For travelling spiritual path successfully a guru was never necessitated. Yes if a spiritual master of the level of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa or Maharshi Ramana is available, then one can seek answers to queries within. The most a spiritual master, preceptor can do was clarify our queries.
This is the biggest irony of mankind that seekers, travelers of spiritual path keep seeking a master, a spiritual guru for their blessings and not for clarification of queries within. This phenomenon is rapidly expanding world over. Even so-called spiritual masters have developed a foolproof coterie so that the gullible public, do not escape from their clutches.
This is not an isolated case of a few so-called spiritual teachers, gurus. Just to keep their ashram going or spreading tentacles (ashrams) world over so-called spiritual or religious teachers would not hesitate in indulging in unethical or immoral practices to no end. Some of the so-called spiritual gurus are presently behind bars for long. Still, masses keep following them blindly.
If we look at the spiritual history of entire mankind we would find that right from times of Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed none ever engaged in building a hermitage (ashram) of one’s own. Even Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharshi Ramana did not have an ashram of their own.
To clarify queries of visitors galore, both always lay on a cot in the open.
It is understandable that stage of self realization is reached after demolishing ego, establishing total control over five senses and mind. Then how could a spiritual teacher develop longing for an ashram or any other worldly attachment? For a true spiritual master this was just not possible.
Swami Vivekananda built Ramakrishna Mission in memory of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa. The only purpose was dissemination of jnana wisdom gained by Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
When the preceptors themselves exist no more, what use of the ashrams?
As far as I can say all the enlightened souls still existed for me not in body but through their teachings! For learning more about process of self enquiry, Neti (not this, not this) I indulged in literature relating to Maharshi Ramana. I never read through any script literally, I pursued path of contemplation (chintan) to realize the hidden underlying meaning of sayings of Maharshi Ramana.
Essence of spirituality, self realization lay in understanding the thinking pattern of an enlightened one. If we could follow the thinking prowess of Maharshi Ramana, every saying by the enlightened one would become clear of its own. We just need travelling on the same wavelength as Maharshi Ramana. To indulge with teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, one needs dwelling on the same mental wavelength on which travelled Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
Even in present times if I need talking to Lord Krishna, then I need going to mental wavelength on which lived Lord Krishna and immediately everything contained in Bhagavad Gita becomes like ABCD. Path of spirituality, self realization was difficult for those who did not want to indulge in chintan (contemplation) as literally nothing could be realized from sayings of enlightened ones.
Having realized self in 1993 I live life king-size. Through my articles essays existing on different websites I conduct myself by replying to all intelligent queries received by me. Since 1997 when I created my presence on Internet, I am available to mankind 24 x 7 x 365.
What astonishes me is the fact that around 1997 I used to receive above 15 to 20 intelligent queries every single day (total queries on a single day sometimes exceeded 70). But in present times people are more interested in satisfying their desires and wishes, none seriously wanting to travel spiritual path. The maximum period a seeker corresponded with me was seven queries. Thereafter he also quit saying he had no more queries left unanswered. He also felt mentally drained. He was a student from Singapore.
In present times the teachings of Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita are available in Sanskrit along with English transliteration for mere $1 from Gita press, Gorakhpur, India but there are no real takers. Nothing in this book could be understood literally.
To sum up all, before seeking a spiritual master we must realize our own hidden potential whether we can indulge in contemplation (chintan) as journey of spirituality can be completed only then. We must stop searching for a spiritual teacher in totality and seek answers from inside as our soul atman, the spirit all the time existed in heart.