Small Favorites
The Guru
Sri Ramakrishna used to say: 'Gurus can be had by the thousands, but rare is a disciple.' There are plenty of people to give advice, but how many are there to listen to it? If a man has faith in the words of his guru and follows them, then all his doubts and troubles vanish. If a man has faith in the words of his guru, God will meet all his wants. Holding him by the hand, He will lead him on the right path - Swami Brahmananda
As you go on calling on Him and weeping for Him, all the dirt in your mind will be washed away, and it will become purified. Then, that pure mind itself will act as guru to you. You will get all the answers from within yourself to all the questions that you may have about what you need at a particular time, how you should meditate, how you should call on Him, and all such things - Swami Shivananda
The Lord, the creator, is alone the true guru and he is the goal - Swami Premananda
Only those who have realized the truth can speak with authority. Otherwise it is the blind leading the blind. Both come to grief; both fall into the ditch. Only the true Guru can lead us right, and the true Guru is he who knows Brahman - Swami Turiyananda
Keep on praying to God with your whole heart; if the need arises for you to have a Guru, God will send somebody for you who will be just the man you want - Swami Trigunatitananda
You may call on either (the guru or the Chosen Ideal); it is the same. The guru and the Chosen Ideal are the same...Have faith in your guru. Be loyal to him, even like a cow that never leaves its master, whether it is fed or not. Say, "I am your servant and you are my Master." Swami Adbhutananda
The first personal pronoun is at the root of all our miseries. Hence our primary duty should be to get rid of it somehow or other. This can be done by the service of the great, by good works without caring for results, by concentration or discrimination. The first is the easiest and the best. If you can place yourself at the feet of a true Teacher, your egotism will gradually wear away by that very attitude of yours of a servant - Swami Ramakrishnananda
Nothing can sever the spiritual relationship between the guru and the disciple. It is something eternal. But the disciple must listen to the words of the teacher and carry out his instructions. If any impediment arises, the guru comes forward and removes it. Success depends on the sincerity and effort on the part of the disciple - Swami Saradananda
------------------------------
WHAT THE DISCIPLES SAID ABOUT IT, Edith Tipple, pgs. 211-219.
From http://www.vedantasociety-chicago.org/thought.htm