Amrit Chintan: Guru — The Best of Givers
To the world God speaks only through His enlightened devotees. Therefore, the wisest of all actions is to tune in with the will of the guru who is sent to you by the Lord as a response to your soul's desire. He is not a guru who is self-proclaimed as such; he is a guru who is asked by God to bring others back to Him. When there is a little spiritual desire, the Lord sends books and teachers to further inspire you; and when your desire is stronger, he sends a real guru.
There are teachers who expect their followers to be always at their beck and call, ready to obey instantly; and if they don't, the teacher becomes angry. But a spiritual teacher who knows God and is truly a guru never thinks of himself as a teacher at all. He beholds God's presence in everyone, and feels no resentment if some students disregard his wishes. The Hindu scriptures say that those who tune in with the wisdom of a true guru make it possible for the guru to help them: "Comprehending that (the wisdom from a guru), thou, O Arjuna! wilt not again fall into delusion."
The friendship that exists between guru and disciple is eternal. There is complete surrender; there is no compulsion, when a disciple accepts the guru's training.
— Paramahansa Yogananda
On the Auspicious 'Guru Poornima Parva' Akhand Jyoti – The Light Divine Team Salutes Its Teacher and Founder-Patron Poojya Gurudev Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya
"Avichara-krito Bandhah, Vicharena Nivartate — All bondage is due to wrong thinking. It can be removed by right thinking." — Tatva Bodham
"Tathatma-jnana-hinatma Kalo Jnasyana Labhyate — Thus to the Man-of-Wisdom, there is no time when He is not aware of the Self-in-Him." — Yoga-Vasishtha
"Tat Doore, Tat-u-Antike — It is distant and it is near. This alone can be the definition of the All-Pervading Atman." — Isavasya Upanishad-5