guru

Verse 2.7: Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.

I've been waiting for this verse for over a month now! This is one of the most important verses in the Gita and signifies a major turning point not only in the conversation but in Krsna and Arjuna's relationship.

All this time, Arjuna has been venting to Krsna about his confusion as a friend. He hasn't asked for answers or reached out for guidance. Now, Arjuna is asking for guidance. He is submitting himself to Krsna as his student.

Let's explore that word submit. One definition of the word means to yield oneself to the authority or will of another. That's pretty strong, stuff. This is what a real guru (spiritual teacher) and student relationship looks like. This type of relationship can only exist when there is strong faith and trust, on both sides. The student has faith and trust that this person can help them re-awaken their relationship with God and the guru has faith and trust that their student is genuine and sincere in his/her inquiry. How and why else would anyone want to "submit" oneself to another person? Essential to submitting oneself to a spiritual teacher is also the acknowledgement that "We don't know it all."

Our material conditioning has brainwashed us into thinking that we can figure everything out. This is the influence of the ego. However, to be an authentic student, we need to push that big, fat ego out of the way and face reality. The reality is when it comes to spiritual life, we don't know much. Why? Because real spiritual knowledge is not book learned. Yes, understanding philosophical concepts is important, but more important is to realize that knowledge. We need someone who has faced the trials and tribulations that one will undoubtedly encounter on the path of bhakti, who hasn't given up and has (as the Gita will describe in Chapter 4) seen the truth. One who has realized knowledge.

On the path of bhakti yoga, there are principles and details. Realized knowledge means being able to apply these principles and details according to time, place and circumstance. For example, one who is just learning how to cook is on the theoretical platform. Such a novice may think that certain spices are only used for certain dishes. But for one who has realized knowledge, they understand that spices not only accentuate dishes, they can be combined and even be used medicinally.

Arjuna is realizing that he is a novice. He knows a lot of theory but he is having trouble applying it practically. He has also realized that is leading him to only think in the short-term. Being intelligent, he understands that what is best may not be what feels good right away. So what does he say? He tells Krsna, "I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me." He is asking his guru, Krsna, for help.

The word guru is tossed around so flippantly these days. It's become like the word mantra and has entered mainstream vernacular. The downside to this is the fact that many people don't have a clue what guru means. Guru in sanskrit translates not only to mean teacher but to mean "heavy". See, having a guru is not a fad and the guru is not there to make you feel better materially. A true guru, a genuine bhakti yogi, is there to help you on your spiritual journey to reconnect with Krsna.

I remember when I was searching for my Guru in 2004-2005. I had met several authentic, powerful and realized bhakti yogis but I kept coming back to one person. I remember revealing my heart to this bhakti yogi and asking hims "What should I look for in a guru?" I'll never forget what he told me. He said, "You don't need someone who'll pat you on the back and say 'Good job!' all the time. You need someone who will ground you." Eventually that is the person who so kindly agreed to guide me on the path of bhakti yoga and I'm still in the process of learning how to submit myself to his spiritual guidance. Being a student is just a great responsibility as being a guru.

This is a very important point. Not only is it important to realize the need to have a bona fide spiritual teacher to guide one in their life, it's also essential to understand what having a guru means. It is a great gift and one that should not be taken lightly. In fact it is said: From Krsna we are given Guru, and it is Guru who can give us Krsna.

help!

Verse 2.1: Sañjaya said: Seeing Arjuna full of compassion, his mind depressed, his eyes full of tears, Madhusūdana, Kṛṣṇa, spoke the following words.

I think most of us have had this experience. It's when you've completely given up, thrown your hands in the air and with all sincerity say to God, "HELP!" that helps comes. Arjuna is in that position right now. He's said his piece and feels he's at a complete loss. Now he is quietly sitting and waiting for Krsna to speak.

We too like to think to that we can solve it all and Krsna is so kind that he doesn't interfere with our free will. So he watches. Make no mistake, it's not that Krsna is ignoring you, he's actually paying very close attention. Krsna is not only paying attention to our actions but our mentality as well.

And that's what we forget to recognize. The question often comes up, "Why isn't God helping me? I need help but he's not providing it! Why?" See, intellectually we may realize that we need help but if deep within our heart we still are not 100% convinced, help may not necessarily come. Many of us, in our low moments, blame God already so he doesn't want to give us another reason! Krsna doesn't want to be in the position that he sees we need help, although we are not totally convinced, and he comes and helps and then instead of thanking him, we blame him! Sound familiar?

Krsna is really intelligent. Instead he gives us all the time we need. He allows us to go through all the stages from "I don't need help," to "Maybe I need help," to "I need help but I'm not sure I want it" to "Ok. Enough of this. Please help!"

It's not so much the cry for help that is of value as the emotion and intensity behind it. Just as a Mother knows when a child really needs her attention and when he/she is just calling out for Mom for the sake of it, Krsna knows. When we genuinely feel that there is no where else to turn and Krsna is the only person we can seek refuge in, you think he's going to abandon you?

There is a beautiful story in the Mahabharat that illustrates this point. At one point in time, Draupadi, the wife of the five Pandavas was being publicly humiliated in an assembly. Her husbands were incapable of doing anything to prevent this dishonour and so Draupadi, a great bhakti yogini in her own right, started appealing to the numerous personalities present. She appealed to the elders, to her equals and finally she realized that no one could help her but Krsna. At that moment, she threw her hands in the air and started praying to Krsna who immediately provided her with help. Later on Draupadi asked Krsna, "Why didn't you come sooner? You knew I was in trouble!" Krsna responded by saying, "You were turning to so many other people that I thought you didn't need my help. But as soon as you called out to me, I came right away."

This beautiful pastime illustrates an important message. As long as we think that our shelter, protection or refuge is anywhere else but in Krsna, Krsna may not come. But the instant we too put all our faith in Krsna and ask him to be our protection, without a doubt we can count on him to come.

help

Verse 1.25: In the presence of Bhīṣma, Droṇa and all the other chieftains of the world, the Lord said, Just behold, Pārtha, all the Kurus assembled here.

Wouldn't it be nice if you could directly be told what to do or think by God? This is a question that's posed by everyone. Atheists, agnostics, scientists, bhakti practitioners, spiritualists, you name it and they've probably asked it at one time or another.

Let's face it. Life is complicated and messy. Oftentimes it's hard to know what's right or wrong because our minds are totally befuddled. There's so much information coming at us from all different directions that it's so difficult to even know what's relevant, what to speak of what's right.

So what's the easy way out? Have someone tell us what to do. But we don't want just anyone, oh no. We want someone who will be able to guarantee us that choosing that advice or course of action will lead to the right outcome. That's why we often hear people pose the question, "Why isn't God helping me?"

In order to answer that we need to figure out what makes us so different than Arjuna. How does he get Krsna's help? Now that's the secret of bhakti yoga. Arjuna is Krsna's friend. He loves and trusts Krsna and will do anything for him. Isn't it only natural then that Krsna, who has feelings and emotions just like us, will be inclined to help him?

Krsna wants to help us, but do we really want his help? That's another question we need to ask ourselves. See, Arjuna wanted Krsna's help and as we'll soon see, will ask for it with all sincerity. Now be honest with yourself. Do you really want God's help? Because if you really want it, it's already there.

It's already there because God resides in each and every one of us. He's sitting there in our heart acting as a witness to everything we do. What's more, he's privy to all our thoughts and intentions. Not just the one's we vocalize, but the one's that are there buried inside.

That's the catch. There's no fooling Krsna. He knows. And if we really ask for his help, he'll give it.