Sailing into the sixties can be a rough ride for some. Some need to continue working to sustain their existence. Some need to continue working because they claim that they would be bored doing nothing. For those who are bedridden and dependent on their family, out of love pray that they are taken away and end the families suffering too.
On the other hand many old people thrive and keep themselves occupied living off their earnings by engaging in sports that is not demanding on themselves and other pastimes including touring etc. Many still walk into their offices to deliver decisions. Our own former Prime Minister has made a comeback in Malaysian politics heading the country towards a new direction at his prime age of 93.
On the other hand many old people thrive and keep themselves occupied living off their earnings by engaging in sports that is not demanding on themselves and other pastimes including touring etc. Many still walk into their offices to deliver decisions. Our own former Prime Minister has made a comeback in Malaysian politics heading the country towards a new direction at his prime age of 93.
I am glad that Agathiyar has given me something to do and keep myself occupied after I opted for early retirement. He has given me an equally loving extended family of friends to work with in my retirement age. When I wrote about my back pain in my last post, the AVM family came all out to console me and aid me with advise, techniques and medicine. I was very taken aback by the love and concern of these lovely souls.
I replied to them candidly that give me another eight years and I shall tap dance with my granddaughter as this duo of Grandpa and Grandchild did.
https://m.facebook.com/363066120342/posts/10160954282140343/
For those who are in the same dilemma you can check out these pages sent in by Master Uva, a yoga teacher, energy healer and varma exponent.
Never in my dream did I envision my future in the company of Siddhas. The Siddhas are keeping me alive. Never was there a moment of boredom in these two and a half years of my retirement. Agathiyar keeps me occupied with simple chores each day. When there are big events to carry out he brings in the entire team to participate. Otherwise on days when there is nothing much to be done he sends in these lovely AVM members to chat. We have a good laugh and learn a thing or two from this small talk. Imagine our surprise and amazement when Surendran was told in the Nadi to go over to AVM often, to have a chat and a meal. When many had to perform all sorts of remedies and parikaram, Suren was given the most simplest and inexpensive task!
We come to learn that the ancient Indians had a concept of human life that was divided into four age-based life stages, namely Brahmacharya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (retired) and Sannyasa (renunciate). The elders had clearly defined these stages and society adhered to it strictly. I am told that our grannies and grandpas never let their children lay their hands on ancient scriptures chasing them away, saying that the time was not right, meaning that they were too young to indulge in such studies. There was a time for each goal in human life and it was clearly defined. Hence there was never any confusion in the early years of one's life and people came to terms and accepted decisions made in the later part of one's lives. The reverse is happening now bringing to a state of confusion and refusal to come to terms with life's dictates.
According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashrama_(stage), the goal of each period was the fulfillment and development of the individual. Having lived a fulfilling part of that lifespan one moves on to the next gracefully. There was no conflict of interest. One would have expired all that he had desired to do before moving on to the new responsibilities that awaited him in the next stage. Isn't that wonderful?
The final stage of Sannyasa is "marked by renunciation of material desires and prejudices, represented by a state of disinterest and detachment from material life, generally without any meaningful property or home (Ascetic), and focused on Moksha, peace and simple spiritual life."
This equates to surrender to the forces. Both surrender and sorry are two words most often used but never given its true weight-age.
Surrender according to dictionary.com means to yield (something) to the possession or power of another; in simple terms, it means, before surrender you are in charge, after surrender someone is in charge of you. If earlier your life was in your hands, now someone else is in control. He decides what is good for you. Just as the father gives the child full freedom to walk on his own without holding on to him, giving full freedom to explore but catches him just as he is about to fall, so does Erai look over our shoulders too. After submitting to him, our life is his to shape and build. All our liabilities is his too. But what we do is to say that we have surrendered but still desire for a particular outcome or result. We profess that we have surrendered but still keep moving the chess pieces.
