Heavy; that which is digested slowly.
Spiritual teacher or guide who claims firsthand, detailed knowledge of the invisible spirit world. Guru is a Sanskrit word referring specifically to a Hindu teacher, but in a general sense, it can be used to mean any teacher who teaches about matters of primary or ultimate importance matters relating to a spiritual reality, for instance. Gurus claim to gain this knowledge through personal experience and traditionally pass their spiritual wisdom down directly from master to pupil. Many guru traditions are said to have begun with the Hindu god Siva. The techniques that the gurus teach to their students are called yogas.
In the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, many Indian gurus led young men and women in exploring Hindu spirituality, and different yogas won popularity and established themselves in U.S. society. Transpersonal psychology has been built on the study of gurus, and their ability to alter their states of consciousness has been extensively documented.