QUALITIES OF THE TRUE GURUTrue gurus are firmly established in the state ofSelf Realization. They are defined by theiridentification with the Spirit and by these qualities:

Self-awareness, gravity, discipline, courage

Control over the body physical comfort isunimportant and irrelevant

Control over their behavior

Detachment and purity

Compassion, love, devotion, and patience

The ability to awaken the qualities of a trueguru in others

FALSE GURUSA guru who is not a real guru can block ordamage certain chakras through inappropriateexercises, mantras, lifestyles and nutritionalpractices. Anything that rules us and takescontrol of us can be called a false guru; anexample is drugs and alcohol.

False gurus dazzle their followers andsometimes hypnotize them. The disciple of sucha guru turns over all his money or personalpossessions to the guru or organization. Thefalse guru seeks wealth and domination since heis not the spirit. The result for the followers isthe loss of all self control and the destruction ofindividual identity.

The influence of false gurus and of falsespiritual practices can be eliminated with thesimple techniques of Sahaja Yoga.

After Self Realization, we can use our handsto distinguish a false guru: We experienceextreme heat coming from the hands.

THE PRIMORDIAL MASTERSThe ten Primordial Masters were very specialgurus. They introduced dharma (guidelines for

righteousness and self-control) to society duringtheir lives. They lived on the earth to serve as anexample and to guide us spiritually.

Not only did they live amongst humanity, buttheir principles exist within us. The ten aspectsof the primordial master, or Adi Guru, are:Moses, Mohammed, Confucius, Zarathustra,Guru Nanak, Abraham, Socrates, Lao Tse,Sai Nath of Shirdi, and Janaka.

EACH OF US BECOMES OUR OWN GURUThe guru principle is located in the Void, thearea around which the swadhishthana chakramoves. On the physical level, the Voidcorresponds to the break in the nervous systemat the vagus nerve near the nabhi chakra. InSahaja Yoga, we call the Void the Ocean ofIllusion (Bhava Sagara in Sanskrit). The Guruallows us to reach the heart (the Spirit), whichis located above and beyond the ocean ofillusion.

Through daily practice of Sahaja Yogameditation, we awaken and strengthen our ownguru qualities. We naturally start living a life ofdharma. Without any strict guidelines imposedfrom outside, a Sahaja Yogi obeys an innercode of right conduct.

We discover that a life of joy and satisfactionis one in which we live within boundaries, withself respect and respect for others. We becomemodels of appropriate behavior at all times,always acting with decency, fairness, integrityand generosity.

Our guide is our vibratory awareness, andour Kundalini provides us with the powernecessary to achieve our goals.

When we become our own guru, we developthe discipline to meditate, and to change.

Shri Mataji is our Guru, but she is also aMother and therefore a compassionate teacher.

THE GURUBEING YOUR OWN MASTER

S a h a j a Y o g a m e d i t a t i o n