SPRING CLEANING

I have been spring cleaning a lot these days adhering to Agathiyar's command to a devotee to ensure cleanliness in her home at all times to ward off illness and diseases. Cleaning and sprucing up the home clears the air too making it easier to breathe. I had the old windows that withstood some 26 years of rain and shine replaced and had to paint the walls as a result too. Changing the windows gives a new look to the home and painting the walls not only adds vibrancy and color to the home but also to life. A simple coat of paint brings cheer and brightness into the home. The color yellow is said to neutralize bad energy. Walls are said to retain negative energy vibes. A good coat of paint will do some good at eliminating it.

"Be sure to repair or remove broken things. Broken things bring that stuck and negative energy into your home," says Anjie Cho, Feng Shui, and holistic living expert and founder of Holistic Spaces. "Remove clutter as soon as possible. Objects retain lots of energy and physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually block our 'path' forward," says Maureen Calamia, a re-nature Feng Shui consultant. "Oh, and did we mention clutter makes you feel tired and stressed, too?" For those keen to know more read about energizing the home at https://www.housebeautiful.com/.

Throw in a lovely wife and children, that is heaven on earth. Painting the walls gave me a workout and fulfillment of seeing the end product. I guess I have seen through Agathiyar's appended wish to improve the existing home instead of moving out to a new venue as originally hinted by him.

We are grateful to Agathiyar for a roof over our heads and keeping us well. The Al Jazeera network covered the slums of Manila recently that brought tears to the eyes and made me appreciate and be grateful for all the small things that providence has provided us.

The divine has always intended good for us. All that happens is for our good, however painful it might be. We are to learn from our experiences. For instance, learning to forgive is so important in life that we realize the soul struggles to leave the body in its last moments of separation if we harbor greed, hatred, and other negative or evil tendencies. Life is all about building relationships and forming an association. We do not come with a given script. We learn on the spot and while here to adapt to people, society, and situations. Sometimes we might see the intended results or it might turn out to be a failure or disaster at other times. Thus, we are allowed to make mistakes. At the end of the day, it is all about learning. It is a process of learning that comes about from having these experiences.

The divine comes to our aid even as we struggle with our daily life. But the sad thing is that we are riddled by our worries and troubles that we do not recognize his presence and see his miracles. Sending me away with a parikaram or remedy in the Nadi back then, Agathiyar sent the birds too to my home to facilitate the fulfillment of the remedy. The birds of the species Anthus Richardi or locally known as burung Pipit Tanah were waiting for me at my home to feed them and have since stayed behind till the coming of the recent Covid-19 pandemic. I guess we had done enough and gained sufficient merits from our good deeds and that the scale has been balanced now for even the birds he sent over waiting for me to feed them after he mentioned in the Nadi have left now in my absence for some three weeks during the March 18 Covid lockdown. As more merits acquired would mean we need to take further births to enjoy its fruits, Agathiyar who had brought a stop to the other deeds of charity and feeding we did all these while, telling us that others shall continue the deed now, similarly chose to send the birds away too to another place where they shall be fed by another seeker.

Giving us a home and a shelter and the means for survival Agathiyar asks us to uphold cleanliness both within and external. Knowing man will never do it, teachings and practices were skillfully and masterly crafted and incorporated into our beliefs and faith, culture and tradition, festivities and celebrations. Hence, we end up, for instance, cleaning our household at least once a year as during the festive Pongal and painting the home before the Deepawali fest. So let us not wait for a special day to throw out the trash and stuff we have been piling up for use in the future that never happens, and instead, do it now. Let us get up from the couch and reach for the broom, the mop, and a pail of water and sweep and dust and mop the floor of our home sweet home. Let us fix all broken things today instead of leaving it for another day. Let us bring some color into our homes and our lives and boost our spirits by giving the walls a fresh coat of paint. But before you start on it, brew a nice hot mug of coffee to boost your energy.

Now, now don't you come up with a lame or should I say a cunning excuse not to do it as Henry tells his wife Liza in this children's song "There's a hole in my bucket dear Liza" from the series "You Can Read." We were introduced to this song and collection at a book fair when my eldest daughter was a kid. We thought it was a good investment in providing our child with a series on learning the English language as we were conversing with her in Tamil at home. We began to enjoy it too. This series is now watched by my granddaughter.

"This song seems to be in the German collection of songs Bergliederbüchlein (c 1700." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There's_a_Hole_in_My_Bucket)

There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole.

Well fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Well fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it.

With what shall I fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what shall I fix it, dear Liza, with what?

With a straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With a straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, with a straw.

But the straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The straw is too long, dear Liza, too long.

Then cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it!

With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, with what?

With a knife, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With a knife, dear Henry, with a knife.

But the knife is too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza,
But the knife is too dull, dear Liza, too dull.

Then sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then sharpen it dear Henry, dear Henry, sharpen it!

With what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what shall I sharpen, dear Liza, with what?

With a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, with a stone.

But the stone is too dry, dear Liza, dear Liza,
But the stone is too dry, dear Liza, too dry.

Well wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Well wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, wet it.

With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, with what?

Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, try water.

In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, in what?

In a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
In a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, in a bucket!

There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole.

