How does one find a guru

[Visvamitra]

I suggest you to not care about the guru's gender.

Is this applicable to both sexes that the guru's gender does not matter?

[Eastern Mind]

Vannakkam Viswamitra: Welcome to HDF, by the way. I think the question of gender shouldn't matter either way, but in reality it does. We still have a few folks who, like it or not, have gender bias well programmed into their systems. Does this mean they shouldn't be eligible to worship God and follow Sanatana dharma. In beginning stages, such things as gender bias, ego, anava,etc. abound. In later stages all of these things fade away from the mind.

Aum Namasivaya

[Visvamitra]

Okay sounds cool. Do you know any examples in the scriptures where there is no gender bias, specifically some female guru with students of any sex.

[Onkara]

Is this applicable to both sexes that the guru's gender does not matter?

Namaste visvamitra
No, it doesn't matter as it is your mind which needs to be guided to truth, so ultimately you will find it is your attitude which makes the difference, not the gender of the teacher/guru.

I think this question presents itself as a good thing to bring your/our thoughts back to during the day as you/we interact with others. One of the intial things we are taught is that we are not the body, however we are so accustomed to interact with body and base our behaviour on the body (person) we see before us, be they a child, a retired citizen, attractive or threatening etc, that we don't stop to think further. We can almost use this interaction to remind us of our spritual goal to see the one universal pure spirit beyond the material form (body) at each time we have the opportunity.

[Eastern Mind]

Okay sounds cool. Do you know any examples in the scriptures where there is no gender bias, specifically some female guru with students of any sex.

Vannakkam: I do not personally know of any female Gurus in long ago history. Saints such as Anandamayi Ma and the hugging Saint Amma are modern examples. Of course just because I don't know of any doesn't mean they didn't exist. There are many village Gurus who speak or spoke without anyone writing anything down. I personally don't see why it matters. There was the Tamil Saint Auviyar (sp?).

I am wondering what brought about this line of questioning.

Aum Namasivaya

[Visvamitra]

I am wondering what brought about this line of questioning.

Earlier in the thread a poster had a preference for a female guru and I'm familiar with religious practices that tend to be patriarchical, with gender seperation [like some muslims do when they pray].

I personally don't see why it matters.

I was just wondering if it was gender specific [the relationship between guru and student]. What matters, I think, is to know what is correct that's why questions may arise that seem inane.

[orlando]

Is this applicable to both sexes that the guru's gender does not matter?

Of course.

I am male but I would accept to be disceple of a female guru.
I would respect her not less than a male guru.

I do not personally know of any female Gurus in long ago history.

The following six female Gurus belong to Gaudiya-vaishnava sampradaya:

SITA THAKURANI
JAHNAVA THAKURANI
HEMALATA THAKURANI
GAURANGAPRIYA
KRISHNAPRIYA
GANGA MATA GOSWAMINI

In the line where the gaudiya-vaishnava guru Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura got diksha there are three female Gurus:
1. (Nityananda Prabhu) Jahnava Mata
2. Ramacandra Goswami
3 Rajavallabha Goswami
4. Kesavacandra Goswami
5. Rudresvara Goswami
6. Dayarama Goswami
7. Mahesvari Goswamini
8. Gunamañjari Goswamini
9. Ramamani Goswamini
10. Yajnesvara Goswami
11. Vipina Vihari Goswami (1850-1919)
12. Bhaktivinoda Thakur (1838-1914)

[Eastern Mind]

Vannakkam Bhakta:

Thanks for this. I suspected as much but didn't know for sure. I'll check the 3 of them out on-line. I wonder how they were accepted socially. Perhaps you have a book on the lineage?

Aum Namasivaya

[Visvamitra]

Thanks for those references. It would be interesting to see how they were accepted socially.

[ScottMalaysia]

Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma), mentioned above by EM, is considered a guru by many. Mother Maya is also a great spiritual leader, but I'm not sure if she's considered a guru or not (I don't know if she gives initiation).