Death is not a tragedy. Each one of us born has signed a contract for some years in which we receive and also deliver before resigning from life. While the saints fix their day of departure we commoners are always caught by surprise. Hence we tend to bargain with God to keep our dear wants alive further. I used to wonder why some pleas are heard and God extends one's life while in others there is no compromise. It is not about being fair or that we are not loved but I guess it goes beyond mind and logic and time and space. Only he knows these secrets.
There are many secrets Agathiyar holds close to his heart. The most compassionate father reveals them in subtle ways to those who take hint of the signs. Most of the time we do not listen attentively and see through the sayings. Hence we miss the message and find ourselves caught by surprise later. Agathiyar though he is beyond time and space, always reminds us to adhere to the moment. If something is told, he expects us to immediately get moving on it. In delaying it we shall never find another coherent moment again as Mataji too told me the opportunity comes but only once. When the Siddhas assign a time it only means that the stars are in the right position, people are in place to help us, and nature shall cooperate with us. As for the saints, they can bulldoze through these barriers as they are beyond time and space. Neem Karoli Baba who was having a shave listened to the outpour of the old barber and asked to go pee midway. Once out of sight, he visited the old man's son miles away asking him to return to their village. On arrival the son who had left the family for years informs his father that a bearded man who had "shaving cream" on his face appeared before him and commanded him to head home. Tavayogi who was traveling with me was spotted by a pedlar on our arrival on the grounds of the Tanjore Big temple. Both Tavayogi and I were taken by surprise when he walked up to us asking Tavayogi "Swamiji, How come you are back again? You were here yesterday." On another occasion, Tavayogi who was on the phone speaking to his aid and cook Nadarajah back at his Kallar ashram, turned around and conveyed the news that Nadarajah had seen him on the steps leading to his old ashram just moments ago. How was that possible when he was with me in Malaysia? Though everything seems solid and permanent it is deceiving to the eyes. Though the bump and the subsequent pain felt when we knock into something tells us that it is real, could it actually otherwise be unreal? Is this what is called the world of illusion or Maya? Are pain and suffering superficial then? Can the mind combat them? Only experience can tell. The Siddhas step aside and watch us walk through life and the many situations that we have brought onto ourselves knowingly or unknowingly. But fear not as they walk with us and alongside us the moment we fall exhausted they catch us. It is only during these moments that they show their presence and we see their hand in play.