REGAINING YOUTH

As I spend many a day and night alone at home, many have asked how do I manage to be alone. Occasionally when my granddaughter calls to ask when I was coming over, I make sure I am there for her. Children really can bring cheer and happiness to one. Otherwise, I am with my own thoughts, blogging, and trying desperately to meditate.  

Swami Chinmayananda in his book "As I Think", published by the Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Bombay 1985 describes being alone as fear that strikes many.

"Solitude to the modern man is a disastrous threat. to be alone in a quiet place and spend an evening all by himself is almost a painful tragedy to many a young man of our times", writes the Swami. The loneliness that is dreaded by many is the joyous solitude of others he says. "We merely demand a crowd always to be around us"', he adds as opposed to what we could enjoy if only we looked the other way. He beautifully describes "the hilarious laughter and joy and the glorious company of nature" as follows.

"The joyous serenade of leaves, the giggling dance of the rippling waters along rocky distances, the galloping waves restlessly stamping the surface of the seas, the queenly moon gracefully gliding across the soulful nights, the nodding flowers in bunches waiting to watch the procession of the day, the colorful sunset hesitating to leave the luxurious golden splash of the western sky, none, none of them has a message for a majority of us."

He goes on to describe nature in beautiful terms, "the hilarious laughter in nature, the boisterous music in the wind, the sonorous discourses of the ocean, and the prattlings of the woods." He brings us to ask ourselves when was the last time we looked up at the sky, gazed at the stars, and saw the moon. Yesterday my granddaughter and I soaked ourselves in the pouring rain, with her dancing to the tune of the raindrops and accompanying it with a self-made tune interspersed with her laughter. Joining her I became young too. I always tell the youths who come over to AVM that I prefer their company for I am rejuvenated by their youth and vigor. 

He asks that we return and be reeducated to enjoy the harmony in nature, the melody of life, the orchestra of the sounds in the air. "Such a man starts recognizing an infinite and a deep friendliness with everything, sentient and insentient, around, a feeling of utter love enveloping him all around as a divine atmosphere." We are never alone in a sense. We associate life to man and animal forgetting that plants rock and everything around us is alive and changing each moment. 

"From this point of view, the individual rising from himself comes to watch the whole world as a tiny speck in the universe and the entire universe itself as a meagre pinhead in the milky way. In this wonderful vision who can feel ever lonely."

A story is told of how a devotee wanting to start a conversation with Yogi Ramsuratkumar points to the exceptionally bright moon in the sky expecting the yogi to look his way. But the yogi kept looking the other way. After several attempts at describing the beauty of the moon and failing to draw the yogi's attention towards the sky as he viewed it, the yogi shuts him up by replying that he saw seven moons in the direction he was looking. We shall never know what is beyond our normal vision. 

PLACING CONTINUOUS EFFORT

Swami Chinmayananda in describing an accomplished yogi in his book "As I Think", published by the Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Bombay 1985 reminds us of the achievement of Ramalinga Adigal. 

An accomplished yogi is one who has ended his contact with these inert matter assemblages and has regained his native glow as the pure infinite consciousness. Such a godly one may for the benefit of the world come to express through his previous equipments for a short number of years singing the song of the divine felt by him expressing the majesty of the infinite song rising in him roaring the victory of the spirit over the matter which he has accomplished. Such a one is called a real saint, prophet, messiah, buddha. After serving the world for a time.... the equipment of expression around him withers away and he the infinite exists. As spirit he expresses thereafter through all functioning in the entire universe.

He reminds us of both Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal's reminders to us to study and understand the tattvas that make us. He reminds us of both Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal's reminders to us to put in the effort or the sadhana.

Sadhana is the technique by which alone such a sacred inner temple can be built by each one of us within us.

Ramalinga Adigal comes to asks me to continue to do Nadi Suddhi some 18 years later after Agathiyar had taught me in my Nadi reading. Agathiyar comes to asks me to start doing the yoga asanas and breathing techniques taught to me by Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal some 13 years earlier after he himself put a halt to it in 2011. On the other hand, the Siddha puja that he started me doing in 2002, followed by the ritual of lighting the Homa initiated by Tavayogi in 2008 and the libation or abhisegam of his idol in 2010, together with the activities of doing charity had all wind down in intensity towards the end of last year upon his command. What remains now is the weekly libation of his idol with water as dictated by Ma and Ramalinga Adigal and the annual vizha or celebration for Agathiyar that coincides with Thaipusam as requested by him. 

The emphasis these days is on doing sadhana in perfecting the breathing. They ask us to give importance to observe the breath, guiding it favorably, to move centrally and pierce the veil, hence opening the door to enlightenment. It would not be easy; neither will it be possible says Agathiyar. But he still wants us to attempt it. Both Supramnia Swami and Tavayogi too told us that our efforts shall not go to waste. With effort on our path and the magical hand of the divine one day, it shall eventually open to reveal to us the plain truth. But sadly, we always tend to shelf it for another moment or day. What if that moment or day does not come? To succeed on the spiritual path we are told that we need vairagya or determination. Sogyal Rinpoche in his book "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying", HarperSanFrancisco, 1994, shares the story of Asanga, a famous Indian Buddhist saint, who lived in the fourth century, that puts us to shame our lack of dedication for the cause. 

