Guru–shishya tradition

So, that's how, because he already had, you know, as a Brahmachari, he already had the Sadhana, Chattishthira, Sampatti.

So, he already had probably the qualifications and he he's very clear that what he wants so that's the uh so that that's how the first valley or the first subsection of the first chapter ends okay So in the second Vali, it starts off with the Guru Shishya Shastra Mahima.

So basically the glories of Guru Shishya and Shastram Yama Dharma Raja starts off with that.

And so what is the glory of a guru? The glory of the guru is to describe something which is indescribable.

It's in fact a mirror of self-location.

And as I go through each item, I want you to not... question do i pass or do i fail but actually ask yourself where do you actually stand the first item on this checklist is do you know your yoga lineage and can you trace it lineage becomes an important part because in many ways that's how yoga was transmitted from over centuries from guru to shishya, from teacher to student through the guru shishya parampara.

This is a living tradition and it connects us to something that is absolutely timeless in yoga and not everything in yoga is written or stored in books.

That is why yoga is always meant to be learned in conjunction with a guide, with a teacher who is guiding you, nudging you when you get stuck.

I have done a previous episode about the Guru Shishya Parampara and teachers and I will leave that in the show notes for you.

But lineage is not necessarily just naming your teacher or naming the teacher's teacher.

It is the school of thought that shaped your methodology, the methodology that you are passing on, the philosophical tradition that underlines everything you do in the name of yoga.

right from sequencing to the language to the living tradition that you're passing on and where you take your students.

Only the teacher who knows Medhavi, established in wisdom in Brahmanishta, can convey it.

Therefore Arjuna's Tvadya Nanya Chetahana Vapadyade is a Shishya's recognition of the Guru's

indispensability.

Atman is recognized as Nitya, eternal.

That although you always remain a murka, a fool, in front of your spiritual master, always submissive, still you should become teacher next to pass it on to others.

He said that is the responsibility of being in the Sri Guru Parampara.

And so, on Sri Vyasa Puja Day, we're worshipping Srila Vyasadeva with the concept that the parampara is for the dissemination of knowledge for the welfare of all.

The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all.

And guru is a principle and also a person.

So we have this simultaneous appreciation on the Vyasa Puja Day for the principle of Sri Guru Parampara.

In fact, in the tradition, even amongst other Vaishnavas, they will have a set up of the various pictures of the previous Acharyas, and they do a puja for each one of them.

Prabhupada didn't introduce that, but we sang this morning the song that mentions how the parambara comes down.

But yeah, this in essence is what the question is.

There is no reference or mention of the names of the Shishya or Guru.

Like in the Mundaka Upanishad, it was Angirasa was the Guru and Saunaka was the Shishya, I believe, right? In this one, there is no mention of the names.

But however, it is the whole Upanishad is a dialogue between a Guru and a Sishya.

So, Atma is Chaitanyam or consciousness.

And I think we discussed before also.

He says this and he, you know, quits the place.

And, you know, some Shishyas are shaking the head and, you know, they join, saying they have also understood.