Gurukrupayoga

गुरुकृपा हि केवलं शिष्यपरममंङ्लम् ।

Meaning : Only by the grace of the Guru can the disciple attain his ultimate benefaction – spiritual progress.

Meaning of Gurukrupayoga

The word krupa has been derived from the root ‘krup’, which means to have mercy. Krupa means mercy, compassion or initiation. Union of a jiva (Embodied soul) with Shiv (God Principle) by Guru’s grace is known as ‘Gurukrupayoga’.

Importance of Gurukrupayoga

Instead of wasting many years following different paths of spiritual practice, that is, discarding all these paths, Gurukrupayoga teaches how a seeker can attain the grace of the Guru in a shorter time for faster spiritual progress.

How does the Guru’s grace function ?

The degree of success of any task depends upon the various components functional in that task. Just as the nuclear bomb is more powerful than the atom bomb, the subtle is more powerful when compared with the gross. This point will be illustrated by an example given ahead of various methods employed to annihilate the enemy. The more advanced the stage, the more effective it is.

Five Cosmic Principles (Gross)

Identifying the location of the enemy with the five senses, for instance, sighting the enemy or his movements, he can be killed. However, if the enemy hides and remains motionless, the gunman will not be able to kill him. Here, only a physical weapon is used to kill. Different substances are used for different tasks; for example, an antibiotic to kill germs. If the task is not accomplished with gross means alone, the subtle means have to be used as well. This is described ahead.

A combination of the five Cosmic Principles (which are gross) and a mantra (which is subtle)

In the ancient times, arrows were shot from a bow after reciting a mantra. Due to the mantra, the name of the enemy would get etched on the arrow, and no matter where the enemy hid in the three regions (Earth, Nether region or Heaven), the arrow would kill him. This was because the gross (in this case the arrow) was complemented by the subtle (in this case the mantra).

In Ayurveda, medicines are prepared while chanting mantras for the same reason. Nevertheless, at times despite the gross and subtle being used together, the task is not accomplished. At such times subtler, that is, more powerful mantras have to be used as elaborated ahead.

Mantra (Subtler)

In the next stage, the enemy can be killed merely by using a specific mantra without using physical weapons like guns, bows and arrows etc. At times, however, even mantras prove to be unfruitful. In such cases, the next stage has to be used.

An expressed resolve (Even more subtle)

A mere thought in the mind of an evolved person that something should happen, is sufficient for it to happen. Other than this, they do not have to do anything else. This is possible only in the case of an evolved person, whose spiritual level exceeds 70%.

When the thought, ‘Let the disciple progress spiritually’ comes to the Guru’s mind, the real spiritual progress of the disciple takes place. This is the Guru’s grace, without which a disciple cannot progress spiritually.

How does a resolve work ?

For the success of a task with a mere resolve, the spiritual level has to be at least 70%. (Spiritual level of an ordinary individual is 20% and Moksha [Final Liberation] means 100%). How a resolve works will be clear from the following example. Let us assume that the power of the human mind is 100 units. The human mind is full of thoughts related to work, home, daily life etc. throughout the day. Mental energy is spent in every thought and its fulfilment.

If we get a hundred thoughts in a day, like I have to get to work, I have to complete this task, I have to meet so-and-so etc., then most of our mental energy is expended in them. However, if a thought comes to the mind of one who is thoughtless then since all the mental energy is directed towards that thought, the resolve is fulfilled. If that thought is related to the Absolute Truth, this energy is not expended, since God Himself completes the task because it is His task.

However, to reach this stage, a seeker has to follow all the steps in spiritual practice such as chanting God’s Name, remaining in satsang (Company of the God Principle), performing satseva (Service unto the Absolute Truth), tyag (Sacrifice for the Absolute Truth), and attain a state of mind in which he does not get any thoughts related to the non-truth.

An unexpressed resolve (Subtlest)

Here, spiritual progress of a disciple takes place even without the resolve, ‘Let the disciple progress spiritually’ appearing in the Guru’s mind. The underlying reason is the unexpressed resolve of the Guru. This is possible only for a Guru who has a spiritual level above 80%.

The presence of the Guru (Subtle beyond the subtlest)

In this final stage, the Guru’s mere presence, proximity or company is sufficient for spiritual practice and progress of the disciple to take place automatically.

A quote from Shri Bhavarthadipika says, ‘This has occurred because of Me, yet I have not made it happen. He who has realised this, is liberated from the cycle of birth & death. Here, ‘This has occurred because of Me’ means it has occurred because of My presence; ‘Me’ refers to the Supreme God Principle in the self. ‘I have not made it happen’ implies absolving the self of doership.

When the sun rises, everyone wakes up, flowers bloom etc. The sun does not ask anyone to do anything; this happens simply due to its presence. Paratpar Gurus above the spiritual level of 90% have become one with Supreme God. Therefore, merely by their all-encompassing, omnipresence, and on the strength of the disciple’s spiritual emotion, the spiritual practice and spiritual progress of the disciple takes place.

Origin of Gurukrupayoga

Gurukrupayoga is a confluence of Dnyanyoga (Path of Knowledge), Bhaktiyoga (Path of Devotion) and Karmayoga (Path of Action). Since I thought of this Yoga by the grace of my Guru H.H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj (H.H. Baba), I named it ‘Gurukrupayoga (Path of Guru’s grace)’. Today, it suddenly dawned on me that, in fact, H.H. Baba Himself has created it !

In 1993, H.H. Baba said to me, “Doctor ! You have given me your body, mind and wealth. I give you Knowledge, Devotion and Detachment”.

The meaning of these is ‘Dnyanyoga, Bhaktiyoga and Karmayoga (that teaches us how to perform karma without expectations)’. In other words, when He bestowed Dnyanyoga, Bhaktiyoga and Karmayoga, He actually taught me Gurukrupayoga.

– Dr. Athavale (6.5.2012)

Source : Sanatan’s Holy booklet ‘Gurukrupayoga’