During my morning and evening walks, I have come across a couple of people who were chased out of their own homes after passing on the property to their children. One man aged 69 works as a sweeper for the council's contractor, while another lady, also in her sixties, travels from another town now to continue operating her small stall in her original place of residence. The 70-year-old man who knocked on my door a couple of days ago, like the others, gave away his savings and property to his children. Though he has not been chased out, he tells me he has to continue to work to feed himself, just like the others. My regular foreman too has winded up his business and sold the shoplot where he ran his workshop and divided it among his children. I pray that he has kept a share for himself. We are not monks to give up everything. But even then, the American head of the Ranchi mission of Paramahansa Yogananda gave some sound advice to my colleague at our former office when he decided to leave his government job to become a monk. He told him that the ashram could only provide food and shelter, but not cover his medical bills and expenses in the event there was a need for surgery, etc. Hence, he told him not to give away all his savings but to keep some for himself.
Turning now to the media and channel reports, there seems to be more Siddhas than common folks these days, well, at least that is what and how the networks and channels portray every Tom, Dick, and Harry as one. I, who personally knew a couple of them, was surprised by the hype created by the media about and around them. The visuals and narration scared the hell out of me. In reality, they are very much down to earth and humble, and approachable. Similarly, every dying person is said to have gone into Samadhi. They are portrayed as godly figures, making them seem mystic and unapproachable, creating and building up stories about them while living, and building structures, said to be Samadhis, around them upon their demise. Samadhi is a state attained while alive and not in raising structures after death. Everybody seems to discuss and highlight the mystical side of the Siddhas and their achievements, such as the Siddhis they performed. These are but only the byproducts in the journey towards transformation. It is not advisable to entertain them and use to entertain others. Of what use are these Siddhis namely "the power to become as small as an atom, the ability to expand to an infinitely large size, the power to become infinitely heavy, the ability to become almost weightless or lighter than the lightest thing, the ability to obtain anything desired, including telepathy and understanding animal languages, the ability to realize any desire or create any situation one wishes, the power to create, protect, or destroy, and having complete control over the forces of nature, the ability to control other beings and elements, including the power to subjugate and influence others" (Source: AI overview). With great power comes great responsibilty. Imagine what would happen if we were to misuse them. What are we proofing by carrying out these feats? Of what use are they to common folks like us?
Suddenly, everybody is an exponent of Yoga and speaks about Kundalini, etc. Again, it scares me to watch all these. If speaking and deliberating aren't frightening enough, there are those self taught and self-made gurus who put into place a syllabus for others to practice or initiate others in numerous ways. Have we ever wondered what the implications would be if wrongly understood, handled and practiced as in the former, or when these sleeping giants are awakened as in the latter? Where would they go? To whom can they go? Have we ever given the thought, wondered and asked if those who cover and talk about the Siddhas, extolling their greatness, actually, took up the path and practices? I can safely say "No" and that they keep scouting around for more topics to cover to keep their ratings and viewership numbers high. Agathiyar, in passing on certain techniques, told me that he was only sharing what the Siddhas practiced, did, and realized. Tavayogi, who put into practice Asanas and Pranayama techniques, showed them to us, only after realizing for himself the immense benefits and acknowledging it to be a tool to transform oneself. So, too, only those who practice should preach. So too, did I advise the man who knocked on my door some days ago to carry out the Homam himself when he told me his desire to go to a temple he knew to participate in the ritual.
Agathiyar has cautioned us many times to sieve through everything, for Maya has had its hold and grip on them and tempts us into falling victim to circumstances. We are no less than the other, he says, equating each of us to him. We are all only robots until the soul within begins to speak. When does it speak? If Asanas connects us with our body, Pranayama connects us with our breath, making us aware of our breath, Dyana brings awareness to the soul. It is only when we settle down and pay attention to its silent whisper that it later becomes louder and louder, bringing us to know our true purpose and driving us to newer terrains and greener pastures, away from the maddening world that man has created for himself and the generations to come. Take a moment off. Switch off that switch. Be your true "self" for once.