07 Sep 2009 New York, United States of America
Category: Guru
Some interesting topic came up when we were talking. I am often asked what the meaning of my name is, what swami actually means and what the word Guru means. I have talked a lot about the meaning of the word guru already and wrote much in my diary, too. Sometimes when I say to people that I am not a guru, they do not try to understand me but think or say ‘Swami and guru, that is the same thing! It doesn’t matter!’ But it does. On the surface it may seem the same kind of word but it is not.
The meaning of these two words is different from each other. Guru means teacher. In any field. It would not be wrong if you said guru to your math teacher. But it can be wrong to say ‘swami’ to your math teacher.
I was then asked what the real meaning of ‘swami’ is. I said swami basically means owner. Anybody can be a swami, if he owns himself. That is what I always say. You should not be a follower, you should become Swami, you own yourself. Why does somebody else own you? If you become a follower, it means somebody owns you because that person can decide for you what you will do next. It is not you anymore. I would like to see that you are brave enough to take your own responsibility.
Ramona also looked the word ‘swami’ up on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami) and they write as a definition of Swami: "He who knows and is master of himself". And that is what I always say: you should become master of yourself, why should somebody else become your master and why would you need to be a follower?
Anybody can be a Swami. People see me and I look spiritual to them and that is how here, too, many people just say Swami to me without knowing me. But you cannot say Guru Ji to everybody. Guru is not a title, it is a relation like brother or father. Swami is a title for a spiritual person, like you would say Mister to someone else. This is the difference in the words Swami and Guru. For me it doesn’t matter, many people call me Balendu, too, and I love it. Others call me Swami Balendu since long time and I don’t really care about it, either. I have not changed this but the image of the guru I have left behind. Why would a title matter? It is just the love with which someone talks to me, no matter if he addresses me with my first name or the title ‘swami’. So call me as you want but please call me with love.
Tags:: Followers, Guru, Relationships, Teachers
7 Comments
Posted By Swami Balendu
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Thank you for explaining this difference so well! I didn't know if they were the same or different but now I do. I think it is very interesting that you say anybody can be a swami. I really hope that I too can be a Swami and be in control of myself and my future.
Reply By Alex on April 29, 2012 09:58
I thought they were the same thing too. Always wondered why you were called swami.
Reply By Hilary on January 27, 2011 12:51
What a beautiful picture of this special child... I love it. Love, Lisa
Reply By Lisa Mykerinos on July 22, 2010 08:01
Today was the last day of the school year 11/12. The children got their report cards, the olde...
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SourceWhen you meet someone, don't expect you to be 'best friends forever'. Just be happy to meet. Simply enjoy how nice the moment is without planning the future.
SourceIf a player only enjoyed playing if he won the match, he would not be very happy in his profession. Don’t let your mind stop you from enjoying as much you can!
SourceHuman is just a puppet in a big play. You think you are in charge but there is something bigger than you. Nature, god, the universe, however you want to call it. Even if you know your body, you don’t have full control over it. Nobody knows when, what can happen. Nobody can predict anything.
SourceBe honest with your feelings. If the other one likes you or not, it is okay.
SourceThere is a thin line in between healthy pride and too much ego. Everybody needs some ego and everybody should be proud of himself. Without ego or pride you cannot survive. You cannot exist without ego because you need your ego to identify yourself.
SourceA bath in the Ganges will wash away your sins -how practical! No matter how many sins you do, just go and wash them all off!
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SourceCheating never works and never makes you happy. Talk with your partner about it instead. Show your husband or wife that you cherish the love in between you and that you won’t do this step that others have done in your situation.
SourceMany people in the ‘spiritual scene’ change very quickly and are not stable in their opinion because they are never sure but always in doubt.
SourceEverybody is spiritual in his own way. Even if you don’t go into a temple or church or are not sure about god, you are spiritual if you believe in love.
SourcePlease do not hurt others by saying what you do not mean! Don't think you can finish a relationships from one day to the other! It will not let you come to peace!
SourceBleach your face with ‘fair and lovely’ cream, get slim and tall with pills, make your vagina fair and tight – it is not this what makes you a beautiful woman!
SourceDon't like your job? - Change it or start liking it!
SourceHuman always wants to believe what is suitable and comfortable for them. It is easier to follow the scriptures blindly without looking left or right than trying to deal with difficult issues.
SourceSave your energy by not talking when it is not really necessary.
SourceCreate your perception with a free mind. Prejudiced ideas of other people's advices can prevent amazing experiences.
SourceEnd a friendship if it only exhausts you!
SourceSharing Happiness is more important than sharing Sadness.
SourceA general request to any religious person: let others believe what they want. If they don’t want to believe what you do, you can simply think that God wanted some non-believers on earth, too. Don’t fight and argue with them. If you are interested, listen to what they say. If you are not, just leave it.
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