If the saints, before they became engulfed in love for Erai, had a life for themselves, after the fire of devotion engulfed them they walked and talked Erai's mission. Erai is love. They thought, spoke, and lived a life of love - love for Erai and all of his creation. This love knew no bounds. This love was not partial. This love was not selective. This love drove them to carry out Erai's will.
But to maintain a certain order they did lay down certain rules though. Coming under the shadow of Erai is like cuddling up into the arms of one's mother, feeling safe and sound, not a worry in life. Although we need only ask and it shall be delivered, but the father knows when to let him have it. He only hands it to the child when the child knows how to handle it; only when the child has learnt to be responsible with the gift.
Agathiyar has asked us to carry on with our daily chores and responsibilities and allocate some time for devotion. Never has he asked any of us to leave the family to become a turavi. Erai has high regards for one who cares for the family and still manages to find time for worship to him and provide service to his subjects.
Agathiyar has asked us to carry on with our daily chores and responsibilities and allocate some time for devotion. Never has he asked any of us to leave the family to become a turavi. Erai has high regards for one who cares for the family and still manages to find time for worship to him and provide service to his subjects.
A gnani sitting in isolation, who might not have responsibilities can while his days in divine thoughts. But a householder has to bring food to the table, provide for the family, educate the children and do lots more for his family and society. He is preoccupied with the welfare of his family and work, be it toiling hard on the fields or making decisions in a company.
A gnani can choose to neglect his body but a house holder needs to be healthy to carry out his responsibilities. A gnani might not have need for money but a householder needs hard cash to even make purchases for his daily worship and rituals, especially living in the city.
As a householder seeking answers with a gnani we often return confused. The gnani advises from his state and perspective, himself often remaining in solitude and apart from society. Our lifestyle though is one of active association with society, school, politics, career etc. Who then do we look towards for advise? A householder who has successfully learnt to balance his outward life with spirituality could fill this gap and help lead us on. Here we can learn to lead a wholesome life incorporating the best of both worlds. Why go after a care free savior who regards the world as trouble and secludes himself and moves further and further into the woods only to cause him further trouble and disturb his space? Of what use is the discourse with him, which is often rare, when after having met him we have to return to society and go back to the same routine?
Take someone who can be an exemplary model and mentor who lives and strives in this world, the world of relationships and matter. I had such an enlightened soul as my first Guru in Supramania Swami of Thiruvannamalai. Outwardly he was an ordinary householder. But he brought out such amazing and magical moments from within when he mesmerized and froze me for five solid hours in the silent hours just before nightfall in his village home of Nachananthal a day after full moon and my Girivalam of the Holy mountain.
I can now equate this magical moment with Nakirar's asking of Lord Ganapathy in his Thiruagaval for a quiet space in the vicinity of his Guru where they could both engage in silent talk.
மோனா ஞான முழுதும் அளித்து
சிற்பரிப் பூரண சிவத்தைக் காண
நற்சிவ நிட்கள நாட்டமுந் தந்து
குருவுஞ் சீடனுங் கூடிக் கலந்து
இருவரும் ஒரு தனியிடந் தனிற் சேர்ந்து
தானந்தமாகித் தற்பர வெளியில்
ஆனந்த போத அறிவைக் கலந்து
ஈசனிைணயடியிருத்தி
மனத்தே நீயே நானாய்
நானே நீயாய்க்
காயா புரியைக் கனவெனவுணா்ந்து
எல்லாமுன் செயலென்ேற உணர
நல்லா உன்னருள் நாட்டந் தருவாய்
காரண குருவே கற்பகத் களிேற
வாரணமுகத்து வள்ளலே போற்றி
http://kuviyalgal.blogspot.com/2013/09/vinayagar-thiru-agaval.html
I can now equate this magical moment with Nakirar's asking of Lord Ganapathy in his Thiruagaval for a quiet space in the vicinity of his Guru where they could both engage in silent talk.
