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The word guru has been around for centuries. It comes from the Sanskrit language which some refer to as the mother of all languages. Breaking the word down into two parts, 'ru' is translated as light and 'gu' is translated as darkness. In the centuries that have followed, many wise people have written about seeing the beauty of light within the darkness.
A guru is often thought of as a spiritual or religious teacher. At the same time, the soothing sounds from a Zen garden seem to blend with the word guru. Mahatma Gandhi said, Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony. Sounds like a simple formula, but how do you make that happen without a guru to guide you?
You might find yourself feeling harmonious as you sit visualizing a guru in a long robe with a wonderful warm smile on his face. But then, before you can be open to the guru's message for finding happiness in your life, thoughts of your friend's upcoming weekend at a romantic oceanfront resort flood into your mind. How can some imaginary guy in a robe with the warm smile of a Japanese Reiki teacher compete with your friend's getaway weekend to elegance and romance?
Let go the of vision of the graceful furniture that will greet your friend as she enters the lobby, and visualize sitting in the soft morning light with the beauty of a garden quietly unfolding before you. Feel yourself absorbing the natural harmony of the garden.
An elegant oceanfront resort might be more appealing than a remote peaceful garden, which is fine. Whether you spend days, weeks, or months searching for the person that has spent years in meditation on Life's purpose, or you go to that elegant oceanfront resort you can still have an audience with a guru. All it takes is a cooking timer, a place where you can sit comfortably undisturbed, and practice.
Words such as serenity, tranquility, and peacefulness connect with guru. All these adjectives also describe the stillness that is found between your thoughts; this stillness between your thoughts is called meditation. In this stillness your worry shelf is empty, you have empty lines on your to do list, there is no phone reception, no inbox, and no one to judge you, not even yourself. In this stillness you can connect with your inner guru, whose only interest is in what is best for you.
It might seem silly to take the time to communicate with your inner guru when there are books to read, plays and concerts to attend, and movies to watch. Many books have been written, and many of us have experienced that the teacher will appear when the student is ready. Information about the world around us is exciting and can help us do so many different things. Conversely, those wise authors, teachers and documentary directors do not know your life today and the potential your inner- self has to offer. When researching these people you will likely find that they do daily meditation(s), not to escape from their challenges, but to find answers from their inner guru.
When you go into the stillness of meditation, you hush your chatter and the chatter of the outside world; when all chatter is hushed, your creative self can open the doors needed for you to step forward. Your inner guru is your creative- self. Your inner guru may or may not appear as that very wise person dressed in a rope meditating in that silent garden; you may not have any visual of you inner guru, but you will feel the harmony and peace your inner guru extends to you.
In the stillness of meditation, you experience the same harmony as in the garden surrounded only by the balance of nature. When you think of harmony, think of what Albert Camus said, " But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads".
Teachers of the spiritual practice commonly called Usui Reiki connect students with the great universal. If you take the time to study Reiki with a qualified Shihan (teacher) love and harmony from the great universe flows through you to bring balance and harmony to the little universe. The little universe is your mind, body and spirit. It is hard to imagine that we will ever know all that exists in the great universe, but you can learn all that exists in the little universe.
Your teacher of the little universe is your inner guru. Your inner guru does not focus on your problems; your inner guru focuses on your solutions. Your inner guide will not think you are silly to do such things as use a guided meditation to find your solutions; your inner guide will be beside you supporting you in everything you do for your self-growth.
In the stillness between your thoughts your inner guru can tell you where, why, and what is the best way for you to enhance all that you are and all that you have. Your inner Guru knows all your strengths and limitations so there is no need to bring in any waste any of your energy in bringing in those thoughts.
Not knowing the actions of the world around us can be scary if we focus on natural disasters and human violence. On the other hand, if you know you have a guru in your corner to help you act instead of reacting, life is not so scary. Your inner guru can help you to find that inner space where you feel totally content; with daily practice, you can bring that cocoon of contentment back into your fully awake daily life.
At first, no matter where you sit in your home thoughts might come pushing into your mind. Sitting in the woods, a garden, or by the ocean focusing on the sound of the waves might help you push back the thoughts. Guided meditations are an excellent way to relax your logical mind enough to allow you to go into that garden with your guru and see your solutions.
However, you go into meditation, when you begin to make a daily practice of connecting with your inner guru you bring back that harmony into your daily life.
About this Author
Through Reiki, meditation, and herbs Roberta R. Barnes is dedicated to the art of well-being. She has reached the highest levels in both Western and Japanese styles of Reiki. Her focus is teaching and practicing Gendai Reikiho and Komyo Reiki and meditation. She is also an Herbalist Consultant. She will travel to give talks on Reiki and herbs, and to teach Gendai Reikiho and meditation. Her healing room Natural Healing & Learning Center is nestled in a certified wildlife habitat in Maine, USA. For you to use anywhere, Roberta has available the CD 'Finding Your Solutions', which contains 2 of her easy-to-use guided meditations to relax your mind and uncover hidden solutions. For additional information please visit her website http://www.naturalhealinglearning.com
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