In Ramesh Balsekar's teachings, the role of a guru is essential and highly valued. Balsekar himself was a disciple of the renowned Advaita teacher, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, and he believed that having a guru was crucial for spiritual growth and understanding.

According to Balsekar, a guru is someone who has realized their true nature and has the ability to guide others towards the same realization. They are seen as a living embodiment of the ultimate truth and serve as a bridge between the individual and the divine.

The guru-disciple relationship is based on trust, surrender, and devotion. The disciple must have complete faith and surrender to the guru, trusting their guidance and teachings. This surrender is not to the person of the guru, but to the ultimate truth that the guru represents.

Balsekar emphasized the importance of a guru in helping the seeker overcome their ego and reach a state of self-realization. The guru's role is to dispel the illusions and conditioning of the mind and guide the seeker towards the realization of their true self.

One of the key teachings of Balsekar is the concept of "non-doership," which means that the individual is not the doer of their actions, but rather an instrument of the divine will. This understanding can be challenging for the ego to accept, and the guidance of a guru is crucial in helping the seeker overcome this hurdle.

Balsekar also believed that a guru's role is not to give knowledge or teach concepts, but to help the seeker unlearn and let go of their conditioned beliefs and ideas. The guru's words and actions are not meant to be blindly followed, but rather to provoke self-inquiry and lead the seeker towards their own understanding and realization.

In Balsekar's teachings, the guru is seen as a spiritual friend, a compassionate guide, and a mirror for the seeker to see their true self. The guru's presence and teachings are meant to awaken the seeker to their own inner wisdom and understanding.

In conclusion, the role of a guru in Ramesh Balsekar's teachings is crucial and highly valued. The guru serves as a guide, a friend, and a mirror for the seeker to realize their true nature and overcome the illusions of the mind. The guru-disciple relationship is based on trust, surrender, and devotion, and it is through this relationship that the seeker can attain self-realization.