the need for a teacher
There is a verse in the Muṇdaka ūpaniṣad that describes our need of self- knowledge and tells us how to gain it:
परीक्ष्य लोकान् कर्मचितान् भामणो | निर्वेदमाय् आन्नास्त्यकृतः कृतेब | तद्विज्आन् आर्थं स गुरुमेवाभिगच्चेत् समित्पाणिः | श्रोत्रियं ब्रह्मनिष्ठम्
parīkṣya lokān karmacitān bhāmaṇo
nirvedamāy ānnāstyakṛataḥ kṛteba
tadvijān ārthaṁ sa gurumevābhigaccet
samitpāṇiḥ śrotriyaṁ brahmaniṣṭham
“”By analyzing the world experiences obtained through effort, a mature person earns dispassion, clearly distinguishes that what is not created (therefore limitless) cannot be produced by any action. To know That (what is non created or limitless), that person must call on a teacher, who is knowledgeable in the Scriptures and resolute/firm in self-knowledge“”
The teacher is necessary
As it it stated in this verse, tradition shows that a teacher is needed to gain this knowledge that is myself. This is compulsory, essential. This is how it works and there is no short-cut to avoid this. One must approach the qualified teacher who has the vision and knows how to handle the words and the teaching methodology so the student is able to understand and assimilate without any doubts. This cannot be accomplished by reading a book. There is teaching tradition and there is a valid prama̅ṇa (a means of knowledge) which needs to be operated by the teacher so it can create the jñana vṛttis in the student that destroys the ignorance.
Moreover, it is a special knowledge: the teaching is about one self, the subject. It is not about the knowledge of objects others than the subject or of matters others than us. It requires inner leisure and time to discover and recognize the facts about oneself.
Account to the teacher, inquisition
The method consists in exposing oneself to the teaching, and to listen(ṡravaṇam) to his words, analyze the meanings (mananam) and the possible defects, contemplate them (nididhya̅sanam) and resolve all doubts until it is crystal clear. Loads of listening, analysis and investigation are needed, questions and answers to eradicate doubts, and contemplation to assimilate the knowledge that is our own nature. It is not knowledge of any specific objet, but ourselves. The knowledge resolves in one self, the meaning is not separate from oneself, the meaning is you.
And all of it within a favorable lifestyle that conducive to learning, to the assimilation of knowledge, and which requires inner leisure, all found in the Vedic Culture, and defined by a life of yoga and dharma.
It is substantial therefore to find a teacher with a clear and settled vision and who knows this methodology. This is, again, essential. Some teachers may have the vision but lack the methodology to unfold the vision. Without the presence of a teacher it is highly recommended to have an appropriate material for studying such as audio and video. This is only temporal and a way to study on your own but we need a teacher anyway.
One of the universally recognized masters who can properly explain the Scriptures and who has a settled vision is, without any doubt, Swami Dayananda Saraswati.
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