Sant Kabirdas says: If the whole Earth is transformed into paper with all the big trees of the forest made into pens; if the entire water in the seven oceans is transformed into writing ink; if for eternity I was to write the glory of the Guru, it would not be enough! Such is the greatness of the Guru.

Sab dharti kagaz karu, lekhni sab vanray,

saat samundra ki masi karu, Guru gun likha na jaye.

The special day of Guru Purnima or Vyasa Purnima is a day to express our gratitude, feelings of devotion, appreciation, and recognition for all that we have gained from our various teachers. In our culture, our parents are our first Gurus. Then, those who taught us in school from the first alphabet in kindergarten to all our numerous teachers, be it in the field of music, dance, business management or in any profession – all represent our Gurus. What have we been able to do on our own?

Of all the knowledge in the universe, it is the spiritual knowledge that reveals to us our own Self – to be one with the Infinite and liberates us from all limitations, bondage and suffering. This is the greatest knowledge. We can never say enough about it and about the Guru who reveals to us this supreme Truth!

This knowledge was given at the beginning of creation in the Veda. It was Shri Veda Vyasa who gathered all the scattered mantras of the Veda and compiled them into four volumes and that is why his very name is Shri Veda Vyasa. Vyasa is one who edits, one who compiles. Vyasa also means a diameter. Just as a circle does not have a beginning or an end, knowledge of the Truth does not have a beginning or an end. Knowledge of the Infinite itself does not have a limit. Still, one who can measure the breadth of that knowledge, one who can connect every point in that circle is called Vyasa. Also, Vyasa means one who does not sit. He did not sit or take rest but worked with extraordinary dynamism to ensure the survival of this knowledge that would build a culture of dharma and spirituality – for the next yuga.

Therefore, this day, Shri Vyasa Purnima or Jayanti is considered to be Teachers Day. We remember our entire Guru parampara that starts from the Lord Himself, from Ishvara Himself. It is said that Shri Veda Vyasa is an avatar of Lord Narayana and Shri Adi Shankaracharya is the incarnation of Lord Shankara. Veda Vyasa compiled the Vedas, Shri Adi Shankaracharya wrote the commentary on the Upanishads; Shri Veda Vyasa composed the Mahabharata in which we find the jewel, the Bhagavad Gita, Shri Adi Shankara wrote a commentary on it; Shri Veda Vyasa connected all the points in the Brahma Sutra, Shri Adi Shankaracharya wrote the bhashya, the commentary, on it, to make it clear.

At the same time, Bhagavan Adi Shankara spread the knowledge of the Veda with missionary zeal so that we could return to our Vedic culture with complete clarity and understand the comprehensive significance of the spiritual path, the place of rituals, the different practices and how to do them in a manner that we re-establish Vedic culture. This is the love of the great Masters, the great Gurus.

The crucial point is that inculcating the requisite qualities, gaining and spreading this knowledge, gives us not just temporary pleasures – but absolute Bliss. Our offering to the lotus feet of our Teachers is to treasure what they have taught us and make our own lives pure and noble. Even if we follow and live just one teaching of the Guru, which was given to us with love and supreme kripa, compassion, our life will not only be enriched, but we will be able to enrich the lives of many.

The writer is Global Head, Chinmaya Mission. Today is Vyasa Purnima.