Touching the Wicket: Finding the Eternal Guru Within

I realize that for those who have taken their Guru seriously, he/she can never die, even if the body withers and perishes.

~ Guru Nitya Chaitanya Yati in ‘Nataraja Guru and I’

In the West, we often think of a guru as a gifted teacher or life guide, a person who inspires us or helps us find direction. Yet in its deeper sense, the Sanskrit word guru literally means ‘dispeller of darkness.’ Beyond any single person or personality, the true guru is awareness itself, the presence that illuminates the seeker’s path, dissolving the ignorance, doubt, and confusion that obscure the light of true understanding. Some of us meet this presence through a human teacher, but its essence is not confined to form. A physical guru can mirror this awakening, yet even when the teacher’s body is gone, the wisdom remains. Ultimately, the guru and the Self are one.

Many seekers worry that without the presence of a physical guru, spiritual progress may be difficult. My own guru, Nitya Chaitanya Yati (1924 – 1999), who would have turned 101 on November 2nd, reminded us that each of us has access to an inner stream of guidance, one that can be awakened through stillness, sincerity, and discernment. While Guru Nitya kindled a spiritual flame within me, he also revealed the essence of the Guru principle itself, the ever-present light of awareness that guides every being.

I first met Guru Nitya when I was eleven, at my maternal grandfather’s home. I still remember his presence and the curiosity I had for this gentle, grandpa-like figure with his long beard and ochre robes. He asked if I knew the meaning of my name. When I said I didn’t, he took my hand and made me repeat the Gayatri mantra line by line, explaining its meaning. I don’t remember what he said about the mantra, and I certainly didn’t realize it then, but in that simple exchange was an initiation, a seed that would quietly guide the course of my life.

Over the years, whenever I had the blessing of spending time with Guru Nitya, each day felt like a prayer in motion - infused with wonder, stillness, and the silent unfolding of wisdom. Whether we were chopping vegetables, sharing a simple meal, or pausing to watch a leaf dance in the breeze, every moment became a lesson in awareness. Through his way of being, Guru Nitya showed me what it meant to live a life of true freedom, and he was a living example of it.

Many of us were drawn to Guru Nitya’s personality and wanted to be in his presence to soak in his compassion, his loving smile, his wise counsel, and his penetrating teachings (much of which I barely grasped at the time). We cherished taking walks with him, holding his soft hands, and laughing at his ready wit and humor. Yet, he often reminded us that the Guru is not a person or personality to be adored as a physical entity, but the ever-present Absolute - the Way, the Truth, and the Light that shines in and as everything.

Before I left India in 1993 to come to the US for my graduate studies at the University of Southern California, my parents and I went to his ashram in Ooty to receive his blessings. Just before we left, he hugged me, handed me a rose and said to me, “Treat me like your cricket wicket. You have to run off and do your thing in the world, but you must keep coming back to touch the wicket.”  The deeper meaning of these words only revealed itself after his passing in 1999. I was devastated by his loss, but over the years, it became clear to me that the Guru is nearer than the near. I only needed to still my mind and heart to “touch the wicket”. (And with a smile, this year’s November 2nd also happened to be the day the Indian Women’s Cricket Team won the World Cup - a lovely wink from the universe!) 

Guru Nitya continues to guide me each day as the living presence of the Guru principle. He left his physical form when I was twenty-nine; now in my fifties, I feel his nearness more intimately than ever. His teachings and guidance come to me in countless ways, and I have learned to recognize and trust that divine current. There are no words to express the depth of gratitude I feel for Guru Nitya who loved me without reason, expectation, or demand, and who shared his wisdom and love so freely. To have known such a being is the truest grace. 

May we all recognize the living teacher within and around us, and touch the wicket of truth in our own hearts.

---

You can find other Myndtree blogs here. If this blog spoke to you, we warmly invite you to log in and share your thoughts below.