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The Traditional Role of the Guru, and the Action of the Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  Traditionally, a realized guru has always been recognized as
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  capable of sorting out and resolving issues of disciples
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  who came under their direct guidance.
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  It has even been said that such a guru could take responsibility
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  for and eliminate the effects of past karma for the disciple.
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  Communication of deep spiritual experiences and insights also is
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  known to occur in the guru disciple relationship.
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  In some cases, these things occur through what are called
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  gift waves in some of the Tibetan tradition or through
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  what is called shaktipat in some of the yoga traditions.
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  In other cases, the guru provides a mirror to the
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  disciple or simply provides insight and guidance when the
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  disciple faces some serious concerns or issues.
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  In his book Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramount Yogananda
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  described how he was cured of a potentially fatal disease as a
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  young person by his parents devotion to their guru lineage
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  and concentration on a photo of their guru.
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  While in many cases the guru relationship is less intense
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  than those instances recounted here, the value and importance
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  of the guru's guidance and inward concentration are not to
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  be underestimated. For disciples who joined the Sri
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  Orovindo Ashram during the lifetimes of Sri Orovindo and
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  the Mother, a unique opportunity was made available to them.
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  The Mother organized the functioning of the ashram and
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  direct guidance of the disciples.
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  Many people reported the inner openings and experiences that
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  they had as a result of her influence.
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  One simple incident is described by an individual who is living
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  at the ashram during August 1973 at the time of the final balcony
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  darshan of the mother. At the time, the word was that
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  she was not going to appear for the darshan due to age and
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  physical incapacity. This individual, who resided
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  some mile or more from the ashram building, went to bed on
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  the evening of the 14th of August with the firm
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  understanding that there would not be a darshan event taking
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  place the next day. Around 3:00 AM, he was suddenly
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  jolted awake with an electric sensation running through his
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  entire body, and he knew that the darshan was going to take
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  place. He prepared himself for the day
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  with a feeling that he was floating several inches above
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  the ground. When he arrived at the ashram
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  facility, the signboard indicated that indeed the
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  darshan would occur that evening.
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  This incident is one of many that have been recounted by
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  disciples and devotees over the years after interacting with the
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  Mother and being impacted by the spiritual force that radiated
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  from her with an intensity that was unmatched in anyone else
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  they had known in their lives, other than for those who also
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  had the benefit of direct interaction with Sri Rovindo.
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  The Mother's ability to respond to the inner energetic movement
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  of individuals and aid them in working through any resistance
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  or obstacles to achieve the next stage in their spiritual
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  progress was exceptional. Today, many still experience the
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  subtle and transformative influence of the Mother wherever
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  they happen to be in the world, whatever they happen to be
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  doing, and whatever circumstances they find
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  themselves in when they open themselves inwardly with
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  aspiration, receptivity and a consecrated surrender to the
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  Divine Force, Sri Aurobindo observes quote.
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  You have only to aspire to keep yourself open to the Mother, to
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  reject all that is contrary to her will, and to let her work in
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  you, doing all your work for her and in the faith that it is
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  through her force that you can do it.
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  If you remain open in this way, the knowledge and realization
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  will come to you in due course. End Quote reference.
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  Trioro Bindo. Faces of Yoga, chapter 2.
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  Faith, Aspiration, Surrender, page 24.