Guru Purnima, Honoring Our Teachers, and Renewing the Spirit Within (John Friend, July 2001 blog entry)
The most holy day this month, and for many yogis the holiest day of the year, is Guru Purnima on Sunday. This is the day that is dedicated to the Guru, both in the physical form and in the subtle form of the principle of divine Grace. The Guru is that power of Supreme Light that guides us out of our darkness and unconditionally helps us awaken to our divine nature. Simply out of an overflowing love, the Guru helps to liberate us from our imprisoning ideas that we are less than whole or perfect. In a physical form, the Sadguru (the True Teacher) is one who has traveled the path of remembrance back to her heart, and who then returns to this world to help her disciples walk that same path back home with courage and joy. As a principle, the Guru is anything that serves as a doorway to the world of divine love. The outer Guru guides us to find the inner Guru, the source of true knowledge, power and beauty, in our heart.
�Guru Purnima, the celebration of all celebrations, is the day devoted exclusively to the Guru. All days and nights are nothing but the pulsation of the Guru�s Shakti. And yet, Guru Purnima is that day and night when even the moon reveals its full luster, when all days and nights have reached their culmination and are in suspension, awaiting a glimpse of their own Master.� - Gurumayi
The full moon in July, (the Guru Purnima moon) is the brightest, most lustrous moon of the year. It is considered the most perfect moon of the year, hence the name purnima (full, whole, complete, abundant, perfect). Like the light of the Guru principle, its light is inexhaustible. The Guru pours her splendid light upon us like a tidal wave of Grace, yet is never diminished.
The extraordinary brilliance of the July moon derives from the perfect alignment of the earth, moon and sun. So, the Guru Purnima moon symbolizes the teacher’s perfect alignment with the Universal Source. On this day we honor spiritual teachers of all traditions. Light a candle on your altar for someone who has offered you a taste of your beauty and pure goodness. Offer your heart to that special friend who, without wanting anything in return, has given you a glimpse of your true nature. Also on this day, remember that when we honor the deepest part of our heart, we are honoring the True Teacher inside.
The Guru Purnima moon also can represent the resplendent beauty of the true disciple, who so perfectly aligns with the Guru (the sun) that he reflects the teacher’s glorious light in all its magnificence. Also remember, even if it is cloudy on the 5th, and you can,t see the moon, know that its light in all its fullness is ever pouring blessings down upon you.
The function of the Guru’s boundless Grace is to help us get a direct experience of our own divine worth and power. The culmination of all the blessings that the Guru bestows to us is Ultimate freedom.
The Full Moon represents enlightenment, which is the full flowering of consciousness. On the Vedic calendar, Guru Purnima is the Full Moon that falls near the summer solstice, the month of greatest light. This Full Moon is important because it is the time when all divine teachers shower blessings on the earth providing increased energy for our spiritual awakening.