Need for a -living- master?

[Om Hridayam]

I have studied comparative religion/mysticism for 40+ years and after all this time I have seen so many teachers of a variety of levels of integrity. Ramana leaves all the others so far behind. The really bad ones are easy to spot, but even the realy good ones have some oddities that give them away. Ramana is spotless. There are not many sages, gurus, avatars or teachers who've walked this earth at his level. The bar is set so high with Him that everyone else looks slightly ridiculous

[Ravi.N]

One can get human gurus by the million.All want to be teachers. But who cares to be a disciple?
Sri Ramakrishna

[Ravi.N]

The need of a guru
BRAHMO: "Is spiritual knowledge impossible without a guru?"
MASTER: "Satchidananda alone is the Guru. If a man in the form of a guru awakens spiritual consciousness in you, then know for certain that it is God the Absolute who has assumed that human form for your sake. The guru is like a companion who leads you by the hand. After the realization of God, one loses the distinction between the guru and the disciple. 'That creates a very difficult situation; there the guru and the disciple do not see each other.' It was for this reason that Janaka said to Sukadeva, 'Give me first my teacher's fee if you want me to initiate you into the Knowledge of Brahman.' For the distinction between the teacher and the disciple ceases to exist after the disciple attains to Brahman.The relationship between them remains as long as the disciple does not see God."
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

[Ravi.N]

Only that day dawns to which we are awake.
Henry David Thoreau

[Om Hridayam]

Thank you, Ravi.

[Nagaraj]

आचार्यात् पादमादत्ते पादं शिष्यः स्वमेधया ।
सब्रह्मचारिभ्यः पादं पादं कालक्रमेण च ॥

AchAryAt pAdamAdatte, pAdam shiShyaH swamedhayA |
sa-brahmachAribhyaH pAdam, pAdam kAlakrameNa cha ||

(One gains knowledge) - one-fourth from the teacher, one-fourth from own intelligence, one-fourth from fellow-students, and one-fourth with time!

~ Subhashita

[Nagaraj]

।। आश्चर्यो वक्ता कुशलोऽस्य लब्धा ।।

(Indeed, it is a matter of great) Surprise (the one who is able to) express, conveys (the Truth) and Skillfull (indeed) the one who gets it (grasps it)

~ Kathopanishad