“Like a flower bud, human life has the potential to fully blossom. The complete blossoming of human life is Yoga.”
~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
For centuries, the saints and sages of ancient times have developed and refined a system for personal development known to us today as Yoga.
This vast and intricate system of knowledge emerged through the unique inner growth and direct experiences of individuals striving for self-realization. From time immemorial, the science and philosophy of Yoga have been passed down from master to disciple — preserved and shared through the grace of the Guru, the spiritual teacher.
Parampara is the knowledge transmitted successively from Guru to disciple. The Sanskrit term refers to the principle of knowledge transmission in its most authentic and unadulterated form — knowledge that is boundless, infinite, and based on direct personal experience. At the heart of parampara are the Guru and the disciple — the vital links in a chain of wisdom that stretches back through millennia. For the teaching of Yoga to be effective, true, and complete, it is essential that it be imparted through this sacred relationship.
Traditionally, this knowledge is fully transmitted only after the disciple has spent several years in the presence of an enlightened Guru, offering their body, mind, and spirit in service. Only then is the student deemed worthy to receive the wisdom.
Over the centuries, the world has drifted far from the true essence of Yoga and the importance of the traditional teacher-disciple connection. How many of us truly understand the deeper purpose of Yoga? Hundreds of Yoga schools are springing up like mushrooms, offering teacher trainings — but how many truly speak to the essence of Yoga?
Yoga has increasingly come to be associated solely with physical postures (asanas), a few breathing techniques, or meditation practices. While it is wonderful that this ancient knowledge has survived, the real challenge is not to limit ourselves to the practice of asanas, but to go beyond them — to grasp the very core and purpose of Yoga.
Throughout the history of Yoga, the true Guru has always been regarded as a spiritual guide — a living embodiment of the wisdom they impart. In Yoga, the sincere spiritual teacher is one whose consciousness reflects the philosophy they live by; one who walks the talk and takes in disciples to pass on the truths they've realized in life.
As the Sanskrit word suggests, Guru is one who dispels darkness — the remover of ignorance from the minds and hearts of seekers.
In other words, Guru (from gu = darkness, ru = remover) is the one who lifts the veils of existence and reveals the infinite nature of life.
The Guru helps guide us from the path of Avidya (ignorance) toward Vidya (knowledge).
They remove doubt and unconscious tendencies (samskaras), and not only fill us with knowledge, but ignite the very life force within us.
The Guru awakens intelligence — not just intellect. The apex of intellect is true intelligence.
When you come to the Guru, seeking ends, and growth begins.
The Guru is an infinite presence — vast, boundless, and all-encompassing.
Their presence in one’s life brings fulfillment to all other relationships.
The Guru shows you who you truly are, and what your highest potential is.
Their purpose is not merely to demonstrate techniques or prescribe ways to perform them — but to deepen your inner connection and help you fulfill your purpose.
The Guru is God embodied — a bridge to liberation.
In other words, the Divine, the Guru, and the Self are one and the same.
To see the Guru is to see God.
All great masters have understood this completely:
Jesus Christ said: “I and my Father are One.”
Buddha expressed it as: “My thoughts are always aligned with Truth. My very being has become Truth.”
Krishna said: “I am the goal and the path of the wise.”
To live in the presence of a great Guru is a rare and priceless gift — one that can only be truly understood through direct personal experience.
These remarkable beings hold the secrets to manifesting the Spirit, drawing it toward Earth, and revealing the inner peace of enlightenment.
They are the living legacy of a spiritual lineage as ancient as civilization itself.
In today’s world, where skepticism and confusion often surround the concept of the Guru, it is more important than ever to understand who the Guru truly is.
Infinity is attainable, but intangible.
The Guru is both infinite and tangible.
The Divine is beyond form.
The Guru is form and formlessness embodied — made accessible to help you.
The Guru is boundless love, in human form.
I began my yoga journey more than two decades ago, and it gradually became both my passion and my mission. Yet something was missing.
I began to feel that my mission would never be fulfilled without the guidance of a Guru.
I felt an inner yearning for that presence.
I longed to go to a traditional Gurukul — as described in ancient yogic texts — to learn Yoga from humble yogis and a true Guru who could bless and guide my path, where I had been stuck for so long.
That desire was fulfilled when I met Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for the first time.
My journey found direction and gained the momentum it so desperately needed.
Without his grace and guidance, I would have continued playing along the shore of the infinite ocean of Yoga.
The restlessness and inconsistency were replaced by a profound joy and love for discipline and devotion.
The journey, which had previously been limited to physical postures and breathing techniques, began to reach its full potential.
Yes, even my physical practices attained new dimensions.
Yoga is the union of body, mind, breath, and soul — and I began to truly experience this unity in my practice.
Today, there is an abundance of books, websites, and videos on Yoga, offering instructions for practicing asanas and pranayama.
While these can be helpful, they cannot offer the real experience of Yoga.
They provide information — but it is the Guru who transforms information into transformation.
The Guru helps you experience the true essence of Yoga, which lies far beyond techniques.
As the world celebrates Guru Purnima — the festival honoring spiritual and academic teachers — let us offer our deep reverence to the Guru,
who has brought such immense knowledge and grace into our lives.
This article is based on the wisdom of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and was written by Dr. Sehal Shah, a certified Sri Sri Yoga instructor.
