Hari
OM
Story-day is for cultural exploration, puraanas and
parables and finding out about leading lights in spiritual philosophy.
Last
week we had seen an item on Sri Tapovan Maharaj, who was the शिक्षा /shikshaa Gurudev
of Swami Chinmayayanda - the pure teacher. Prior to sitting with Tapovan-ji,
however, our Gurudev had first taken researches with Swami Sivaananda Maharaj
of Rishikesh; initially going there to discredit the 'guru fraud', only to
discover a true master and convincing, logical arguments which he could not
ignore and subsequently became a student of that Master. Sivaananda-ji then
initiated Balakrishnan Menon into sannyaasa and gave the name of Chinmayananda.
Thus Sw. Sivananda-ji is the दीक्षा /diikshaa guru.Swami Sivananda's life can be read HERE; no need to recycle what is already provided so well at a sister site. What is important to note, though, is how the parampara is working. As has been mentioned prior, lineage and authority - 'provenance', if you will - is important. It is the lack of adherence to parampara which leads to mischief-making and self-agrandizement amongst those who would mislead the needy and the poor and to 'fleece' the wealthy… a phenomenon which Balakrishnan Menon/Gurudev was determined to expose. Even if the intention is well meant from one who would call themselves 'guru', unless they are firmly rooted in such a parampara and not twisting it to meet perceived needs or to their own ends, there is risk to the seeker. A True Guru has only the interests of the student at heart and focuses ever and always on the key purpose in life - to attain moksha.
To
illustrate this, here is a short video with a recording from the 1950's of
Swami Sivananda (with written transcription to aid you) urging devotees on to
the primary purpose of Vedanta.
