The Guru Tradition

In this book, the natures and roles of both guru and disciple—as depicted in the Upani?ads and Dharma Sastras—are discussed and further developed into a paradigm by which to comprehend the ancient and modern expressions of the Guru Tradition. This study is conducted from the perspective of Advaita Vedanta, or nondualism. The Guru Tradition: India’s Spiritual Heritage discusses the natures and roles of both the guru and the si?ya, or disciple, as depicted in the Upani?ads and Dharma Sastras. The entirety of this analysis, of guru and disciple, is developed into a paradigm by which both the ancient and modern Guru Tradition can be more thoroughly understood. Four pivotal gurus from the twentieth century who have impacted the spiritual fabric of both East and West —Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Sri Aurobindo, Ramana Maharshi, and Paramahansa Yogananda— are juxtaposed and discussed alongside this paradigm. This study is conducted from the perspective of Advaita Vedanta, the Indian philosophical system of nondualism.