Questions and answers

Question: Why do you say that the Guru is the disciple's best friend?

Sri Chinmoy: The Guru is your best friend on the strength of his conscious and constant confidence in you. Even you are not your best friend, because at this moment you may think that you will become something very great and very good — a perfect instrument of the Supreme. But the next moment you may think that this is simply impossible; but you can be the best instrument of the hostile forces. You can cherish that kind of thinking.

But the Master will always consciously and constantly have confidence in you because he knows that you are representing the Supreme, you are part and parcel of the Supreme. The Guru has the same job that you are doing, but he is doing it better than you because he is already conscious of the truth that you are a portion of the Supreme. You are not conscious of who you are. That is why at times you may do something totally wrong, undivine. But the Guru knows that the ultimate Goal, which he has realised, is your ultimate Goal.

In the spiritual life I am a better swimmer than you are. I swam much faster than you, and I reached the opposite shore. Now I have turned around, and I am seeing that you are also swimming toward the self-same shore, the Golden Shore of the Beyond. I will definitely have confidence in you, because I know that it is possible to reach the destination. In your case it is only a matter of time. You will take a few years or a few centuries more than I did.

We can be best friends because your goal and my goal are the same. The Guru has reached the goal, and he is now going back to help those who are trying to reach the same goal. He who is behind, he who has not yet reached the goal, will be able to have confidence in someone who has gone ahead of him and reached the goal. He will feel that since that person has already reached the goal, it is only a matter of time before he can also reach it.

But I also say that my disciples should feel that I am their only friend. Why? Because I will not tempt you or deceive you or fool you in any way to delay your progress. An earthly guide or mentor, out of jealousy or by becoming a victim to wrong forces, may not help you to run the fastest towards your goal, which he has already attained. Your earthly friends may help you ten times, twenty times, a hundred times. But when human jealousy enters into them, they will tell you something wrong, and try to convince you that this is the way to go the fastest. But they know in the heart of their hearts that they are actually taking you a bit farther; they are showing you some side streets which you have not seen, and which you do not need to see in order to reach your goal. They are wasting your time. But your Guru will not do that. He knows the fastest way, and he will try to take you the fastest way.

A true Guru will show you the way, and will also give you the capacity to reach the destination that he has reached. Others you may call your friends, but once they misguide you or tempt you or delay your progress, then you will see what kind of friendship they have. The Guru is your only true friend, because he will not even unconsciously instigate you to do something which will delay your progress. If one does that, then he cannot be your real friend. The only friend is the one who will eternally remind you of your ultimate Goal and, at the same time, help you to reach that Goal.