Sadhaka : What is the importance of a guru for an aspirant treading the spiritual path? Is it absolutely necessary to have a guru?

Gurudev : You need a burning candle to light a candle. Even so an illumined soul alone can enlighten another soul. A spiritual preceptor or guru is necessary for aspirants. When difficulty arises even in the case of finding the way in streets and roads what to speak of the difficulties in the razor-path of spirituality. When one walks alone with closed eyes! In the case of the spiritual path, it is difficult to find your way; the help of the teacher is necessary at every moment. The mind will mislead you often. The guru will be able to remove pitfalls and obstacles, and lead you along the right path. Association with the guru is an armor and fortress to guard you against all temptations and unfavourable forces of the material world. Every aspirant on the spiritual path must live under a guru for eradication of his evil qualities and defects.

The nature of egoism is such that you will not able to find out your own defects. It is only the guru who will find out your defects. He shows the right path. A guru is absolutely necessary for every aspirant in the spiritual path.

Grace of God takes the form of the guru. The guru is God himself manifesting in personal form to guide the aspirant. Man can learn from man only, and hence, God teaches through a human body. The guru is united with God. He has free and unhampered access into both the realms. The guru is verily a link between the individual and the Immortal. He purifies all. He tears your veil of ignorance.