STREET FEEDING IN JB

"Yenggugiren" fame Gowri Arumugam has recently released her first album "Agathiyar Geetham" under Raagawave Production, an album mooted by Agathiyar while she was spending quality time at the Kallar Ashram, India.

Back in Malaysia, AVM and AUM collaborated in bringing out this album that was a tribute to Agathiyar. Raagawave has regularly being contributing a portion from the cd sales of Agathiyar Geetham to Persatuan Teman Setia (a conglomerate of Amudha Surabhi/Thondu Seivom/AVM) to pursue its charity work.

She and her friends decided to take up the call to help feed the homeless in Johore Bahru (JB) last Thursday. They cooked, packed and joined up with the organizers of Program Sayangi Gelandangan to distribute food parcels to the hungry on the streets.

IN THOSE SILENT HOURS

மோனா ஞான முழுதும் அளித்து

சிற்பரிப் பூரண சிவத்தைக் காண

நற்சிவ நிட்கள நாட்டமுந் தந்து

குருவுஞ் சீடனுங் கூடிக் கலந்து

இருவரும் ஒரு தனியிடந் தனிற் சேர்ந்து

தானந்தமாகித் தற்பர வெளியில்

ஆனந்த போத அறிவைக் கலந்து

ஈசனிைணயடியிருத்தி

மனத்தே நீயே நானாய்

நானே நீயாய்க்

காயா புரியைக் கனவெனவுணா்ந்து

எல்லாமுன் செயலென்ேற உணர

நல்லா உன்னருள் நாட்டந் தருவாய்

காரண குருவே கற்பகத் களிேற

வாரணமுகத்து வள்ளலே போற்றி

Its transliteration,

mona gnana muluthum alitthu

sirparipoorana shivattai kaana

narshiva nitkala naattamum thanthu

guruvum seedanum koodi kalanthu

eruvarum oru tani edam thanil sernthu

thaananthamaagi tarpara veliyil

aanandha bhotha arivai kalanthu

esan enaiyadi erutthi manathay

neeye naanaai naane neeyaai

gaayaa puriyai kanavena unarnthu

yellaam un seyalendray unara

nallaa un arul naatham tharuvaai

kaarana guruve karpaga kalire

vaarana mugatthu vallale potri

The above verses from Saint Nakkirar's Thiruagaval is a yearning, for a quiet moment and a space with the Guru. Seeking Lord Ganapathy's grace and blessing to create the avenue for this special moment, sitting in silence with the Guru, merging in thought with him, even the thought of the guru as separate - drops, and he becomes identified with the Guru, one with the Guru. If just bringing this vision itself brings so much joy in us, imagine how it would be, in the actual presence of the Guru? Saint Nakkirar's prayer has become my prayer too.

Frank Alexander in his book "In the Hours of Meditation", Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta, 1993, describes this sacred moment beautifully.

There are hours when one forgets the world. There are hours when one approaches that region of blessedness in which the soul is self contained and in the presence of the Highest. Then is silenced all clamoring of desire; all sound of sense is stilled. Only God is.

For this to take place, we need a purified mind.

Frank says, "There is no holier sanctuary than a purified mind, a mind concentrated upon God. There is no more sacred place than the region of peace into which the mind enters when it becomes fixed in the Lord. Purity, bliss, blessedness, peace. The spiritual consciousness dawns in these silent, sacred hours. The soul is close to its source.

For this to take place, prayers are needed. Prayers lead one to this exalted state of silence. Prayers are the means Frank says.

The helpers, the messengers of the most High shall come and thou shalt be free. From out of the depths of prayer all things come - love for God, spiritual vision, and spiritual realization. However dark thy heart, prayer shall bring light therein, for prayer is meditation. Prayer is communion with the Almighty.

Coming out of this sacred space and moving back into the sphere of daily life the Guru then tags along doing noble deeds through us.

Just as Frank felt a living presence within and about him in those hours, we too have come to realize it. The Guru brings us to drop all the noise and activity in us; stop all thoughts and pondering. This happens the moment we let the Guru in; when we begin to listen to him; and when we welcome him into the home, his abode, our body.

He then brings us to treasure the gift of life; appreciate the life given; the moments of joy that accompanies life; the many moments where we are given an opportunity to serve another and to be grateful for these moments. 

We are grateful to him too for bringing us out of darkness into the light; we being mere bystanders to where we stand today, and for showing us his infinite strength that resides within us. 

He followed us through the ages; through numerous births but we did not heed him. He spoke to us but our inner rattlings overshadowed his soft and gentle voice.

We make no plans nowadays, rather we follow his plans since we are assured, his works. We submit to him. I may object to a thing or two for certain reasons, but he does listen and drops that too.

Frank Alexander's book "In the Hours of Meditation", is a great book that brings many insights from the Voice for the Soul; that brings insights from the Guru. During these intimate and private hours of meditation, "when all was silence in the depths of meditation" the Guru appears with many messages, including this lovely phrase, "The love and insight of the Guru, having been once bestowed, have been bestowed for ever." Another is "It is the monastic spirit not the monastic garb that is of importance" and "The form is nothing; the life is everything."

Frank writes about the glory of the Guru, and the moments of merger.

Through his mercy, through his illumination thy most inmost soul has been resurrected. He has sought thee out and through him thou hast been made whole. The realization of the Guru descends in torrents upon the disciple. It is ceaseless; and nothing can resist it. His love for thee knows no bounds. To all lengths he shall go for thee. Never shall he desert thee. Even his curse is blessing in disguise. 

All he wants of us is to realize our divinity and he is on hand to help us realize it. He explains the Guru discipline principle lovely.

More and more does the personality of the disciple merge in the Guru nature while all the time the Guru's personality is seen to merge more and more into that of which even his body had been a manifestation. Then the sublimest oneness is attained. The waters of the dual personalities of Guru and disciple become the ocean of the infinite Brahman.

Surprisingly Supramania Swami too told me to do Tapas/Tavam, for only then shall his Tavam be complete, he reiterated.

