How to Become a Guru

The word guru, meaning "teacher," comes from the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit. A guru is a spiritual master in Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism who is able to transmit the wisdom of spiritual study and meditation to others. Follow a few steps to become a guru so you can help others move towards spiritual enlightenment.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Survey the spiritual studies of Hinduism and Buddhism. Although many feel that a self-improvement book will do the trick, Buddhism and Hinduism are some of the oldest philosophical and spiritual systems in the world. You should know a bit about each system, and something about "sister" systems like Sikhism and Jainism, so you can take your first step in the right direction.

2. Study the Vedas. The Vedas are the nearly endless orthodox texts of Hinduism. The Vedas contain the first ideas about becoming a guru and many of the seeds of wisdom and teaching which led to the development of Buddhism and the advent of Eastern wise men and spiritual masters.

3. Decide to devote yourself to Hindu or Buddhist spiritual practice. As much as any other ancient religions, Hinduism and Buddhism prescribe ways of life which help a devotee get closer to a heightened spiritual state. Taking this step require lots of patience and devotion, so be sure of it before you take the plunge.

4. Find your own guru. Before you can become a guru, you need to be taught by a guru of your own. You can travel to distant locations like India or Nepal to seek out a native guru or you can contact a local Hindu, Buddhist or Hari Krishna cultural center to get information about finding a guru who can start you on the path to becoming a master.

5. Be prepared to test yourself. A devotee must pass rigorous spiritual tests before being considered a guru. The Maitrayaniya Upanishad, one of the sacred Vedic texts, speaks specifically about the need to test potential gurus for spiritual purity and devotion, so be prepared for a potentially long and difficult testing process before you become a guru.