Retreating into the mountains to meditate in the hope of having a vision of Buddha Maitreya and to receive his teachings, Asanga was saddened and disheartened that he did not get the vision he aspired for, having not had even a glimpse of Maitreya in even his dream, even after putting in six years of meditation in the harshest conditions. He thought that he would never succeed in his dream to have the vision of the Buddha and learn from him, hence he left his hermitage abandoning the noble venture. He had not gone far down the road when he sees a man rubbing an enormous iron bar with a strip of silk cloth. Asanga asked him what he was doing to which he received the reply, "I haven't got a needle, so I am going to make one out of this iron bar." Asanga was stunned and told himself "Look at the trouble people give themselves over things that are totally absurd. You are doing a really valuable spiritual practice and you're not nearly so dedicated." He turned around and went back to his retreat to continue his meditation.

Another three years went by and there was no positive sign that he would have a vision of the Buddha. He told himself, "Now I know for certain I am never going to succeed" and so saying he left his practice again. Coming down the road, at the foot of a huge rock stood a man busily rubbing the rock with a feather soaked in water. When questioned about his action, the man replied that the rock was stopping the sun from shining onto his home thus he was getting rid of the rock. Asanga could only revel at the faith and indefatigable energy he carried in him, and ashamed at his own lack of dedication he returned back to his retreat.

Three more years passed by and still, he had not even had a single good dream. He told himself that it was utterly useless and hopeless for him to pursue further, and left again. This time he came across a dog lying in the path of the villagers, snarling at all those who passed by, ready to sink its teeth into them although it had only its front legs and the hind legs were rotting away. Compassion came over Asanga. He cut a piece of flesh from his body and fed the dog. He knelt beside the dog, closed his eyes, and began to stick his tongue out to remove the maggots that had infested its flesh. But his tongue touched the ground. Opening his eyes he saw no dog. In its place was the Buddha Maitreya, envelope in a shimmering aura of light.

Asanga asked him why he did not appear earlier. Maitreya replied, "It is not true that I never appeared to you before. I was with you all the time, but your negative karma and obscurations prevented you from seeing me. Your twelve years of practice dissolved them slightly so that you were at last able to see the dog. Thanks to your compassion all the obscurations were completely swept away and you can see me before you with your very own eyes. If you do not believe that this is what happened put me on your shoulders and try and see if anyone else can see me."

Asanga put Maitreya on over his shoulder and went to the marketplace. He began to ask the people there what was it that he carried on his shoulders. None saw Maitreya seated on his shoulder. Surprisingly one woman told him that he was carrying the rotting corpse of a dog on his shoulder. Maitreya told him her karma was slightly purified hence she was the only one able to see the dog. No one saw the Buddha Maitreya.

Sogyal Rinpoche writes that finally, it dawned on Asanga that "the power of compassion had purified and transformed his karma and so made him a vessel fit to receive the vision and instruction of Buddha Maitreya.  Maitreya took him to heaven and gave him further teachings.

REVELATION

For one who has followed through our journey reading this blog, he would see the truth of Frank Alexander's words from the perspective of a guru in his "In the Hours of Meditation", published by Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta, 1993.

And as for organizations appreciate their usefulness, the greatness of the ideas they embody, but remain thou unidentified. The religious life is purely personal and subjective. It may be born in a church, but it must outlive it. If there must be organization let it be the organization of ideas; but never labour for the extension of a purely organized form. No organization can save thee; thou must save thyself. Generally speaking organizations however spiritual and unsectarian their intent degenerate into worldliness. Keep aloof from any dogmatism and fanaticism. Be all inclusive. Be always true and loyal to the source from which thou hast received thy inspiration. Have faith and love; have hope and be patient. All these veils of illusion shall be soon rent asunder for thee, and thou shalt behold me in my true nature. 

We have seen through the truth and experienced this observation of Frank Alexander, a student of Swami Vivekananda. Tavayogi on stepping on our shores pointed out to us the extent and dependence of us on external worship or bakti and asked that we come to Gnana. When others went to him to officiate an affiliate of his parent ashram the Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham, I was not moved to do the same. Neither did he initiate me to do so. When Agathiyar sent over his devotees to watch, learn and participate in the rituals I was conducting at home, we slowly merged into a loose group of his devotees and started a WhatsApp group where we shared news about events regarding our rituals and charity. Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia and its charity arm Amudha Surabhi came into being. We went far in both areas of rituals and charity operating as this group. Indeed, "we appreciated its usefulness and the greatness of the ideas" that came forth from fellow devotees. Towards the end of 2019 Agathiyar broke this group too, sending us to do rituals in our own homes and charity "personally'. He did not allow this group "to degenerate into worldliness." We have survived the break and today cherish fond memories of the past years. Agathiyar wanted us to have the experience and move on to newer horizons. He never allowed us to stagnate for long at any one level. We have outlived Sariyai and Kriyai and today stand at the threshold of Yogam. Agathiyar tells us not to worry and consoles us that there will be others to continue the acts of dharma and that it was now the moment for us to step within. 

இனி உல் பயணத்தை கடக்கணும். நீங்கள் புரிந்து கொண்டீர்கள். வந்து விட்டீர்கள். அந்த கவலை வேண்டாம். அது  எடுத்து செய்வதற்கு பலர் வருவார்கள். ஆனால் ஞானத்தை நாடுபவர்கள் மிகவே குறைவு. நீங்கள் ஞானத்தை விரும்பினீர்கள். நான் வழங்க உள்ளேன். கவலையை விடுங்கள். அது தானா நடக்கும்.

