The Guru is needed to ignite the spark of aspiration. Generally, the spark is lit by the mantra given by the guru during initiation. Once the spark is kindled, it is the disciple who has to tend the fire, help it grow through meditation, consecration, devotion, and ensure that the fire does not get buried under the clouds of doubt and the smoke of desires and ambition. During this phase, the Guru intervenes from time to time especially during critical phases to steer the boat and set the compass right. After a while, the flame of aspiration joins the individual to the Divine. Then nothing is needed. The Divine then takes up the yoga and there is a rapidly growing union with the Divine which is ultimately the very object of yoga.
Now none of these things except the first point of contact and initiation requires a living guru. In Sri Aurobindo’s Yoga this initiation is done through the ‘Call for the Yoga’. It bypasses the outer physical contact. The Divine within us opens the inner door when the soul is ripe and ready and then spontaneously, from within, the psychic fire is lit and the connection made. Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are able to do this because of their immense realisation and powers that developed in them through the complete identity with the Divine. Therefore they can, like the Divine Himself influence and act upon things, people (disciples as well as non-disciples), seekers, believers and non-believers alike, on the world situations and circumstances directly without need of their direct physical intervention. This is unprecedented and is possible only because of their total identification with the Supramental Creator. There are countless examples of this silent mode of working that they have released for the first time upon earth. They not only said that but many bear a living evidence to this, then as well as now.
If anything that can limit their action, it is not their physical presence or absence, but our faith or the lack of it. By believing that the Divine can act only through the medium of a living guru we limit the action of the Divine. In fact the Avatars have always worked like that. More often than not, their action begins in a large scale massive way after they have left their physical body. Lord Rama, Sri Krishna, Buddha’s action is a testimony to this. Sri Aurobindo’s action is along similar lines though with a much greater intensity and force due to the supramental manifestation that they initiated.
This yoga therefore has always been independent of the physical presence of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.
By assuming a human body, they initiated humanity into this new adventure and not just a few disciples. Some are ready and hear the call and set their feet upon the Path. Others are getting ready and though they have not yet heard the call and heeded it are yet drawn. Still others are asleep, awaiting their wake-up moment.
In short, the rules of the game do not quite apply to the Divine, even when He assumes a human body. He comes to change the Law so that more and more souls can enter into the Light with greater ease. In Sri Aurobindo’s and the Mother’s personal yoga too, it is not so much any human Guru but Sri Krishna who guided them until they recovered their utter identity as the Divine. The same applies now with their disciples as well.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
