Glimpses of Gurudev R.D. Ranade Editorial Note This is a collection of Glimpses of Gurudev's life recorded by different persons who were fortunate to come into contact with him. These were first published in Pathway to God, the quarterly run by the Academy of Comparative Philosophy and Religion, Belagavi. The narratives reveal Gutudev's rich personality and eloquently exhibit the writers' reverence for the Master. Each person plays his own tune and together they produce a Liebnitzean harmony. Gurudev's versatility inspires different attitudes in different individuals. If some revere him as an ideal teacher, another cherishes affection for him as a loving father. Some look upon him as a magnanimous man, while others respect him as an intellectual luminary. His affable manners attract one and all and his participation in divinity serves as a pole-star to every seeker after Truth. That which lies at the back of all these approaches is the yearning for spiritual life. For aspirants, all roads lead to Nimbal. Some passages are recollections of people of their first meeting with Gurudev; some are jottings of students who came under his tutelage; some represent the impressions of those who heard his inspiring lectures or read his enlightening works. Some others are records of discussions which took place almost daily. Mostly they are recalled from memory, and were rarely taken down at the time of discussions. The narratives are direct transmissions by the aspirants and as such are authentic. But most of them being recountings from memory, memory plays it's own role in the reproduction. Passage of time of a day or even of an hour, interferes with the accuracy and completeness of the reports, inspite of best intention and utter sincerity of