Indeed, he has shown us that "no organization can save us and that we must save ourselves." We have stood steadfast to Agathiyar rather then worship Tavayogi as Tavayogi had always wanted us to be "true and loyal to the source". We have been told again and again to remain "faithful, have hope and be patient". Finally, Agathiyar mentioned exactly what Frank Alexander wrote, "All these veils of illusion shall be soon rent asunder for thee, and thou shalt behold me in my true nature." (நீங்கள் உல் பயணம் பயணிக்கும் பொது எல்லாம் தெரிய வரும் தருணம் திரை விலக்கியத்திற்கு அர்த்தம். திரை விளக்கியதும் அனைத்தும் உங்களுக்கு தெரிய வரும்.)

Ramalinga Adigal came to confirm this too. He asks that we enhance and feed the flame or jothi that burns within. "The veils of illusion shall be rent asunder when this flame rises within. Agathiyar shall ensure that the veil is rent asunder."

"சீர்ஜோதி அது பெருஞ் ஜோதி அது... ஏறும் பெரும் ஜோதி அது, என்னுள் அது ஏறும் போது திரை அது விலகியது..."

திரை விலக உங்களில் இருக்கும் ஜோதி அதனை சுடர்விட செய்யுங்கள். என் அப்பன் அகத்தியன் உங்களுக்குள் வந்து அத்திரையை விலக்கிவிடுவார். அதுவே இப்பாடலின் பொருள். என் அப்பன் அகத்தியன் உங்களுக்குள் இருந்து வழி நடத்தி வருகிறார். அவன் வழியிலே நடந்து வாருங்கள். அத்திரை விலக்குவதற்க்கு அவன் அருள் புரிவான். 

LEARNING TO OBSERVE THE PRANA

Life is all about establishing relationships. It starts the very moment we are conceived in the mother's womb. Our relationship with God continues within the womb of the new mother. A new relationship is cemented for life with our mum. Then she shows us to our dad and siblings. The family is introduced soon. Friends come by. Teachers come by too. Colleagues come together. A life partner comes along and a beautiful relationship starts. We have children of our own. How amazing and wonderful a journey. Besides building relationships with fellow humans, many go beyond these reaching out into the plant and animal kingdom too. Only some go further and beyond all these reaching out to God. God comes as the guru. The guru shows us God, bringing us one full circle. In this journey of ours, effort plays an important role. Ramalinga Adigal says "உனது முயற்சியே உனது படி" bringing us to understand that our efforts are the stepstone that brings us to higher levels in spiritualism as we journey along after coming into their fold and apprenticeship. Taking hold of them, we are given the privilege and freedom to walk with them. They come as a companion and a guide. Nothing more, nothing less. We have to take the first steps. We have to walk and see the journey through. We have to place the effort towards it. We shall not be carried to our destination. There is no flying carpet that flies us there.

Health is of utmost importance in this journey. Even to sit and meditate one needs good health. Even to perform the yoga asanas and pranayama he needs good health. Even to journey physically to their abodes on the pilgrimages, one needs good health too. Blessed with good health he starts his endeavor. The guru follows closely behind never interfering but assisting when and if the need arises.  Traveling the journey like everyone else, when changes began to take place in me, I feared if I was having an ailment or if it came with old age. I was faced with the fear of these possibilities when I underwent the back pain in 2011, which kept raising its hood time and again over the years. When I was asking myself if at all these came as a result of my age or if my body and my internal organs were failing and needed to be addressed and medication taken, Agathiyar brushed aside my complaint of pain that I had to endure for some 2 1/2 years telling me that it was indeed a process of change and transformation taking place within. Certain subtle changes were taking place as a result of the techniques, practices, instructions, and guidance given by them that I followed diligently.  He had me drop all my asana and pranayama practices learned from Tavayogi then.

Late last year Agathiyar started me back on it although only asking to adopt some select techniques and moves. At the same time, he had me consume his Agathiyar Kuzhambu, a Siddha herbal preparation that acts as a purgative. Just one dose of it churned the whole digestive and alimentary system and overhauled the whole respiratory system too. He did not let go of me easily but insisted that I take a daily dose of a formula he gave that I could easily prepare, asking me to take it and keep it to myself and not share the portion with others and knowing me pretty well, not to share it on the blog too. I managed to consume that concoction, for some 51 days minus a few days in between when I had to attend to some major errands. I would be laid off for almost half a day daily frequenting the toilet throwing up the three dosas, Vatta, Kapha, and Pitta. These were accompanied by numbness in the legs that worried me a lot; recurring acute pain in the lower back; frequent headaches; excruciating pain in the knees, and other unwarranted bodily pains and aches, to name a few. But they come and went away at times without the need for any medication and at other times the compassionate Siddhas had herbal preparations prepared and delivered to me too through their agents. As I was told it was a process that I needed to go through, I never visited the doctors over these discomforts. I had excessive phlegm in the throat for no reason. I am currently coughing up more phlegm and bilious humor daily, now even having to consume the previous magic portions as before. The body has begun to expel them on its own. We learn from http://www.greekmedicine.net/Principles_of_Treatment/Adjusting_and_Regulating_the_Bilious_Humor.html more about the Bilious humor also known as the Choleric humor.

