He should be known as one liberated while alive. He is blessed and is of fulfilled duties. After giving up the state of being liberated while alive, when the time arrives for his quitting the body, he enters the state of disembodied liberation, even as the air attains the state of nonmovement. §
Śukla Yajur Veda, Paiṇgala Upanishad 3.5. UPR, 918§
He should fulfill, according to the rules ordained, for twelve years the observance of brahmacharya, such as the service of the guru.§
Atharva Veda, Naraḍaparivrājaka Upanishad 1. UPA, 135§
The Self resides within the lotus of the heart. Knowing this, consecrated to the Self, the sage enters daily that holy sanctuary. Absorbed in the Self, the sage is freed from identity with the body and lives in blissful consciousness. §
Sāma Veda, Çhandogya Upanishad 8.3.3-4. UPP,122§
Let him approach him properly, with mind and senses tranquil and peaceful. Then will this master disclose the essence of the knowledge of Brahman whereby may be known the imperishable Real, the Person.§
Atharva Veda, Muṇḍaka Upanishad 1.2.13. VE, 415§
Without regard for themselves, without urges and efforts, absorbed in contemplation and established in the higher Self, they endeavor to remove evil deeds and surrender their bodies by renunciation. Such is a paramahaṁsa, such indeed is a paramahaṁsa!§
Śukla Yajur Veda, Jābāla Upanishad 6. VE, 441§
Earnest seekers who worship enlightened ones at sight—with perfume, flowers, water, fruits, incense, clothing and food, or by word, deed and thought—are absolved then and there.§
Devīkālottara Āgama, Jñāna-āchara-vichara 83. RM, 117§
The guru who has attained Self Realization can alone help the aspirant in acquiring it. §
Śiva Sūtras 2.6. YS, 102§
Those who themselves have seen the Truth can be thy teachers of wisdom. Ask from them, bow unto them, be thou unto them a servant.§
Bhagavad Gītā 4.34. BGM, 64§
One should worship his guru by daily performing full prostrations to him. By worship, one attains steadiness and ultimately realizes one’s own true nature. §
Guru Gītā 97. GG, 37§
At the root of dhyāna is the form of the guru. At the root of pūjā are the feet of the guru. At the root of mantra is the word of the guru, and at the root of all liberation is the grace of the guru.§
Kulārṇava Tantra 8.1. KT, 77§
Where there is a holy man of divine worth who pursues the Lord, that all space embraces; there enemies are none. Rains in abundance fall. Full is the people’s contentment. No evil befalls that land.§
Tirumantiram 1868. TM§
The heart of the holy trembles not in fear. All passions stilled, it enjoys calm unruffled. Neither is there death nor pain, nor night nor day, nor fruits of karma to experience. That, truly, is the state of those who have renounced desire.§
Tirumantiram 1624. TM§
One who has realized by himself his soul’s Self will be worshiped by all other souls.§
Tirukural 268. WW§
God is the Life of our lives. Therefore, we are His possessions. We are His bondsmen. All our movements are His movements. We can never forget Him. We are lacking in nothing. We are forever. We are everywhere. We know everything. By ceaselessly meditating and contemplating in this way, let us eliminate baser qualities and attain the higher, divine reality. §
Natchintanai, “God Is Our All.” NT, 8§
A hundred times greater than the joy of the heaven of the ancestors is the joy of the heaven of the celestial beings. A hundred times greater than the joy of the heaven of the celestial beings is the joy of the devas who have attained divinity through holy works. A hundred times greater than the joy of the devas who have attained divinity through holy works is the joy of the Gods who were born divine, and of him who has sacred wisdom, who is pure and free from desire.§
Śukla Yajur Veda, Bṛihadāraṇyaka Upanishad 4.4.33. UPM, 137§