The Answer Is No.
WHY?
Because we have all the requisite knowledge for SALVATION freely and openly available today in the twenty first century.
As this process gradually opened out in the twentieth century.
What Is The Source Of All Traditions?
People speak of tradition.
To what tradition do you belong to or come from, is an oft quoted question?
There is only one tradition, that which has come from God.
In the twentieth century we saw an INFLUX of so many so called AVATARS in India.
Then what about them?
They are all a bunch of JOKERS.
They have all acquired some special skills and with that, they are befooling the world.
God is the guru and the unfailing guide for each and every one.
This fact is more so, for each and every one on the spiritual path leading to Salvation or Enlightenment.
The more you yearn for Him with all your heart, the more He draws you towards Him like a magnet.
The GRACE of God is the field which draws you inexorably towards Him.
I will conclude the section on ‘GOD IS YOUR GURU’, with a wonderful story of a holy man who acknowledged the ‘GRACE OF GOD’.
Swami Tapovanam was a monk (SWAMI) par-excellence.
He had no disciples, but had many students who came to him to study the scriptures.
As he was a good scholar of the scriptures and as a matter of duty, he taught his fellow junior monks resident in the area, the scriptures on a systematic basis.
The GRACE of God is naturally present in the universe.
So declared Ramakrishna the 19th century Saint.
But man must position himself to receive it.
An ordinary conductor, because of the dancing or oscillation of the atoms within, does not fully transmit the electrical impulses.
True religion is a private affair with God.
Thus, there are as many religions in the world, as there are individuals.
I am the starting point of my religion.
I am its end point too.
He who removes the DARKNESS in you is a GURU.
But in order to do so, you should first enter the ‘darkness’ within you.
What is this darkness!?? Or realm of darkness.
GURU means GUKARO RUKARO (GU + RU), which means the one who removes the darkness. GU means darkness RU means remover.
Wisdom and holiness is a rare combination.
Such ones are far and few in the world.
Only a wise man can guide you.
Natural goodness is in them.
They seek nothing from anybody.
An ASHRAM is an abode of ACTIVE REST from the turmoils and labours of life.
It means, where there is no worldly effort.
NA + SHRAMA = NO EFFORT = ASHRAMA
But there is a spiritual effort.
The effort to abide, where God is present.
God is present within man and also present in the universe. It empowers both.