Yogiraj Shailendra Sharma, a spiritual teacher in India, explains how he chooses his disciples. He accepts anyone who approaches him with sincere questions and a genuine desire to learn. In Indian culture, it is believed that a guru's greatest reward is when their disciples progress further than they have. This is because a guru's success depends on the training they provide to their disciples. A father will also be happiest when their son surpasses them. Shailendra clarifies that he doesn't consider himself the only real guru, but is simply there to help and to share techniques with his disciples.
He emphasizes that he doesn't want followers, but rather people who will journey with him. Yogiraj is not a prophet and is only responsible for those he has initiated. He and his disciples do not aim to create a new religion, but simply follow a certain discipline. He believes that a disciple should surpass their guru in everything and hopes that every disciple will do so. This, he explains, is the ultimate fulfillment of being a guru. He doesn't want followers because they create mental barriers, and instead wants his disciples to challenge him in everything.
Yogiraj never asks his disciples to do anything for him, as he would rather have friends. He believes that disciples and gurus should be friends and share secrets. He also notes that he never says anything first, but instead waits for questions. He believes that the more someone becomes aware of something, the more different their questions will be. He never preaches, but teaches, and adjusts his answers based on the mental level of the person asking the question. He explains that the goal is to reach the person's mental level and give an answer that they can easily understand, while also pushing their mental level so they can understand deeper meanings.
Yogiraj also comments on the common practice in India of seeking a guru or baba to remove one's worldly problems. He acknowledges that only a few people are truly interested in spiritual advancement and mental progress. Nevertheless, he is in a good mood most of the time because many good seekers come to him as students. Being a guru, he explains, is a big responsibility, but it is also a good feeling. He is happy that many good seekers come to him for guidance.
