Going to the Nadi guru and learning about karma is only to fill us with the knowledge of the reason we are born, that always is credited to past karma, and to take appropriate measures stipulated by them in clearing it. Knowing the reason we would definitely not want to walk through that path again. We would seek to move away or steer away from living a life that brings on more misery and suffering. But there are exceptions to the rule. Just as the stars are not visible in the night skies if we look up from a brightly lit world, for those engulfed in the lights and glamour of the dazzling world of man, they can never seem to see the light across the shores. For some who had dwelled in actions that gained them severe karma the truth is that they have to see it through before even the divine can come to their aid. For those who came for solutions to their problems never actually wanting to take on and explore further the teachings of the Siddhas, they continue to live a mundane life that comes with its momentary joy and sufferings.
Venturing to experience, we shall want to go back to a particular activity as long as we are not satisfied. By bringing satisfaction to all activities, we shall see ourselves drop each activity and move on to another speedily. The problem is that we are hooked to the activity and remain in it for life as it brings on pleasure to us. Curious as to what others gain from smoking, I lit 7 cigarettes at one go and left the habit immediately. Pressured by peers and friends in the industry I took to drinking but never liked the hangovers that came with it the next morning. I stopped drinking. Many ask me why I opted to become a vegetarian? I do not have an answer. It just happened overnight. Satisfaction or dislike brings a stop to an act and it is replaced by many others. A habit if left unchecked becomes a character. The character if left unchecked announces us even before our arrival. So it is of utmost importance that we keep in check our habits for what comes immediately to the mind of others after our name is mentioned is our character, that is, most of the time is either made fun of or dreaded or feared.
Tavayogi tells us that to achieve a thing we need to focus, concentrate, visualize, and practice our ideals until we see its results. But sadly, we are easily distracted. "Humans are an easily distracted species" affirms the opening paragraph at https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/mind-over-matter-2. We attempt to do too many things at one moment hence exhausting ourselves. We never let our minds nor our body take a break these days. Nature has meant it such that the physical body takes a break, through sleep or a nap at least. The mind is made to take a break from mundane thinking by going into a meditative state. Mindfulness of the moment and becoming aware of the breath immediately brings us off the streets into the calm and peace of the interiors of the self. Both thought about the future and the past stops in remaining in the present. Tension and the stress chemicals are flushed out of the system. The airways open. More air is inhaled. More prana comes within, refreshing the system. We become alive to our surroundings contrary to the earlier state where our hunger for man-made pleasures or the might of our man-made problems took precedence and our attention, hence missing out on the true pleasures of nature around us.
Agathiyar and my gurus brought us to mindfulness through the rituals that they made us do. For instance a day before the routine puja we are already thinking about it, listing what needs to be purchased, having the items laid out on the actual day, sitting in on the ritual reciting the names of the Siddhas, and paying attention to the tasks on hand. For those few hours we engage in this ritual there are no thoughts about the external. Once the draw bridge is lowered we enter the world of the Siddhas in thought. Similarly, the Siddhas walk the drawbridge to come to sit with us in puja. Having a Siddha sit beside us itself removes the last remaining fragments of karma in us. Having a Siddha sit with us immediately ignites and sets aflame or kindles the dwindling light in us. But once the bridge had been built to stay forever, Agathiyar brought us to end the rituals and charity at the right time so that we do not get hooked to the external practice. The physical connection had ended; it was now the soul connecting instantaneously.
If a solo attempt at something could cause a significant ripple across the ocean of life, imagine what a group attempt could do. So that is how Agathiyar brought my solo venture into the open by bringing aspirants of like mind together where we moved the world. We brought cheer and happiness to many. We filled their tummies knocking on their doors at mealtime. We listened to them. We heard their stories. All these were ways to interact with the forgotten individuals in society bringing a glimpse of hope and a ray of light into their lives. But there is always an end to everything be it good or bad. We had to cross over to the other side. We had to venture indoors and within. Being alone gives us time to spend on ourselves. Being alone brings us to sit and reflect and analyze all that we had done over the years. Agathiyar put an end to all our external activities. With minimal interaction, he brought us to listen only to our thoughts reminiscing on those from the past. Soon that too shall drop. Fear of the future was gone. What was real was the present. What was real was the present experience that was taking place both in body and mind. Choices drop; options drop. Decision making comes to a halt. We just exist in the present. We do not act bringing on fresh karma. We do not act on the present thoughts. We just watch it come and go. The choice is fully ours to continue this train of having no specific thoughts or break it. Go deeper and deeper say both Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal. What then is in store for us? Lord Muruga throws some light. But the results or the journey ahead is not important. What is important is the journey itself. What is important is the present effort; the very moment the feet touch the ground; the very breath that makes its way into us; the very thought that comes to the mind only to flow away if we do not interact with it.
People generally do not feel complete, lacking in a certain area or feel insecure. At other times others make us feel as though we are incomplete, as though we are lacking or missing something. Even for those who have all, yet they perceive that they are lacking something within. We think we are disconnected and fragmented from the whole. On the contrary, we have all the wealth in us. It is just that it is not explored. Not knowing this truth, hence a search begins to fill that void. Here is where spiritualism often does the thing - fill that void. The Siddha comes to show us the way to reach this richness within. The Siddha makes us realize otherwise, that we are all connected. We do not become whole anew or attain puranam or satisfaction but come to a realization that all this while we were that, whole in all ways. It is not a matter of attaining a state but rather dropping all the veils that are before us to begin to see the truly pure and wholesome self. This is the reason the saints before they take the final step are told to sit and be alone. Here the veils begin to drop one by one and the consciousness reveals itself. All the search, seeking, and activities of Tavam and Dharma that one undertook earlier are essential in bringing him to a realization that the true self is discovered in sitting alone by himself. It is the right time now to drop the veils both Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal tells us. Ramalinga Adigal tells us that Agathiyar shall help us shed it. All that he asks of us is to put in the effort. This is the path of Gnana. This is the path of Ramana, Arunagiri, and many others. The final chapter in a person who has the potential to become God.
