1. In His 1956 Divine Guru Poornima Discourse, Swami simplifies the meaning of ‘Guru’: “The Guru is called so because the letter ‘Gu’ signifies Gunaatheetha - one who has transcended the three gunas (qualities) - the Thaamasik, the Raajasik and even the Saathwik (ignorant, passionate and virtuous); and the letter ‘Ru’ signifies one who is Roopa Varjitha (one who has grasped the formless aspect of God-head)…The ‘Guru’ destroys the illusion and sheds light; his presence is cool and comforting. That is why this day, a Pournami (Full Moon day), is allotted for paying due honour to the Guru. Moreover, the Moon is the presiding deity of the mind and Pournami is the day on which the mind has become fully beneficent. Of course, you must know what you have lost, so that you may start on the search to recover it!”

According to Swami, what have we lost that the Guru helps us find?

A. Learning to control the mind.
B. Our real name.
C. Our relationship with God.
D. The Divinity in all of His Creation.

2. In His 1985, Divine Guru Poornima Discourse, Swami enlightens us with a story on how earning the Guru's grace can redeem our life. “When you are given some work, you should put your heart and soul into it, and do the work with the utmost sincerity and dedication, to the limit of your capacity. Here is an example of this:

Sri Sankaracharya had a number of disciples, of whom 13 were considered important. Of these, four were the closest to the Master. They were Hasthimalika, Thotaka, Suresha and Padmapada. The first three chose to study the scriptures under their Guru, but the last one said that he would be most happy just serving the Guru. Sankara asked him what service he wanted to perform. The disciple replied that he wanted to wash the Guru's clothes and have them ready for the Guru each day. The other three would ridicule him for choosing only service to the Guru, while they were learning the great scriptures, but the fourth disciple was not at all bothered by that. Every day he used to take the Guru's clothes to the middle of the river so that they could be washed in the purest water available. One day there was a flood and he was caught in the middle of the river. He was not worried about losing his life, but he was greatly concerned about getting the clothes to the Guru, in time. He began rushing across the river, which was now in spate.”

What happened whenever Padmapada placed his foot in the river to cross over to get to his Guru?

A. A stone lotus sprang up.
B. An alligator popped up and helped him across.
C. Bold fishermen kindly gave him a ride.
D. The waters receded at each step until he reached ashore.

3. In His 1964 Divine Guru Poornima Discourse, Swami reassures us: “Once you have secured a Guru, leave everything to him, even the desire to achieve liberation. He knows you more than you yourself ever can. He will direct you as much as is good for you. Your duty is only to obey and to smother the tendency to drift away from Him. You may ask how are we to earn our food, if we attach ourselves to a Guru like this. Be convinced that the Lord will not let you starve; He will give you not merely money but even Amirtha, not only food, but the nectar of immortality. Become immersed in the sweetness of the Name on your tongue.”

According to Swami what is more important then getting a Name for repetition from a Guru?

A. Serving him daily .
B. Assisting him in spreading his teachings.
C. Learning a new dictum everyday .
D. Observing his commands.

4. In His 1980 Divine Guru Poornima Discourse, Swami clarifies: “Some Gurus initiate the pupil into a manthra (mystic formula) and advise repetition of the same. But, they do not emphasize the innate Divine Reality of the pupil which they cannot ignore even for a moment, nor do they insist on the moral regeneration, so necessary for clarifying his inner faculties.

The manthra-granting Guru is the Dheeksha Guru (initiating preceptor); the personality recasting Guru is the Shiksha Guru (guiding preceptor). It is this latter Guru that is reverentially praised in thousands of ways in the holy texts. He removes the faults in vision and destroys the darkness of ignorance. He reveals the Aathma to the individual and makes him free. Guru Poornima is dedicated to such Gurus.”

Then, according to Swami, who is the Guru of the Gurus?

A. The manthra granting Guru.
B. The God within.
C. The Personality recasting Guru.
D. The Wise preceptor.

5. In His Divine 1992 Guru Poornima Discourse, Swami poses the stark reality of the difference between a real Guru and a fake one: “Among mankind today there is great need for the Guru. Who is a true Guru? What is the truth underlying the Guru principle? Is he the one that teaches worldly education? Is the one who explores the properties of matter, a Guru? Is the one who describes in detail Natural Sciences, a Guru? No, they are only __________.

A true Guru is the embodiment of Brahmaananda (transcendental bliss). Who is this Brahmaananda? Where does he exist? When we enquire on these lines, we find that there is nothing comparable to it in the Universe. All the joys of the world are immanent in Brahmaananda (transcendental divine bliss).”

