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Pujyapad Puri Shankaracharyaji (referred to as Maharajaji) says it is not possible to have the atma (soul) as our guru.
If we do not have any knowledge about atma, how can we consider it as our guru? This is only the ego preventing us from reaching our guru.
To imagine that we can attain Bhagavan without a guru is the result of the ego. Even any modern knowledge can’t be obtained without a guru, then how can we learn about that which transcends the three lokas without a guru?
Those who claim that they are good and capable but doubt that they will find a guru in kaliyuga, must learn that if they are really as good as they think they are, a guru would also be given to them.
Without knowing anything about the atma how can we make it our guru?
A guru should be such who can correct us and guide us.
Maharajaji gives the example of the great ruler – Raja Bharata, after whom our nation is named ‘Bharata’, referring to the 5th and 11th canto of the Bhagavatam, as below –
After ruling for many years, Raja Bharata renounced his throne and family and went for penance. During his time in the forest, he brought up a baby deer who he had rescued. In the process he got deeply attached to it. If he had a guru to guide him, he would have been told that after having left his own children and grandchildren, if he gets involved in raising a baby deer and develops attachment – this could be the cause of his downfall. Ultimately this deep attachment of his led to his next birth being that of a deer.
Some who have received their upadesha from their guru in the past birth, and only take birth once or twice to complete their limited prarabhda (destiny), do not need a guru.
We are fooling ourselves if we think we can attain Bhagavan without a guru. It is our ego that results in such thinking.