Meditation and Yoga is always learnt under supervision of an expert. Expert essentially must know the ins and outs of the techniques.
Some of the paragraphs written by Guru, Swami Nityananda Giri Maharaj are as below –
The guru-disciple relationship is easily understood and accepted by truth seekers who are ready for the disciplined life that only allows the enlightenment experience. It would not be understood by the persons who are unwilling to enter into the way of discipline which is necessary if one has to experience the transformation.
True devotees on the spiritual path have no major questions about the guru-disciple relationship. Others who talk about it and analyse, may even attempt to dismiss its usefulness. Masters of Yoga have always taught that one should practice meditation as a personal and “secret” procedure. The reason is that, one who discusses the principles of the spiritual life usually depletes his forces, which could better be utilized in practice.
I will now explain what the true guru-disciple relationship is, so that anyone who is open to the way of liberation can clearly understand it.
The guru-disciple relationship is not a master-slave relationship, nor is it a relationship in which any domination or exploitation occurs. When the relationship is ideal, the person playing the role of the guru leads the seeker on the path to his own salvation. This is the major function of the guru: to show the disciple the way to God-realization.
The word guru is a Sanskrit term meaning, “that light which removes the darkness.” Therefore, the guru is a person who is enlightened and who is able to guide the seeker on the path to freedom, with a minimum of obstacles to overcome. The true guru is God, playing the role of guru. The true guru is not a personality, although illumined consciousness playing the role of guru usually expresses through a personality.
Many sincere students are fearful of the guru-disciple relationship because they are not sure they will be able to abide by the basic disciplines which will be advised. Some are fearful of the relationship because they internally know they will not be able to measure up to certain standards, or even because they are afraid of change. They know they should change, but they want to remain as they are because they have become comfortable in their present pattern of living. Some are obedient in the guru’s presence, but undisciplined in his absence. They forget that God is the true guru and that God is omnipresent and omniscient. New disciples sometimes make the mistake of believing that they can withdraw from their commitments when the challenge of the spiritual path becomes higher. They may withdraw, but the guru never ceases to pray for the welfare of the disciple. We may give up on God, but God never gives up on us.
The true guru is God, our own ‘Higher True Self’ no ‘Person’ is really a guru, but a qualified person can assume the role of guru in order to allow a connection with God for a seeker. A person why is known as a guru, and who is worthy of the name, plays the role only because of inner realization. Guruji would say, “I am not the guru. God is the guru; I am but His servant.” Yet, he played the role of guru to his disciples and he showed us the way to freedom in God. He once said, “If you will allow me, I will reveal God to you.”
Can any person reveal God to another unless that person knows God for himself? Any person who does not know God should not pretend to play the guru role. If he does, the relationship will not be worthwhile. God, as the illumined soul, the guru, instructs, encourages and shares a high quality of energy which awakens dormant energies in the disciple. This transmission of force from guru to disciple is known as shakti-path.
The guru’s responsibility, once he has accepted a disciple, is to continue to work with the disciple until final results are experienced. The disciple’s responsibility is to respect the guru, the teaching and himself. The disciple is to listen to the guru’s words, accept initiation into meditation processes, and live an ideal life to the best of his ability. God never asks us to do the impossible, only that we do our best. In any personal relationship, and especially in the guru-disciple relationship, there must be total respect and complete trust if the relationship is to be healthy and rewarding. The guru’s word in matters relating to spiritual unfoldment is infallible, because he sees more clearly than that does the disciple. The guru not only knows the way to Self-realization but he can often see, when the disciple cannot, defects in the character and behaviour which should be removed from the disciple’s life. It is by pointing out these defects, these restricting characteristics, that the guru can hasten the disciple’s spiritual evolution. When guided by a true guru a disciple can avoid much pain in life and experience a weakening of destructive tendencies. After Kriya Yoga initiation, the disciple begins to experience rapid inner change and an increase in soul awareness.
The guru may advise on the use of time and energy, so the disciple can learn how best to use his available resources and to transmute gross energies into finer ones. He may advise on matters of attitude, so that the disciple can more quickly become a mature and responsible person in society. Everything the guru teaches, even in small matters, is for the highest good of the disciple.
From Kriya Yoga Vijnan by Swami Nityananda Giri