Just as we expect to gain something from either a venture, investment, a practice, or in doing something in the material world, so too, coming to the religious and spiritual, we look towards some gain, change, or result. Rare are those who come for the sake of God.
Often it has to be immediate. We want everything served on a silver plate. We want everything to fall from the sky. We want everything without effort. We want everything free.
Once gained, everything then becomes an addiction for us, just as we are addicted to tea and coffee, wine and beer. Coming into the religious circle, we religiously adopt certain practices and keep doing them for life. Our ancestors did it, and so we do it. Since we do it, we force it on our children. And they, on their children. The secret to escaping this cycle is to stay aloof and never be swept by the current. Progression of an earlier activity avoids boredom and repetition. Continually refining the method, approach, and practice keeps us alert and on our feet.
And so, bringing us to carry out puja and charity, Agathiyar had us drop it, which saved us from becoming bored with the regime and becoming tired of doing it. He saved us before it became an addiction, and we became "high," as my wife says, or we became slaves to it. Mahindren pointed out that we had begun to pray that there were people, poor and hungry, who would receive the groceries and cooked food we bought and prepared for them. We began to wish for the continued existence of the poor and unfortunate so that we could do charity and serve them.
A young man, as the secretary, who landed with the responsibility of looking after the affairs of a temple in my neighborhood, now finds himself caught in the web and wants to quit. He confided in me that he had to do all the purchases, sought donations, and look into every tiny detail and matter in the day-to-day running of the temple. He found it a burden. A Peedham head confided the same, that she had to source funds and look after the running of the Peedham, though there were the trustees. They never moved an inch or moved a finger. She told me that I had "escaped". I am glad that I did not fall for the game that Agathiyar and later Lord Muruga played in asking me to build a temple.
I was surprised to hear that she had to pay a salary to the priests, the gardener, the one who tends to the cows, and the cooks. What happened to volunteering that is a core element coming to Sariyai? I guess people just want to watch, pray, and leave.
In walking the path, both Tavayogi and Agathiyar have given us numerous tools. Standing on the path of Sariyai, we stand before the granite and bronze statues in the temple, where we come to worship the element of earth. We leave our baggage of karma behind, going home a bit lighter. In serving and helping around, we are grounded. Walking the path of Sariyai, going on a holy pilgrimage, we dip in the Holy Ganges, which is of the water element. She washes away further our karma. Arriving at Kriyai, lighting the Homam that is of the fire element, we burn the remaining karma in its fire, turning it to ashes. In stepping into Yoga, we take in the Prana, which is the element of air. Sitting in Dhyana, we enter the space. Conquering all five elements, we enter the state of Sat Chit Ananda. We begin to take things into our hands and lose our dependency on middlemen and others. After having cleansed the slate of past karma and wiped out our fate, holding the hands of the Siddhas, we begin to write our own destiny.
When Agathiyar told a devotee to continue her practice of doing Kumbaka or holding the breath, I asked if it was necessary, for we are told of its dangers too. Agathiyar shot me, telling me not to be overzealous and that it was for her and not me. I learned back then that each method and practice is customized for an individual. I guess this is why traditionally a guru-disciple relationship was one-to-one back in the past and not that of holding classes for the masses or online as at present.
As is from the thought that all our speech and action arise, we tend to react to speech and action. The Siddhas, though, reach out to our thoughts and act accordingly. So too do they see the events that are about to unfold and come to our aid. And so did Agathiyar ask my daughter to have a medical checkup and report to him. He had her take the holy basil for 48 days and report to the Siddha physician J.Ariwananthen Aiya of Agathiar Yoga Herbs Care Centre, too, for a checkup. The physician gave her some herbal preparation. I too got to take Agathiyar Kuzhambu and a Kaya Karpa for my general health after a long time.
Agathiyar has all the people in the right places to help us out. He comes when there is a need to inform. We are very grateful to him. We have to seek the help of doctors and Siddha physicians as they are the authorities on these. But seeking God is very personal. As such, can anyone truly show us the way, the path, the method, and the means to it? Everyone is walking the path and journeying towards it, be it the layman or the guru, for Ramalinga Adigal, in charting the many phases, speaks of numerous stages. Where do we stand? How long is the journey going to take us? It all begins with faith and belief, efforts and practice. Rest assured, we shall see the results in good time.