Many relationships could have been saved if we had asked ourselves the following questions before we spoke. Is "what we intent to say" going to bond or break the relationship?
Similarly many could have saved themselves from landing in debts if they had asked three simple questions each time they paid to buy a stuff. Do I need it?, can I afford it?, and can I live without it? Even if they had a need and could afford it, the last question would make them rethink about their purchases.
In the spiritual field too, many can save themselves from further confusion if they ask themselves sincerely if they wanted a life of a mendicant and roam the streets living on alms or live a dignified life with the family and society, earning an honest living and giving away a portion to charity.
But the path can never be the same. Studying and living with nature opens many frontiers and widens our perspective of life. The stream that is left to take its natural course, does not flow on a designated path or predetermined path. It finds its own way. It creates its own path. So do we need to find our own path, a path that should bring us immense joy and that we want to share with others. Share only the bliss but do not convert another. Once he gets to sample the bliss, he would want to join you too voluntarily in making this bliss permanent and lasting.
Agathiyar summoned me for an audience with him, I guess when he figured that I was ready to learn about him. I had a calling to see the Nadi. He placed an option, through the Nadi reading telling me about karma, its influence on my pasts, what I was to do to gain relief from it, and my next move in life. I was given the choice of whether to heed his words or turn a deaf ear. I took up his advice and carried out what was dictated with faith.
He told me to worship Lord Ganapathy, Lord Shiva, the Siddhas and him. He brought us to a living guru. He came in the form of an idol, asking us to chant his moola mantra, perform libation, and conduct homam. This is how he came into our lives, as an idol, then a part of the family, a master, a guide, a guru, ever watchful over us, ticking us off if we made the wrong move. Soon he came into the idol and opened his eyes to see us. He asked us to light a earthen lamp with ghee, and he listened to all our grievances and outpourings. Later he brought us to chant the Arutperunjhoti Mantra. He brought us to chant Muruga. He brought AVM to worship Vaalai Thaai (Manonmani, Bhuvaneshwari, Balambigai, Vaalai Parameshwari and many more names of Sakthi). Soon he asked us to take up reading of Siddha's works. He brought us to the worship of Lord Shiva at Chidambaram.
To bring compassion into our lives, he brought us to do charity and feeding.
He brought us along on a walk: he brought us into idol worship and worship of yantras; he brought us to discipleship to a guru; and he brought us to perform charity. Today in return for all the years of dedication and faith on him, he has given us access to the universe, asking us to take whatever we want from it. It is amazing and a wonder to see the compassion and blessing that he has showered on his devotees. He asked us to walk tall for then he too shall walk tall he added. Now when we are asleep he takes a walk.
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| Photo by Sivakavin, Chennai |