I am blessed to be surrounded by so many loving and caring people in my life. Believe it or not, we all become blind to it at times due to circumstances and situations that are out of our control. It made me think about the people who have left an imprint in my life. Those that have taught me valuable lessons and those who are still present today. I felt that is was worth sharing. So I hope that you enjoy these very thoughtful but valuable words.

A teacher is a guide on the path
A Guru is a pointer to the way

A teacher answers your questions
A Guru questions your answers

A teacher helps you get out of the maze
A Guru destroys the maze

A teacher instructs you
A Guru constructs you

A teacher takes responsibility of your growth
A Guru makes you responsible for your growth

A teacher gives you things you do not have and require
A Guru takes away things you have and do not require

A teacher requires obedience and discipline from the pupil
A Guru requires trust and humility from the pupil

A teacher clothes you and prepares you for the outer journey
A Guru strips you naked and prepares you for the inner journey

A teacher sends you on the road to success
A Guru sends you on the road to freedom

A teacher explains the world and its nature to you
A Guru explains yourself and your nature to you

A teacher makes you understand how to move about in the world
A Guru shows you where you stand in relation to the world

A teacher gives you knowledge and boosts your ego
A Guru takes away your knowledge and punctures your ego

A teacher sharpens your mind
A Guru opens your mind

A teacher shows you the way to prosperity
A Guru shows you the way to posterity

A teacher reaches your mind
A Guru touches your spirit

A teacher offers knowledge
A Guru awakens wisdom

A teacher gives you maturity
A Guru returns you to innocence

A teacher instructs you on how to solve problems
A Guru shows you how to resolve issues

A teacher is a systematic thinker
A Guru is a lateral thinker

A teacher punishes you with words and actions
A Guru punishes you with deep compassion

A teacher is to pupil what a father is to son
A Guru is to pupil what mother is to her child

A teacher leads you by the hand
A Guru leads you by example

When a teacher finishes with you, you celebrate
When a Guru finishes with you, life celebrates

When the course is over you are thankful to the teacher
When the discourse is over you are grateful to the Guru

One can always find a teacher
But a Guru has to find and accept you

Let us honor both, the teachers and the Guru in our life!

-Author Unknown