In the Orient, having a master is considered a matter of pride. A master is a symbol of security, love and a sign of great wealth. Being with a guru is like being with one’s higher Self. Not having a master was looked down upon as a sign of misfortune. Orphans were not those without parents; rather those without a master were considered orphans.
In the Occident having a master is considered shameful and a sign of weakness, for there, masters are thought to enslave people.
In the Orient, people take pride in having a guru for every aspect of life – a religious guru – dharmaguru, a family guru – kulaguru, a guru for the kingdom – rajguru, a guru for a particular discipline – vidyaguru, and a spiritual guru – satguru.
In the Orient, masters make their disciples feel powerful, while in the Occident, masters are thought to make people weak. In the Occident, a master is considered a motivator and one who provokes competition. In the Orient, masters give a deep sense of belongingness that enables people to dissolve their limited identity into infinity.
