Torch-bearers

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Torch-bearers

 

>From time immemorial, suffering world turned to the East for wisdom. India

embodies all that is good and great in the East. India has been sending out

to the world, waves after waves of spiritual influence. The inexhaustible

source of power behind these periodical messages of truth is derived from

the great rishis, the sages of India, who are still living in our midst,

invisible and yet exerting their influence over us.

 

Sankaracharya was an intellectual giant without a compeer. Like a great

conqueror he hacked to pieces mercilessly all the superstitions in the

religion of his day. He showed to the world the pristine purity, the divine

splendour and the eternal greatness of Vedanta. Then came the compassionate

Ramanuja. His heart was great which embraced all, including the downtrodden,

the outcaste, and the lowly. He purified forms of worship and opened the

door to the highest spiritual worship from the Brahmin to the Pariah. That

was Ramanuja's work.

 

In recent years, another sage lived in Bengal. Though he was bombs' an

illiterate Brahmin, he had the intellect of Sankara and the heart of

Ramanuja. He was Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He preached the universal religion

which knows no barriers of race, colour, caste, creed or country. His

message has spread to the four corners of the world.

 

The latest among his galaxy of the great is another saint who lived in an

obscure village near Poona. He was Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi. He was also

illiterate, but in His life of unsurpassed purity He proclaimed to the world

the supremacy of God, the efficacy of implicit faith and endurance tempered

by charity, tolerance towards followers of other religions, a welcome

blessing in these days of unrest.

 

Thus, the spiritual lineage of the rishis is continuing in this land. India

is their land. They will make this ancient country not only Punya Bhoomi,

but also Karma Bhoomi in order to bear the torch of spiritual wisdom to

dispel darkness in the world outside.

 

(Adopted from the Book Pearls of Wisdom by His Holiness Swami Kesavaiahji)