I had never imagined that I would write a blog. But it just happened. Although my brother was very much into the English language and studied Shakespearean literature and took up a career in journalism eventually out of love for the language I was not lured by the language. But as my command of the Tamil language was poor and I had to take notes about my travels to India I decided to write and document them in English. I posted them on my websites in the late nineties. Amazed by the possibility of including media to accompany these words I picked up some basic HTML language sufficient enough to embed videos and animations meant to liven up the pages. With the advent of blogging things were simplified. Hence I opted to blog.
Just as my brother runs a caption under his column in an online newspaper these days, that goes "A Kathirasen has spent 43 years in journalism typing under the illusion that people actually read his writings", I too have begun to ask myself if I am under an illusion that these posts are read by any. But luckily for me, the statistics provide proof and the numbers that indeed it is being read by many followers. Besides this, I receive an occasional call, message, or e-mail asking why there aren't any posts whenever I take a break. Following in his footsteps is my daughter who is studying Mass Communication.
I am glad that this blog has served to enlighten others just as it had been enlightening me on various aspects of religion and spiritualism. Often falling back into the arms of the material world that brings much joy and pleasure for a short span of time I soon bounce back leaving this material world for a short retreat this time into the spiritual realm. This is the journey these days of shuttling between both worlds, the material and spiritual. When are we going to be anchored permanently in the spiritual realm? Even if we desire it this very moment Agathiyar puts it on hold for he says many still need to come by and visit him at AVM. Hence he has asked to put off the idea of total isolation for now. But it shall take place one day and the day shall be determined by him, he says. Till then I shall serve him in the only way I know, that is by sharing whatever is revealed to me through various means. I am learning too at the same time. For instance, the last post was written within minutes of reading the first few pages of Osho's book "The Book of Secrets" and after having been reminded of Ramalinga Adigal's birthday through the many sharing of these reminders on social media. This prompted me to ask: Are we only going to keep sharing the messages, news, and miracles by the saints and never attempt to become one? Are we contended to dress like them and see it as rewarding enough? Are we going to perform puja year in and year out without becoming the object of the puja? Are we going to return to the master or guru again and again and sit around listening to his discourses within putting into practice what is being said or given? Are we going to seek gurus upon gurus and gather Diksha or initiations and exhibit them on our chests just as wartime veterans pin their awards or lapel pins? But while the veterans had served the army and the nation and deserve to be honored, initiation is only a catalyst for one to venture further into a new world and a new path. We still need to practice. Initiation does not replace practice as many think. There is much effort and practice to be placed before we can be honored by both the guru and the world.
The child is first initiated into Sariyai by the parents. The guru then comes to initiate him into Kriyai and Yogam. Yogam leads him within and he discovers his true Self and attains Jnanam. There is an element of love in all these states. Love for the parents sustains the child on the path of Sariyai. Love for the guru makes him progress fast in Kriyai and Yogam. Finally love for the divine brings him to identify himself with his creator. From being a creation of the divine, living in the state of Salokam, that is of living in His world, and serving Him and His place of worship and serving the parents and elders, his family, and his nation, he makes quick progress when the guru comes along. He now serves the guru and indirectly his creator. He is elevated from servant to son. Making further progress the divine comes within reach or Sameepam. With further guidance from the guru and his concerted efforts in carrying out all the directives given, the divine brings changes within him making him into his form. He becomes divine in nature or Sarupam. Finally having stopped traversing between both worlds, the material and spiritual, the external and the internal, and resting in the divine he shall rest in the state of Sayujyam. This is the journey outlined for us. It shall eventually take place for all of his creation. Those who are determined shall achieve the state earlier while others' journeys shall be delayed by their seeking, personal agendas, preferences, desires, and karma. Even if we have exhausted all our desires and past karma and are ready to break the chain of death and birth, but if another soul desires something out of us we shall be born again to fulfill his or her desire. Hence it is of utmost importance to first fulfill all our responsibilities towards the parents, family, and society. Only then venture to know the Self or Soul.
Just as Osho shares the discourse or rather question and answer session or truly the doubts that arise from within Dewi in the chapter "The Sutra", a reader shared a beautiful enlightening piece from "Anmiga Kalanjiyam" where Shiva enlightens the Shiva Ganangal. It rather surprises me now that this piece has come my way to shed some light on the nature of these Shiva Ganangal whom Agathiyar asked us to know and understand after first learning about the 96 Tattvas from Tavayogi's book "Andamum Pindamum." This discourse is between Lord Shiva and his Ganangal. When they ask Shiva who he was just as Dewi asks Shiva, "Oh Shiva, what is your reality?" in the Sutras, Shiva replies that when the soul that resides in all of his creation comes to know that it is complete or Sudha Paripuranam and is him, they shall know Shivam. Just as Dewi who identifies and is one with Shiva, receives the answers to all her doubts that she places before Shiva, the Ganangal are also reminded the same.