As Ramalinga Adigal brought the divine into each and every cell in his body making it divine, Frank writes, "The nervous system must assimilate ideas. Then the very body itself becomes full of chaitanya. The very body is made spirit."

More inspiring words from Frank follows.

Frank asks us to bring Him into each moment of our lives, spiritualizing maya, spiritualizing the moment, making even the menial acts divine. Karma then never lifts its hood; never associating with the act. Lets learn to spiritualize all that comes into contact with us. As Frank asks, "Bring divinity into commonplace daily life" and see the difference.

Learn to be a witness, a watcher. Let us open our eyes to the beauty of nature all around us. Let us communicate with nature. Frank ask us "to see the invisible divinity in the visible universe about us." As Agathiyar says nature shall reveal its secrets, Frank too states, "Nature herself shall reveal her true beauty to thee. Thus to thee everything shall become spiritual. Even a blade of grass shall speak to thee of the spirit."

Tavayogi says the soul (Atma) is suppose to be free not caged, free to explore, free to discover, free to make mistakes. It learns, appreciates, regrets and comes back to the fold eventually. No dogmas, doctrines, rules and codes to adopt and follow. 

J. Krishnamurthi too implies this. 

I want therefore to set man free, rejoicing as the bird in the clear sky, unburdened, independent, ecstatic in that freedom. And I, for whom you have been preparing for eighteen years, now say that you must be free of all these things, free from your complications, your entanglements. For this you need not have an organization based on spiritual belief. Why have an organization for five or ten people in the world who understand, who are struggling, who have put aside all trivial things? And for the weak people, there can be no organization to help them to find the Truth, because Truth is in everyone; it is not far, it is not near; it is eternally there. 

This is akin to Ramalinga Adigal's last sermon too.

Frank tells us to appreciate organizations but never identify with it. "Let there be an organization of ideas nothing more. Never labor for the extension of a purely organized form", he says. "Generally speaking, organizations however spiritual and nonsectarian, degenerate into worldliness".

J Krishnamurthi too says the moment spiritualism is organized it becomes religion. Spiritualism is beyond any dogmas and doctrines. 

You are all depending for your spirituality on someone else, for your happiness on someone else, for your enlightenment on someone else; and although you have been preparing for me for eighteen years, when I say all these things are unnecessary, when I say that you must put them all away and look within yourselves for the enlightenment, for the glory, for the purification, and for the incorruptibility of the self, not one of you is willing to do it. There may be a few, but very, very few. So why have an organization?

Please take some time to read Krishnamurthi's message at http://www.jkrishnamurti.org/about-dissolution-speech It is an eye-opener.

Let us take charge of our lives, for as Frank says, "Faith in others will only make thee more and more helpless and miserable." Frank says "The religious life is purely personal and subjective." 

He too repeats what Tavayogi said, "The religious life may be born in a church, but it must outlive it."

Frank tells us to be loyal and true to the source from which we received inspirations. Let us all be an instrument of the divine, "Work to thine utmost, and then to thine utmost be resigned." He too asked us to be aware of spiritual egoism, saying, "Of all ego's disguises, none is so treacherous and so evil as the spiritual disguise. Be careful of selfish intentions behind these spiritual acts. 

As Agathiyar put me through some trying times and later assured me that it was his doing too so that I learnt and gained a message from the experience, Frank says, "Even should evil befall thee, it cannot be evil when thou lovest the Lord. Even the most fear inspiring experience thou wilt recognize as a messenger from the beloved." After all the wrong I had done yet he was prepared to forgive and accept me. Frank says, "If thou sin for the thousanth time, lo, for the thousanth time and ever doth he forgive thee."

Make the body a tabernacle for the soul; and let the soul be more and more revealed day by day. Then shalt that darkness which is ignorance be gradually dispersed; and that light which is the divine wisdom shall gradually be revealed.

He has another gem for us, "In listening to another, see the realization side instead of the logic of his speech; then no argument shall ensue and thine own realization shall receive new impulses. 

Finally he asks us to, "Make thy own self thy Guru. Each is his own savior and his own Lord. Let the human in thee die so that the divine shall be revealed.

UNDERSTANDING KARMA

Agathiyar in my very first Nadi reading to my bewilderment and surprise, laid out the cards in front of me. He had access to my karmic records and was exposing them! And it was all possible from reading my thumbprint! After analyzing and identifying the category of my thumbprint Sentilkumar brought out three stacks of old palm leaves on which were scribbled "words, lines, dots" that only he could decipher. Reading them aloud to me, he asked me either to confirm or reject what was read out, reminding me not to reveal anything more. After a tedious session of question and answer he told me to come another day, two weeks from then, for we never came close to picking out the right Nadi for me, one that precisely carried my life's journey. 

I was back again, with excitement, sitting with him, and going through a similar session two weeks later. And there it was, a matching Nadi that I could rightfully acknowledge as mine. I told Sentil I was sure it was mine. Even then I did not get the full reading. I was asked to come another day for the complete reading of my Pothu Kaandam or general canto. 

On the designated day I sat with him again, this time in awe, as he ran by my life's journey as recorded (of the past) and written (for the future) by Agathiyar. My life was no mystery then. Agathiyar revealed the events till my death. Not only did I go to him to know about myself, I came to worship him. He continued to call me in for further readings. Over the years I came to a new understanding regarding what was fated and destined on one hand and free will and the extent that we could shape our own lives on the other.

I realized that what was said in the Nadis were only one of several possibilities that could actually become a reality if followed and adhered. If we chose not to pursue in that direction given, a new set of possibilities comes along. Here is where we are given a choice to decide either to listen to the words of the wise or otherwise. 

I realized that exceptions where made in very special cases where Agathiyar breaks the norm. If it is required of everyone wishing to have a Nadi reading to be present for their reading and to provide a print of their thumbprint that would enable the Nadi reader to trace our Nadi, Agathiyar chose to reveal my wife's Nadi without the need for all the customary procedures! This exemption surprised the Nadi reader too. Although I was called in for the Nadi reading that day, Agathiyar, addressed my wife and chose to speak about her life's journey throughout the entire Nadi reading, without even calling for her presence.

