Tavayogi came to Malaysia with one mission in mind, to promote the Siddha Margam. When I went to see him the very first time, he took me aside into the meditation room at the venue where I met him and spoke to me about his mission. He asked me to bring my family along to hear him speak about the Siddhas that evening. I attended his talks wherever possible during his 3 month stay in Malaysia in 2005. After he left for India, I made a trip to his ashram the following month. He took me on a memorable field trip to numerous Siddha shrines, samadhis and caves. Subsequently he made many more visits to Malaysia.
When he was mobbed by the crowd, they asked questions and continued churning out what they knew, for hours, hardly giving Tavayogi a moment to reply. This went on and on throughout the santsanga. Tavayogi patiently listened to all the rattlings of the devotees.
When he was mobbed by the crowd, they asked questions and continued churning out what they knew, for hours, hardly giving Tavayogi a moment to reply. This went on and on throughout the santsanga. Tavayogi patiently listened to all the rattlings of the devotees.
Agathiyar very clearly says the problem with man is he cannot stop talking. "If only he stops talking, all answers will arise from within him", laments Agathiyar. Agathiyar warns us not to spend our energy with worthless talk. He tells us, "Talk if necessary and talk about constructive things only". "Speak to make others happy and avoid everything else", he advises us. In Disney's movie, Bambi, Thumper the rabbit, says a similar thing, "If you do not have anything nice to say, then do not say anything". Agathiyar has reminded me numerous times to avoid confrontation. He warns that all merits accumulated to-date will be lost in petty squabbles, quarrels and debate. He has told me not to hurt another too for all our well earned merits will be given away to the person whom we hurt. Instead he has reminded continuously that by maintaining silence all the benefits gained out of prayers are kept locked within oneself. One does not lose these merits. Agathiyar reminds us to bring ourselves to the stage of remaining silent where then people will be yearning to want to listen to us say a word.
When in Malaysia Tavayogi used to make use of every available moment to preach, hold discourses and satsanga. He also found time and managed to host a pattimandram here. I used to sit in on almost all his discourses, speeches and events unless it was held out of town or in another state. But I could not fail to notice that each time he took the stage to address the devotees, he harped on the same subject, almost using the same words too. I expected him to talk about a different subject or branch out to include other topics too in his speeches. But sadly he was repeating the same contents as during his previous visits. It was basically an introduction to the Siddha Margam. I was disappointed for I was hungry for more. I wanted to know more about the Siddhas.
Once I asked him, should not he move on to talk about the next level and more advance subjects. He replied, as usual with another question, "Are you following what I have preached this far? (not implying me but the general public and devotees who come in great numbers each time he took the stage). He continued, “I can only move on further if I know you have imbibed all my previous teachings." That made sense to me.
Although the world has taken a different form. Many gardens have now become townships. Man's clothing and attire has changed over time. There is advancement in the tools, instruments and machinery used by man. But alas man has not changed.
Once I asked him, should not he move on to talk about the next level and more advance subjects. He replied, as usual with another question, "Are you following what I have preached this far? (not implying me but the general public and devotees who come in great numbers each time he took the stage). He continued, “I can only move on further if I know you have imbibed all my previous teachings." That made sense to me.
Although the world has taken a different form. Many gardens have now become townships. Man's clothing and attire has changed over time. There is advancement in the tools, instruments and machinery used by man. But alas man has not changed.
Man must first learn to live as a man. All other stages will follow later. By adopting good values and morals, eventually God's grace will be upon him. To walk the path of the Siddhas one has to tread with care and caution, be patient, and have self discipline. By letting go of the ego, being humble, totally surrendering, and continuing dharma or charity, however bad one's fate is, God will change it.
Agathiyar ask us to have good thoughts, good speech and good deeds. Above all man needs to be honest in all situations. He assures us all shall be well. Once love for fellow humans and other creation sets in, man will dismiss all other thoughts and drop all forms of differentiating, only seeing the atma in the other. Coming to the stage of seeing only the atma in another is known as atma darisanam. Then he begins to honor another atma that has also taken birth just as us. Agathiyar reminds us that this world was not created solely for us. Once we realize that this world is God's creation and all other beings too have a rightful place in it, co-existing and having taken birth to live a life of fulfillment just as we have, then non of the negativeness will arise in us. Hence compassion will arise. Good deeds will multiply, and eventually a closely knitted society will emerge. Agathiyar cautions us about doing bad deeds and ask us to refrain from doing them since these negative vasanas will by etched in time and have repercussions that are passed on to generations to come.
Agathiyar acknowledges that just as pure gold cannot be made into ornaments, man too will have some deficiencies. Man too needs a little bit of ego for him to take a birth. Man has been given the intelligence to choose between poison and food, having knowledge of both and its effects.
Agathiyar ask us to envision our body as an envelope and the the soul as the letter that’s inside it. Just as the envelope is required to keep the letter safe until it is delivered, so is the body required to keep the soul safe until its journey ends at the feet of God. The atma accordingly to the karma, seeks out wisdom while in this body and moves towards God. Agathiyar says its the same atma that takes on a different body each time. Our origin was one but over the years and over many births, we became caught in illusion and started differentiating each other and moved deeper and deeper into ignorance. Mahans only see the atma while man sees the physical body and all the other traits. But Agathiyar reminds us that this pot that carries the water eventually has to break and the water unites with the source. But he adds that its not an easy task.