What position does Gita give to a Guru? Is a Guru needed for spiritual realization?
All ordinary learning happens through observation and inference. Observation can be first hand or second hand. Inference can be arrived at by oneself or induced by another person. Even when logic is followed strictly, the same observation can give different inferences based on the path of logic taken. When it is shown that worms die when put into a glass of liquor, an observer can conclude liquor as good for health or bad for health depending upon the path of logic taken. So, it is important that the right direction is set by another person who is more knowledgeable. Thus right self-learning by inference can happen only when the person has previous knowledge to an extent. Thus a teacher is essential even for ordinary knowledge. The Ultimate Truth of identity of the Individual and the Whole (Jiva Ishwara Aikyam), though does not contradict logic, can never be deduced purely by logic alone. Every inference by the mind, based on the observations in the world of the senses and mind, can be
