It looks like these writings have bonded our souls forever. Many readers were taken aback when I titled my earlier post "SAYONARA." I wrote in the Whatsapp group.
I and many others at ATM (Then AVM) had a calling many years back. Agathiyar asked us to come to his path and follow his way. We took up the invitation. He sent two wonderful personal gurus and several other upagurus to guide us. He gave us many task and chores to do as we traveled with him, never elaborating further or describing the benefits or results that one gains from doing it, until later after we had put in hours of work and effort. He was not one to hang a carrot in front of the carriage to lure us on. He would direct and leave the option to us whether we wanted to carry out his dictates. We did as he asked without questioning him. After years of apprenticeship to him finally, he reveals to us that all the tasks he gave us, were indeed the way and was indeed the journey. We have read many stories of seekers coming to gurus and their monasteries to learn the way to liberate the soul but instead were told to carry out chores and tasks. These seekers after some time would rebel and confront the master only to be told that doing the tasks at hand had elevated them unknowingly. Similarly, he made us walk the talk. Rather then show us the overpowering mountain that we are to tackle, that on the onset drives us to believe that it is beyond our reach and would very rightly put us off in wanting to scale its height at the onset, he led us by the hand bringing us along on his walk, talking to us as we traveled, allowing us to stop to view the surrounding, permitting us to stop to take a rest, continue the walk and keeping us engrossed in the present that eventually without we realizing he had brought us to our destination were we stood atop the very mountain enjoying the magnificent view. We did not realize that we had walked the long-distance and had arrived atop the mountain peak!
The seeking over the many lives and births stopped the moment we came to Agathiyar. Today, "the actual and true journey" in the words of Tavayogi on the start of my journey in the Siddha path, has come to an end with this revelation made by Agathiyar during the summit of the seers and sages at the Tamil Sangam where he revealed the purpose of birth and what man was to do. He had introduced the 5 facets of life to us, one at a time, bringing us to carry them out.
As I have written in my LAST post Agathiyar has revealed the way and showed us the escape route from the cycle of birth and death. The truth has been revealed. For those yet to come on board it is now up to them to place the effort and comply to the 5 facets of lives. For the others I pray that we can all continue with the task given to us. I believe we all shall. So it is time to say Sayonara for this group ATM too. Let us meet up sometime in the future and exchange notes of how we are faring in our spiritual journey. Thank you very much for being with us all this while.They wanted to know the reason.
The theory is over. He is asking us to move on to practice what he has preached all these while, now. Or you can take it the other way too, after putting into practice all his tiny bits of advice, he has revealed the theory behind it. Now he is moving us to another platform from the physical to that of the soul. That has to take place in the hearts and homes of each individual. He shall guide further. From within each one of us individually, customised, and just for you.Then the emails and messages came in.
- Sir you and your blog has been like digital sage for me. Guiding on behalf of Appa. I feel this Sayonara is bit sudden and there is never a good bye but meet you again... Thank you for taking out your personal time to write wonderful blogs. Om Agathisaya namah.
- Looking forward for ur next post sir. The write ups always refresh our faith and that keeps us moving...
- The blog has been a guiding light for me. Thank you.
- Vannakam Shan aiya. Saw your last post. Saw your decision coming. We cannot stand in your way after the wealth of knowledge you imparted to us. It is now your time. My only regret and disappointment is that I did not give you something back. But this is not goodbye. For now I shall give you my tears....tears of joy. Thank you for growing and nuturing us with such love and care.
- Shan Sir, The five facets spoken of have to be intensified and the pace must increase. All the five facets spoken of have to be intensified. What achievments ànd pace a group of like minded people can achieve for the same cause...individually it may not happen for everyone, many more seekers may be there..... but then Father knows how to make his children reach the destination. Its a journey in which all have to move .... those who keep pace .... and follow the five facets...must move together.... those who have to seperate will automatically fall prey to Maya. As I said earlier... the blog has been a guiding light for me. I feel saddenned that no more writings or theory...but practicality on five facets should continue....Agathiar ji will show the way. Once again to tell u the blog is an inspiration...a path which takes you to Agathiar... a guiding light. I understand Father has paved a path for you to walk on.... I wish you to achieve the very purpose of birth with flying colors. God bless you, Shan Sir, and mind it....ur going to keep on hearing from me.
Now how can I ignore such love and care showered by these wonderful family of mine? Welcome to Phase 2. Read on ... my 2032nd blog posting.
- Thanks for the wonderful post sir..I still believe appa to communicate through you as we require guidance.
