Sri Sankara says in his Vivekacudamani :
दुर्लभं त्रयमेवैतत् दैवानुग्रहहेतुकम् । मनुष्यत्वं मुमुक्षुत्वं महापुरुषसंश्रयः ।।
These three are hard to come and come only with God’s grace :- human birth, desire for liberation, company of great learned and wise ones. Because it is only by the grace and guidance of saints and sages and Mahatmas, we can enquire into the nature of Self and make the Truth our own. It is only by grace of Isvara that one gets the opportunity to be in their holy and elevating company [Binu Hari Krupaa Milehi nahi santaa – Sri Ram Charit Manas]. Association with saints and sages is a very powerful inspiration for spiritual aspirants.
We are very fortunate to have come into contact with great teachers and be able to study in their company. Every teacher had been very generous to us with love, kindness, compassion and imparting us great gems of wisdom. We present in this section, some great Teachers who have inspired us and continue to guide us on this path of enquiry. We are greatly indebted to all these great teachers.
ఎందరో మహానుభావులు, అందరికీ వందనములు !
In Gurudev Swami Sivananda’s words, excerpted from the Introduction to His Book “Lives of Saints and Sages”, which was written in the year 1947:
“Who is a Saint ? He who lives in God or the Eternal, who is free from egoism, likes and dislikes, selfishness, vanity, mine-ness, lust, greed and anger, who is endowed with equal vision, balanced mind, mercy, tolerance, righteousness and cosmic love, and who has divine knowledge, is a saint.
Their very existence inspires others and goads them to become like them and attain the same state of bloss achieved by them. Had it not been for their existence, there would not have been spiritual uplift and salvation for you all. Their glory is indescribable. Their wisdom is unfathomable. They are deep like the ocean, steady like the Himalayas, pure like the Himalayan snow, effulgent like the Sun. One crosses this terrible ocean of Samsara of births and deaths through their grace and Satsang. To be in their company is the highest education. To love them is the highest happiness. To be near them is the real education.
Study the lives of Saints; you are inspired at once. Remember their sayings; you are elevated immediately.Be humble and sit at their feet. Serve them with your heart and soul, keep them in your garden of heart, clear your doubts. Get instructions and practice them in the right earnest. You will certainly be blessed. Walk in their footsteps: you are freed from pain and sorrow. Saints, to whatever clime they may belong, have left their footprints on the sands of time, so that others, who are true and faithful, may follow their track in search for Eternal Truth. Their lives have ever remained an inspiration to us. Their glory has ever been green in our memory. Their teachings have ever flowed with the tide of life.”
“May the great teachers inspire us and guide us for ever. May we all attain the supreme goal through their Satsang and advice! May the blessings of the great Teachers, Saints and Sages be upon us all ! “
Om Tat Sat !
nice good work
Dharam Karam Bhakti
Jai Santoshi Maa
Hari ohm!
Thanking you in the name of enlightened masters for sharing about their sadhana and aanmeega dhaanam they have renedered to human kind!