Silent Teachings of the Guru: Learning Beyond Words

श्री गुरवे नमः
आचार्यं माम विजानियाँ नाव मन्येत करहिचित
न मर्त्य बुद्ध्या सूयेत, सर्व देवमयो गुरुः

Know the Guru to be Myself (God). Never think unfavorably about him. Do not use your material mind to comprehend the Guru’s divine actions, for all the forms of God dwell within him. (Bhagavatam 11.17.27)

What are the Silent Teachings of the Guru?

The silent teachings of the Guru refer to the non-verbal forms of profound wisdom and guidance that extend beyond spoken or written words. These include the Guru’s presence, actions, energy, and subtle vibrations, all of which are divine. Unlike spoken or written teachings, the silent teachings of the Guru are conveyed through His very being, requiring disciples to be receptive and attuned to subtle messages and the silent teachings for deep spiritual growth and transformation. 

How Does the Guru Impart Silent Teachings?

The silent teachings of the Guru are imparted through many subtle ways. His energy and vibrational influence have a powerful and lasting effect on disciples, fostering a deep inner transformation. A few are described below.

The Power of Divine Presence

The mere presence of the Guru can be transformative. When in the presence of a Guru, disciples often feel a sense of peace, calm, clarity, and inspiration that words cannot communicate. The presence of the Guru acts as a living embodiment of the teachings and a demonstration of the principles of spirituality through His demeanor, verbal and non-verbal actions, and personal interactions. 

The conduct and day-to-day life of the Guru is a living ideal to an observant and sincere disciple. Through constant contact and the longing to transform from within, the disciple’s efforts attract the grace of the Guru. The graces of the Guru cannot be described in words. Most of all, for devotees starting the spiritual journey, the sheer physical presence of the Guru attracts them to His aura and personality traits like a magnet. They cannot pull their eyes away from His charismatic persona and long to hear His words and voice (i.e., vaani) that are equally impactful. 

A true story from the life of Jagadguruttam Shree Kripalu ji Maharaj narrated by Swamiji remarkably reveals the meaning of the silent teachings of the Guru. Shree Maharajji instructed His first disciple, the 65-year-old Jaani Maa, to let go of everything she possessed and go to Vrindavan as an act of commitment to Him and the spiritual path. He asked her to take nothing with her. She walked out of her mansion without looking back but she took a bag of gold coins with her for security. When she was bathing in the Yamuna, a monkey came, took the bag, and one by one, threw away all the gold coins in the river before her eyes. She understood the unspoken message that her Guru wanted her to rely exclusively on His support and nothing else in the material world. 

The Guru does not need to be physically present for someone to feel the power of His presence. It appears in a variety of forms. For example, Swamiji narrated the story of how Shree Madhurkavi Alvar’s attention was captivated by the glowing ball of fire in the sky when he was in Ayodhya. This ball of fire started to move toward the South. Madhurkavi Alvar was drawn to it and started following its movement until he reached the city of Alwarthirunagari. This is where his Guru-to-be, then sixteen-year-old Shree Nammalvar, was perched on the tamarind tree in a state of samadhi (i.e., trance). The point is that the inspiration to engage in specific actions is evoked in the hearts of true disciples by the Guru. 

Consider the example of how Ratnakar transformed into a wise sage by the power of his Guru Narad ji’s presence and interaction. Narad ji radiated calmness and compassion which positively influenced Ratnakar and built his faith. He unquestionably absorbed the Guru’s advice and experiential knowledge, performed severe austerities after detaching from the world, and transformed himself into Saint Valmiki through his Guru’s grace. 

Collectively, all the traits and personality characteristics of the Guru increase the devotees’ desire to connect with the divine and detach from the material world.

Opportunities for Observational Learning

The Guru provides opportunities to disciples to observe and learn from His overt actions. By closely observing the Guru’s actions, disciples can glean insights into many things. For example, many of Shree Maharajji’s earlier disciples witnessed innumerable episodes of Him being in the Bhavavesh state (i.e., divine trance) in divine love for Radha and Krishna. Many of these devotees experienced an elevation in their sadhana. They engaged in kirtans with Shree Maharajji for long hours until He chose to sing or chant, feeling mesmerized by His aura. Beyond that, their devotional sentiments and seva bhav for Shree Maharajji multiplied manifold. 

