A Guru, as we have previously learned, is one who dispels our nescience and brings to us the light of true wisdom. And from the perspective of our selfish interests, we admit that the Guru is greater than God. So, then the next question becomes how do we find such a Guru?

Some believe that the Guru will appear when the disciple is ready. When we harbor a deep and sincere desire to know and love God, He answers our prayers by sending us the inspiration and faith from within to trust one completely. Once that happens, we should have complete faith in the Guru. However, until that happens, we must continue our search.

As a part of this search, we must understand that the true Guru must have two qualifications. Firstly, he or she should possess theoretical knowledge of the scriptures--this is called Śhrotriya. Secondly, he or she should have realized that knowledge and be seated in the Truth--this is called Brahm Niṣhṭh. Hence, a true Guru is one who is both--Śhrotriya and Brahm Niṣhṭh.

Of these, the second criterion is more important i.e. the Guru must be God-realized. Only one who has attained God can help others attain Him. If one is a beggar himself, how can he give money to others; if one has no knowledge himself, how can he teach others? If one has not attained the bliss of divine love, how can he give it to others?

There is a saying in Hindi:

"Drink water only after filtering it; make a Guru only after carefully knowing him." We must not accept anyone as our Guru, and especially not because of a friend's suggestion; we must invest the time to identify someone as a true Guru, and only then should we surrender to him.

 
However, just as it is not possible for a first-grade student to evaluate the ability of a college professor, similarly, it is not easy for us to recognize a true Guru, who is a divine personality. Yet, there are certain characteristics that provide helpful indications such as those listed below.

A true Guru removes the doubts by providing the correct knowledge and helps resolve the difficulties that come up on this path
Whatever doubts we have on the spiritual path, if we place them before the Guru, he or she can easily resolve them and dispel our confusions. A mere theoretical scholar of the scriptures cannot do this. Scholarly learning without practical sādhanā only increases the confusions, since there are many scriptures and each states different spiritual principles. The theoretical scholar becomes confused with the apparent contradictions. However, the true Guru possesses realized knowledge, for he or she has seen the Truth, and is able to reveal it with the benefit of experience.

A true Guru accepts criticism and praise alike
Having understood the nature of self and God, a God-realized Saint is beyond the dualities of Maya. Since He is working in service of God, he is unmoved and undeterred by people's criticism or praises of him and treats them alike. He will not be happy when one praises him nor be sad when one ridicules him. He only works for the welfare of others.

A true Guru does not grant boons to fulfill material desires
A true Guru does not give his disciple material allurements. Rather, he teaches that worldly attainments are not the goal. Nowadays, many so-called saints claim to have a magic formula for removing all the material miseries and bestowing money, wealth, prestige, etc. on their followers. Allured by such false statements, people flock to them in thousands. We must not get caught up in the same.

Instead, we should keep in mind that a true Guru will not grant us material wealth. He works from the inside so the externals are not important.

A true Guru's words are very impacting
The true Guru's words touch the heart and soul. Although we may have heard and read the same knowledge many times without being moved by it, when we hear the same words from the mouth of a God-realized Saint, they change us from within. We can perceive that there is something different in the way the Guru expounds the knowledge, which makes it so impacting. The reason for this is that the true Guru does not merely elucidate what he has read in books; he explains from the depths of personal realization. Hence, it goes deep into the hearts of the listeners.

By associating with a true Guru, the mind starts getting attached to God
If we associate with a true Guru, we will naturally find ourselves getting attached to God and detached from the world. Just as when we feel cold and walk towards fire, as we go closer to the fire, we naturally experience the cold going away and heat entering the body. Similarly, the God-realized Saint is like a fireball of God-consciousness. If we associate with him, we will experience the divine consciousness rubbing on us as well.

Dedication of a true Guru inspires all
As one associates with a true Guru over a period of many years, one sees the dedication and selflessness with which he serves all. A true Guru never orders, only suggests; he never judges, only observes; he never controls; only guides. When one sees the manifestation of divine love in a true Guru, it increases one's enthusiasm on this path.

Identifying such behaviors in others takes time. A true Guru cannot be recognized based on intellectual ability alone. Ultimately, the search for a true Guru requires time and faith.