According to Swami, who are they then?

A. Imposters
B. Preceptors
C. Teachers
D. Spiritual guides

6. Expanding on that Supreme Bliss, in His 1985, Divine Guru Poornima Discourse, Swami reveals to us the secret behind achieving that state of Supreme Bliss which a true Guru attains: “The real Guru is ever in the consciousness of Brahmaananda (Supremest Ananda). Such a one is the Guru to be sought. The world, the cosmos, every particle, is Ananda itself but being ever in it, with it, of it and for it, man is unable to be It, on account of the darkness that misleads him and deludes him.”

According to Swami, how can man attain that level of Supreme Ananda?

A. By getting rid of obstacles that deny this experience.
B. By meditating along with the Guru .
C. By reading books written by the Guru.
D. By singing God’s Glories along with the Guru.

7. In His Divine, 1989 Guru Poornima Discourse, Swami reveals to us the origin of Guru Poornima celebrations: “Today is Vyasapurnima day. Vyasa was a great rishi. He is described as an incarnation of Lord Narayana. He set down in writing the Vedas which previously were known only in the form of sound. He was the great-grandson of Arundhati (the wife of Vasishta). He codified the Vedas. As he was born on the full moon day in the month of Aashada, this day is celebrated as Vyasapurnima. Vyasa glorified the Divinity that is equally present in all human beings and propagated this truth to the world. After writing the 18 puranas, he summed up their message in one line.”

According to Swami, what is that one line message that Sage Vyasa proclaimed?

A. Love All, Serve All.
B. Help Ever, Hurt Never.
C. Love is God, God is Love; Live in Love.
D. To Know God is to become God.

8. In His 1984 Divine Guru Poornima Discourse, Swami very beautifully illustrates the ideal Guru-disciple relationship: “Who is fit to be a Guru and who is fit to be a shishya (disciple)? If we examine the Geetha, we will know whether we are the ideal shishyas (disciples) or not.

In the Bhagavath Geetha, the shishya is Narotthama (the highest among men), the Guru is Purushothama (the Supreme Person); the shishya is a Mahaathma (high-souled), the Guru is Paramaathma (the Over-soul); the shishya is Aadarsha-muurthi (an ideal person), the Guru is an Avathaara-muurthi (incarnation of the Divine); the shishya is a Paathradhaara (an actor), the Guru is Suuthradhaara (the director of the play); the shishya is a Dhanurdhara (wielder of the bow), the Guru is Yogeshwara (the Lord of Yoga). It is this type of Guru-Shishya relationship which illustrates the ideal combination.”

According to Swami, what is an essential quality in a Guru-disciple relationship?

A. Both should be eager to teach/learn.
B. Commitment of time between both.
C. Freedom from attachment with each other.
D. Freedom from envy .

9. In His 1986 Divine Guru Poornima Discourse, Swami teaches in depth on the eight different types of Gurus and their functions: “There are eight types of Gurus: Bodha Guru; Veda Guru; Nishiddha Guru; Kaamya Guru; Vaachaka Guru; Soochaka Guru; Kaarana Guru; and Vihita Guru.

1] Bodha Guru teaches the Sastras and encourages the pupil to act up to sastraic injunctions.
2] The Veda Guru imparts the inner meaning of the Vedas, establishes the pupil in spiritual truths and turns his mind towards God.
3] The Nishiddha Guru imparts knowledge about rites and duties and shows how one's welfare here and in the hereafter, can be ensured.
4] The Kaamya Guru makes one engage himself in meritorious deeds to secure happiness in both the worlds.
5] The Vaachaka Guru imparts knowledge of Yoga and prepares the disciple for the spiritual life.
6] The Soochaka Guru teaches how the senses are to be controlled through various types of discipline.
7] The Kaarana Guru reveals the unity of the jivi and the Atma.
8] The Vihita Guru clears all doubts, purifies the mind and shows how Self-realization can be attained.

According to Swami, from the last four Gurus, who is the foremost?

A. Vaachaka Guru
B. Soochaka Guru
C. Kaarana Guru
D. Vihita Guru

10. In His Divine 1986 Guru Poornima Discourse, Swami blesses us with the Ultimate Mantra! “On this Guru Poornima day I do not intend to give you any Ashtakshari (eight-letter) or Panchaakshari (five-letter) mantra based on any particular deity's name. Nor am I enjoining you to study any Upanishad, or the Gita or the Brahma Sutras. There is a simple five-letter pronouncement.”

What is this five-letter pronouncement/mantra?

A. God is.
B. I am He (So Hum).
C. Sai Om.
D. Peace.

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-Heart2Heart Team