I had watched a movie on Mother Teresa "Letters from Mother Teresa" some time back and was captivated by her love and compassion that spearheaded her mission to save lives beginning with providing a shelter for those left to die in the streets. Today I came across a news piece on Cheng Yen, the initiator of Tzu Chi, a global organization that has "helped build schools and hospitals, run programs for refugees in Ukraine and victims of mass shootings, and responds to natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods" at Who is the Buddhist nun who built a global charity from a tiny apartment in rural Taiwan? (msn.com)
Like Kavyakantha Vasistha Ganapati Muni who objected to women being barred from any spiritual or religious chores when it was prevalent at that time that women were not considered fit to worship Agni, study the Vedas, and recite Vedic Mantra and were denied the benefits of Upayana, and would himself initiate women into Mantra japa, Cheng Yen who ran away from home to become a nun at 21 years of age, found "getting ordained as an uphill task in a society where "being a monk was reserved for men".
"That changed when Taiwan came under Japanese rule, and women started receiving education. Japan’s approach also allowed nuns to study at Buddhist universities in Japan, and when they came back to Taiwan, they established their own practices, formally opening the path to women being ordained."
(Source: Associated Press)
It is amazing what we humans can do provided we choose to. But most of the time we just walk past or look the other way, in no way affected by the plight and sufferings of others. I too used to walk by a hungry man or beggar back then. It did not move me to stop to ask or enquire if he or she needed anything or an aid. When Agathiyar reversed my destiny asking me to get another initiation from Tavayogi after a Nadi reading, and asking that I stay at his ashram for a couple of days, besides having Tavayogi bringing me places associated with the Siddhas, having Tavayogi show and point out to me the distinction between even gurus in physical form, he also had me carry out my first ever act of feeding and doing charity at the ashram. Then sending youths to my aid we initiated the group Amudha Surabhi, the charity arm of Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM), and continued this gesture. When many would settle for this and be comfortable doing this, Agathiyar had us wind up and go within on the next phase of the journey, to know the Self. When most would think that Agathiyar would have us adorn the saffron robe and become a mendicant, he left AVM briefly and returned with Lobama. Residing as a couple now, he has me carry out my 60th birthday to coincide with Guru Purnima on Sunday, 21 July 2024.
Turning 60 is a time to introspect and redress all our shortcomings, and rectify and tie up loose ends so that we leave with a clean slate and do not need to come back to wash our dirty linen, clean the plates, or make good or complete unfinished work or tasks. The 60th wedding is to garland the Atma within us as opposed to a Shanmugam Avadaiyappa garlanding a Mageswari as in the marriage before this. It is acknowledging that the couple has respected the marriage contract and vows they took before the family and invitees at the wedding and most importantly witnessed by their ancestors, guardian angels, Gods and Goddesses, and other deities who stood around as the couple circumambulated the sacred fire. It is acknowledging that they had respected each other, and carried out their responsibilities to the best of their ability in raising a family, as Anuradha Gajaraj-Lopez details in her book "Tirumanam - Agasthiyar Vazhipaadu". Briefly, it goes as follows.
- The first circumambulation around the fire is to vow "to take care of their welfare and bring happiness to the family."
- The second is "a prayer to God to give them the strength to fulfill their dharma as householders."
- The third is "a promise to take care of the material aspects of family life."
- In the fourth step around the holy fire, "the couple promises to be faithful to each other."
- The fifth is "a prayer to beget noble children."
- In the sixth, "the groom asks if she will remain with him forever?" and finally,
- Taking the 7th step, the couple "accept each other as husband and wife and promise to remain eternal companions."
and now shall undertake to journey to know the soul that resides within them.
Ordering the garlands for the occasion with my local florist I asked if there was a distinction between these garlands and the flowers used for various occasions and events. This simple man educated me that nature does not distinguish between the good, bad, and the ugly just as the sun shines and rain pours equally. He told me in the past the villagers would gather whatever flowers were available and string them into a garland. It might be for the newly married or the dead. There were no specific flowers or garlands for these occasions. I had another knock and a lesson from Agathiyar.
Taking my usual walk in the park this morning, I decided to slow down the pace, taking a step at a time, consciously and with full awareness as opposed to the usual fast pace that has become a habit for me too like many at the parks. What do you know? It was entirely different and truly refreshing. I was reminded of the Buddhist monks taking a step at a time. If we allocate a particular time for meditation, the Buddhist monks have come to incorporate meditation into their daily lives, while eating, walking, speaking, gardening, watering, bathing etc. Everything is a form of meditation for them, bringing awareness to the moment.
As the sun was not up and blazing at 8.40 am as it was on other days, I took time to sit on a rock and close my eyes, taking in the sounds of the chirping of birds, the faint voices of people, the chatter and laughter, the clapping of hands and hitting of other body parts by some who think it improves their blood circulation, the distant barking of the dogs in the neighborhood surrounding the park, the sound of wheels of the tricycles rode by children, the distant sound of music emitting from amplified speakers accompanying the light exercises done by park goers, and the occasional plane that flies low preparing to land at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, all these reaching my ears This was topped up by the breath that came within, the touch of the chill air that caressed my body and the breeze that blew across my face. I immediately took out my smartphone and began to draft this post.
Retirement is a boon and a reminder for us in old age to slow down and enjoy what is left of our life spending quality time with our family and grandchildren. These children devout all their time to us as they know not what to do besides that. Once they attend school, we shall see them join the rat race too. With parents busy earning a living it is the grandparent's duty to spend time with these kids and share their life experiences. sadly many grandparents have these children sit and watch mega serials or pass on a smartphone and attend to other matters.
Seeing many trees toppled down at the park, I understood from a resident couple from the neighboring homes, that 3 weeks ago a thunderstorm tore through this park snapping trees into two and felling others. There is a spate of trees uprooted in the city too currently. This shows that extremes on both sides can be detrimental to our well-being. Nature teaches us to be moderate. The Buddha's teachings are that of the middle way and moderate. So too both husbands and wives have to have mutual respect for each other.
The whole scenario inspires you to become a writer. I guess now I know why Tavayogi when he wanted to write his book "Andamum Pindamum" took to the ashram of Sadgurunathar in Ooty, away from his routine life of managing his Kallar ashram and seeing visitors. One just seems not to want to leave the embrace of nature but as mosquitos have started to bother me sitting on these benches and as the sun is already up I will have to leave and take a leave too.