How to identify a Guru?

The term "Guru" has evolved significantly, often losing its true essence in modern contexts such as software, management, and new-age spirituality. For genuine seekers, identifying and trusting a true

guru

is challenging amidst the noise of self-styled godmen who unfortunately present themselves as a guru.

Who is a Guru and how to identify one??
Being one of the modern-day contemporaries and a mystic dedicating his life to the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of humanity,

Sadhguru

provides a unique perspective about a guru.

He says, “a guru is the one who disturbs the fundamental aspects in you. He decimates all the conclusions you’ve drawn. He doesn’t allow you to sleep. He is not a solace peddler. He is there to assist you towards your liberation. If you’re seeking comfort and solace, do not bother about gurus. You can go to a cinema, eat some good food, visit a beach; that will help.”

In one of the interactions, a seeker asks Sadhguru how do I recognize my Guru. To this, Sadhguru responds, “You don’t look for a guru. You just deepen the longing in you. When you know the true pain of not knowing, a guru will happen, you don’t have to look. About how to recognize your guru? If you sit with him, everything in you should feel threatened and you want to run away but there is something that keeps you drawing to him. That’s when you know he’s your guru.”

“Gu” means darkness, and “Ru” means dispelling. Darkness means ignorance. The basis of our ignorance is we think we are the body, our ideas, our emotions, our thoughts. We get identified with anything and everything. That’s ignorance. True seekers pursue Truth, not mere solace or fulfillment of desires. They seek liberation from ignorance. The one who dispels this ignorance is a guru. A true guru offers more than just comfort or a temporary relief.
Adi Shankaracharya emphasized the lasting impact of true gurus by saying, “The Mango trees might be planted only by ten people; however, thousands enjoy the sweetness of the fruit for many generations to come.”

A guru raises human consciousness and fosters humanity. He is the one guiding you towards your realization. As Sadhguru puts it, “A Guru is not someone who holds the torch for you, he is the torch.”