Acharyas transform our lives – The Hindu

Srimad Bhagavatam expounds the ideals of Bhakti, Jnana, and Vairagya — devotion, knowledge and renunciation. It declares that the true purpose of human life is to worship the Lord, sing His divine glories, and listen to His sacred pastimes. Sadhus and sanyasis, by their nature, wander for the welfare of humanity. Through their teachings and stories of the Lord’s virtues, they transform our lives. They make our time on earth meaningful and purposeful.

The sins that arise in our samsara are destroyed through the sacred association we establish with noble souls. Who, then, is a true devotee or Bhagavata? Sri Kesava Vajapeya swami in a discourse explained that a true Bhagavata is one who sees God in all beings and in everything. Such a devotee stays unattached to all worldly objects. He holds steadfast attachment only to the Supreme Lord.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna declares: “Know this through prostration, sincere questioning, and devoted service; the wise who have realised the truth will impart knowledge unto you” — Chapter 4, verse 34. “Our Acharyas and noble souls are not only endowed with profound wisdom but are also filled with compassion towards us.“

They alone know what we truly need. By their grace, our thoughts are purified. This purification is essential for sincere worship. Therefore, we must seek such noble souls as our Acharyas. We should firmly believe that God Himself has come in the form of the Guru or Acharya to bless us.

We should not try to anticipate or calculate the benefits from our good deeds. When we act with the expectation of reward, it is called karma. If we act only to please God, without attachment to results, it becomes Karma Yoga.

Bhakti means placing our unwavering faith in God. It is also offering our heartfelt gratitude to Him.