We are here to figure out life. Today as my granddaughter picked flowers from her backyard garden and placed it at the altar she asked me why do we place flowers. I explained to her that it was our way of showing thanks and gratitude to God for giving and providing us everything including the flower. I thought this would suffice for now. Later on, when she grows up she can learn to surrender bigger things as a way of giving thanks. For this Gen Alpha, they do accept and follow but with reasoning, contrary to us Gen X and earlier who just followed the rituals told without questioning. It looks like I have to be prepared for more questions coming my way.
But I am saddened for them. In the wake of the pandemic, children who should be outdoors exploring and with nature, are forced to stay indoors unless there is a need to be out. Our family optician says that the reason there is a surge in the numbers of children needing spectacles or corrective glasses or lens to see clearly is that their sight is limited within the four walls of their homes hence depriving their eye muscles of the much-needed exercise which is had by being outdoors where they watch both things near and far and beyond the hills and dales and the horizon. Another reason is the strain on these little eyes from continuously watching monitors or using gadgets up close.
It has been almost a year now that the COVID-19 virus has been threatening us, while much research goes into discovering a vaccine and testing it as in all earlier infectious diseases. From https://news.yahoo.com/lung-damage-found-covid-dead-000255877.html we learn that the research teams discovered "real and vast destruction of the architecture of the lungs", with healthy tissue "almost completely substituted by scar tissue". It looks like this time around the "enemy" targets the lungs. The only known means to not contract the virus is to stay indoors. If it's not viable, avoid contracting it by keeping a safe distance from those who have contracted it and protecting ourselves by using safety gear and taking precautions when in public. These are the times when we tend to cherish all that the Siddhas and elders had us practice. Right from the traditional gesture of welcome or vanakam by bringing one's own palms together; eating with one's own hands rather than share cutlery; eating in banana leaves or plates made of stitched leaves that are hygienic, disposable, and eco-friendly; these practices have kept us safe. The pranayama exercises passed on from generations has helped strengthen the 'fort' and has kept those who put them into practice safe. The many songs penned to ward of danger and evil known as "Kavasams" have given us the strength to battle all ills and troubles. Like in the movie "Inception" an attempt is made in placing an idea into one's subconscious, by reciting these songs, faith, and belief is strengthened in us. From being initially a believer of a doctrine or method, when we walk the path and walk the talk, belief turns into faith. As we pursue and see results the faith is strengthened in us. We gain both physical and mental strengths and soon build our defenses to all forthcoming dangers.
Although Agathiyar did not reveal, inform, indicate nor specifically spell out the danger and consequences of this impending disease, I guess he knew of the pandemic that would come our way for he had us disband the group of some fifty-odd devotees who gathered at AVM to pursue their journey alone now. As for me, he had me stay at home going out only if truly required of me since September of last year. He had me start again on the breathing techniques shown by Tavayogi in 2007 which I had pursued diligently until Agathiyar asked to stop when I was in pain and discomfort as a result of awakening "the sleeping giant" in me through the practice. This practice was tantamount to enhancing the lung's capacity. The breathing techniques given by Tavayogi brings in a tremendous amount of air and prana that comes with it. If continued for some time one can actually experience the prana fill and expand the body to the extend of exploding. Agathiyar then asked that we go within by quietly observing the breath settle after this practice is done. What is it with the breath that we are asked to observe it?
Osho in his book, "The Book of Secrets", published by OSHO International Foundation, Switzerland, 1974 says the only constant is breath. It comes with us as we come into this world, and leaves us when the moment arrives to shed the body. While all else has to be acquired, fetched, or an effort placed to arrive at as in knowledge, eating, and drinking, or moving around, breath is never acquired nor needs a conscious effort on our part to drive and sustain it.
We are breathing continuously from the moment of birth to the moment of death. Everything changes between these two points. Everything changes, nothing remains the same. Only breathing is a constant thing between birth and death. One thing is certain: between these two points of birth and death you must breathe. Breathing will be a continuous flow; No gap is possible. You are not required; breathing is something that goes on in spite of you. You cannot be alive without breathing. So breath and life have become synonymous.
Breathing is the mechanism of life, and life is deeply related to breathing. That is why in India we call it prana. We have given one word for both: prana means vitality, the aliveness. Your life is your breath. Your breath is a bridge between you and your body. Constantly, breath is bridging you to your body, connecting you, relating you to your body. Not only is the breath a bridge to your body, but it is also a bridge between you and the universe.