Linda and Charlie Bloom tell us the how-to of it at https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/stronger-the-broken-places/201504/mind-over-matter.
Sitting quietly or taking walks together, practicing discernment in regard to speaking only that which is true, useful, and respectful to each other, rather than indulging in judgments and unsolicited advice and criticism, designating uninterrupted time to get caught up on essential, rather than practical concerns and feelings, deliberately choosing to share a meal slowly rather than rushing though it without savoring or even tasting the food, or simply sitting mindfully, watching the unfolding flow of one’s own experience.
Fortunately, mindfulness can be practiced in the context of everyday life as we are doing what needs to be done at work or home simply by slowing down and reminding ourselves to pay attention to our experience whenever we notice our mind spinning out. Simply interrupting mind-chatter with a reminder to slow down, check in, and take a couple of conscious breaths can provide quick and effective relief from anxious, disturbing, or obsessive thoughts.
They remind us that trying to stay mindful is not running away from responsibilities.
Mindfulness is not an escape from responsibilities and concerns that require actions or attention from us,...When something is important enough, to us, we manage to find time for it.
We come to a realization that we already are full to the brim.
Living mindfully doesn’t require us to sit in meditation or add any thing to our already full lives. It’s just a matter of practicing presence with that which that we are already doing. For that, we may need to slow down a bit.
When we realize that we are fully equipped to only do the tasks given to us, provided we stop comparing with the person next to us, we immediately know that we are wholesome. The guru either from outside or within comes to bring faith in us. It is a matter of listening and taking up the challenge. The Guardian carried this obituary on Stephen Hawking at https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/mar/14/stephen-hawking-obituary
Hawking had been diagnosed shortly after his 21st birthday as suffering from an unspecified incurable disease, which was then identified as the fatal degenerative motor neurone disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Soon afterwards, rather than succumbing to depression, as others might have done, he began to set his sights on some of the most fundamental questions concerning the physical nature of the universe. In due course, he would achieve extraordinary successes against the severest physical disabilities. Defying established medical opinion, he managed to live another 55 years.
Yogi Ramaiah on the eve of his journey to the USA to continue his further studies is diagnosed with a serious ailment that saw him lay in bed for the next six years. During this time the son of the rich and famous S.A. Annamalai Chettiar, had spiritual men visit him. Soon he had visions of the divine saints. But his agony was too much and he tried to hold his breathing long enough to make his body lifeless hoping to end his life. Babaji came at the nick of time to stop his attempt asking him to surrender himself to his cause. Tavayogi had gone blind in his early thirties and sought grace from the Goddess known to make the blind see again at a temple near Methupalaiyam. A year passed with no results seen. Giving up the thought and thinking it was futile and foolish of him to expect to recover his lost sight, he was contemplating to jump onto the tracks, onto the path of an oncoming train. But Agathiyar in a thunderous voice forbade him to take his life and stopped him in the nick of time, saving him. He asked him to surrender to him and his cause instead.
For those who find no way out of their problems having sought, heard, and executed all the advice given by family, friends, foe, professionals, and others, and having placed all the efforts to overcome them, take a break from your troubles by surrendering fully to the holy feet of God or guru. Tell yourself that you are not going to seek a way out of your troubles but are going to face them boldly. Ask for assistance from God and guru to give you the strength to battle the issue. Cry to him. Hug him. Scold him if it brings relief to you. He is there for you. God not only accepts praises he accepts insults too. He is unbias and impartial to people and things. The most compassionate shall then find solutions and show us the way out. Be alert and take up the offers and solutions that come your way once you have surrendered. Do not wait for God to show up in the forms he is depicted. He can come in many ways. Your effort is in climbing to the topmost floor and wait patiently for the rising waters to reside. In the event it doesn't and if it kept rising pray for assistance. If the assistance comes in the form of rescuers on a boat, board it. If they come in helicopters hold on to the rope ladder that is let down. Do not be foolish and insist and be adamant that God should come in person foregoing all the assistance extended to you. God comes in mysterious ways.
Rather than being caught off guard and have the screen rollout before us, and the show of all our past doings screened to our regret then, which is a bit too late to bring changes, slowly dying again seeing all these horrid things we did, we could bring a will to rectify them in this very birth, sitting in deep meditation. Burning and roasting them in the fire of tavam, we can leave this world in peace. But we must have the courage to make the decision to take up the challenge. Nobody can do it for us. The guru, master, or proxy can only bring us to the pond, stream, or river but can never make us drink. Our lives are in our hands. Although there are many factors said to have a firm grip on us, eventually, it is we who determine how and where it leads. The Siddhas make us realize this. They too had taken their lives into their hands, breaking all the odds to achieve the standing of a Siddha. I guess it took a long time and many births to come to their path now. I should be grateful to have Agathiyar open the door for me to enter his path. I should be grateful to him for bringing Tavayogi to our shores and accompany me to all the places he listed out and beyond those mentioned in the Nadi too. I should be grateful for Agathiyar to come into my home first as the bronze statue and now in spirit. I should be grateful to him for continuously staying by my side. Only my efforts could repay the gratitude as told by Ramalinga Adigal. Let us place more effort in all our endeavors.