One must have good fortune to have a Guru in one's life.
It is true that the Guru is the way for a soul to unite with God. When a soul's inner voice becomes increasingly restless due to its separation from God and its longing to reunite with Him, God blesses that soul by bringing it into the guidance of a Guru, who leads it towards Him.
"गुरु गोबिंद दोऊ खड़े, काके लागूँ पाय।
बलिहारी गुरु आपने, गोबिंद दियो मिलाय॥"
"Guru Gobind dou khade, kake lagu paye,
Balihari Guru aapne, Gobind diyo milaye."
The Guru is the one who unites us with God and guides us back to our divine origin.
Therefore, in human life, one must have a Guru who can guide the soul on the path of spirituality and make it worthy of attaining the feet of God.
Even Guru Nanak Dev Ji began a tradition of spiritual guidance that continued through ten Gurus, teaching humanity the importance of the Guru and of following the Guru's teachings to reunite with God.
The Guru is none other than a divine guide who transforms us, polishes our inner being, helps us overcome our weaknesses, strengthens our character and prepares us to become worthy of God's grace.
Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj continues to teach us the same importance of the Guru:
"ਗੁਰੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਕਰਿ ਮਨ ਮੋਰ।
ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਠਉਰ॥"
"Guru Guru Guru kar man mor,
Gur bin mai nahi haur."
O my mind, remember the Guru. Without the Guru, I have no other place of refuge.
"ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਘੋਰੁ ਅੰਧਾਰੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਮਝ ਨ ਆਵੈ।"
"Gur bin ghor andhar, gur bin samajh na aavai."
Without the Guru, there is deep darkness, and without the Guru, true understanding does not arise.
From Asa Di Vaar:
"ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਗੁਰ ਆਪਣੇ ਦਿਉਹਾੜੀ ਸਦ ਵਾਰ।
ਜਿਨਿ ਮਾਣਸ ਤੇ ਦੇਵਤੇ ਕੀਏ ਕਰਤ ਨ ਲਾਗੀ ਵਾਰ॥"
"Balihari gur aapne, deu-har sadh vaar,
Jin manas te devteh kiyo, karat na lageh vaar."
"ਜਿਉ ਚੰਦੁ ਚੜੈ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਚੜੈ ਹਜਾਰ।
ਏਤੇ ਚਾਨਣ ਹੋਂਦਿਆ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਘੋਰ ਅੰਧਾਰ॥"
"Jeh Soo chanda Ughveh, sooraj chadhai hazaar,
Ete chaanan hondia, gur bin ghor andhaar."
Even if thousands of moons and suns were to rise, without the Guru, there would still be deep darkness within. It is the Guru who brings the light of spiritual wisdom into our lives and removes the darkness of ignorance.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj, in the tradition of devotion to the Guru, teaches us to bow before the eternal spiritual wisdom:
"ਆਦਿ ਗੁਰਏ ਨਮਹ।
ਜੁਗਾਦਿ ਗੁਰਏ ਨਮਹ।
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਏ ਨਮਹ।
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰਦੇਵਏ ਨਮਹ॥"
"Aad Guray Namah, Jugaad Guray Namah,
Satguru-devaye Namah, Shiri Guru-devay Namah."
I bow to the Guru who existed from the beginning, to the Guru who has existed throughout the ages, to the True Guru and to the divine Guru.
Without the Guru's guidance, a human being may remain unaware of the true purpose of human life and the path that leads the soul towards the divine power of God.
The Guru guides us towards the realisation of God, helping us understand the purpose of our human birth and leading us towards the ultimate union with the Almighty.