 

Observation of the Guru’s actions can also reveal mysteries about His divine internal state to disciples upon whom He chooses to bestow the teaching. Countless fortunate individuals witnessed the oral expression of Shree Maharajji’s divine knowledge when He was invited to speak before the assembly of scholars at the Kashi Vishwad Parishad. After His shashtrarth or scriptural debate was complete, He was honored with the official title of the fifth original Jagadguru, and Jagadguruttam – the highest amongst all the previous four Jagadgurus of Indian history. 

 

Most people are familiar with how the first Jagadguru, Shree Adi Shankaracharya, graced His illiterate disciple Sanand, through a leela (i.e., pastime) for the benefit of other disciples who wanted their Guru to start the discourse without him. Sanand was washing his Guru’s clothes on the other side of the river bank when Shankaracharya ji called out to him. Being a completely surrendered disciple, Sanand ran as soon as he heard his Guru’s voice. He did not even pay attention to the fact that he ran on the surface of the river water. Miraculously, lotus flowers blossomed under his feet as he ran to the other side. When he reached his Guru and bowed down in obeisance, beautiful verses in sophisticated Sanskrit emanated from him by the divine grace of his Guru. Since then, Sanand acquired the name, Padmapaad. The other disciples learned an important lesson after observing this incident.

The Mahabharat is replete with inspirational stories of how Shree Krishna showered His divine graces on His surrendered disciples. For example, knowing the devotional love of Vidurani ji who had been meditating on serving Shree Krishna for a very long time, the Lord showed up at her house unannounced and ate the banana peels she offered to Him instead of the fruit. We learn from this inspirational story how divine personalities only pay attention to the love of devotees, not the external fanfare. Another example is how after the Mahabharat war, Uddhav ji revealed to Vidur ji about his inner realization. He intuitively felt that Shree Krishna was about to wrap up His leelas and depart to Golok. Such internal revelations are not possible without the benevolent graces of a divine Guru.

Learning through observation also includes how the Guru’s overt actions and vaani impact the thoughts and beliefs of disciples. One example that illustrates this point is how all true saints exhibit the highest level of humility when interacting with their guests, treating them with utmost respect and kindness, regardless of their spiritual status. Inspired by their silent teachings through their actions, the disciples also attempt to practice the principles which lead to improved relationships between community members. 

सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि |
ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शन: || 29||

sarva-bhuta-stham atmanam sarva-bhutani chatmani
ikshate yoga-yuktatma sarvatra sama-darshanah

The true yogis, uniting their consciousness with God, see with equal eye, all living beings in God and God in all living beings (Bhagavad Gita 6.29).  

A more tangible example is how the Guru’s vaani deeply impacts even those who have not met Him in person. Hundreds of new people flock to Swamiji’s Life Transformation Program from all over the country after listening to His powerful video lectures available on His YouTube channel. Many individuals subsequently register for spiritual retreats and become members of the SMExclusive community to receive personal guidance from Him. 

 

Benevolent Silent Graces

At some point in time or another, all disciples have internally experienced their Guru’s pure compassion and grace when they sincerely seek guidance on matters that could not be expressed publicly or privately. 

तेषामेवानुकम्पार्थमहमज्ञानजं तम: |
नाशयाम्यात्मभावस्थो ज्ञानदीपेन भास्वता || 11||

tesham evanukampartham aham ajnana-jam tamah
nashayamyatma-bhava-stho jnana-dipena bhasvata

Out of compassion for them, I, who dwell within their hearts, destroy the darkness born of ignorance, with the luminous lamp of knowledge (Bhagavad Gita 10.11).  

Compassion and grace can emanate in any form, for example, targeted eye contact with a devotee during live discourses to drive home a specific point, targeted ignoring to convey another subtle teaching, a gentle tap on the head during interactions, being directed toward a gem of knowledge that contains answers to an existing problem, protection from physical harm, inner revelations to enable comprehension of tattvagyan, opportunities for personal seva, and protection from spiritual downfall following catastrophic events. However, the most profoundly benevolent graces appear in our lives, unknown to us. The true Guru never reveals how He showers these graces. The disciples experience the good fortune of increased knowledge, faith, and devotion to God/Guru. These are divine qualities that the material intellect and etheric heart cannot develop on their own accord. The Guru's blessings enable all devotees to progress in their spiritual journey with inspiration. 