I realized that he had access to my thoughts too. He was monitoring me from some place or space! He was revealing my thoughts and actions in real time. It was scary. Now I really needed Magneto's helmet to protect myself from Agathiyar prying into the private moments and corners of my memories and life. Over the years with continuous worship to him, he began to instruct silently, moving my thoughts and limbs, to do his doing and wants. Now I truly needed a complete set of costume to resist the onslaught of telepathic attacks and energy.

Taking him as Guru, I realized Agathiyar working subtly and magically removing obstacles and clearing the path, changing old ways and bringing new insights, bringing vigor and strength to an otherwise old and worn out suit. What was a norm for others did not now apply to us. What was a deity to all became a Guru to us. What was seen with fear and apprehension, now became a working partner. Everything began to fall in its place and worked in our favor. All this was due to the grace of the Guru, Agathiyar. 

Ram Dass in his "Paths to God - Living the Bhagavadgita", Harmony Books, 2004, gives us a clear understanding of this phenomena and karma. He says, free will and destiny exist simultaneously but on different planes. Now we are getting there. Things are beginning to fall into place. The picture is getting clearer and the confusion leaves. 

He says there is a plane of reality were we are the free agent, free to decide and do all things. On another plane from a "different perceptual vantage point" we realize that our thought forms are conditioned. I realize that this two planes intermingle. 

He adds, "The choices arose out of a long chain of prior events that absolutely predetermined your decisions. I say, "I have free will" - that's my karma talking!"

Ram Dass goes one to state one particular incident in his life to clearly explain his theory. Going back to India a second time, in 1971, he went looking for Neem Karoli Baba (Maharajji) again but did not find him in the usual spots. Spending some time at a meditation retreat in Bodh Gaya, he resumed his search for Maharajji. Teaming up with a lady and a bus-full of passengers she brought along,  all 35 including the driver headed for Delhi. Nearing Allahabad, one of the people on board insisted they stop over. But it meant further delay in reaching Delhi and they were all hungry and tired. So they all turned to Ram Dass to make a decision. After wrestling with the thought Ram Dass gave the green light.  The Kumbha Mela having taken place a few weeks ago, and the Mela having ended, there were only a handful of people around on the Mela grounds. The person who asked that they stop over, directed the bus to a Hanuman temple. That is when someone in the bus spotted Maharajji with his devotee Dada. Maharajji, after the pranams by pilgrims, asked the entire entourage to follow him to his devotee's house. Dada's wife greeted them saying dinner was almost ready.  She mentioned that they had been cooking all day in anticipation of Ram Dass and his entourage's arrival, surprising them by mentioning that Maharajji had told her 35 people shall arrive. 

Ram Dass at this juncture puts a question to us, "Now who do you suppose it was who thought he was sitting on the bus, deciding whether to visit the Mela grounds? Long before I made my decision it was already decided - Maharajji knew all about it that morning! I played my part. I "decided" to go to the Mela grounds. But my decision was inevitable."

Ram Dass continues beautifully when he says, "This present moment is the sum of all that past karma. All those life waves, flowing and flowing, just to bring me to this place, to this moment.... If you are standing outside of time, it is possible to see the whole course of those life waves - past, present and future. When you are at that stage you see in advance the direction the karmic waves are taking, and you know exactly why its all happening the way it is."

Supramania Swami told me that we shall keep on polishing till it shines relating to coming back again and again till we perfect it; Tavayogi asked me, "Whats the hurry. We can always come back again to complete the journey."  Similarly Ram Dass heaves a sign of relief at knowing what was happening "within a lifetime bounded by birth and death" was only a moment and "part of a much vaster design." This perspective helps in that it "calms us down a great deal. The whole game isn't riding on this one lifetime!...there is a great feeling of release inherent in that; it removes the anxiety and the sense of urgency. We don't have to do it all right now - in fact we see we are not doing it anyway! Its the lawful continuity of karma and reincarnation flowing through us lifetime after lifetime, kalpa after kalpa."

IN THE COVE OF SILENCE

Agathiyar had an advice for us when Suren approached him with several questions some years back. Agathiyar explained how we were to carry ourselves at the samadhis of great ones. He says that the very achievement of one in attaining samadhi is itself an indication of the tremendous powers/ energy or sakthi he has built within him. As a result there was no need on our part to carry out any ritual or prayer of any kind to enhance their worth. Rather it was sufficient of us to just sit in silence and imbibe the energy that was emitting from the samadhi. Bring back this energy with you, he says. That is all that is required of us.

From describing the joys of performing puja and its many benefits that was carried in numerous post on this blog, we move on now to another stage, that of withdrawal from all things external and begin to move within. We have come to understand that if earlier we had placed much effort to reach the exalted state of exultation, going by the many experiences of great men who themselves have excelled spiritually, this feeling is evoked from within without even the slightest participation on our part by just being in the presence of divine saints. It just takes place in the presence of these divine saints. Such is the magnitude of their tapas or austerities that it can bring tremendous change and results in those who would just choose to sit in silence. 

F.H.Humphreys in his letter to the International Psychic Gazette describes the blessed moments sitting in silence before Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi.

On reaching the cave (Virupaksha), we (Munshi, Kavya Kantha Ganapathi Sastri and FH Humphreys) sat before him (Ramana) at his feet and said nothing. We sat thus for a long time and I felt lifted out of myself. For half an hour I looked into the Maharshi's eyes which never changed their expression of deep contemplation. I began to realize somewhat that the body is the temple of the holy ghost; I could only feel that his body was not the man; it was the instrument of god, merely a sitting, motionless corpse from which god was radiating terrifically. My own feelings were indescribable.*

Observing the surroundings later, Humphreys continues, 

The most touching sight was the number of tiny children up to about seven years of age, who climb the hill, all on their own, to come and sit near the Maharshi, even though he may not speak a word nor even look at them for days together. They do not play, but just sit there quietly, in perfect contentment.*

Bhagawan explained his way to Natesa Mudaliar when Natesa asked to know, learn and experience what was Bhagawan's Anugraham or grace like.

