For success in the divine search, as in every other aspect of life, it is necessary to follow God’s laws. To understand the secular knowledge available in a school, you have to learn from a teacher who knows it. So also to understand spiritual truths it is necessary to have a spiritual teacher, or guru, one who knows God. Even if you cannot be in his physical presence, or even if he is no longer incarnate on earth, you must follow the teachings of such a teacher if you would find God. Just any teacher will not do. There is only one guru uniquely the devotee’s own. But if you turn away from the emissary of God, He silently asks: “What is wrong with you, that you foolishly leave the one I have sent to help you learn the divine science of the soul? Now you shall have to wait long, and prove yourself, before I shall respond again.” He who cannot learn through the wisdom and love of his God-ordained guru will not find God in this life. Several incarnations at least must pass before he will have another such opportunity.
An understanding of the divine law of the guru-disciple relationship is necessary. We learn this in India. It is very simple, but very important: you have to find the guru first; then real spiritual progress begins. It is not that I am trying to make you loyal to me personally. I am only stating a fact: if you want God, you must be loyal to the one God has sent to help you.
Besides attunement with the guru, there must be day and night a consuming desire for God. The ardour of a thousand million loves must be gathered in your heart for Him, and the consciousness of urgent necessity: as the miser seeks money, as the lover longs for the beloved, as the drowning man gasps for breath, so must you desire God. Cry for Him constantly: “Am I going to find You? I want only You!” As you pray and pray, perhaps you will see a little glimmer of His light, to encourage you. But God wants to know if you will persist, if your will cannot be weakened by any temptation. Mistakes you have made do not matter. If nothing can change your love for God, He will come to you.
But how many of you meditate deeply enough to receive Him? If you do so in the right way, if you mean business with God and want only to please Him, you will find Him; and He will talk to you through your conscience and through your awakened spiritual perception.
Extract from the book “Divine Romance” by Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda.