I and many others at ATM (Then AVM) had a calling many years back. Agathiyar asked us to come to his path and follow his way. We took up the invitation. He sent two wonderful personal gurus and several other upagurus to guide us. He gave us many task and chores to do as we traveled with him, never elaborating further or describing the benefits or results that one gains from doing it, until later after we had put in hours of work and effort. He was not one to hang a carrot in front of the carriage to lure us on. He would direct and leave the option to us whether we wanted to carry out his dictates. We did as he asked without questioning him. After years of apprenticeship to him finally, he reveals to us that all the tasks he gave us, were indeed the way and was indeed the journey. We have read many stories of seekers coming to gurus and their monasteries to learn the way to liberate the soul but instead were told to carry out chores and tasks. These seekers after some time would rebel and confront the master only to be told that doing the tasks at hand had elevated them unknowingly. Similarly, he made us walk the talk. Rather then show us the overpowering mountain that we are to tackle, that on the onset drives us to believe that it is beyond our reach and would very rightly put us off in wanting to scale its height at the onset, he led us by the hand bringing us along on his walk, talking to us as we traveled, allowing us to stop to view the surrounding, permitting us to stop to take a rest, continue the walk and keeping us engrossed in the present that eventually without we realizing he had brought us to our destination were we stood atop the very mountain enjoying the magnificent view. We did not realize that we had walked the long-distance and had arrived atop the mountain peak!
The seeking over the many lives and births stopped the moment we came to Agathiyar. Today, "the actual and true journey" in the words of Tavayogi on the start of my journey in the Siddha path, has come to an end with this revelation made by Agathiyar during the summit of the seers and sages at the Tamil Sangam where he revealed the purpose of birth and what man was to do. He had introduced the 5 facets of life to us, one at a time, bringing us to carry them out.
A Zen Koan is often used to explain this experience.
A Master who lived as a hermit on a mountain was asked by a monk, “What is the Way?”
“What a fine mountain this is,” the master said in reply.
“I am not asking you about the mountain, but about the Way.”
“So long as you cannot go beyond the mountain, my son, you cannot reach the Way,” replied the master.
(Source: https://mindmastery.wordpress.com/2007/02/22/zen-koan-the-way-and-the-mountain/)
It is individual moments that come together to make time. Just as the monk was brought to observe the mountain, we were brought to observe the 5 facets of wholesome living as desired of the divine for every man taking birth. These were not merely tools but a purpose in itself. Just as we were taken aback to realize that we had already reached the summit, the purpose of taking human birth was only made known to us after completing the journey.
Coming to Agathiyar the seeking stopped. Coming to Tavayogi the true journey began. When one comes to end his seeking for a path among the many available out there, only then is his true path revealed, his true journey begins, from where he has arrived and stood. Tutorship under a guru, learning compassion, doing charity, conducting puja, reciting the Siddha's names, performing the fire ritual or homa and yagam, performing the bathing ritual or abhisegam on the idols, all these were components of the first phase of our journey that we were asked to carry out. A massive task was made easy when he broke it up into tiny assignments. The first phase has ended now.
The sayonara was to bid farewell to the first phase. We now move into the second phase. In the second phase of our journey, we start working on the soul and its journey back home. We shall connect with our soul and that of others that reside in the heart chakra, with the grace of the divine. If traveling the journey to the heart chakra needed the divine's assistance and our effort, from henceforth there is no effort on our part. As Ramalinga Adigal begged of Lord Siva to open the door, Lord Muruga came to do us justice in opening the heart chakra in us, asking of us only to surrender. With the opening of this wonderful space, the divine comes within to reside in our hearts forever making it his abode and temple.
Lord Muruga repeatedly asked of us if we were ready to receive his initiation and if we had surrendered totally. To those who came with a confused state of mind and unsettled problems, he deferred the initiation to another time, saying it would do no good if given now.
Bala Aiya shared a story that he came across some time back which I had posted in this blog. The story illustrates the state of a surrendered heart.
Coming to Agathiyar the seeking stopped. Coming to Tavayogi the true journey began. When one comes to end his seeking for a path among the many available out there, only then is his true path revealed, his true journey begins, from where he has arrived and stood. Tutorship under a guru, learning compassion, doing charity, conducting puja, reciting the Siddha's names, performing the fire ritual or homa and yagam, performing the bathing ritual or abhisegam on the idols, all these were components of the first phase of our journey that we were asked to carry out. A massive task was made easy when he broke it up into tiny assignments. The first phase has ended now.
The sayonara was to bid farewell to the first phase. We now move into the second phase. In the second phase of our journey, we start working on the soul and its journey back home. We shall connect with our soul and that of others that reside in the heart chakra, with the grace of the divine. If traveling the journey to the heart chakra needed the divine's assistance and our effort, from henceforth there is no effort on our part. As Ramalinga Adigal begged of Lord Siva to open the door, Lord Muruga came to do us justice in opening the heart chakra in us, asking of us only to surrender. With the opening of this wonderful space, the divine comes within to reside in our hearts forever making it his abode and temple.