"I am always giving my anugraham. If you cannot apprehend it, what am I to do? Natesa Mudaliar  discovered thereby that his silent samadhi was itself anugraham which all aspirants should imitate, contact, and get into.*

As the replies to a question on whether the subject and object are identical?, that Yogi Ramiah put forward to local pandits did not satisfy him, he came to Maharshi. Bhagawan answered, "Subject and object are distinct in the phenomenal world to the ordinary man. But in samadhi they merge and become one." Ramiah was happy to get a corroboration of his experience from the Maharshi. 

Suddhananda Bharathi in the presence of Bhagawan,

.. simply feasted his eyes by constantly gazing on Maharshi and rapidly composed many lines of Tamil verse in praise of Maharshi in the space of an hour on that very first visit. Contact with Maharshi made him feel more introverted; and his egotism sank so low that he began to refer to himself in the third person.*

Paul Brunton after due prostration sat in front of Maharshi.

... wondered for a moment whether Maharshi's peace and serenity were a mere superficial pose ... but soon shaking off that idea he became aware of a silent, resistless, change taking place within his own mind. A steady river of quietness seemed to flow near him, a great peace was penetrating the inner reaches of his being, and his thought tortured brain was beginning to arrive at some rest. Naturally this sudden peace and perception must be due to Maharshi's influence, said he to himself.*

(*Source: "Self Realization - The Life and Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi" by BV Narasimha Swami, Sri Ramanashramam, Tiruvannamalai.)

From "Fragrant Petals - A Representative Anthology on Sri Bhagavan", Sri Ramanashramam, Tiruvannamalai, 2005, GLN in his "Ramana Satguru" writes,

The main type of upadesa (instruction) used by Bhagavan was silence, as it was with Dakshinamurthi of old. Divine bliss permeated those who sat around him. In this silence, the doubts of his devotees were cleared and their questions were either answered or faded away, ceasing to exist. 

Dilip Kumar Roy too contributes in "Fragrant Petals" as follows,

Acessible to all, the great saint sat on a divan looking straight ahead at nothing at all. I was told he lived thus all the time, in sahaja samadhi, that is a constant superconcious state. ... What did I see? Just a thin, half naked man sitting silently, gazing with glazed eyes at the window. Yet something in him spoke to me directly - an indefinable beauty of poise and a plenitude that cannot be described. I touched his feet and then without a word sat down near him on the floor and meditated, my heart heaving with a strange exaltation which deepened by and by into an ineffable peace. My gloom and misgivings, doubts and questionings, melted away like mist before the rising sun. I felt I was being cradled on the crest of a flawless peace in a vast ocean of felicity and light. I have to use superlatives here as I am trying to describe my experience of ineffable bliss and peace which lasted for hours and hours. I felt deeply grateful towards the Maharshi on that restful night as I reclined, bathed in peace, in an easy chair under the stars at which I gazed and gazed in an ecstasy of tears.

In "The Creative Silence", the Theosophical Publishing House, Rohit Mehta says, 

".. the important factor of samadhi is becoming the object thought upon." 

He continues, 

" When each part of one's life shines with the glory of the whole, then it is that the individual is in a state of samadhi.

Tavayogi explains that samadhi means being one with the source, having merged into the source. He says it is achievable since we become what we set our mind on. 

CLIMBING THE SPIRITUAL LADDER

When Tavayogi came to Malaysia the first time he told us not to remain in the temple but to come out of it. Soon he realized we very much needed the temple. He built a temple in Kallar for us. Supramania Swami who wanted to build a temple was stopped midway by a "stranger" who confronted him asking why he was going back to the temple. I am now confronted with a directive to build a temple when that was the last thing on my mind. Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM), although informal and operating from a home, has been a candle that lit the lives of many just as Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal lit our lives. Although I had engaged in performing rituals at home, I never wanted to build a temple or form an organization. I was happy the way things were. 

Going back to 2005.....

When Agathiyar told me to come to the worship of Siddhas, "He" sent Tavayogi to Malaysia too. "He" through an organisation placed an advert in the local Tamil dailies regarding the officiating of the said organization by Tavayogi. "He" made my neighbor supply me with the Tamil daily each day throughout the stay of Tavayogi in Malaysia. When I came across the advert repeatedly each day, "He" moved me to give the organizers a call. Soon I was at their premises meeting up with Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of the Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham in Kallar. Tavayogi replied that I had come to the right place when I pointed out that Agathiyar had asked me to come to the worship of the Siddhas in my Nadi reading some three years earlier. 

Going back three years to 2002....

Taking the advice of Agathiyar in my very first Nadi reading, I began puja to Lord Ganesha and Lord Shiva. I had seeked out the organizations linked to Agathiyar in Malaysia hoping for some information and literature on Agathiyar and the Siddhas and some guidance on their worship. There were several organizations but each was involved in a specific aspect of life, with some solely collecting funds for charity, some holding talks and satsang, some promoting Siddha Vaidyam and sales of herbal medicines, and some just chanting the names of the Siddhas and Agaval. The organizations, once together, were divided then and had gone their separate ways taking some followers with them. I could not bring myself to frequent and follow them. I decided to take the names of the Siddhas as given to me by my Nadi reader Sentilkumar and included them in my daily home puja that I had revived only a year back then in 2001, after having dropped it for 14 long years.

Going back a year to 2001....

It was a Saturday when my nephew out of the blues dropped by at my home with a message asking me not to question its origin. As we both sat at the altar his body shook momentarily and "He" gave me a mantra to recite. On another day he dropped by with a picture of Lord Dhakshanamurthy asking me to worship him too, promising that I would meet my Guru in a years time. Then he called over the phone and guided me on puja to be conducted for Goddess during the Navarathri fests. These series of fortunate events broke the long 14 years of withdrawal from all forms of worship and devotion. I began to conduct myself as told.

The following year I read the Nadi for the very first time and in 2003, I made my maiden pilgrimage to India to pray at several temples as specified by Agathiyar, an act to appease the Gods and grant me release me from my past karma. On my last leg of the trip I met Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai who turned out to be the Guru referred by my nephew and in the Nadi earlier.

