Acharya Prashant explains that the grace of a guru is essential for the realization of God or truth. He defines a guru as one who can lead a person toward the truth, reveal their falseness, and kindle a love for truth and the courage to be free. The true mark of a guru is not titles or knowledge, but the practical ability to bring about a shift in the student's consciousness toward freedom. While a guru can be a person, a scripture like the Guru Granth Sahib, or even elements of nature for those who are highly receptive, he suggests that for most people, seeking a living human teacher is the most practical path. Regarding the 'will of God' or 'Hukam', Acharya Prashant clarifies that God, being absolute freedom, does not impose a specific will or interfere in human lives. Instead, the divine will is that human beings remain free and use their discernment to reject bondage. He explains that what people often call 'free will' is usually not free at all, as it is used to support their own incarceration. The divine command is to love freedom so intensely that one can detect and avoid bondage from a distance. God has already provided humans with all the necessary facultiesâintellect, memory, and the ability to understandâand it is entirely up to the individual to choose freedom over suffering.
