A guru can be anything that brings us light and inspiration
Guru Purnima, “Full Moon of the Guru,” takes place this year in the Eastern US over July 2nd and 3rd. Why would you want to celebrate this annual holiday?
“Guru” is a term often misinterpreted in the West as meaning a specific person with highly developed spiritual knowledge. According to several yoga philosophies, the universe is made up of different elements, such as Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space - and Guru. Guru literally means “dispeller of darkness” or “remover of heaviness,” and this quality can be found in everything around us.
In fact, one of the most renowned gurus of the East, Dattatreya, said that he had 24 gurus of his own, including the Earth, which taught him forgiveness; Water, which taught him purity; a Child, who taught him carefree cheerfulness; and the Moon, which is always complete although Earth’s shadow may cause it to appear smaller at times.
As we get older, it is easy for us to become jaded and cynical, thinking we have seen it all and that life is a struggle. Guru Purnima is a day for us to reconnect with and honor all that brings us joy and real wisdom. You can do this more formally, with the mantra:
Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Gurudeva Maheshwara (“the guru is the creator, preserver, and transformative power”)
…or less formally, such as thanking any teacher, human or otherwise, that has brought light and levity into your life. Who will you thank today?
Interested in seeing the video from 2023’s event? Contact us for information!