A good friend and staunch devotee of Agathiyar on reading my ending piece in the post 'Being Alert While on the Path' responded via a Whatsapp message. Understanding the difficulty and obstacles that come in the way of doing charity and good deeds, he who leads a small group in bringing charity and service to the needy in the suburbs of New Delhi, came to comfort me, sharing his experience. But he is determined to move on irrespective of the challenges.
Acharya Gurudasan wrote, "Beautifully written uncle. And nice analogy to the Tibetan mandala practice" and sent me the following video clip.
Another young aspirant wrote,
Another senior devotee wrote,
Being alert while on the path..... yes its painstakingly true that many do not contribute.... time or money for the cause of creation. I have tried it in my group...contributing to the cause is a distant dream. But nothing can be bigger than the cause. There will be demons in the way who mistle the voice of angelic forces. But the resolve must go on.....more ppl will c reason in the cause and join.
Our vedas and shastras talk about service and charity as a path to higher dimensions and to avoid the experience of patal lok. Agastya also talks about all lokas. His message must b spread. Service and charity must continue.... even one member is an addition....if the cause is understood....rest will leave as per their journey.
Those handful of devotees whether in any part of the world must get to share, hear experiences...the blog is one way...maybe a live youtube once a month or so....will bring energy ...Another dear friend who does a similar service in Johannesburg wrote to comfort me too.
Dear Shan aiya. I read your last 2 posts as well as your friend's response with acknowledgement of the same experience...it may be easier to draw water out of stone than to cultivate a mindset of charity and serving "others". I too often feel like a lone ranger in my neck of the woods. You did not fail Shan aiya, you melted many hearts. We may not be able to save the whole world in our limited capacity but we may be able to save "some one's" world.I was pleased to receive such comforting words and words of appreciation from fellow devotees of Agathiyar. Many others from the AVM family wrote to express their appreciation too. I am glad that they understood the reason for me closing the Whatsapp groups as detailed in my previous post at https://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/2019/10/creation-destruction.html.
Acharya Gurudasan wrote, "Beautifully written uncle. And nice analogy to the Tibetan mandala practice" and sent me the following video clip.
Another young aspirant wrote,
"I was so confused why uncle removed all of us from the group but now all the answers had been answered in the text above..I'm not sure if I'm ready for the next level uncle but for sure I can promise I will.never leave Agathiyar Airlines..that is everything for me and ..more than our life.. As uncle say reducing karma, reducing negativity, from imperfections to perfection is our goal now ... Thank you so much uncle for everything ..very much blessed indeed."Another note from another friend in New Delhi,
"Once surrendered fully...in the flight I believe everything his our fathers play..helping and guiding each one of us in unique ways..Always our gratitudes with you."A message from a senior devotee of Agathiyar reads as follows,
"Appa has used you and our AVM to ignite the fire in all of us in our quest towards spiritual knowledge and enlightenment. With Appa's guidance and blessings, all his children are on the right path. Thanks ayya for showing us the right path. You writing's was the inspiration."From an ardent devotee comes the following understanding,
"Wonderfully penned Anna. Agathiyar Appa currently urges to clean all our karma/ serpents and that’s where we can see so many vasanas raising it within the group members... And the same time Appa teaching us this is an individual journey when it comes at 1 point of time, that’s where detachment happening and it’s shrinking and make us contact with only those with the same level in this journey. And that also need to leave when the times come. People might think it’s too early when they considering their age but for Agathiyar Appa, he only looking at the soul where the age not counted. So those accepted able to continue the journey in Agathiyar Airlines and those can’t will depart earlier before reaching the Kingdom. In the end people fail to lose their desire in this material life (which is impermanence). Only a few able to achieve it and to protect them they use KAAVI as a tool to separate them from this world/people.Another young maiden wrote,
"True Anna. Now cleansing process going on. I really can feel that. Appa is preparing us for the detachment process. Thank you, Anna. Without You, we won't be able to experiences all this. We thank you from the bottom of my heart. We are ready to clear off our karma, Anna."Another friend from Pune wrote about how the post mysteriously explained many issues on hand.
Another friend wrote, "Its a beautiful meaning & such a wonderful msg Uncle. Thank You So much for the Sharing."Sir I was little lost and was extremely worked up due to settling in new place and facing new challenges. Thanks to your post which described my situation perfectly and a way out too is provided. Appa must be reminding me about it through you.
Another senior devotee wrote,
"Very well said Aiya, by coincidence, just now was reading a reply by Prakash Swamy to a question, why do we cry in spite of knowing that all born in this world got to depart. I shall share his answer which in line with your post."She shared the following.
'இவர் இன்னார்' என்று பெயர், கல்வி, செல்வம், பதவி, புகழ், சாதி, மதம், இனம், மொழி, ஊர், தேசம் என்று எத்தனையோ விதமான அடையாளங்களால் அறியப்பட்ட, போற்றப்பட்ட, கொண்டாடப்பட்ட, கொஞ்சப்பட்ட, தூற்றப்பட்ட, வியக்கப்பட்ட, வெறுக்கப்பட்ட, ஆதரிக்கப்பட்ட, ஒதுக்கப்பட்ட, குறுகிய வாழ்நாளின் பல கணங்களை நேரடியாகவோ மறைமுகமாகவோ பகிர்ந்துகொண்ட அவ்வுயிர் வெறும் உடலாக, பிணமாக, புதைக்கவோ எரிக்கவோ படக் காத்திருக்கையில், இறுதிச் சடங்குகளைத் தவிர நாம் செய்யக் கூடியது ஏதுமில்லை.
