Another Guru Purnima was joyfully celebrated with Amma in Amritapuri, with thousands of devotees from all over the world joining online. Amma shared how the full moon of the Guru’s love shines eternally. To experience it, the disciple must silence the mind.
Guru Pūrṇima is a symbol of the disciple’s surrendering a heart full of gratitude at the feet of the guru, who severs the bonds of countless lifetimes.
The Guru is both the moon of love as well as the sun of wisdom. Like the cool moonlight that spreads serenity and joy, the Guru dispels the sorrows of the disciple; thus, “the moon of love.” By destroying all the bonds and negativities of ignorance, the Guru becomes “the sun of wisdom.”
In reality, Guru Pūrṇima is not about rituals or ceremonial worship. It is in the surrendered mind of the disciple that the full moon of the Guru shines. The Guru is always, constantly, pūrṇima—shining like a full moon. For there is no darkness of ignorance or ego in the Guru.
The Guru is the inner moon of the true self that dispels the darkness in the minds of disciples and showers goodness on all. But the light of the Guru’s full moon can be truly experienced only if the disciple holds the right attitude and surrender in their heart.
The heart of the disciple who intensely yearns for liberation and the heart of the Guru who responds compassionately must come together.
Amma
The disciples’ debt to the Guru—who holds their hands and leads them from untruth to truth, from darkness to light, and from death to immortality—is something that can never be repaid.
Only one who has attained can give. Only one who knows can teach. Only one who has experienced peace can impart peace. No matter how great an ascetic or scholar one may be, to attain completeness, one must seek the guidance of a Guru who is himself complete.
Gurus are those who have fully transcended all desires. Yet, out of compassion, they dedicate themselves to uplifting those struggling in sorrow in the endless cycle of saṁsāra. The heart of the disciple who intensely yearns for liberation and the heart of the Guru who responds compassionately must come together.
Amma always cautions: Even our next breath is not in our hands. Life is like a bubble; it can burst at any time. Our true lifespan is not measured in years but in the moments when we live with awareness and discernment.
Let us always remember why we came into this world. May we live with that awareness, and may we attain the goal in this very lifetime.
May divine grace bless all my children.
॥ ॐ लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ॥
Om Lokah Samasthah Sukhino Bhavantu
May all beings everywhere be happy and free.