Supramania Swami gave all the merits of his 40 years tapas to me in a sudden gesture of gratitude as I revealed my selfish intention in wanting to help him build a temple that was abandoned after the aforementioned "divine intervention". He passed on to the samadhi state in 2006, as revealed by Agathiyar.

Tavayogi whom I met in 2005, decided to take me on a true journey of discovery to the places related to the Siddhas rather then confine ourselves to his ashram in discourse during my stay at Kallar the same year.

Tavayogi continued to guide me during his numerous visits to Malaysia subsequently. Agathiyar soon moved things very subtly.....

For want of a reference for those seeking direction to my home, I named my home Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM). Agathiyar too began to refer it as Vanam in his many Nadi readings. He sent wonderful souls to AVM to join us in our puja and rituals. These youngsters teamed up to form Thondu Seivom reaching out in service to the unfortunate.

Recently Thondu Seivom (TS) initiated and ventured with Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) and its charity wing, Amudha Surabhi (AS) to register a formal society known as Persatuan Teman Setia (PTS), with the Registrar of Societies. We continue with our usual public orientated activities. We distribute food and drinks, toiletries and blankets to the homeless in Kuala Lumpur (KL) city and provide the costs of medication during the Medical Camps carried out for these homeless. We contribute financially towards giving the homeless and abandoned a decent funeral, the noble task undertaken by another organization. We distribute food or annadhanam through Thedal Ulla Thenikal (TUT) in Chennai and Tavayogi at his Agathiyar Gnana Peedham at Kallar. We provide monthly groceries for an Old Folks home and a Sri Sai Centre. We occasionally  make small contributions to individuals who need immediate financial help for their unexpected and sudden medical expenses. We contribute in a small way to relieve two university students of their monthly expenses for food and accommodation. Teaming up with Pothigai Tharma Chakram (PTC), we engage in feeding the hungry and conduct rituals at temples.

These activities can be followed on http://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/ and on fb at https://www.facebook.com/ThonduSeivom/

Although initially we stepped into this path without even an iota of where we were heading and what to expect, Agathiyar soon gave us a journey map to follow. We have now passed several milestones on this journey that was initiated and sustained by him. I began to realize that soon certain aspects and practices have to be dropped and others initiated, to keep them lively and relevant, rather than become stale and redundant.

When all I had was the Siddhar Potri during the time of my entry into this path, I soon began compiling hymns and songs in praise of Siddhas suitable for my home puja that I began to share online for others to use too. Upon receiving more songs this compilation became a compendium. Today all that has reduced to a few songs during puja and just sitting with him in silence at other times.

Tavayogi on his part, showed us the path and giving us the tools needed, stepped aside to allow us to discover both ourselves and the path anew, rather than walk on the trodden and worn out path. 

With both these Gurus accompanying us on this journey, we look forward to greater times ahead, more moments of discovery and preferably one day we shall arrive at the discovery of the self that is much spoken about, dropping external worship and rituals and looking within and with "His" grace, eventually merging with the source in Samadhi.

SRINATHA RAGHAVAN'S THOUGHTS 2

Srīnāthā Rāghavan's post on fb is enlightening to read. He hits the nail on its head. Siddha Heartbeat is proud to share more gems of his.

I am a peace loving man,
I don't enter into lofty debates,
Hell bent on discussing the Truth,
Let it be it yours, mine or anyone elses,
It doesn't matter to me anymore,
What you believe or don't.
I prefer not to break anyone's bubble,
For I have realised after committing many mistakes,
That all one may have is their own version of Truth,
And to break it prematurely into pieces,
Can cause more harm than good,
As their only rope of hope will be cut asunder,
Plunging them into a valley of grief,
Which will be the end of it.  

Sri Ramakrishna once took Swami Vivekananda to task,
To have "infested" the mind of another Disciple with Vedanta,
Whereas his natural inclination was towards Devotion,
Which would have been the best and the shortest route,
For Him to have attained the Highest.

That's why I often say, "Don't break someone's bubble, without knowing how much pain they have endured to make it; so it can give them a (albeit false) sense of security from the outside world?"

Don't forcibly bring someone into light, when they have lived in darkness most of their life.

So what if it doesn't suit you,
Just keep quiet or walk away from the scene,
Instead of trying to play the Messiah of Truth.

Opinion is not necessarily the Truth and Truth is not an Opinion.

So here's a piece of advice, "Just because you have a sharp sword (Tongue/Mind/Intellect), you don't use it against everyone, just to test it's sharpness."

Peace out.

Another gem.

The presence of a real Guru,
Will make you egoless and humble,
But if it simply puffs your pride,
Then you along with your Guru,
Is of no use to each other.

The Firefly thinks itself,
To be the source of Light in the darkness,
Till the Sun appears in the Sky above,
Putting to rest the Truth,
By silently making it clear,
Who is who.

The same with Disciple and Guru,
In the presence of the Guru,
One gets eclipsed by the other's light,
If not then the Ego of the Disciple,
Shall get puffed forever.

A true Guru will bring out the worst in you,
Before transforming all the muck into luck,
He/She will ridicule and humiliate you,
Till you are convinced finally that you're nothing,
But a mere Firefly, wanting to be the Sun.

Ah! Is not the job of an Alchemist,
To transform base metal into Gold?
So it is with the real Guru,
Who is the Alchemist of the Spirit.

Sri who is based in Mumbai, introduces himself as Story Teller, Healer, Therapist at Soulfully Yours

and as follows, in his blog at http://srinathraghavan.blogspot.com/

I am a seeker who explores the mysteries of life and beyond. I am a recluse who enjoys freedom, responsibly. Words are my dearest friends. Through words, I try to express my silence; and in silence I find my ultimate expression. I am not set to change anyone, but myself. It is my singular journey inward and you are welcome to take a sneak peek. In Peace!

SRINATHA RAGHAVAN'S THOUGHTS 1

I had written to Srīnāthā Rāghavan some years back suggesting that he compile his postings on fb into a book. He is really good in bringing out great wisdom, and also relevant and much needed criticism and beatings in a very subtle way. We seem to think alike, Sri, thats why I love to read all your postings.