Another true story from Shree Maharajji and His disciple Jaani Maa’s life, reveals how Shree Maharajji severely tested her faith and devotion. One time when outwardly upset with her, He asked Jaani Maa to walk from Leelapur to Allahabad (about 87 km by road) because she had missed the train. She followed His instructions without accepting rides, food, or any other type of consideration from any stranger who took pity on an old lady’s heartbreaking physical condition. As a result, when she reached Allahabad at the home of Shree Maharajji’s devotee after walking in the heat for three days, the soles of her feet were covered with painful blisters. She lay down on the floor to rest. Shree Maharajji arrived there on the same day. When lovingly rebuked by the host for punishing Jaani Maa in this manner, Shree Maharajji Himself washed her feet with water, and miraculously all the blisters immediately vanished as if nothing had happened. How can anyone comprehend or articulate such compassionate graces of the Guru?

The energy field of the true Guru can influence disciples on a subtle level. His divine energy affects those around them, fostering spiritual growth and healing. Private conversations with Swamiji’s disciples have also revealed how many of them were struggling with inner turmoil but experienced tranquility and solace simply by sitting near their Guru during meditation sessions. The calming energy and vibrations emanated by the Guru help disciples to achieve a state of peace that they struggled to find on their own, illustrating the power of His silent influence. The Guru is a ball of God-consciousness. Association with a true Guru will make it possible to learn from His silent teachings.

How can Disciples be Receptive to the Silent Teachings of a Guru?

To benefit from silent teachings, disciples may utilize these practices.

Cultivate Receptivity and Awareness

1. Observe the Guru. Disciples must practice being observant and reflective. By observing the Guru's actions, demeanor, and way of life, disciples can learn valuable lessons about humility, compassion, selflessness, and devotion. Also, disciples must contemplate the deeper meanings behind the Guru’s non-verbal cues. 
2. Absorb the Guru's Presence. Being in the presence of the Guru can create a transformative experience. Disciples can absorb the Guru's spiritual vibrations and receive subtle teachings that go beyond verbal communication. Disciples may seek as many opportunities as possible for Satsang at spiritual retreats for personal benefit.
3. Develop Intuition. Through sincere practice and devotion, disciples can develop a heightened intuition that allows them to understand and internalize the unspoken teachings of the Guru by His grace.
4. Cultivate Receptivity. Disciples must cultivate a receptive and open mindset, allowing themselves to receive the Guru's blessings and teachings on a deeper level.
5. Practice Meditation. Regular meditation practice helps disciples quiet their minds, reduce the mental clutter, and connect with the Guru's consciousness, enabling them to receive silent teachings through inner experiences and insights. Remember, the silent teachings of the Guru are often more powerful than words, as they touch the depths of the disciple's heart and transform their being.
6. Reflect on Personal Experiences. Disciples must regularly reflect on their experiences and the silent lessons they have learned. Journaling these reflections can help internalize the teachings and recognize their impact over time.
7. Practice Gratitude. Expressing gratitude for the Guru’s guidance, both verbal and silent, keeps the heart open and receptive. This practice fosters a deeper connection and appreciation for the teachings.

Draw Inspiration from the Eternal Guru-Disciple Relationship 

1. Recognize the Guru's Divine Connection. Disciples must understand that the Guru is a conduit for God's grace and wisdom and realize that the Guru's presence in our life is not a coincidence but a result of divine arrangement.
2. Embrace the Guru's Guidance. Disciples must surrender to the Guru's teachings and instructions. Follow them with faith and dedication, knowing that they are meant to promote spiritual growth and transformation. 
3. Cultivate Trust and Devotion. Develop a deep sense of trust and devotion towards the Guru. Understand that the Guru's love and guidance are always available, even beyond the physical presence.
4. Seek Inner Connection. Establish a personal connection with the Guru through meditation and prayer. Tap into the eternal bond between the Guru and disciple on a spiritual level, seeking guidance and inspiration from within.
5. Apply Teachings in Daily Life. Apply the Guru's teachings in daily life. Practice the principles and values taught by the Guru, by applying them in thoughts,  actions, and interactions with others.

By creating receptivity and awareness and drawing inspiration from the eternal nature of the Guru-disciple relationship, disciples can experience profound spiritual growth and find guidance and support in their lives.