மோனா ஞான முழுதும் அளித்து
சிற்பரிப் பூரண சிவத்தைக் காண
நற்சிவ நிட்கள நாட்டமுந் தந்து
குருவுஞ் சீடனுங் கூடிக் கலந்து
இருவரும் ஒரு தனியிடந் தனிற் சேர்ந்து
தானந்தமாகித் தற்பர வெளியில்
ஆனந்த போத அறிவைக் கலந்து
ஈசனிைணயடியிருத்தி
மனத்தே நீயே நானாய்
நானே நீயாய்க்
காயா புரியைக் கனவெனவுணா்ந்து
எல்லாமுன் செயலென்ேற உணர
நல்லா உன்னருள் நாட்டந் தருவாய்
காரண குருவே கற்பகத் களிேற
வாரணமுகத்து வள்ளலே போற்றி
http://kuviyalgal.blogspot.com/2013/09/vinayagar-thiru-agaval.html
An astrologer by career, a profession asked to be taken up by his Guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar, he could read my past and future without asking for my birth details or the almanac. He brought his master to chant with us in my next visit, some four years after his guru went into samadhi! Agathiyar attested that Supramania Swami himself had attained samadhi and that he was laid to rest in the right spot.
Although a gnani might be able to guide in matters related to career and business if you want to learn to do business you go to one who owns a successful business and learn the tricks of the trade from him. The gnani can of course guide you to become another gnani - period. This way life will be simplified and our objectives clear.
And so it was that I was brought to Supramania Swami who lit the fire of devotion in me and later the divine sent Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal to nurture the flame.
When I went around making inquiries about the Siddha path in the beginning of my search, many gave me a nasty look and a negative review of the path. "What! the Siddha path? The Siddhas will confuse you", one said. In their eagerness to jump into spirituality many shunned their family and responsibilities towards them. Some having had nasty experiences bad mouth the path. Others distanced themselves, claiming that the path took them away from a good life, broke their marriages, split the family due to differences in ideology and beliefs, and brought a good career to an end. They claimed that instead of gaining some good, it gave them lots of trouble. I thought to myself that this could not be true. There has to be a reason why Agathiyar told me to worship the Siddhas. I believed that the path was not at fault but their mentors having misunderstood the workings of the Siddhas, propagated the false teachings.
I took the bait rather then keep away, not listening to others and their bitter experiences but instead to experience life with the Siddhas. That is when Tavayogi dropped by in Malaysia. A bond grew between us. I stayed through thick and thin with Tavayogi, although he faced many challenges. I soon realized that the spiritual and religious side of life was equally saddled with the same problems we faced in this material world. Jealousy, competition, back stabbing, treason, sabotage and all other negativeness survived in this religious spiritual society too. There are many out there I soon learnt, who derived immense joy in the defeat and fall of others. I learnt to tread carefully, watching my back and was careful with whom I associated. But I think I failed - to watch my aging back!
I took the bait rather then keep away, not listening to others and their bitter experiences but instead to experience life with the Siddhas. That is when Tavayogi dropped by in Malaysia. A bond grew between us. I stayed through thick and thin with Tavayogi, although he faced many challenges. I soon realized that the spiritual and religious side of life was equally saddled with the same problems we faced in this material world. Jealousy, competition, back stabbing, treason, sabotage and all other negativeness survived in this religious spiritual society too. There are many out there I soon learnt, who derived immense joy in the defeat and fall of others. I learnt to tread carefully, watching my back and was careful with whom I associated. But I think I failed - to watch my aging back!
While traveling this path there were indeed countless moments of bliss. But as the world exist in duality, day and night, good and bad, calm and furious, saintly and beastly, the divine did bring into our lives individuals who could destabilize any well running organization. Having gone around creating much trouble for spiritual establishments and its heads they stood at the doorway of Kallar Ashram and AVM too. They came to explore and shop for the ware we had to sell. They would begin talking ill of their former establishment and its head. I used to wonder how long would it take for them to talk ill of us to others. Sadly though, rather then focus on their needs of the day which should be their soul search, disillusioned and sidetracked, they were focused on the daily running of the organization and its programs. They chose to look for the minute black dot in the large white space, looking for nitty things to expose and highlight. Then there are others who try to sabotage the plans and events just because they have had a clash, trying to convince others not to work in tandem with these establishments, trying their best to poison our minds.
