Our ‘manas’ is naturally bent towards worldly matters just as fire burns upwards and water flows downwards. If we desire to change the course of this ‘manas’, it is not possible to succeed through our intelligence. It requires a proper Guru. Only under the guidance of a proper Guru, the externally turned ‘manas’ will begin to move towards God. How should a Guru be? He should be one who has given up all worldly comforts and one who has earned the full Grace of God. One who possesses even a little worldly desire cannot attain God’s Grace. One who has earned the full blessings of the Lord will not have even an iota of desire for worldly things. The reason for this is that worldly comforts and God’s Grace are opposed to each other. Just as darkness does not exist in light and vice versa, so, too, Godliness will not exist where there is worldliness and vice versa. The two cannot co-exist just as light and darkness cannot co-exist. Worldly comforts are ‘ajnana’ (ignorance) while Godliness is ‘jnana’ (knowledge). Knowledge and ignorance are opposites; hence, they cannot co-exist. Where one is the other does not exist. Only when our worldly desires lessen can we make the move towards God.

Sudãmã, a brahmin friend of Krishna, who had studied along with him in the Sãndeepani Gurukula, once came to meet Krishna who was then ruling Dwaraka. The Lord ran upto him and embraced him in welcome. Offering all hospitalities to his student-days friend, Krishna reminisced, “Sudãma, do you remember the day when both of us were caught in a terrible storm in the forest where we had gone to collect fuel at the order of our Guru’s wife? We had to spend the whole night in the forest. Our Guru, Sage Sãndeepani, on learning this came in search of us at Sunrise and discovered us, his disciples, in that bewildered state. He said, ‘My dear boys! You have been put to great hardship on my account. One’s own self is dear to all more than anything else. How wonderful that you have shown your devotion to me by disregarding even the self! A good disciple should offer with a sincere heart his all, including his very self, to the Guru. That is precisely what he should do in order to repay the debt to the Guru. Dear children, I am supremely pleased with you. Let all your desires be fulfilled, and may all knowledge of the Vedas that you have acquired from me remain ever fresh in your memory. May it never fail you here or hereafter.’ O friend! Numerous incidents of this type occurred during our life at the preceptor’s house. It is by the grace of the preceptor alone that man attains perfection and supreme peace.

(‘Guroh anugrahenaiva pumãn purnah prashãntaye! - Srimad Bhagavatam 10:80:43)

Sariiram suroopam yathavãkallatram
Yashaschãruchitram dhanam merutulyam
Guroanghripadme manashchennalagnam
Tatah kim? tatah kim? tatah kim? tatah kim?

One may possess
  the most handsome form
  the most beautiful spouse
  the highest fame (extending to all the worlds)
  wealth as big as the mountain (Meru)
But,
Of what use are all these
If his mind does not rest
At
The Lotus Feet of the Guru?

Just as the prey that has fallen into the jaws of a tiger has no escape, so those who have come within the realm of Guru’s gracious look will be saved by Him and will never get lost. (Who Am I)