While waiting eagerly for his book to come out (Are you coming out with it Sri?), I could not help but pick some of his best messages for Siddha Heartbeat (and for me to go back and read it again and again serving me as a reminder too). I hope you don't mind Sri? (Sri has given permission in the past to post his writings in Siddha Heartbeat)

Now to his post.

This one is an advice to disciples not to over sensationalize the Guru, making them Godly. 

I'm kinda averse to these spiritual societies and spiritual groups, which revolves around larger than life personalities, ultimately transforming them into some living Godhead and the rest into herd mentalities.

Despite my ardent pleas to not include me in this Spiritual Guru's Fan club Whatsapp group, someone I know went ahead and added me. Within a few hours, my phone was flooded with so many "Divine" messages, that I began to feel totally undivine about it.

So without much consternation, I silently exited the group, but to my utter dismay, the Administrator, who I don't even know, along with a few others began to message me personally, demanding an explanation as to why I quit the group. The height of it was when one said, "Please come back, as you are missing out on the Enlightenment that only our Guru can give?"

Seriously?

I'm a least argumentative and non-intrusive person, who won't really break anyone's bubble (mine included), but when people unnecessary pull me into such spiritual propaganda, where all they do is discuss miracles and super powers of their living Godlike Guru, forcing the new comers to unwittingly accept their views or give them veiled threats, then I have a sure shot problem and I will unhesitatingly voice out my views.

God! What's wrong with the educated, why do they want others to forcibly accept and comply with their spiritual views, why can't we have different views and yet remain at peace with each other. Sure your Guru must be a Superman, but I'm a fan of the Bat. Can't we leave it at that?

People fail to realize that one Guru doesn't fit all. He sure must be a god for millions, but please excuse me and my half baked views, I ain't worship no god in the form of no man. 

Peace out.

P.S ~ Please don't add me into any fan groups, especially of the living gods and goddesses. I'm much happy without any of them, more so I'm happy being with imperfect and faltering humans, than the ever perfect ones. Also this rant is not against any person in particular, just my honest views.

I can relate to the above message very well. I only have to thank Tavayogi for giving me a "beating" the very same day he arrived at my home for the very first time. Leaving my home after his visit, I was on cloud nine, so full of joy at having a Gnani grace my home and take a morsel of food, well he hit me hard. He said straight to my face that he was not a Samy but an Asamy, that he had nothing hidden within his saffron colored robes, and that I was living in Maya or Illusion. Although initially I was hurt, confused and angry, today after 13 years, I understand the deeper meanings of each and every statement he made which were very rare too.

Another post on asking us to be just grateful, which I share and do it often.

Over the years, some habits & patterns that you consciously develop, turns into a life style. As a young man, I had the opportunity of meeting the ever young Dada J.P Vaswani on a few occasions. He was and still remains (aged 99) the most unbiased and most approachable Spiritual Teacher. I remember asking one question to him, "Dada, what's the most simplest way to lead a God Centric life?"

Dada was silent for a while, looking at the Questioner with eyes filled with compassion and later with a smile on his face said, "By learning to be grateful to all of Creation, you can be connected to the Creator at all times?"

Bang! It hit me hard, no big talk, no sermons, no personal experiences, no nonsense...just a simple practical suggestion to a straight forward question. Since then I am trying my level best to put that one suggestion to use and have failed many times. But now when I see that I am unconsciously saying a mental, "Thank you" to the bed, to the fan, to the clothes, to the food, to the body, to the mind, to everything and everyone, that help me live, I feel deeply indebted to that most humble human being, who once sowed the seed of gratitude in me. 

Ah! Now I realise that Gratitude is a Bhava (Emotion) which has to flow naturally and seldom can be forced. Yet like a seed it'll take a hell lot of time to sprout, but when it does, it will be like a gentle breeze filling your heart with peace.

Truly as someone said - A mere "Thank you!" becomes the greatest prayer, if uttered with a heart full of gratitude. 

Another masterpiece, on the needlessness of gaining Siddhis in this era of science and technology, an opinion that I share too.

A great Spiritual Adept and Master (Name withheld) once happened to meet Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa on the banks of the Ganges. After the initial pleasantries, the old Adept told Sri Thakur, "Let me show you something remarkable?"

Telling so, he entered the flowing waters of the Ganges only to walk over it, without drowning. Sri Thakur seeing this one perform the stunt, danced and clapped like a child.

When the Water Walking Master came back to the shore, Sri Ramakrishna went into Samadhi and muttered inaudibly, "Why have you wasted so much time and effort, when you could have paid the boatman a few Annas and he would have steered you to the other shore?"

Sri Thakur then implored the other Master, with tears in his eyes, "Please promise me to drop all this magic show and be sincere towards the Ultimate goal?"

Ah! That's real spiritual beauty and grandeur. That gentleness of speech and spirit is what is sorely missed in todays freak shows.

Yet another gem follows. 

Nope! Nothing you do will ever make you realise the Ultimate,

Be it crores of Japa or even the most severe of penances,

Maybe a few out of the world experiences you might get,

That's it!

But nothing, absolutely nothing will get you to Her,

Except if She decides to come to you and reveal Herself,

Then even if you do nothing forever, it won't matter,

To Her or Yourself!Ah! It's sheer grace alone that redeems, nothing else; and to earn that grace you have to become absolutely graceless enough to demand it constantly like a hopeless idiot.

I am beginning to see this take place. Very true. "It is grace alone that redeems."

On the real Guru,

She was not an ordinary child,

For She had all the qualities of the Divine,

Fully and naturally manifested in Her even at birth,

She radiated a love so supreme that Creation itself, became her playmates.

She never cried when She came out of the womb like any other children at birth,

In fact She was smiling like a little Angel who had found Heaven here,

Years later too She seldom cried but always had a blissful smile on Her face.

She would often stare away into Eternity, forgetting everything,

Once when asked, "What do you see Ma?"

She answered blissfully, "I am seeing everything through the eyes of everyone?"

Ah! What an indescribable state She was in, no one knew,

As it was too much for them to even understand the truth,

Those close to Her would later say, "When we were around Her, we would forget everything else, for She helped us to remember our own Divinity?"

