INCULCATING VALUES IN LIFE

When I took my daughter and her new born baby to the clinic for a regular checkup yesterday, the seats were all taken up. She was carrying my granddaughter in her arms and so were several other mothers. When I arrived after parking my car, I could not fail but notice young men who accompanied their wives were seated with their spouses. Some were steeped in looking at their smartphones while others were engaged in a chat with their partner. A pregnant mother gave up her seat to my daughter and chose to stand instead. I had to remind these young men to vacate their seats and give it to these women. I wondered how is it that it did not strike them to get up and give way to the expecting mothers and those that had a child in their arms? 

As I stood outside the clinic, I watched a small child pluck the leaves off a plant in the pot with her father looking on. Then I remembered Ramalinga Adigal who had shed tears when he saw the padi plant wilt in the heat of the day. If a child was divine in nature why was she hurting the plant?

My younger daughter would tell me that while waiting for their school bus, the boys would catch lizards and pluck their tails off. Why do they find amusement in hurting other creatures?

When my daughter was taking the Light Rail Transit to and fro from work, she would relate to us the behavior of fellow travelers. As these were peak hours and the cabins were always packed, young people would rush to grab a seat and either engage on their phones or doze off, becoming indifferent to who or what was around them. It is often the elderly who would vacate their seats for an expecting mum. Why are the young indifferent to the aged, elderly and pregnant?

Why do some people come with certain noble values already inculcated in their lives, while others are indifferent to fellow beings?

I believe that the soul, in those who come forward to help the elderly and needy, has put in much effort working on compassion towards other beings over the many previous births and that it was exhibiting these values readily in the present. This is what we always say that "it has to come out of the heart". He/she is ripe to open up his/her heart to others, having put in the efforts over the many previous births. Sadly many need to come back and work on this component.

I believe just as we point out to a child that fire burns and could hurt her, we need to inculcate certain positive values in them. Just as a guru is needed to point the way, we need to show our children ways of compassion. By bringing them along and showing them the sufferings and hunger of others will make them appreciate and be grateful for what they have and inculcate compassion in them for the unfortunate. By teaching them to respect and help the elders they will give way to them in all situations.

Many came to AVM. Some broke down the moment they saw Agathiyar. Some did not see the divine in the bronze statue. A devotee who was in dire straits began to investigate the messenger rather than take up the message. Soon he dropped off the path. Why are some touched by the divine and others not?

Many came for a Nadi reading, and sat in silence, tears of gratitude streaming down their cheeks, as Agathiyar opened up to them about their past, present and future. Others came out of a reading, and put on their thinking caps, and investigated whether the message was indeed from Agathiyar or was coined up by the reader. Why do some believe easily while others find it so difficult to bring themselves to believe in things and have faith?

Again I believe that the soul, in those who are spiritually inclined, has put in much effort working on devotion or bakthi towards the divine, over the many previous births and that it was exhibiting these values readily in the present. 

When an aspirant turned up at AVM, he opened up to me and my wife his problems after several visits. But he hid many things from us that we only came to know after meeting his wife. Many come for solutions but do not divulge many things. Hence it is only expected that the solution would not be appropriate. Many turned up at Nadi readings, hiding certain things, only to have Agathiyar expose them. People fail to realize that all their actions are seen and noted in the Akash. Nothing is hidden from the watchful eyes of the divine.

I believe that the divine can only work on us when we totally surrender to him. He would expose us but save us by showing us a way.

When devotees stood before Bhagawan Ramana, seeking directions, he would advise them to carry on whatever path they were on. They would return happy, happy that they were on the right path.

When Tavayogi used to sit at the feet of his master Chitramuthu Adigal at Panaikulam in Ramanathapuram, Shivasri A. P. Muthukumara Sivaachaariyaar from Malaysia too would frequent the master. When they became full fledged masters, they chose different paths. Tavayogi went on to become a mendicant or turavi while Sivaachaariyaar went into rituals. Why do we chose different paths then although we learn from the same source?

I believe the soul will know in due time, with the coming of his guru, what his mission or path is.