Guru is like a boat for crossing the river.

Guru is like a boat for crossing the river., a photo by firoze shakir photographerno1 on Flickr.

“Guru is not the goal. Anyone who establishes himself as a guru to be worshipped is not a guru. Guru is like a boat for crossing the river. It is important to have a good boat and it is very dangerous to have a boat that is leaking. The boat brings you across the river. When the river is crossed the boat is no longer necessary. You don't hang onto the boat after completing the journey, and you certainly don't worship the boat.”
― Swami Rama of the Himalayas Dec. 31 1969