The Guru

Many months ago,  I was introduced to the verses called "Guru Ashtakam". That time I did not know the meaning of the words. But they held such a grip on me. Once the verses started everything surrounding me looked sacred. Ants crawling on the floor seemed like manifestations from a divine source. I later took my music player to Dhyan Yatra and was hearing this looking at the Himalayas. They appeared so intimately connected!

Later, I came to learn about the meaning of these verses. These words were written by Adi Shankaracharya. The essence of the poetry is this: "If there is no devotion to your Guru, there is no way out of the trap!". Listen to the verses here - you can also read and understand its meaning on the same page.

The meaning makes me very happy! It means that whatever the intelligence, astuteness I have, whatever tricks I play fooling others, whatever wealth I accumulate, whatever praises I receive - at the time of reckoning, I have to bow down! There is no trick route! I don't want it any other way either.

Yesterday was Guru Poornima - a day to pay your gratitude to the Guru. Honestly, I don't even need to have a Guru. The fact that there existed one, *just one*, even just once in the whole timescale of humanity is enough! And if you happen to know and have one, you cannot even begin to comprehend how fortunate you are!

Personally, in the scale of evolution, I would place God one step behind the Guru.

India

Her flag, once flew high
Of might, knowledge and eternal light
Flounders now Her boat
Sinking under Her own weight
The path ahead lies not
of economic growth and materialism
Her eyes watch eagerly at
those dusty eyes lost in oblivion
sleepwalking through the day
to save their skin
The tears on Her eyes speak
of memories of men and women
who transcended themselves to reach her very roots
and now of men and women
who scrape the last shreds of what She has
Politicians will do it not
Businessmen will do it not
Corporations will do it not
For they all form the scrapers of her booty
Upto you and me it is
to breathe sincere labor and divine fragrance
back into Her soul
Jump in and act now, before
all that is India turns mere hallowed memory!