(Sanskrit Gu, darkness and Ru, destroyer. Hence, destroyer of darkness) Generally used to mean a teacher or the leading teacher of a particular philosophy or practice. The original concept, however, was more complex. A guru was traditionally an enlightened being and capable of being in direct contact with God. When a student (chela) first meets the guru (meeting a guru in person is called darshan), the guru was supposed to instantly know what unique training the person needed to become enlightened. The result would be a guru/chela relationship where the guru would teach the chela what he or she needed to become enlightened and voluntarily take on the chela’s karma while the chela is with him or her. The chela, in exchange, would do whatever the guru required. This could involve both the performance of spiritual exercises for the student’s training and giving personal service to the guru.