Kalpaka Vruksha and beyond

In one of his finest manuscripts, Prasna Uttara Ratna Mãlika, Sri Ãdi Sankara elucidates on a variety of topics in a question-answer style. The cardinal principles to be followed in life for better living are stated in a very lucid and simple collection of 67 verses. One such verse runs as:

This translates roughly as:
What is the Kalpaka Vruksha that fulfils all wishes?
The teachings of the Guru.

This goes to say that the nectar of a Sadguru's teachings is capable of fulfiling all desires in life - both material and spiritual.
In this context, Sri Sri Swãmiji says that the Guru is even more powerful than a mere Kalpaka Vruksha. He quotes a small parable...
A man once prayed to God that he wanted to get all his wishes fulfilled. God pointed him to a Kalpaka Vruksha and granted his wish. Overjoyed, this man, stood under the divine tree and thought "How nice would it be if I had lots of riches". And yo! he got all the wealth in the world. This attitude kept on growing and soon he had all the comforts in the world. Suddenly a feeling of fear gripped him and he thought, "What if, now, a tiger came and attacked me ?!" Alas, it was a Kalpaka Vruksha, so invariably, a tiger came and had a feast on him! Well, but a Guru is far better. He grants all your benign wishes; those that could take you towards peace and happiness, and he prevents you from even desiring anything bad!
Interestingly, Guruji adds,
Usually, there are nine ‘grahãs’ (planets) in a horoscope. Are there not? But, there is one more ‘graha’, the tenth, which can make all these nine ‘grahas’ sit quietly, like a snake shut up in a box, ripped off their power to carry out their work. And that is Guru’s ‘krupa’ (grace). All the planets of the horoscope on which Gurudev’s grace falls become powerless.

Guruji goes a step further, to say that the very 'sãnnidhya' of a Guru is sufficient, leave alone his teachings. He says that one can experience divine positive vibrations in the abode of the Guru, even in the samãdhis of those Jivan Muktãs, who have discarded their mortal coils. A few examples are adhishtãnams of Sri Bodhendra of Govindapuram near Thiruvidaimarudhur, Paramãcharya Sri Kãnchi Maha Periava His Holiness Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal, Sri Rãghavendra Theertha of Mantrãlayam, Bhagawãn Ramana Maharshi and Sri Yogi Rãmsuratkumãr of Tiruvannãmalai.

He clarifies a devotee's misgivings, as follows (courtesy: www.madhuramurali.org)
It is said that Jivan Muktãs do not have any Will ('sankalpa') of their own. But, at the same time, it is also said that even worldly prayers made in their presence get fulfilled. How do they get fulfilled?
Sri Sri Swamiji:
All 'devatãs' always reside around the Jivan Mukta. They wish to serve that Jnãni, a Jivan Mukta, in some way or the other. The prayers of the devotees are fulfilled by these 'devatãs'.