July 13, 2003

Guru Poornima

At every year on July's full moon day, Ashram of India makes an occasion of Guru poornima(this year on July 13). Guru means "teacher" and poornima means "full moon".
	Today is Gurupumima. The real significance of Gurupurnima does not consist in worshipping the guru (preceptor) with some offerings, but getting rid of the darkness of ignorance, "Purnima" refers to the full moon, but the full moon symbolizes the mind filled with delight. There is close association between the mind and the moon. Gurupurnima signifies the elimination of all darkness and evil from the mind. The true Guru is in our heart. Purify the heart to let the Divine dwell in it. （BABA）

Vyaasa Poornima 　Today is described as Guru Purnima Day. This is not quite correct. The day got its name because of some gurus who wanted to have an occasion for receiving offerings from their disciples. The right name for this day is Vyasa Purnima. 　Vyaasa was born on this full-moon day. He completed the codification of the four Vedas on this day. He completed the writing of the eighteen puranas on this day. Owing to the passage of time Vyasa Purnima came to be called Guru Purnima. 　The true meaning of Guru is "one who dispels the darkness of ignorance".

Vyaasa makes Ganesha to discribe mahabharata.

Another meaning of the word is "one who is beyond attributes and forms, namely, the Supreme Self. (The Brahmam)". When this Self is within you where is the need to search for someone to teach you? A teacher who teaches others has had a teacher himself. The one who has no Guru above him is the true Guru.　 （BABA　July 30, 1996 Discourses on Guru Purnima）

The term "Guru" means one who dispels the darkness of ignorance. "Gu" means one who is beyond attributes (gunas), "Ru" implies one who is beyond forms (rupas). This refers only to God. That is why the "Guru" is hailed as Brahma, Vishnu or Siva. Only God is the true Guru. All others are merely teachers, like the teachers of different subjects in a college. "Guru" is the one who reveals the "Guri" (target) to the disciple. "Guri" here refers to the Atmic Principle. （BABA July 20, 1997 Discourses on Guru Purnima）

Saibuilding makes an occasion of Guru Poornima on July 13(Sun.).

Schedule on July 21. （subjected to change） 10:00〜12:00 Open, Cleaning 13:00〜14:00 Study Circle 14:15〜15:30 Bhajan Practice　（14:45〜15:30　Gayatri Club） 16:00〜 Bhajan：Om Karam、１０８ Names、Bhajan　 17:20ish〜 Dinner (Adults \500 fee. Students \300) 18:40ish〜 Narayana Seva, Bhajan Practice,etc..