When teaching self-realization, does the teacher need to be self-realized?

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One might think so. Yet who can claim to be self-realized today? The arrogant, the fool or the charlatan, most of the time. 

What even is self-realization? If we don't know what it is and need a teacher to show it to us, then how do we identify that teacher as qualified to teach us?

Such questions are crucial. 

We might see leadership, eloquence, wit, memory and other symptoms in a person, yet is that enough?

One respected quality is compassion. Therefore the prayer of the boddhisattva that all living entities be liberated before us. 

Compassion put into action often inspires others to follow. 

Yet ultimately the teacher may never even be seen or observed. The teacher may even appear in nature, if we are receptive. The teacher is nowhere and everywhere, as well as in the heart.

Some teachers demand strict adherence to custom and the previous disciplic succession of masters. 

Others show adaptability, fluidity, novelty, hybridization in their practice and philosophy. Even the pukka follower sometimes break out of the box due to historical time, place and circumstance. And can even be seen as Acharya as a result. 

The synthesis of strict adherence combined with best use of conditions available, allow for the practice along the way to stay fresh enough to appeal.

As to the question of self-realization and the list of its symptoms... who can say what enlightenment feels like besides the enlightened? 

Find and hear from them allowing all things to be revealed. 


There you have it. 



Bhagavad Gita ch4:34

***tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ***

SYNONYMS
tat—that knowledge of different sacrifices; viddhi—try to understand; praṇipātena—by approaching a spiritual master; paripraśnena—by submissive inquiries; sevayā—by the rendering of service; upadekṣyanti—initiate; te—unto you; jñānam—knowledge; jñāninaḥ—the self-realized; tattva—truth; darśinaḥ—the seers.

TRANSLATION
**Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.**

> PURPORT
The path of spiritual realization is undoubtedly difficult. The Lord therefore advises us to approach a bona fide spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession from the Lord Himself. No one can be a bona fide spiritual master without following this principle of disciplic succession. The Lord is the original spiritual master, and a person in the disciplic succession can convey the message of the Lord as it is to his disciple. No one can be spiritually realized by manufacturing his own process, as is the fashion of the foolish pretenders. The Bhāgavatam says: dharmaṁ hi sākṣād-bhagavat-praṇītam—the path of religion is directly enunciated by the Lord. Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige. Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life. Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding. Unless there is submission and service, inquiries from the learned spiritual master will not be effective. One must be able to pass the test of the spiritual master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple, he automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding. In this verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned. One should not only hear submissively from the spiritual master; but one must also get a clear understanding from him, in submission and service and inquiries. A bona fide spiritual master is by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore when the student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.

Reference: Bhagavad Gita As It Is, translation and commentary by Swami A C Bhaktivedanta, original MacMillan 1972 edition, freely available at prabhupadabooks.com.

Image: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/desert-fathers-desert-monks-desert-8838926/

Edited and published from my mobile device onto the Hive blockchain for those in search of the truth.