We have all come for a purpose. The purpose is revealed to some and not as yet to others. Of all the world's population we tend to only meet with a handful of people and interact with them, some for a lifetime, others for a limited time. Many though are co-travellers in this journey of ours hardly exchanging a word let alone a glance. Among those we meet and interact, a bond is created or rediscovered. We then begin to help each other on our journey, looking into each others needs, and to help each other achieve their vision.
Life teaches us many things. We see, we begin to judge based on our past experiences and form an opinion. Sadly most of the time we take on others opinions and vomit it elsewhere. Many take a question and place it to a Master, Teacher or Guru. They come prepared with an answer too. One can say it is to test the teacher or to show off one's prowess and understanding on the matter on hand.
Many questions have been debated over and over again for ages without arriving at a conclusion that is acceptable by all. As long as man has his own thought and skills to evaluate, no two men can agree on a thing.
But to put a thing or mission together, we need to bring alike minds together. We see that happening at AVM. Agathiyar has brought us together to serve humanity in our own small way. He asked that I perform the homam in my home, which I reluctantly did initially. Once he explained to me that it was done for the good of mankind, I began to do it with commitment. He asked Bala Chandran Gunasekaran to carry out annadhanam or feeding programs which he has been doing with his Thondu Seivom team. He brought this noble thoughts to his family and has begun to spread this deed further. As NS Shaan told me once, the one thing he loved about AVM was that we were doers.
We at AVM adopted the middle way, respecting each other, refraining from engaging in acts that could hurt another. We hardly engaged in discussion of theories and philosophical ideas. It is said, "In his dialogues, Plato discussed every kind of philosophical idea, including Ethics (with discussion of the nature of virtue), Metaphysics (where topics include immortality, man, mind, and Realism), Political Philosophy (where topics such as censorship and the ideal state are discussed), Philosophy of Religion (considering topics such as Atheism, Dualism and Pantheism), Epistemology (where he looked at ideas such as a priori knowledge and Rationalism), the Philosophy of Mathematics and the theory of art (especially dance, music, poetry, architecture and drama) - http://www.philosophybasics.com/philosophers_plato.html". On the contrary we are simple folks who took Agathiyar's words and put it into action, while going about our daily business with the thought of having to place food on the table and paying the bills.
On a personal note, Agathiyar had warned me never to engage in debate for whatever reason. His mantra for me was to perform puja or prayers as his mantra for Bala Chandran was to perform Thondu or service. He never spoke about meditation, asanas and yoga nor gnanam. Occasionally he would give a technique or two to follow on specific timings or for a specific period and would later ask that I stop it too. Life has been simple for us at AVM too. No rigid regimes to follow and no specific teachings. Many of us have been told to focus on our jobs and careers and family while allocating some time for the divine. We are free to experiment with life although within the boundaries of moral living. Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal used to say that the soul or atma should not be chained and should be let free to experience life. After going through life's ups and downs we become wiser and more knowledgeable.
There are many learned masters who shun idolatry and temple worship urging the seekers into yoga, meditation and the path of gnanam. The irony is that they refrain children and teenagers from attending their lectures. If in their talks they preach that that is the only way to enlightenment, then several questions come to mind. What happens to those below 19 years of age? Who or what is going to fill these young and tender minds with spiritual knowledge?
Here we see that the four ways Sariyai, Kriyai, Yogam and Gnanam and the four age-based life stages or ashramas, Brahmacharya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (retired) and Sannyasa (renunciation) stipulated in the old texts serves every soul and age group and never leaves out anyone in particular.
We at AVM are at the threshold of a long journey. But we are happy that we have begun the journey. We have faith and belief that Agathiyar shall guide us on.