Inquiry-Based Learning from Guru

A concise summary of Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 2 Chapter 8

Emperor Parikshit intelligently inquires from his Guru, Sage Sukha for the systematic and methodical understanding of the body, soul, and the Super Soul. Lord Krishna advises in Bhagavad Gita that a disciple in a humble state of mind should fully inquire from his Guru until his heart is satisfied with the responses. Such behavior encourages the Guru to share the rightful application of the knowledge in scriptures and his personal experience in self-realization.

A Guru is the one who has realized the knowledge of the body, the soul, and the Super Soul through the knowledge of the scriptures and has put that knowledge in practice in his own life. A self-realized Guru is compassionate towards the other human beings who are disturbed by the mind, body, and circumstances. So, he goes out on a mission to teach the knowledge of the scriptures and his experience by tailoring the message according to the audience to alleviate their suffering.

A disciple should corroborate the guru’s message with the scripture, character, and the message of the other saintly persons to ensure he is receiving the unadulterated and comprehensive knowledge. A Guru should also encourage his disciples to become Guru’s as they progress. A disciple will gradually become a Guru by:

1. Humbly serving his Guru who is a representative of the Supreme Lord

2. Become well-versed in scriptures

3. Regularly practices meditation on the Super Soul

4. Shares the knowledge of the Supreme Lord as it is available in the scriptures

5. Developing a love for the Supreme Lord

A disciple should not become a Guru to gain disciples, fame, and recognition. When a disciple starts experiencing the sweetness of the Supreme Lord, he never feels exhausted while executing the above five activities.

The Supreme Lord is the original Guru, and a person who has received the spiritual knowledge through the line of self-realized beings until the present day starting from the Lord is able to provide unadulterated knowledge. For example, the spiritual knowledge was passed down from the Supreme Lord, Hari to Sage Sukha via Lord Brahma, Sage Narada, Srila Vyasadeva. It is said that one who receives the unadulterated spiritual knowledge will benefit from Super Soul manifesting in his heart within a short period of time. Then he surrenders to the Super Soul and develops love for the Lord.

Parikshit asks the following questions to Sage Sukha for the benefit of mankind:

• Is there a cause such as Karma that makes the spirit soul to take up the material body?

• The Supreme Person from whom Lord Brahma was born is described as having the same form and the same number of limbs as a human being. If that is the case, what is the difference between the Supreme Person and a human being?

• Where does the Supreme Person who indwells in all of us as the Super Soul resides eternally? Does that place transcend matter?

• I heard from you earlier that all the various planets, gods, and presiding deities are a part of the Universal Form of the Supreme Lord. Please explain to me their position in relation to the Supreme Person.

• What is the duration of one day of Lord Brahma in human years? How is the Time measured?

• What is the significance of past, present, and future in relation to Time?

• What is the span of life of human beings and gods?

• What are the places where one’s Karma leads to them in their next life?

• Can a human being attain the status of gods in heaven? Can a human being also attain animal life in his next birth?

• What is the origin of the Earth, the nether regions of the Universe, the planets, stars, Sun and Moon?

• What are the dimensions of each Universe?

• What are the different classes of society and stages of life?

• What is the recommended spiritual practice for each Yuga?

• What are the incomprehensible incarnations of the Supreme Lord?

• What is the course of duties common to men? What are the special duties of the sages?

• What are the methods of worshipping the Supreme Person?

• What is the method of practicing Yoga to realize the Supreme Person?

• What are the fundamental principles of creation?

• What is the nature of the Vedas and Dharma?

• What siddhis (yogic powers) past self-realized souls developed?

• How can one become free of mind and false ego?

• How does the soul become free from the bondage and attains its real spiritual nature and form?

• How do living beings come into this world?

• How does the Supreme Lord perform his lilas (activities) in this world without coming under the influence of matter and karma?

The emperor puts forward these questions to Sage Sukha because the sage possesses all the qualifications required for being a Guru. He is confident that he will get the complete knowledge that he is looking for from the sage.