It is amusing to see through the divine game. He has us grope in darkness and ignorance and have us hold on to things that are perishable and seen vaguely as the truth. Those who are strong-willed and are steadfast in their faith and listen to the divine call and words, upon understanding this game break away from the hold of Maya or illusion. They see the web of illusion spun with the torch that the divine lights first externally and later internally. His surrounding is seen clearly and he comes to distinguish the false and the real. He comes to understand the Laws of Nature.
Karma is so subtly interwoven in man's daily life, his worship and devotion. This cause-and-effect principle has an unseen domino effect that underlies every move and the very existence of all that is seen. Whatever sufferings others undergo is felt by us. Neale says that God in addressing him is addressing others too. It is not him as a singular who has this conversation with God but rather all of us in the plural. In "Conversation with God - Book 4", God tells him "An awakened species sees the unity of all life and lives into it." They know "experientially that there is only one thing and all things are part of the one. Because they exist in another dimension they can view the sub-molecular structure of all things. They observe that there is only one energy in the universe that is the source and force that mixes up the foundational elements of which it is comprised, adding and subtracting, creating all things in existence through alchemy, hence altering the vibrational frequency of these variously combined elements to generate differing expressions of the essential essence." We learn that "the elements are both conscious and make choices", in other words as Neale puts it, "consciousness exists at the elemental level."
Could this be the reason why early man and even some remote civilizations today still pay respect and homage and worship nature and everything around them, both living and dead, solid or liquid, seen and unseen?
Agathiyar is said to have fed "elements" in keeping creation or prapanjam alive. Could these elements be the Buthas or பூதம் that is said to reside and live in and of us? The food that Agathiyar eats is said to reach out to all of creation in a mysterious way that is yet to be decoded. The food that is served by Agathiyar to others appeases the hunger of all the elementals or Buthas within them. From https://blog.good-will.ch/WordPress/2010/10/23/rishi-agastya-a-little-miracle-and-some-stories/ we read how Agathiyar fed the elements by serving people food.
"Last week I came across a transcription of a seminar given by Sri Kumar in the Nilagiri Hills in 1996 about Agastya, Master Jupiter. ..... (He) is often traveling with his disciples and loves to cook and serve. Through serving food he likes to spread himself into the people and thus adjust any imbalances in the mental, emotional, and physical bodies."
As Yogi Ramsuratkumar is said to smoke to remove the karma of one sitting before him, the food that is to be served hot and steaming before the images and idols of Gods and Goddesses and deities, though not physically eaten, the steam is taken in relieving us of our karma. The food that is served to the hungry besides appeasing their hunger and keeping them alive for another day, removes our karma and surprisingly that of those who receive these meals too.
A story is revealed in meditation to Dr. V.N. Jayapalan. King Kuberan is forced to join his subjects seeking a morsel of food from a mysterious old man staying on the fringes of his kingdom to appease his insatiable hunger. Upon arriving at the old man's hut in disguise, the king sees his citizens being fed by him. The only condition he laid was that they chant the name of Agathiyar. For each chant, they were given a morsel of food. The old man in a way practiced evangelism back then itself, reciting the name of Agathiyar for each morsel of food that he gave. King Kuberan sees his subjects now chanting Agathiyar's name and not that of Sukracharya as decreed by him. He sits amongst his subjects and watches the prayers conducted. This was soon to become the first sessions of Kutu Prathanai or joint prayers that we have come to adopt now. Sitting before the old man to receive the food, the leper turns into a young, hale, and healthy being while the king takes on his leprosy. The man now feeds the hideous king as the king sings the praise of Agathiyar. The disease together with his karma leaves the body of the king and he turns into a divine being. Agathiyar grants him moksha.
In bringing us to see the Nadi, Agathiyar paves the way to recovery and bliss by expounding the effects of our past karma on us. He helps us deal with it. He brings us to recite the names of the Siddhas and carry out feeding and charity. With karma out of the way and the thorns on the path removed, he brings us walking the path of the Siddhas. As the breath links us to the Prapanjam around us he brings us to become aware of our breath. Using this tool we travel the path further. Along the way the many experiences teach us lessons and mold us further. We realize the need to use a tool and leave it behind for others to pick up and follow. As we gather more tools methods and means to accomplish the numerous tasks along the way, we realize that if we are to carry these tools given or picked up along the journey we would have a heavy load to carry. We learn to let go of our possessions willingly. What remains in our prayer room now is a lit oil lamp and nothing else. That was how Agathiyar had us journey along the path. Up till yesterday, after having me sit alone and while my time doing nothing, both he and Lobha Ma came to lead me onto the next phase. They asked that as of today I adopt a day of silence, once a week every Thursday. This would be the start of another phase in my life. They tell me that emptiness is the final goal.
Ramalinga Adigal came to give the green light to begin the Satsang that he had asked us to hold at AVM citing that "As everything began here, it shall end here too", making me recall Tavayogi's words as he autographed my copy of his book "Andamum Pindamum" back then. He wrote, "The journey begins and ends there". It is a journey of returning back home. The journey is about to end.
I have invited devotees over to join us at AVM on Saturday, 16 September 2023 between 4pm and 8pm. I have no idea what we are going to talk about as I never plan things these days. As we have totally surrendered our lives to the service of the Siddhas, we know that they shall be present to lead the talks.