God (Ishvara), Guru (Master) and SELF (Atman) are one and the same reality. The Self splits , as it were, into God and soul, Guru and disciple. The lower member of each pair regains the Self through the grace of the higher member:the soul through worshiping God, the disciple through serving the Guru. Infact ,these are no two different pairs. It is God that appears in the form of the Guru in order to show the soul the way to release by imparting to it the light of knowledge.
Normally, the Guru appears in human form ; but in certain cases he may manifest in non-human forms as well. The Guru is not only without ,but also within.
Speaking about the Grace of the Guru, Sri Ramana once said:
"The Guru is the Self. At sometime a man grows dissatisfied with his life and not content with what he has, seeks the satisfaction of his desires through prayers to God. His mind is gradually purified until he longs to know God , more to obtain His Grace than to satisfy worldly desires. Then God's grace begins to manifest itself. God takes the form of a Guru and appears to the devotee, teaches him the Truth , and , moreover , purifies his mind by associating with him. The devotee's mind thus gains strength and is then able to turn inward. By meditation it is further purified until it remains calm without the least ripple. That calm Expanse is the Self.
Sri Ramana Sri Ramana
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