Question: What is the nature of the relationship between a guru and their disciple?

Answer: From ancient times until today, the art and science of yoga has been handed down from guru (teacher) to disciple (in Sanskrit shishya or chela). Disciples in turn hand down what they have learned to their disciples. Every guru is also simultaneously a disciple not only of their immediate guru, but also all the preceding gurus in their line of teachers. In this way, the yoga/Hindu culture has been handed down.

Acceptance of a guru or teacher is not undertaken lightly by the serious yoga aspirant. The serious seeker of yoga truth seeks out a guru or yoga teacher, understands and considers what the guru is teaching, checks the guru’s teachings against the yoga scriptures, and against what the previous yoga teachers have taught. The bona fide guru will themselves have been a disciple of a guru. Additionally, the serious aspirant looks to see whether the students and disciples of the guru are manifesting the fruits of yoga knowledge. In other words, the yoga aspirant should not blindly accept anyone as guru; rather they must seek confirmation that the guru is in fact bonafide.

In the ancient yoga culture and tradition the guru-disciple relationship is considered to be natural and necessary; similarly a person without a guru is considered to be like a boat without a rudder.