Even the smouldering embers of a chronic or recalcitrant Choleric condition like chronic gastroenteritis, inflamed and bleeding gums, or various other chronic inflammatory or bilious conditions can rob your body of the harmony and integration it needs to heal, and insidiously eat away at the organism's reserves of vitality and immunity.  They can also disrupt the wholeness and integrity of the body's overall humoral balance and fluid metabolism.  Correcting these chronic Choleric imbalances and disorders is therefore equally important.

A medical checkup that came my way free of charge cleared the air and calmed my fears about any ailment. Bringing my daughter to the clinic for her severe and unbearable PMS condition, the doctor after treating her, tells me that I am eligible for a free medical checkup. I turn up at his clinic later. He gives me the good news that all is well with me. Two of the possibilities, ailment, and old age mentioned earlier, were cleared and struck off.  Then Ramalinga Adigal came to tame my fear further telling me indeed it was a process currently going on within, asking me not to worry as did Agathiyar console me, brushing aside my back pain in 2011. Adigal builds my confidence and strength saying that all the changes taking place were a process, that of cleansing. 

Just as there is an internal cleansing that sadhakas have to bear with while traveling the path, one is told to drop all his possessions, desires, etc, that are also a cleansing of sorts. As the saying goes "too much of a good thing too shall be disastrous", Tavayogi reminds us that although desires bring us fame, too many desires shall lead to one's downfall. When one's desires are not fulfilled he becomes frustrated. If it is fulfilled it leads to more desires and greed arising in him.

"ஆசைகள் ஒருவனுக்கு புகழை அளிக்கும். அதிக ஆசைகள் அவனையே அழிக்கும். ஆசை நிறைவேறாத போது நிராசை ஆகிறது. அதுவே நிறைவேறும் போது பேராசையாகிறது"

We are told to drop even the merits we have earned through doing puja, charity, and yoga. The reason being the ego hitches a ride on all these too. The only and sure way to rid of the ego is to give away the merits gained. Hence, I understand today why Supramania Swami told me that even the tavam or tapas or austerities undertaken has to be left behind. Tavayogi says it beautifully, "பாவம் புண்ணியம் என்கின்ற இரண்டையும் கிடக்கின்ற போது தான் இறைவன் உன் முன் தோன்றுவான். என்னால் ஆவது ஒன்றுமில்லை எல்லாம் நீயே கதி என்று நற்சேவை செய்கின்ற போது பாவம் புண்ணியம் இரண்டும் அறுந்து போகும்." God only shows himself when we refrain from doing bad and go beyond even good deeds. Only when one realizes and does all deeds without taking credit for them, rather giving all the credit back to God, both the awaiting consequences of the merits and demerits earned are severed for good.

Fate is a product of actions done and the relevant merits or paavam and punyam in previous births. This results in the need to take continuous births. The births are determined by these deeds, either good or bad. Fate has to carry out its duty and that's where the planets or navagraham come into play to watch over and ensure that Erai's orchestration comes into play in a timely and perfect manner in accordance to each period in time and perfectly in sync with the yuga and the dharma of that period, all set out and functioning to the minutest detail. Once the machinery is in place and the system begins to work, Erai and Siddhas can only interfere to a certain extent. The extent, and for whom and when, is then determined by Lord Shiva. As the fact goes "You can't get a job without experience, and you can't get experience without a job", it is a vicious circle either way.

It's a kind of loop in which an event has a consequence that not only keeps it going, but strengthens the original event or action. Ultimately the entire cycle starts all over again. An example of a vicious cycle is when you can't sign in without your password, but you can’t get your password without signing in. For a solution, you need to find a way to break the cycle - by contacting IT support, perhaps. (Source: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary)

How do we escape this vicious cycle of birth and death? Here we turn to the Siddhas to help us out to a certain extent, knowing pretty well of the limitations involved. Here is where we learn a lesson that man must learn to be satisfied. If he ends up being unsatisfied with what he has, it only means fate is in play. The biggest battle that we encounter is to battle the mind and the heart. We are reminded by Ramalinga Adigal of acceptance and to be satisfied always, "போதும் என்ற மனமே பொன் செய்யும் மருந்து. நீ போதும் என்று சொல்லும் நிலை உன்னை அறியாமல் நீ பெற்றுக்கொண்டுதான் இருக்கிறாய்." All the riches shall come to us once we become satisfied with what we have. Peace dawns on us the moment we accept everything as the will of God. When satisfaction sets in Ramalinga Adigal equates this state with that of "சுத்த பரிபூரணம்" or the state of completeness. No more harboring thoughts of achieving more. All actions cease and recede then. Peace and calm shall then reign. Nature begins to give herself to us. She shall follow our dictates. This is the state of a Siddha.

On this journey, we begin to realize from experience that the greatest joy is that of giving. Tavayogi says that a true turavi or mendicant is one who looks around for more things to give away when people seek aid from him. "இனித் துறப்பதற்கு தன்னிடம் என்ன பாக்கி இருக்கிறது என்று சிந்திப்பவனே, சிந்தித்து துறப்பவனே உண்மைத் துறவி."