That's the real Guru, who doesn't proclaim His/Her own Divinity, but brings out yours silently.

"That's the real Guru, who doesn't proclaim His/Her own Divinity, but brings out yours silently." Absolutely true. A true Guru will make you one at par with him or higher. He does not aspect you to spend your whole life serving him, but instead set you off on your own journey, giving you the tools to survive the wilderness. Tavayogi did the same, showing me the path and stepping aside. 

Yet another beauty.

To think,

I'm doing,

I'm waking,

I'm worshipping,

I'm this,

I'm that,

All is a sense of self-deception.

She is doing what She wants you to do,

Giving you a false sense of Doership,

Be it good, bad or ugly, whatever it is you do,

It is She who is silently playing you,

When you get to realize this truth,

All you will do is cry & laugh at the same time,

Thinking how foolish you were to believe in yourself.

Ah! Real Sadhana is to let go the sense of Doership,

And allow Her to work through you.

Bravo Sri! I am finally beginning to realise this too, that the divine does deceive us too, for pulling a veil across our understanding is one of its five doings too. 

And finally,

I'm just a Story Teller,

Weaving stories out of nothing,

When you read them & feel something,

That's when all the stories I tell,

Will acquire meaning.

Stories are a part of you and me,

The only thing is,

There has to be somebody to listen to it,

Else it'll be like the story of a tree which fell in a far away forest,

But there was no one to listen to the sound of its falling,

So tell me did it make a sound or didn't?

It sure did Sri, LOUD & CLEAR!

Thank you very much for these divine messages. Please keep writing and please let me share them too.

THE PURPOSE OF LIFE 3

There is life all around us. But we hardly realize it. We are so engrossed in living our daily life to the maximum. We are so concerned about our troubles that we miss to see nature bloom and shine all around us. If we could make nature work in favor of us, it can assists us to attain all our goals. Nature then becomes our savior. We need to respect her first and learn to work with her in unison. Dyalen who went ahead of his group that was returning back from the hike up to Pothigai peak, came across a fallen tree that blocked his path. As there was no way he could take a detour, he stood transfixed figuring what to do next. To his surprise the tree trunk slowly gave way to him and the rests of the entourage who had by this time joined him, by sinking further into the ground, enabling them to cross over it without any difficulty! A rare case of a miracle taking place encountered by our own boys indeed.

The Siddhas knew the secret in tapping nature and making it work for them and in their favor. They were adapts in this field. It is said that the plants and branches would bend down to Agathiyar and relate their nature and tendencies in healing the world and its people. Annie Besant in her book "The Laws of the Higher Life", the Theosophical Publishing House, 1903, says nature is conquered by obedience. 

We share this world with a myriad number of lives right from the microscopic to the most vast. All the rest does not intrude into our lives but we are very much dependent on them. Remove them and the face of the world changes. Besant mentions that the laws of nature that provides the right conditions and a relative sequence of happenings, submits to knowledge hence ends up serving us, aiding us and uplifting us. When knowledge replaces ignorance the prapanjam will come to our aid said Agathiyar. This is not bookish knowledge. This knowledge is attainable from the Siddhas. This knowledge is given to us when we qualify for their grace. Their Thiruvarul grants this Gnanam. To be eligible to receive this knowledge we need to be humble. 

In a Nadi revelation Agathiyar reveals the extent of humbleness in his student Bhogar. When once Agathiyar asked Bhogar if he knew Mother Goddess, Bhogar replied he did not know. When asked if he knew Lord Vishnu, he replied he did not know too. When Agathiyar asked if he knew Lord Muruga, again Bhogar to everyone's surprised answered "no". How could one who was behind the making and installation of Lord Muruga's statue at Palani not know him? When asked if he knew about the herbs, he replied in the negative, when he had seeked, collected and done extensive research on numerous herbs. Bhogar had replied that he did not know to all the questions put forward by Agathiyar. This surprised all those gathered. Finally when asked what he knew, Bhogar answered that he only knew the Holy Feet of his Guru, Agathiyar.

Similarly in KR Sivakanthan's book on Poondi Mahaan, "Siddhargalin Taththuvamum Yoga Neri Muraigalum", there is a prayer as follows,

ஞானம் வேண்டேன் நல்வேதம் வேண்டேன்
சூரியக்கலை வேண்டேன் சந்திரக்கலை வேண்டேன்
சுழிமுனை வேண்டேன் அட்டமா சித்தி வேண்டேன்
ஆறு ஆதாரம் வேண்டேன் அதற்கு மேலும் வேண்டேன்

நின் பாதார விந்தம் வேண்டும் நின் கருணை வேண்டும்
நின் பாதார விந்தம் மறவா மனம் வேண்டும்
பூண்டி ஈசா சரணம் சரணம் சரணம்

I do not seek knowledge, I do not seek the Vedas,
I do not seek to know the art of breath control,
I do not seek the eight Siddhis,
I do not seek to know the chakras, and more,

I seek your Holy Feet, I seek your Grace,
I seek a heart that never forgets your Holy Feet,
Poondi Esa, I take refuge in you.

This is the approach we need to take. We need to serve the Guru. We need to gain their trust. We need to prove our worth. And more then anything else we need to be patient. The wise have always been reminding us to adopt tolerance and be patient in all situations. Many a times Agathiyar has asked of us to be patient and obedient. It was to buy time so that we would gain maturity in due time from further day to day experiences and eventually would come to understand the play of god and accept everything in good faith.

When this divine knowledge dawns on us, we become one with them. 

THE PURPOSE OF LIFE 2

Annie Besant in "Avataras", The Theosophical Publishing House, 2002, describes the meaning of an Avatar as follows: tr meaning passing over; ava meaning descent. 

What brings forth an Avatar? The un-manifest takes the manifested form when righteousness is at its lowest ebb and evil reigns in the world. The needs of the world or cosmic necessities and the needs of its inhabitants propels the divine to descend.

