First, it is the paper chase, then we chase the rest. We all dream about doing something, setting a goal, and working towards achieving it. In a world that is fast and furious, that wants instant results like instant noodles, we attend to everything as if it were a life and death matter. We forget to slow down, enjoy the moment at hand, and take in the bliss that comes through the senses, which are in direct contact with everything around us, and register them. The mind digests whatever is fed through the senses, then. Then it plays its game. This is Maya, that which is not real and never was a reality.
Coming to spirituality, another chase of sorts begins. We are so preoccupied with our thoughts and figuring out what to do next, while the saints have emptied their minds and allow the divine to work through them. Even if they do interfere, it is done without raising a finger but by raising their thoughts and connecting with the Prapanjam, which then does wonders. There is no direct confrontation. They use the access that they have to Prapanjam and its mysteries to solve our troubles. As my daughter believes, Agathiyar, in asking me to be his eyes and ears, listen to the problems and sufferings of others, is using me as a postbox. He then sets things right for them. The family always had a practice of writing down our wishes and placing them before him. If, at the beginning, he had us go on pilgrimages and carry out remedies to shed our Karma, most recently, he showed us how we could burn all our sufferings in the fire of the Homam personally in our own homes, and asks that we do not look back, but move on.
Agathiyar, who initially appeared as the spoken word in the Nadi, entered our homes the moment we began to call out the names of the Siddhas. In carrying out the fire ritual, Homam, they laid the bridge and crossed over to our realm. In inviting them and serving food and delicacies as we would entertain our guests, they sat with us to dine. In joining them to sit in meditation, they cleared the chakras. In having us carry out Asanas and Pranayama, they aroused the energies within, bringing us to higher regions and experiences. The important thing I have come to learn here is just as the energies stagnated in me and Agathiyar had to come to my rescue, we should not stagnate at any of these phases of experiences, holding on to image, form, name, authority, fame, followers, movements, centers, societies, temple, ashram, or Peedham. I guess I had held on to these in my previous births, hence the need to keep coming back crores of years, as Agathiyar says. Both Tavayogi and Agathiyar went further in asking me not to get attached to them personally, too, but to let go. In letting go, we become the One, Yegan. There is no duality. We step out of Dvaita into Advaita.
As I penned this post, a reader wrote in the following.
Thank you, Aiya, for keep writting. Each time I read again and again the same blog entires even back to 2021 or older posts, something was there for me to learn. Something new. My journey might be a long way, but in your writing I see Agathiar appa message. I learned something new again on WORKSHIP post today.
The karuppu Ai image created by Mahindran with your entry is simply superb. Yes, u have been an absolute guidance for me all these 6 years like Karuppu.