I wonder if they had not gained even a single good while associating with these masters and their peers? I wonder why they harbored so much animosity having being sheltered, fed and cared for, by the establishments in all those years they were with them? How can someone talk ill of a place that had taken us in in our times of trouble or during your search? Don't they have even an iota of the sense of gratefulness for all that they have taken? I for one would be grateful to the ashram for feeding me, giving me a place to lodge throughout my stay there. The least they could do was to forgive and forget and move on with their lives if these association had failed or did not benefit them.
Karna stayed with Duryodhana and his siblings fighting Duryodhana's war just for the sole reason that Duryodhana had taken him in his times of distress, given him a kingdom to rule, thus bringing him a status in his life. Karna is one character in the Mahabharata war that we should emulate for staying faithful and giving to others till the end of his days. When Krishna comes in disguise to test him if he still upheld his principles even at the time of nearing death, Karna tells him he has nothing to offer except his merits gained from giving his wealth and possessions to all those who came seeking. He fills his palms with his blood that is oozing out from the wound where lay stuck an arrow, and lets it drip into Krishna's open and outreached palms. We have much to learn on what we ought to emulate and what to drop through reading this great epic the Mahabharata.
A number of the Nayanmars and Arunagiri too had to face their adversaries in the prime of their lives. But Erai was always at their side. Erai lives where truth survives.
These days I continue to pray that the divine keeps them away from us although we have come unscathed thanks to the ever protective Siddhas.
I choose to see the good in others. We can have differences in opinions within the establishment but we need to bear in mind that we are working towards a common objective and not to satisfy our individual appetite and ego.
All these incidences gave me a rude shock and jolted me from an otherwise wonderful spiritual journey although Tavayogi had forewarned me of such menaces.
Ramalinga Adigal stood as a seven year old at present day Arulmigu Muthukumarasamy Temple or Kandhakottam in Chennai asking in prayer that Lord Muruga keep the negative forces at bay. This compilation of 31 verses came to be known as Kandhakotta Deivamani Maalai. Adigal had his fair share of troubles too from several quarters out to tarnish his credibility and name, in his later years, but he came through unscathed.
Ramalinga Adigal stood as a seven year old at present day Arulmigu Muthukumarasamy Temple or Kandhakottam in Chennai asking in prayer that Lord Muruga keep the negative forces at bay. This compilation of 31 verses came to be known as Kandhakotta Deivamani Maalai. Adigal had his fair share of troubles too from several quarters out to tarnish his credibility and name, in his later years, but he came through unscathed.
A number of the Nayanmars and Arunagiri too had to face their adversaries in the prime of their lives. But Erai was always at their side. Erai lives where truth survives.
These days I continue to pray that the divine keeps them away from us although we have come unscathed thanks to the ever protective Siddhas.
I choose to see the good in others. We can have differences in opinions within the establishment but we need to bear in mind that we are working towards a common objective and not to satisfy our individual appetite and ego.
It is all falling into place. Life's game is slowly being made known. As after several attempts at it, the gamer eventually learns to maneuver the moves in a role playing game, similarly after several births he becomes an adept at exploring the wilderness of Erai's world. Instinct tells him either to venture further or to pull out. Experience shows him what to expect and lays ahead. A glimpse of what is in store is given by Erai. This is where the Nadi serves the purpose. Giving a glimpse of life, at times charting the path. The decision is ours to either walk the path, stay put or retreat, or choose to walk an entirely different path.
Let us lead a quality life. Let us help others lead a quality life too. This would suffice for now. There is joy in a full day of activity. Then there is joy in rewinding for the day, abstaining from doing anything for some time and just sitting quiet. Let us take the middle way for now.