An Acharya is one who makes one adopt 'Aachar' (manners), etiquette. One who gives great conduct in life. One whose company gives one the colour of devotion, the colour of yoga. Under whose influence a person becomes ready to deal with the Mahamaya (illusion) of the world. One who creates the ability in a person to rise above quarrels, pain and suffering is a Guru. Another definition of Guru has been given- 'One who creates special in the intellect is a Guru.'

Wise saints have been called Acharyas. A very beautiful definition of Guru has been given in Vayu Purana- 'One who gives us wisdom and opens our eyes. One who teaches us to live in the world, to transcend the world. One who gives us a pure intellect is an Acharya.' Vyas defined an Acharya as- 'One who delivers the great texts of knowledge like Shastras, Vedas etc. with their complete meaning to the people, to the disciples in such a way that they become capable of choosing knowledge, become capable of accepting knowledge, knowledge comes into life. Knowledge starts generating experiences in the life of the person. The one who provides such power is the Acharya, the Guru.

The Acharya is the one who makes one adopt 'Aachar' (conduct), politeness. The one who gives great conduct in life. The one whose company gives the colour of devotion, the colour of yoga. Under whose influence a person becomes ready to deal with the great illusion of the world. The one who creates the ability to rise above quarrels, pain and suffering in a person is the Guru. Another definition of Guru has been given- 'The one who creates something special in the intellect is the Guru.' One intellect desires wealth. One intellect desires lust, one intellect is engaged in cheating others, one intellect is interested in quarrels, one intellect thinks only about its own good. But the one who provides good sense to all these intellects is called the Acharya. The person should do good for himself as well as the world. The person should become the one who saves not only his seven generations but twenty-one generations. The one who provides such power is the Acharya, the Guru.' That is why the Guru has great importance.

Going in the proximity of a Guru brings strength. The direction of life changes. That is why it is said that it is very important to make someone a Guru in life. A Guru is one who is devoted to Brahman, immersed in God. One who does not teach you to run away from the world, but teaches you to wake up in the world. What does this mean? This has been explained beautifully in the Chandogya Upanishad.

There is a story in the Chandogya Upanishad- Thieves robbed a rich man, snatched his goods, and threw him in a lonely place in the forest. They blindfolded him and tied his hands and feet. The thieves tied him to a tree and left. That rich man does not know where he is. The sad thing is that he has lost everything. The big problem is that death is standing on the head. The future seems dark. Suddenly, seeing his pitiable condition, hearing his agonized voice, a wise and knowledgeable person appeared. He said- 'Don't worry! I am with you.' The blindfold was opened. He started saying- 'You have freed me from here, but I don't even know where to go? Where is my abode? Where is my home? Where should I go?' That wise man said that this is the way to cross this forest. After this, there will be a village, then another village, then a city. After reaching there, you can reach your home by asking people. Later that person reached his home and he did not face any problem.

After writing so much, the sage of Upanishad explained that after opening it, after explaining, that person really reached his home and he did not face any problem. The sage says that in reality this incident happens with all of us. The abode of the Supreme Soul, Sachchidananda, was our abode. The smugglers of sensual desires picked us up and threw us in this world and tied our hands and feet. The eyes of wisdom are tied with chains. We are lying in the deep forest of this world, suffering not for one life but for many lives. There is no one who can open the blindfold of our eyes. Show us the path by which we can reach a wise Guru. That Guru can show us the way to end the pain of many lives and show us the right path to reach his abode. The one who shows us the way to cross the ocean of existence is called Guru. Man always needs a Guru. Man always strives to attain Guru.

The Guru first opens the blindfold of your eyes. Then he gives you the knowledge of yours and others, good company and bad company. The Guru gives the message to move from darkness to light. That is why Guru is very important in life.

You may or may not ask anything from God but do ask for one thing. Tell God- 'O God! You may wish to reduce a little from the worldly resources, wealth and materials that you have given me, but never reduce your faith, devotion and love. Fill my bag with love and devotion, so that my attention remains always on your feet.' If there is faith and devotion, then the person will continuously keep moving towards God. If a person devoid of faith, he cannot even serve his parents. Serving God is a matter for the future. Therefore, the Guru gives discipline, awakens the person, removes the blindfold from his eyes. The Guru also opens the bonds of man. He tries to free the man from all the places where he is bound.