GURU WHO-DO?

There's an assumption going around,
Well supported by the Enlightenment Industry
And the India Tourist Office,
That one has a snowball's chance in hell
Of attaining enlightenment
With out a Guru to guide one.

Sitting in the presence of an enlightened one
Is a phenomenal experience, to be sure,
And I'd love to do it again some day --
These guys know some very interesting disciplines to entertain oneself.
But I'm not so sure that it is essential to satori.

"Guru", I'm told, originates from two Sanskrit syllables
Meaning "darkness" and "light",
Thus the word means literally "From darkness to light."
But does it?
What if "guru" could also be translated
"Both darkness and light"?
That would qualify me to have a whack at being my own guru;
You, too.

And it seems to me that many of the masters, living and dead that I've come across
Have said at some stage the equivalent of
"Beware false gurus. You can do it yourself..... What are you waiting for?"

By all means, go to India, or Bali, or Thailand, or Mecca or Rome --
Wherever you fancy;
Lose yourself in chanting and mysticism, 
And drench yourself in incense and satsangs until your blood turns saffron,
But eventually it comes back to
You.
Darkness AND light
Balanced.
GuRu....
One word.
One be-ing.

Uh......