#சிவன்யார்? நீங்கள் யார்? என்று #சிவகணங்கள் சிவனிடம் கேட்க சிவன் அளித்த பதில்.
இந்த உலகில் மனிதருள், தாவரங்களுள், விலங்குள், பறவையில் எல்லா உயிர்களுக்குள் இருக்கின்ற இந்த ஆத்மா முழுமையாகும் அதுவே (நான்) #சிவம்.
முழுமையானது தான் முழுமையானவன் என்று தெரிந்து கொள்ளாது, தன்னை பார்க்காது, தன்னிலிருந்து வெளியே பார்த்து, தான் யார்? என்று ஆராய ஆரம்பித்து விடுகிறது.
முழுமையானது ஆணும் பெண்ணும் கூடப்போய் கருவறை கருவில் தங்குகிறது. கருவாக தங்குகிற வரையில் அது முழுமையாய் இருக்கிறது.
மெல்ல உருமாறி ஏழாம் மாதம் ஆண் என்றோ, பெண் என்றோ பின்னப்படுகிறது. இரண்டுமே அது தான். ஆனால் அதற்கு தெரியவில்லை .
ஆண் என்று பின்னப்பட்டது தான் இழந்து விட்ட அந்தப்பெண்ணை தேடுகிறது.
பெண் என்று பின்னப்பட்டது தன்னிலிருந்து வெளிப்பட்ட அந்த ஆணைத்தேடுகிறது.
கருவாகி கரு உருவாகி வெளியே வருகிறது. உருவாகி வெளியே வந்த பிறகு ஆணின் அணைப்பிற்கு பெண்ணும், பெண்ணின் அன்பிற்கு ஆணும் ஏங்க தொடங்குகிறார்கள்.
கருவறைக்குள் முழுமையாய் இருந்தேனே என்று மறுபடியும் கருவறைக்குள் போகும் முயற்ச்சியை கூடல் என்கிறார்கள்.
மறுபடியும் அவர்களிடம் இருந்து ஒரு சக்தி வெளியாகி முழுமையாய் ஒரு கருப்பையில் தங்குகிறது மறுபடியும் பின்னப்படுகிறது. இது அளவிலாத விளையாட்டு. இது இடையறாது நடக்கும் தொழில். இது எப்போது முடிவடையும்?
காற்று வெளியே போனால் சிவா. உள்ளே போனால் வாசி. உள்ளே போகும் மூச்சை கவனிக்கிற போது மனம் ஒருமுகப்படுகிறது.
உள்ளே இருப்பது யார்? என்று பார்க்க இயலுகிறது. உள்ளே இருப்பது முழுமை.
பின்னப்படாத ஒரு முழுமை என்று புரியும் போது, பிறக்கும் ஆசையும் பிறப்பதற்காக செய்யும் முயற்சிகளின் ஆசையும் குறைகிறது.
ஆனந்தம் உள்ளே இருக்கிறது. அது வெளியில் உள்ள பொருட்களில் இல்லை என்பது தெளிவாகிறது. அப்போது பொருட்கள் இருந்தாலும் இல்லாது போனாலும் ஒன்று என்ற நிலை வருகிறது. வெறும் உயிர் வாழ்தல் மட்டுமே சாதாரணமாக நடக்க மரணம் எளிதாகிறது.
மரண பயமில்லாமல். கலவரமில்லாமல்.
ஆனந்தமாய் இருக்கும் போது மறுபடியும் பிறக்க வேண்டிய அவசியம் அந்த ஆன்மாவிற்கு ஏற்படுவதில்லை. அது அசைவற்றது ஆகிறது. அதுவே #சிவம் ஆகும்.
நன்றி.
ஆன்மீக களஞ்சியம் நூல்.
Its translation to the best of my ability follows.
The most complete or comprehensive soul, not realizing its true state begins to differentiate itself, and instead of looking within at its self, begins to look out to realize its nature. It joins the man and women in her womb, residing there henceforth till its form changes and is identified as male or female in the seventh month. If it takes the form of a male it begins to search for its female counterpart and vice versa. Having taken birth the female portion sought to embrace the male portion while the male portion yearns and sought the love from its female portion seeking completeness again as it once shared in the mother's womb. Another soul comes together as the male and female come together and merge and the chain is extended. This is His play. Is there no break in this chain? When shall it come to a halt?
The air that leaves us is Shiva (siVaa). That which comes within is Vaasi. Paying attention to the incoming breath tames the mind and makes it settle. Only when the mind subsides do we begin to recognize the tenant within. What resides within is completeness or Suddha Paripuranam. It is only when one feels that he is inadequate or not complete that he seeks elsewhere for fulfillment or completeness. When one realizes that he is complete by nature the desire to be born again subsides too. The attempt to be born again subsides. He understands that bliss is not in the external but within oneself. He is not shattered or disturbed with gain or loss. Death is acceptable to him. No fear or fuss of death arises. As he is in a state of bliss he does not desire to be born again. He settles down. That is the state of Shivam.