Guru Purnima

Guru Purnima is the day when you look back and see how far you have come on the path. It is the day to see how wisdom has transformed you – where you were and where you are, now. It is the day to see the changes that have happened in your life. It is the day to feel grateful for all that you have gained, and for all that you will gain. It is the day of remembrance of that, and the day to celebrate wisdom; celebrate the role of wisdom in one’s life. It is a celebration of infinity, love and knowledge..

- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Behind every event there is knowledge, behind every person there is love and beyond every object there is infinity.

What is the core of a person? It is love. Similarly, what is the core of an object? It is space. Every object has come into space, is in space and goes back into space. Similarly, every event has a cause and if you go deep into the cause, you will find knowledge there.

All celebrations on the planet are around a person or an event. Take Christmas for example, it is associated with the birth of Jesus. Purnima is a celebration attributed to just wisdom, love and infinity! Celebration happens when you realize how fortunate you are. We are all so fortunate that this precious knowledge has come to us.

A celebration revives emotions, rejuvenates the spirit, and reminds you of the knowledge. This is the purpose of a celebration. Though it is there all the time, an occasion like a festival is needed to bring it to the fore. You see, the ocean has water all the time, but when the full moon rises, the tide become higher. In the same way, a celebration reminds you that – you are the light, you are beautiful, loving and kind; it refreshes the knowledge and revives the emotions. Emotions need revival time and again, and that is what the celebration of Guru Purnima is about.

You are part of an ancient tradition that has been maintained for millions of years. You are a drop in the river of wisdom, and on Guru Purnima day, you remember this, you reflect and you rejuvenate yourself! All that it needs is just remembrance. And that brings the feeling of gratefulness.

Sometimes you have no choice whether to be a student or a Guru. I didn’t want to be a Guru but by default I am. If you keep teaching someone something, you become a Guru. You can deny it as much as you want, but you still remain a Guru because the Guru principle flows through you.