Tavayogi who introduced us to Agathiyar as God through the phrase "Arul Gnana Jothiye Agathin Jothi; Tani Perung Kadavule Agatheesar Avar" ("அருள் ஞான ஜோதியே அகத்தின் ஜோதி; தனிப் பெருந் கடவுளே அகத்தீசர் அவர்") and through the first mantra initiation given to many in Malaysia, later turned to me as we stepped onto the steps to the famed Nattadreshwar temple in Erode, telling me that Agathiyar and Siva were one ("அகத்தியனும் சிவனும் ஒன்றே"). During another initiation at his Kallar Ashram he told me that the breath was God ("வாசியே கடவுள்").  A Sufi master in the movie "Sufiyum Sujatavum" says that "God is what you breath." We are reminded to focus on the breath and prana that moves through us by Ramalinga Adigal these days too ("பிரணவத்தில் கவனம் செலுத்து"). There is so much mystery revolving around the breath and prana. It shall be revealed to us as we begin to pay attention, focus, and concentrate on it. Adigal tells us to continue Nadi Suddhi something that Agathiyar had initiated us many years ago. When both Ida and Pingala travel through the Nadu Naadi or central channel, Sushumna, it becomes ideal to meditate. It shall come easily then. This is the lesson gained from experience by the Siddhas that results from its practice. We are blessed to have these gurus share it with us and guide us closely. We get insights into these secrets from http://www.thevaaram.org/thirumurai_1/onepage.php?thiru=10&Song_idField=10316

சுழுமுனையில் நில்லாமல், ஏனை இருவழிகளிலும் ஓடி, அதனால் வாழ்நாளைத் தேய்க்கின்ற பிராண வாயுவை யோகி தன் வசமாக்கிக் கொள்ளும் வழியிலே சென்று, அதனால் குண்டலி சத்தியை உணர்ந்தபின், அவ்வுணர்வு வாயிலாக அணையும் விளக்குப் போல மிக ஒளிவிடுகின்ற திரோதான சத்தியை அனுபவமாகக் காண்பான்.

 Damodaran Raman writes at http://vallalarspace.com/user/c/V000020815B

சுழு முனை நாடியின் மேல் வாசலான புருவ நடுவைத் திறக்க வேண்டும். ஆனால் புருவ நடுவானது பூட்டப் பட்டிருக்கிறது. வள்ளலார் கண்புருவப் பூட்டு என்றதைக் கவனிக்க. பூட்டைத் திறப்பது எப்படி? வாசிதான் பூட்டைத் திறக்கும் திறவுகோல் ஆகும். வாசி எப்படிப் பூட்டைத் திறக்கும்? மூக்கு வழியாக ஓடிக்கொண்டிருக்கும் வாசியைத் தடுத்து ஒடுக்கித் தலைப்பகுதிக்குத் திருப்ப வேண்டும். திருப்பினால் மேல்நோக்கி விரைந்து செல்லும் வாசிதான் பூட்டை உடைத்துப் புருவ நடுவைத் திறந்து புருவ நடு வழியாக வெளியேறும் .புருவ நடு வழியே செல்லும் வாசிதான் நாடி நாதத்தை எழுப்பும். அகவலில் வள்ளலார் கூயிசைப் பொறியெலாம் கும்மெனக் கொட்டிட என்றதை நினைவு படுத்திக் கொள்ளவும். இப்படியாக நாடி நாதத்தை எழுப்பினால் மூளையில் அமுதம் சுரக்கும். மடலெலாம் மூளை மலர்ந்திட அமுதம்  என்ற அகவல் வரியைக் காண்க. பாடி என்பது நம் உள்ளம். அதில் உள்ள பகைவர்கள் காமம், வெகுளி, மயக்கம். நாடி நாதம் இவற்றைக் கட்டுமாம். கட்டினால் சாந்தம் வரும். சாந்தம் ததும்பிட என்பது அகவல். 

WORK TOWARDS THE GOAL 2

It was only on 12 July 2010, some 8 years later that Agathiyar mentioned the benefits of the Siddha Puja he had asked me to do upon calling me to his path. 

பூசையின் பலன்: நிகண்டு நாடியிலிருந்து அகத்திய மா முனிவர் அருளிய ஆசி சுக்கமம் 12.7.2010