Lord Muruga repeatedly asked of us if we were ready to receive his initiation and if we had surrendered totally. To those who came with a confused state of mind and unsettled problems, he deferred the initiation to another time, saying it would do no good if given now.
Bala Aiya shared a story that he came across some time back which I had posted in this blog. The story illustrates the state of a surrendered heart.
Once upon a time, a cow went out to graze in the jungle. Suddenly, she noticed a tiger racing towards her. She turned and fled, fearing that at any moment the tiger would sink his claws into her. The cow desperately looked for some place to escape and at last saw a shallow pond. Barely evading the tiger’s reach, she jumped into the pond, and in the heat of the chase, the tiger blindly leaped after her.
To the surprise of them both, the pond was extremely shallow yet filled with deep recesses of mud. After toppling over each other, the cow and the tiger found themselves a short distance apart, stuck in the mud up to their necks. Both had their heads above water but were unable to free themselves no matter how much they writhed. The tiger repeatedly snarled at the cow and roared, “I am going to enjoy the sound of crunching your bones between my teeth!” He thrashed about in a fury but soon became fretful as he found no prospect of escape. The cow thoughtfully laughed as the tiger struggled to free himself and asked him, "Do you have a master?”
The tiger disdainfully replied, “I am the king of the jungle. Why do you ask me if I have a master? I myself am the master!”
The cow said, "You may be the king of the jungle, but here all your power has failed to save your life.”
“And what about you?”, retorted the tiger. “You are going to die here in this mud too!”
The cow smiled mildly and said, “No, I am not.”
“If even I, the king of the jungle cannot free myself from this mud”, snapped the tiger, “Then how can you, an ordinary cow?”
The cow gently replied, “I cannot free myself from this mud, but my master can. When the sun sets and he finds me absent at home, he will come looking for me. Once he finds me, he will raise me up and escort me home sweet home.”
The tiger fell silent and coldly glared at the cow. Soon enough, the sun set, and the cow’s master arrived. He immediately recognized the plight she was in and lifted her to safety. As they walked home, the cow and the master both felt renewed gratitude for one another and pitied the tiger they both would have been happy to save if only the tiger had allowed them.
The Purport of the story: The Cow represents a Surrendered Heart, the Tiger represents an Egoistic Mind, and the Master represents the Guru. The Mud represents the World, and the Chase represents the Struggle for Existence therein. No matter how many troubles appear to be created by the egoistic minds of the world, who are themselves as stuck as the surrendered heart, ..the surrendered heart has faith that the Guru is always going to come at the right time to save her and take her back “home” - the inner happiness in us is pure and true home. So when totally stuck and helpless, when one has already done all one can and has no more means left, when every other effort fails, the surrendered heart still does not give up hope. She will just wait patiently until sundown.
From Agathiyar Vanam that was a family home where he came as a bronze statue; to Jnanakottam where he stopped over on transit; Lord Muruga came to confer the name Agathiyar Tapovanam since he now resides and spends his time in tavam.
It was revealed to us on the onset that if we had faced obstacles before it was because of our karma. But today we have come to understand that after coming to Agathiyar if you face obstacles it is Agathiyar's doing. Understand then that he is not in favour of your venture hence the obstacle.
If earlier we were put through regimes and had to place much effort in the tasks given, in the second phase we step aside for there is nothing for us to do except to offer and give ourselves to the divine and let him work his way and raise our consciousness to that of his. There is absolutely no effort on our part but just total surrender allowing the divine some space to work on our soul.
You shall be surprised by seeing the results. What was seen with the external senses and its accompanying perception is altered and reversed when one goes within. For instance when Supramania Swami placed a gunny sack over a window, specifically and strategically placed in his kudil, opening out to the majestic Annamalai hill in Tiruvannamalai town, so that he could view the sacred hill lying from his bed, why did he then close the view I asked. He told me it was too fiery, burning strongly and brightly that he could not see it no more. When he said he saw Siddhas, Rishis, Munis and holy men moving around doing their chores atop the mountain, I turned my gaze towards the opening only to see a plain solid rock that stood as a hill. When Ramana came out of an opening in the same hill he asked his followers to close the opening. He saw a hollow hill that had a paradise within, green meadows and blue skies. When I trailed behind Tavayogi he hurried me on saying the Siddhas were waiting for our arrival, often all around us, showering flower petals on us, as he pointed to the sky. I only saw a blue sky and clouds.
Maybe someday we too shall see what Ramana, Supramania Swami, and Tavayogi saw.
Maybe someday we too shall see what Ramana, Supramania Swami, and Tavayogi saw.