, a day of spiritual grace. There is only one condition for the descent of grace: the cultivation of faith and surrender.
3. Break habits and develop skills
We hold on to our ideals and perceptions with great attachment. It is these ideals and perceptions we hold so dearly, that form our habits. But through awareness, will, surrender and faith we can convert any habit into a skill. Today is a day to overcome all habits and cultivate new skills.
4. Review the last twelve months
Look back at the past year of your life. What has changed in the last twelve months? How have you evolved? Assess all the lessons you have learnt, remember them and smile. Thank life for all of its lessons, and welcome all the lessons and knowledge to come.