உண்மையும் உத்தமமும் நிறைந்த பூசை

நிறைந்த இன்பம் தந்திடுமே மகத்துவப் பூசை

நிதானமானதொரு அற்புத பூசை

அறமுடனே அகிலம் காக்கும் பூசை 

அருளான மாந்தரோடு செய்வாய் நன்றாய்

நன்றன புண்ணியங்கள் காக்கும் பூசை

நற்கதியும் பலர் அடைய செய்யும் பூசை

எண்ணாத சக்தி எல்லாம் தந்திடும் பூசை 

எகாந்த நிலை அடைய வைக்கும் பூசை

வையகத்தின் மாந்தரின் அகத்தின் ஜோதி 

வலமாக்கும் முழுமதி பூசை அப்பா

ஐயத்தை நீக்கிடும் பூசைதானே 

ஆண்டவனை அடைய செய்யும் வழியும் இதுவே

வழி வகுக்கும் சேய்க்கும் மாந்தற்கும் தான்

வளத்திற்கும் அருளுக்கும் பொருளுக்கும்

அழியாத மார்கத்தில் இருந்த வண்ணம் 

அகிலத்தில் நிலை பெற்று வாழ் வழிக்கும் பூசை

பூசையால் புண்ணியங்கள் கிட்டும் பூசை

பூர்வமும் போக்கிடும் பூசை அப்பா

இசையுடனே குடும்பவளம் தந்திடும் பூசை

எவை எல்லாம் வேண்டினும் தந்திடும் பூசை

தந்திடுமே தர்மம் தவ சிந்தை

தரித்திரியம் போக்கும் பூசை யாகும்

அந்தமும் ஆதியும் இல்லா

அகிலமதில் உயர்வு தரும் பூசை அப்பா

அப்பனே ஆண்டவனே உருகும் பூசை

அறிவிழந்தோன் அறிவாளி ஆக்கும் பூசை

ஒப்பில்லா மகத்துவம் கொண்ட பூசை

உயர்வோடு நீ எடுத்துச் செய்வாய் அப்பா

ஒப்பில்லா மாற்றங்கள் மகத்துவமும்

உயர் நிலை பூசையாலே இருக்குதப்பா

There are many in this world who utters my name (Agathiyar), 

Prayers done truthfully (to Sidhas) shall gain many benefits, 

Prayers shall bring much joy, 

Prayers done moderately but splendidly and honestly, shall help protect the world, 

Prayers done with fellow devotees will bring many benefits, 

Many shall rise in stature and power, 

Prayers will lead to a state of bliss, 

Prayers done on full moon days shall strengthen the Jothi within, 

Prayers will help remove doubts, 

Through prayers, one shall attain godhead, 

Strength, grace and wealth shall be gained, 

Stay on this path of devotion and family bond shall be strengthened, 

All that is asked for shall be gained, 

Prayers shall lead to meditation and charitable thoughts, 

All ills shall be removed, 

God shall listen to prayers, 

Idiots shall become geniuses, 

The benefits attained from prayers are indescribable for many changes shall take place. 

He did not tell me what to expect or gain from on the onset, the very first day of the start of the puja. Neither did Tavayogi brief me on the benefits of doing the Homam when he initiated me to begin it. It was many years later that Agathiyar explained its benefits. Similarly, when we stepped into Yogam from Sariyai and Kriyai, Tavayogi did not spell out the benefits of the postures and pranayama techniques. We learned from experience gained from its practice. The Siddhas came to confirm our experiences later. 

Sadly we want to know all there is to know before even engaging in any of these. It's akin to taking up an insurance policy asking to know and verify that everything is covered. There are no promises made on this path. We shall see results when we place the effort, as simple as that. No Siddhis will come by magic. It has to be earned and one has to learn to use it beneficially.  

The Siddhas want us to learn from our own personal experiences rather than attend classes or courses. Each man has to walk the path, putting in time and effort in all the practices, living the life of a Siddha rather than reading or learning about it. Now I pretty well understand why Tavayogi chose to take me on a journey trekking the jungles, hills, and sleeping in the caves rather than have me sit and listen to him preach about the life of a Siddha. He showed me by example. He wanted me to gain the experiences, rather than being merely knowledgeable about the Siddhas.

Sadly we have been brought up to expect immediate results in all our undertakings. We want assurance in all our undertakings. We do not want to see failures. We bring this attitude along when we step into the spiritual path too. We engage ourselves further only if someone can give us an assurance that our problems shall go away, our illness shall be cured, our sufferings will end, etc. Can't we for once just step in without laying any conditions? Can't we step in without any expectations? Can't we step in out of love for the divine? 

Dr. C Srinivasan in his exposition of the "Thiruvaachakam of Saint Maanickavaachagar", wrote about Saint Maanickavaachagar's approach to worship. 

He prayed to Him with pious devotion for his grace. He wept and he melted for His mercy to extricate Him from the miserable cycle of birth and death wiping out the inseparable bonds of illusion, karma and ego.

This he did through his outpouring of 51 poems. The Dr. continues, “Complete surrender has been echoed in his fervent appeals and mellifluous compositions”. He lists out the reasons to pray too.

Surrendering himself completely he may pray to Him to redeem him from all the bonds and the perpetual disease of birth and death. As the saint prays, one may pray to Him to save him from the vagaries of his mind and senses which are after sensual pleasures. He may pray to Him to bestow upon him His mercy and grace. He may pray to him to show him the right path to reach Him. He may pray to Him to bestow upon him eternal Bliss.

And he finally lists the best prayer,

The best prayer is to pray to Him out of sheer love without asking for even His Bliss. This prayer of loving piety to Him shall place him in everlasting supreme and transcendent Bliss for ever and ever after.

Ramalinga Adigal says it beautifully "போதும் என்ற மனமே பொன் செய்யும் மருந்து" and goes on to explain its meaning. "நீ போதும் என்று சொல்லும் நிலை உன்னை அறியாமல் நீ பெற்றுக்கொண்டுதான் இருக்கிறாய்."

Come empty and let him fill you up. Come without placing conditions or a dateline. Come without expectations and open up to all possibilities. Be willing to listen, watch, and absorb the ways of the Siddhas. Follow their ways and their teachings while still remaining in society. Go with the flow once you have surrendered to them. Give them space to work on you. Let the magic work in you. 

