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The Buddha had called upon those striving to seek truth that they had to self-discover the existential truth instead of mouthing teachings and mantras. He was of the view that that nothing external can transmit enlightenment to you. He has given the maxim ‘Appo Dipo Bhav’ – be your own lamp.
I wrote in an earlier post that the noted philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti – better known as 'the seer that walks alone' – when he was alive, never subscribed for the rituals, ceremonies and celebrations related to gurus, guruhood and gurudom. He was of the view that gurus were not necessary at all since one had to find his or her Truth and no one would find Truth through another.
In one of his discussions on the question how one could find truth without the wise help and guidance which only a guru could give, Krishamurti had replied, “The question is whether a guru is necessary or not; can truth be found through another? Some say it can and some say it cannot. We want to know the truth of this, not my opinion as against the opinion of another. I have no opinion in this matter. Either it is so or it is not. Whether it is essential that you should or should not have a guru is not a question of opinion. The truth of the matter is not dependent on opinion, however profound, erudite, popular, universal. The truth of the matter is to be found out, in fact."
"The guru becomes useless when there is a particle of self-knowledge. No guru, no book or scripture, can give you self-knowledge: it comes when you are aware of yourself in relationship. To be, is to be related; not to understand relationship is misery, strife. Not to be aware of your relationship to property is one of the causes of confusion. If you do not know your right relationship to property there is bound to be conflict, which increases the conflict in society," he had added.
According to him, Truth cannot be sought rather it would come to you. In other words, through so called Gurus and scriptures you go only after ‘what is known'."When the mind is not tortured by the known, by the effects of the known, then only can truth reveal itself. Truth is in every leaf, in every tear; it is to be known from moment to moment. No one can lead you to truth; and if anyone leads you, it can only be to the known," he held.
He had suggested that one had to approach Truth that was eternal; one had to discover it unconditionally and holistically. He had stated that he was no one's Guru and nor had any followers.
To a gathering, he had once interacted with, he said, “”I desire those who seek to understand me to be free, not to follow me, not to make out of me a cage which will become a religion, a sect. Rather they should be free from all fears - from the fear of religion, from the fear of salvation, from the fear of spirituality, from the fear of love, from the fear of death, from the fear of life itself."
Note...It is a reproduced article
HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY!
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