Darshan and The Paraclete

There is a concept I learned from Eastern religion known as “darshan”. It means the learning that can take place by simply being in the presence of an enlightened teacher. The teacher may speak or lecture, but it isn’t the words that matter, it is their awakened state of consciousness that conveys itself to the student when the student is ready and open to receiving it.

The teacher I am referring to might not even be the one speaking at the podium. They could be in the audience, sitting quietly, perhaps in meditation, and yet their level of consciousness can be felt by everyone present. This kind of teacher may be your next-door-neighbor, a clerk at the store, or your auto mechanic. They may not even claim the title of teacher, but after being in their presence you feel better, full of energy, more optimistic. Your own level of consciousness has been raised.

Perhaps this is why having a teacher, or ‘guru’ is important in Eastern religions. Western religions don’t follow this approach, or at least they don’t acknowledge the concept openly, or give it a name. I’m not sure why this is. I’ve certainly experienced it myself and have heard others describe it, they just didn’t call it ‘darshan’. They call it being ‘motivated’ or ‘uplifted’ by a speaker.

‘Darshan’ usually means being in the physical presence of the teacher. I think the idea can be expanded to hearing their voice on tape or radio - but also through their writings. I know I have read things that have affected me far more than you could expect from ink on paper. Sometimes there seems to be an energy behind the words that ‘speaks’ out and tingles you to attention!

Another useful concept comes from traditional Christianity. ‘The Paraclete’ is translated as ‘The Holy Spirit’ or ‘The Comforter’, but in direct translation from the Greek it means ‘to call to one’s side’ or ‘One called to help’.

Our Inner Guide, our connection with the ‘Holy Spirit’ is our constant companion, always within and beside us. The term ‘Paraclete’ is more than a description or a name, it also tells us that our appropriate action is ‘to call’ on it. Yes it is always there, but it is our calling on it that brings it into action so that it can enter our awareness.

Of all the teachers we may find on our spiritual quest, it is our own Inner Guide that can teach us best, in the ways that we can most easily learn. It knows us best because it is us, the highest octave our own being.

We may be blessed with many good teachers, we may seek for years to find them, and we may benefit greatly. But how much more wonderful it is when we sit in the presence of our greatest teacher, the one who comes to us when we ‘call’. When we sit in darshan with The Paraclete, this is when our highest spiritual unfoldment begins.

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