Message to Teachers of Gururaj Ananda Yogi
We begin our journey as teachers with the wisdom of St. Francis of Assisi, a prayer that embodies the spirit of selfless service:
“Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, let me sow pardon.
Where there is doubt, let me sow faith.
Where there is despair, let me sow hope.
Where there is darkness, let me sow light.
Where there is sadness, let me sow joy.”
These words remind us of the essence of our path as teachers—not to seek love, but to embody love; not to seek understanding, but to cultivate understanding; not to seek service, but to serve. As teachers of Gururaj Ananda Yogi’s wisdom, our role is to inspire others to turn inward and discover the profound joy that resides within them. This is the mission, the purpose of life: to live not for ourselves alone, but to share, and in that sharing, to expand—heart, mind, and soul—until everything merges into the divine beauty of existence.
Self-Forgetfulness: The Path to True Awareness
A key aspect of our journey as teachers is self-forgetfulness. But what does this truly mean? It is not the loss of awareness but rather an expansion of awareness. It is to move beyond personal wants and selfish attachments, to recognize the divine force within us that is far greater than our ego.
Many people live with a sense of self-importance, believing they are the center of the universe. This false perception creates suffering because it strengthens the grip of the ego. Gururaj used the analogy of an axle: if the axle is warped, the wheel does not run smoothly. Similarly, when our ego is out of alignment, life feels unbalanced. But when we straighten the axle—when we shift our perspective beyond the ego—life flows effortlessly.
The ego, in its transient nature, binds us to suffering. It thrives on attachment, pride, and the illusion of separation. However, as teachers, we are called to refine the ego, not to be rid of it entirely (for as long as we are in human form, some degree of ego remains), but to transform it into a vehicle for service. The very act of teaching refines our ego, for in guiding others, we receive back tenfold the wisdom we share.
The Danger of Spiritual Pride
A great obstacle on the spiritual path is pride. Teachers, having accumulated knowledge and experience, may develop a subtle sense of superiority, believing themselves to be spiritually elevated. But the moment pride arises, the teacher ceases to be a true teacher.
Gururaj recounted the story of a devoted disciple who had such faith in his guru that he could walk across a river simply by chanting his master’s name. Upon hearing this, the guru himself attempted to do the same, believing in his own power. He, of course, sank. This story serves as a reminder that the path of teaching is not about personal power but about surrender to the divine force that flows through us.
A teacher’s role is to impart wisdom, and wisdom can only be transmitted from one human heart to another. The divine impulse must be concretized through our humility, selflessness, and dedication. When the teacher becomes an empty vessel, free of self-importance, the divine wisdom flows effortlessly, awakening the hearts of others.
Harmlessness: The Natural Expression of Self-Forgetfulness
When self-forgetfulness is truly understood, harmlessness follows naturally. The ego, when driven by pride, clings to possessions—whether material or ideological—and in its attachment, it inevitably causes harm. The need to defend one’s status, beliefs, or authority leads to unkind thoughts, words, and actions.
However, when one transcends the illusion of separateness, the desire to harm disappears. Who is there to harm when we see all beings as part of the same divine unity? Harmlessness is not merely the absence of violence; it is the active presence of compassion—a deep-seated awareness that every being is sacred.
Right Thinking and Right Speech
Our thoughts shape our reality. A single negative thought, if left unchecked, multiplies endlessly, clouding our perception and creating unnecessary suffering. Gururaj illustrated this with a simple example: a wife, after being spoken to harshly by her husband in the morning, spends the entire day reliving the moment, allowing a single unpleasant word to spiral into countless negative thoughts. This unnecessary mental suffering could have been avoided with a single shift in perception—a smile, a word of understanding.
Right thinking breeds right speech, and right speech is one of the most powerful tools a teacher has. Words carry energy. They can uplift or destroy. A true teacher speaks with clarity, purpose, and love. Every word is measured, not out of fear of saying the wrong thing, but because the teacher has cultivated the inner silence that allows wisdom to flow naturally.
The Role of Meditation in Teaching
Meditation is the cornerstone of a teacher’s journey. It brings about alertness, making us aware of our thoughts and actions in every moment. Over time, this alertness becomes second nature. Instead of constantly checking ourselves, we simply flow in harmony with life, naturally embodying right thought, right action, and right speech.
Many spiritual traditions focus on the afterlife, on what awaits beyond this world. But Gururaj reminded us that true spirituality is about this life, this moment. If we are to teach, we must first live the teachings. Like a flower that gives its fragrance without expectation, a teacher’s role is to inspire through being.
The Teacher as a Conduit of Divine Energy
A beautiful analogy shared by Gururaj is that of watering a garden. Before the water nourishes the plants, it first cleanses the hosepipe. Similarly, when we teach, the divine energy flows through us first, purifying and uplifting us before it reaches the student. How blessed, then, is the teacher! For in serving others, we ourselves are transformed.
Our duty as teachers is not to impose knowledge but to awaken the knowledge that already resides within each individual. Just as a tiny opening in a seed allows it to sprout into a magnificent tree, a teacher’s role is to create that first opening in the heart of the student, allowing the light of realization to expand.
The Journey from the Ego to the Real Self
Ultimately, the path of teaching is the journey from ego-consciousness to self-awareness, and from self-awareness to divine realization. The ego sees separation; the real self sees unity. The ego seeks validation; the real self is content in its own being. The ego fears loss; the real self knows that nothing is ever lost.
This journey is not theoretical—it is to be lived. Every lesson we teach must first be internalized within ourselves. If we do not embody what we teach, our words will be empty. But when teaching arises from direct experience, it carries the power to transform lives.
The Teacher as a Light-Bearer
As teachers of Gururaj Ananda Yogi’s wisdom, our mission is to serve, not seek; to guide, not impose; to illuminate, not overshadow. We are instruments of a force far greater than ourselves, and our role is to allow that force to flow freely, without the distortion of ego or pride.
Let us be like the flower that gives its fragrance unconditionally. Let us be like the axle that moves smoothly, without resistance. Let us be like the river that flows effortlessly toward the ocean of divine realization.
For in the end, the greatest lesson we can teach is the lesson of love.