இந்நிலையானது 'என்னால் முடியாதது எதுவுமில்லை' என்ற நமது இறுமாப்பிற்குக் கிடைக்கும் மரண அடி. நமக்குப் புரியாத, நம்மால் கட்டுப்படுத்த முடியாத, நம்மை மீறிய பிரபஞ்ச நிகழ்வுகள் எத்தனையோ உள்ளன என்பதை நமக்குத் தெளிவாக உணர்த்தும் அரிய கணங்கள் இவை.
மனிதராகப் பிறவியெடுத்ததன் உண்மையான பயனை நாம் அறிய இவை உதவிகரமாக இருக்கும். 'எனக்குத் தெரியவில்லை' என்று தன்னடக்கத்துடன் வாழ்வை 'உள்ளது உள்ளபடி' அறிந்துணர நாம் தயாராக, திறந்த நிலையில் இருந்தால்!
அவ்வாறு இல்லாது, காரண அறிவின் குறுகிய வளையத்தைக் கடந்து வெளியே வரத் தயாராக இல்லாதோர், அடுத்த மரணத்தின்போதும் வெறுமனே கதறி அழத் தயாராக இருக்க வேண்டியதுதான்.Sanjiv Malhotra, a dear friend, and comrade on the path of the Siddhas sent me the following Guru Stotram or Guru Gita from the Uttarakhandam of Skanda Purana,
Dhyan moolam Guru murti
Puja moolam Guru padam
Mantra moolam Guru vakyam
Moksh moolam Guru Kripa.
Meaning:
The root of meditation is the form of the Guru
The root of worship is the feet of the Guru.
The source of mantra is the words of the Guru
The source of Liberation is the Guru's grace.
Another verse from the above goes,
Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu
Guru Devo Maheshwara
Guru Sakshat Param Brahma
Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah
Vivek Ravindranath, at https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Vedas-say-Dhyana-Moolam-Guru-Roopam-asking-one-to-meditate-on-Guru, explains the meaning and relevance of these verses.
The Skanda Purana mentions the grace of a Guru in Guru Strotram, known as Guru Gita, in the form of a dialogue between Shiva and Uma (Shakti):
"Dhyana Moolam Guru Murti.Puja Moolam Gurur Padam,Mantra Moolam Gurur Vakyam,Moksha Moolam Guru Kripa"
He says in the Bhakti marga, Kripa is key to salvation and names the kinds of Kripa.
Ishwara kripa - Grace of GodShastra kripa - Grace of the ScripturesGuru kripa - Grace of the GuruAtma kripa - Grace of the Self
One Kripa will beget all others….
Advaita focuses on Atma kripa, Samkhya and Yoga focus on Guru Kripa, Purva Mimamsa on Shastra Kripa, and Dvaita and Vishishtadvaita focusses on Ishwara Kripa. But irrespective of the paths and darshanas, the role of the guru is pivotal in achiving self knowledge.
So there can be many ways to achieve the ultimate Goal of Hinduism… the answer to “Who am I?” Vivek goes on to narrate a wonderful story to explain the importance of the Guru.
The Stone Soup
A kindly, old stranger was walking through the land when he came upon a village. As he entered, the villagers moved towards their homes locking doors and windows. The stranger smiled and asked, why are you all so frightened. I am a simple traveler, looking for a soft place to stay for the night and a warm place for a meal.
"There's not a bite to eat in the whole province," he was told. "We are weak and our children are starving. Better keep moving on."
"Oh, I have everything I need," he said. "In fact, I was thinking of making some stone soup to share with all of you." He pulled an iron cauldron from his cloak, filled it with water, and began to build a fire under it. Then, with great ceremony, he drew an ordinary-looking stone from a silken bag and dropped it into the water.By now, hearing the rumor of food, most of the villagers had come out of their homes or watched from their windows. As the stranger sniffed the "broth" and licked his lips in anticipation, hunger began to overcome their fear. "Ahh," the stranger said to himself rather loudly, "I do like a tasty stone soup. Of course, stone soup with cabbage -- that's hard to beat."
Soon a villager approached hesitantly, holding a small cabbage he'd retrieved from its hiding place, and added it to the pot.
"Wonderful!!" cried the stranger. "You know, I once had stone soup with cabbage and a bit of salt beef as well, and it was fit for a king."
The village butcher managed to find some salt beef . . . And so it went, through potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and so on, until there was indeed a delicious meal for everyone in the village to share.
The villager elder offered the stranger a great deal of money for the magic stone, but he refused to sell it and traveled on the next day. As he left, the stranger came upon a group of village children standing near the road. He gave the silken bag containing the stone to the youngest child, whispering to a group, It was not the stone, but the villagers that had performed the magic."
"So just like that, we all have the recipe for the soup of the soul…within us… The guru just Gives us the stone of meditation… But the magic is not in meditation, it is in realizing the Magic of the self that was always right in us", ends Vivek Ravindranath.