Guru, Mirror Or Grace

Prabhu replied my mail about what is Guru tatva, Is Guru a mirror or is there Grace ?

Students are at various levels - primary, middle school ... so on.
Depending on where they are teaching will have to vary. It is not same for everybody. It is student who has to know that he needs help. Until someone discovers that he needs help no body can help.

How a Sadguru can help ?

He has travelled the path. He knows the pitfalls, pains, problems, illusions in the path. He can show someone the path. But walking on the path is responsibility of Shishya. Guru cannot make you walk. You can take a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink. Situation is same here also.
Guru can show you the path for Truth. He can help you overcome your mistakes so that your learning cycle comes down. However, it is you who have to see the Truth.

Can I find the Truth myself ?

Definitely you can. Anybody can. It is like asking, can I learn bycycle riding myself without anybodys help or music. Music is more difficult because it is subjective in nature. Same is with the spirituality. There are scriptures, you can experiment and learn. It is a long way reinventing the wheel and there are many pitfalls. Theoretically yes. It is possible.

Guru is nothing but a mirror

Guru is not a evangelist or missionary who wants to teach or convert people. If someone thinks that he knows everything - he comes to a true Guru, Guru will smile at him and make him feels that he knows a lot.
If someone comes to Guru, that he needs, help, Guru helps.
Guru teaches through the word and his life. You cannot see mismatch between his life and his words. There is no gap. He lives the Truth. He is a mirror in the sense that if you are egoistic, he will just reflect back and say you are great. If you seek help, he shows the way through the words and his life. In a way he is Sakshi.

Individual effort and Gurus Grace

Spirituality is about reducing your negativities. It is about right way of living, it is about right speech, words, action so that the chitta gets purified. Who has to do this. Guru can show the way, method. Who has to follow this and work on himself.

Many people think that Guru will take care and just dont do any effort on their own. They are lazy. Guru is not like a washing machine where you can put dirty clothes and clothes will come out clean. He can show the way of life, living. He can tell about Truth. Who has to implement the Truth.

Individual effort is to clean himself, to lead a life of spirituality, to study scriptures, to follow the words, message of Guru and Scriptures. Instead many people start following Guru without working on them.

Grace :

Grace is result of Gratitude. It is result of your right way of living, it is a result of your Chitta Shuddhi. Grace is always there. Most of the people are not able to receive it since they dont lead a life of gratitude, of simplicity.

What should be my resolutions ?

It is you who have to decide. You have made the resolutions. In a traditional sense, resolutions are not made. It is discussed and given by Guru.

Typically you start with very few resolutions and work on that.

Like anything in life we have three options. a). I will find my way. b). I will seek help of others to find my way. c). I will work under the guidance of someone to find my way. You need to decide which is your way.