सद्गुरुं तं नमामि

                 ll ॐ नमो भगवते रामकृष्णाय ll 

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Yet another Guru Poornima to remind the Jiva, to wake us up from slumber, the over-powering tamas.... A reminder to seek the grace of Ishvara, to awaken to the only goal everyone really has, to be able to surrender at the feet of the Guru, to be able to pursue Brahmavidya unhindered.... commit to Sravana-Manana-Nididhyasana! .... all this, as precious time flows by, as the body ages, as the senses wear out and one is slowly, then acutely aware of the advent of the evening of life! 

Mahamaya has her total sway, powerful sway. 

'बालस्तावत् क्रीडा सक्तः, तरुणस्तावत्  तरुणी रक्तःl 

वृद्धस्तावत्  चिन्ता-सक्तः, परमे ब्रह्मणि कोsपि  न सक्तःll', says Shankara, exhorting the Jiva to seek Ishvara - Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam....', he shouts, trying to awaken us, our clouded minds (मूढ-मते). 

The Sadguru, exemplified by Adishankara, overcome with compassion, relentlessly prods the Shishya; for, who can love us more than the Guru? 'Uttama Vaidya', Sri Ramakrishna calls him rightly -  He doesn't give up! 

शान्ता महान्तो निवसन्ति सन्तः, वसन्तवल्लोकहितम् चरन्तः l 

तीर्णा स्वयं भीम-भवार्णवं  जनानहेतुनन्न्यानपि तारयन्तः....ll

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But for these compassionate ones, where would we be? With our dull initiatives and feeble moves, where indeed??

Grateful salutations again and again at the Guru's feet - that grant liberation....

Prayer, and more prayer... to endow us with that unwavering commitment to freedom!!

-- 

Swami Sheshadri