Back in the day, the guru was very necessary because without one, we could not access the Tantras at all (that is, the ritual manuals in which we encounter the practices and philosophies of the tradition) because they were all physical manuscripts that were actually kept in the Guru's abode or even as part of the Guru's memory. As such, without dīkshā (spiritual initiation), it would be nearly impossible to get access to the tradition!

Now, many of these texts are available online, in many different translations. One can encounter them and study them and practice out of them without ever having contacted a living teacher. And as such, a very important question comes up: is a living guru even needed anymore? Couldn't one just study from books and from videos on the internet?

Perhaps!

However, the role of the guru is far more than just one who gives us access to concepts, theories & techniques.
The guru is far more than a role model who demonstrates with their lives the proof of the practice and the path.
The guru is far more than a personal mentor in whom we can confide and find solace, which are very important things for a real life human who is attempting to practice spirituality intensely!

Although these things are all very important and are included in the role of the guru, the main function of the guru is the transmission of spiritual power, what Swami Vivekananda called the "quickening impulse" in his talk called "The Need of a Guru" (Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume III).

But what exactly is this "quickening impulse"?

Because this is the most mysterious dimension of Guru-Yoga, we explore it in this lecture by referring to some events in the life of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.

This is one of the lectures in our series on Swami Vivekananda's "My Master" along with Advice to Spiritual Teachers & Aspirants Sex, Drugs & Choosing A Guru | Q&A Our Mission | A Manifesto & Guru as Transmission of Power! 

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