The body is just that part of the universe that has come to you, which is nearer to you. Everything in the body is part of the universe - every particle, every cell. Breath is the bridge. If the bridge is broken, you are no longer in the body. If the bridge is broken, you are no longer in the universe. You move into some unknown dimension; then you cannot be found in space and time.
We have been breathing and we will go on breathing - we are born breathing and we will die breathing - but we are not aware of certain points. There are certain points in breathing which you have never observed, and those points are the doors - the nearest doors to you from where you can enter into a different world, into a different being, into a different consciousness.
So, breath is also the bridge between you, and space and time. Breath, therefore, becomes very significant ... the most significant thing. If you can do something with the breath, you will suddenly turn to the present. If you can do something with the breath, you will attain the source of life. If you can do something with the breath, you can transcend time and space. If you can do something with the breath, you will be in the world and also beyond it.
We now understand why Agathiyar, Ramalinga Adigal, and all the other Siddhas have been telling us to sit still and to observe the breath. It leads us within where then the mystery unfolds and is answered. Osho in the first chapter, states that "theories become meaningless, and that experience becomes the center." In explaining tantra, Osho says that it is neither intellectual nor philosophical. Doctrines are meaningless for tantra is concerned about the method and the technique and the path. In helping us find a technique Osho shares the following advice.
In these hundred and twelve techniques, all the types, all the possible types of humanity have been included. Please don’t be concerned with all the techniques, otherwise you will get confused. If you try many techniques you will get confused, because to try so many techniques you will need a very big mind which can absorb contradiction. That is not possible right now. One day it may become possible. One day it may become possible that when you don’t have the ego within, you can move to the opposite without any problem. You can become so complete, so total, that you can move easily with many techniques. Then there will be no problem.
In these one hundred and twelve techniques, only one technique is for you. You simply find that which suits you, that which appeals to you. Towards it you will feel a deep affinity, an attraction; you will fall in love with it. Then forget all the remaining one hundred and eleven techniques. Forget them. You just stick to the one that works for you. But then there will also be no need! Right now, is the need. Find your technique. You are the lab; the whole experiment is to go on within you.
Osho adds that there is no change required or transformation taking place in understanding concepts and the philosophy behind things but in tantra, you need a change or rather a mutation. The yogic exercises given to us by the Siddhas have been tried and tested by them and are geared towards reaching a similar state of being as they are in. When Osho says, "I can be helpful to you in finding which technique will be suitable for you", he shows us that this is where the guru can play his role in giving an initiation into a path for an aspiring seeker and starting him off on the path. Along the way, the guru points out or shows the sadhaka techniques that would suit him whereby he shall see quick progress in his endeavors. When Tavayogi showed us the many asanas or Yogic postures and exercises and pranayama techniques, I tried them out. But I could not bring myself to carry out some of them at par with him and to his ability. When I raised this with him, he told me to do those that came easily and leave the others. Agathiyar too in asking me to revisit the techniques recently told me that I need not carry out all that was shown and said that I shall know which techniques to continue doing.
But beyond and above the sadhaka's attempt and effort, the guru's grace can uplift him immediately to higher heights and levels of achievement just like one climbs the ladder instantaneously with the roll of the dice in the game of snake and ladder. Swami Muktananda mentions in his book ‘Secret of the Siddhas’, Siddha Yoga Publication, 1980, that he received one word from his master Bhagawan Nithyanandha, that immediately and completely transformed him. He says,
Before meeting my guru I had practiced many different kinds of yoga, but it was I who had practiced them. However, that word activated a spontaneous yoga within me.
But first, we should stay alive to attain this state of spontaneous yoga. Let us take heed of all the guidelines, rules, and laws placed to flatten the curve, which we managed to do till some time back. Stay home. Stay safe. Stay alive.
Dr. Noor Hisham said the ministry is aiming to flatten the curve and reduce the R0 to 0.5 in the next two to three weeks.
“If we can flatten the curve and reduce the R0 from 2.2 to 1.0 in two weeks, then in another two to three weeks it is possible to go to 0.5. That is our target and we believe we can achieve it if we have full cooperation from Malaysians. The people can help us by staying home if there are no important errands outside. If they have to go out, they must comply with our standard operating procedure. That is the way to control Covid-19 and break the chain of its infection,” he said. (https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/11/05/we-can-flatten-the-curve-says-dg)