WORK TOWARDS THE GOAL 1

As the heatwave takes its toll on many in Japan and California, the air conditioners I had installed brought much relief into my home and perhaps saved us from the heatstroke. There was a need to rearrange the household things to minimize energy consumption and maximize its cooling effects. Hence there was a break in blogging the past two weeks. My close associates on this journey Mahindren, Suren, and Malar called or messaged to enquire why there were no new posts. I told them the reason and also indicated that I shall stop writing too. The reason. Much has been said by the Siddhas and passed on through this blog. From passing on teachings they began to initiate their devotees into practices and came around to check in on them. The method has been given in this blog. What has been given to us as methods have since brought results and benefits. These methods brought about several processes. We are currently experiencing the process. The results and benefits cannot be divulged as yet, for it will either bring expectations of a similar experience or bring frustration if one following them doesn't see the results. As Agathiyar said no two experiences shall be the same, one has to see to the end of the process before he can safely divulge these secrets. When Ramalinga Adigal hit the jackpot and attained the ultimate state and chose to divulge its secrets, it was given to us as the Thiruarutpa, a compendium of his experience narrated through some 6,000 songs.

When someone asked me and my wife what we gained from worshipping Siddhas many years back we were baffled. Does one need to gain benefits from worship? Is it a commodity to be bought through the act of worship? Doesn't anyone worship for the love of his deity anymore? Does everything have to have an earning or reward or a carrot hung before the horse cart? Is everything a business deal now?

Looking through the net and books on Yoga again we are presented with a long list of benefits spelled out, that one shall gain from these practices even before actually going into the practice. Doesn't anyone do Yoga as a daily regime just like drinking and eating, breathing, and sleeping? Have we ever asked what is the benefit of drinking, eating, breathing, and sleeping or opted out not to do it? Watch a child and you shall see him/her perform yoga asanas without being coached. When did we lose it then? Now we have to drag ourselves to do Yoga. We need to be in the company of others to do Yoga.

The Siddhas never told us the benefits either with worship or Yoga until we started to practice them for a period of time. Only then did they come to reveal the state we were in. Only then did we realized the processes that we were going through. Only then did we begin to realize the benefits that came with the practice. Hence we are never frustrated if it takes time or doesn't materialize as said. We shall not look forward to the rewards or benefits instead stay focused on the practice and the process. There is no destination waiting to be reached. Each step brings us to a new place that marks a new spot on the journey. Each moment we arrive at a new destination. Although we are destined by our karma the divine grace can change the path if he chooses to do so. Hence the reason for asking us to take hold of the divine. He knows best for he sees the past, present, and future. We are limited in vision and end up making blunders that we tend to regret later.

"I wish you could see what I can see. Sometimes you have to be really high to understand how small you are. I am coming home now."

These were the words that Felix Baumgartner uttered just before he took his first step and dived from a height of 24.2 miles creating a new space jump world record in 2012.

If this is true of someone watching over us from a height of several miles, imagine what the divine residing in the skies sees. The divine who resides beyond also resides closer to home, within us too.

Supramania Swami told me that none of our effort in attaining Erai would go to waste. He added that we cannot take anything with us including the tapas or long years of austerities put in. We shall have to leave all behind. Ramalinga Adigal points out to us that our tapas has contributed partly to Tavayogi achieving the state of jothi. This explains why Supramania Swami reminded me to do tavam, telling me "Your tavam will bring advancement to me and my spiritual state." So it looks like it is a two-way process between the guru and disciple, where both tend to gain much. We have been told, taught, and shown to forever be obedient servants to the guru. Agathiyar shot down my wish to take many more births to do service or Seva to him, instead wanted us to attain spiritual wisdom or jnana and become a Siddha like him too.

Agathiyar did not ask himself what he would gain in making Sivalingas out of mud, sand, earth, stone, rock, or granite as he journeyed south. It has come to be worshipped through the ages. He gave mankind something to grab on to and scale the heights in becoming divine. Recently Ramalinga Adigal came to ask us to cool the statue of Agathiyar at AVM once a week telling us that Agathiyar had taken on all our tapas. Ma had come exactly a year back asking us to cool her (Agathiyar) down daily. Siva is cooled continuously at temples. Agathiyar explains the need to cool the deities and in return cool the self, comparing it to nature that comes as rain to cool Mother Earth.

Gurus are known to tell us that it is difficult to achieve what they had done. Its all a secret they tell us keeping us at a safe distance from the pot of honey. They intentionally or unintentionally drive away seekers through such secrecy. They chose to divulge their secrets only to those who stay behind, at times after 12 long years. Moving away from teaching the masses they identify a candidate or several who have the potential to lead and become gurus themselves. Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal, identified two such candidates and passed on the role of a guru recently, Mahindren from Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) and Mr. and Mrs. Sri Krishna from Agathiyar Universal Mission (AUM). They pass on the practice and get them to coach seekers whom they send to them too. They have been tasked to groom new seekers into the practice of Yoga besides upholding puja and charity. Having done so they do not want us to stagnate and remain a teacher forever. The responsibility is shifted to another who comes along and is identified by them, while the former goes deeper within. Similarly, it is with charity. They stop us and pass on the responsibility to others to continue. This is how the tradition of Siddhas lives. It doesn't end with the demise or the absence of the guru but we see the seed continue to sprout under the shadows and watchful eyes of the guru in subtle form. When the seedling is capable of journeying on its own, it is transplanted onto another field to grace and beautify the field with its teachings and its presence.