Guru

"En Guru, aaraama?!" (What master, are you fine?! Literal translation from Kannada)

The usual greeting in most parts of Bangalore, oops its become Bengaluru now. It gives you a good feel when someone approaches you with this greeting. Auto drivers, shop keepers, friends, relatives and so on. Guru! Why do they call you Guru? What does this word mean? Upon checking my dictionary which is an important link on my computer's quick launch, I found out that Guru simply means, "A Hindu or a Buddhist religious leader and spiritual teacher". Now, how in the world have we all become Gurus?! Point to be noted and to be pointed!

Guru simply is a term used to address others, greet others etc. in Bengaluru. The city apparently has picked up many people from other states of our country and the current situation is - more outsiders and less Bengaluru people. Now-a-days even the outsiders have started using this word "Guru". So to say, "Kya Guru, Kaisa Hai?!"

Guru of Sex, the usual term used for counselors and Sex Therapists (Mostly in the US). They have gained more importance by addressing them this way. For me, when I hear the word Guru, it takes me back to that day when I watched this movie "The Guru" with Jimi Mistry on the lead role and Heather Graham (ooohhhh) who tries to teach him what Sex is. He learns from her all about sex and how it relieves one from stress and tension. He uses these ideas to make money and becomes a successful Guru in the US. And the story goes on. A movie worth watching.

Guru, according to me is a name given to a person who is capable of preaching what he has learnt. He whose knowledge has got enhanced his life experiences by years of learning, application and discovery. This name fits one who is capable of attracting a large following of people who believe his methodologies and by applying these methods in their own lives, they have discovered a lot of truths that they use in their own day-to-day lives.

The truth differs from person to person, community to community and cult to cult. There is no "The Truth". There is only truth. So, the truth that your Guru shares with you is His discovery. That need not be the same for you. But it could help you discover yours. Never get carried away from His truth and never try to discover the same. It will never happen. Guru is a path which you use to reach a truth, your truth. But He and His truth are not the solutions.

Happy learning.