If the Avatars come for a common purpose usually for the upliftment of souls collectively or to release these souls from the shackles of tyranny and cruelty, heavenly beings or angels accompany individual souls in their journey, caring, educating and bringing greater awareness to them. Heavenly beings or angels accompany these souls to help awaken them, rejoicing on seeing progress in the soul, encouraging, motivating, and reminding them that they were not alone. These spiritual beings are prepared to do their part too in gods plan. They help reconnect us to our spiritual self whose memories we have lost. They are akin to the Siddhas. Just as Agathiyar said he had orchestrated all my experiences, Betty says our guardian angels do the same. They come along with us creating opportunities for us to learn and progress spiritually.

There is a reason why we are here now this instant. We are here now for our individual spiritual development and also collectively contribute to the well being and awakening of others. Gods will shape our purpose says Betty. It is not entirely necessary for us to know our purpose in its entirety. Just working on the task given to us from moment to moment is sufficient in justifying and fulfilling gods wish. Even the best laid plan of ours is considered meager with gods plan. 

Betty says that she could connect with the divine and naturally be in touch with her spirit through prayer and moments of stillness. Gratitude helps appreciate the abundance that god has given and brings about love. Soon we move on from self centered-ness to envelop all. As God gives us only that much that we can handle, so as the spirit becomes stronger he gives us greater challenges. The spirit becomes stronger as a result of these challenges gaining Atma Balam. The people we need are sent to us at the right time for the right purpose. Like minded fellowship comes about, again strengthening the spirit. The power of prayers is felt by all in the congregation or assembly.

Complimenting the Avatars and the guardian angels, the Avesa are perfected men through whom god permeates and manifests bringing greater good to society and the world. The difference between them is that while ego is nil in the former two, a portion of the ego remains in an Avesa. 

Once upon a time I was watching, watching the world go by. As I sat on the road kerb and watched the vehicles go by, I chose to hop onto a vehicle and began to see the sights and experience the ride. Then I dropped off at the next point, and chose to watch again before getting on another vehicle and another, gaining many experiences from these many rides. This is the cycle of birth I understood. And I was getting pretty bored too. 

Today I am back on the streets, watching again as life went by. I boarded a vehicle again but chose to modify it to cater to others too, through right thoughts and with the direction given by the Siddhas. I took the reins this time, stopping to pick up several others and dropping them off at their destinations too. This gave me much joy and satisfaction for I had contributed something while I was behind the wheel. This was a purposeful birth I told myself. I was a bystander till Agathiyar pushed me to the forefront to do his job. We have a choice either to be a passive participant, just looking out for ourselves and leading a mundane self contained life or an active one, helping others in any way and form. Agathiyar brought many realizations to the fore, pushing aside the veil of ignorance. Similarly for the collective good, the divine comes to the aid of the people, pulling back the curtain and drapes, letting in the light of hope, allowing its people to breath freely, freeing them from the shackles of tyranny and misery. 

Betty J Eadie who came back from near death experience reveals the secrets of heaven in her book "The Awakening Heart - My Continuing Journey to Love", a Pocket Star Book, 1996. She says just as we have choices here, we are also given choices in our fathers abode. While some souls respond to gods call, volunteering and choose to listen and accept his will before coming to earth, others receive a calling after they arrive, when their hearts open to god, through intense sufferings or through miracles, and eventually they become vessels of god themselves.

Anita Moorjani too was given an option either to stay or return into her physical body that was ridden with cancer. When she understood the magnificence of her true self, and that her body would heal rapidly if she opted to come back, she survived to tell the tale as did Betty. http://anitamoorjani.com/about-anita/near-death-experience-description/

THE PURPOSE OF LIFE 1

Jeffrey Armstrong in his "Spiritual Teachings of the Avatar - Ancient Wisdom for a New World", Atria Books and Beyond Words, 2010, gives us a beautiful explanation to the word Avatar: Ava meaning to descend; tara to heal and restore.  An avatar is born when the divine takes a conscious, intentional and purposeful reason to descent to the earth, taking on a physical body, to fulfill his mission according to the needs of the times, quite unlike a reincarnation that is a result of karma. 

Sherab Chodzin Kohn writes in his book "The Awakened One - A life of the Buddha", Phoenix, London, 1994, the story of Buddha. Having taken countless lives, and having laboured and sacrificed for others in all those births, having practiced great virtues to prepare for buddhahood or enlightenment, he took birth as God in the Realm of Desire. He was teacher and king to thousands of gods. This life went on for thousands of years till the gods gathered around him one day and and told him that it was time for him to take birth on earth and gain enlightenment. He deliberated on it, whether it was the appropriate time, where and to whom he should be born, and finally agreed too that it was the ideal time for him to come down. Bidding farewell to the gods, he went to the Nandhana Groove in the Realm of Desire and mindfully died. The same instant he entered his mother's womb on earth. A Buddha was born.

A sadhu entered Ramaih Pillai's home when he was out. His wife invited the sadhu and served him as was the culture and tradition then. Jeffrey Armstrong writes that visiting guests should be treated with much love, respect and generosity for he or she might be the divine being. Before leaving the sadhu gave her the sacred ash and told her that the son she was to carry will teach the world the art of deathlessness. She conceived that very moment upon being bestowed the sambupaksha shrishti. She soon gave birth to a child who was named Ramalingam. As Swami Saravanananda writes in his "Saint Ramalingam", Ramalingam showed that contrary to common belief that the body had to be discarded to attain godhead, he made it possible to "lead illumined lives by retaining the body simultaneously". Swami wrote, "The divine light has descended from lofty heights into the human form in order to make him immortal."

Jeffrey Armstrong writes that when the yogi "gone bad" named Ravana appeared unstoppable, due to the immense grace he had accumulated out of his severe austerities, god then had a reason to descend as Sri Rama. 

Sri Krishna came later for another purpose. And so it has been that each time there is an imbalance and a dire need for correction an Avatar appears. 

REACHING OUT TO THE SICK

The young soul in Neale Donald Walsch's childrens parable "The Little Soul and the Sun", adapted from his book one of three,"Conversations with God", wanted to experience the act of forgiveness and decided to come down to earth for that experience. The stage was hence set for the drama to take place where another soul he knew volunteered to come along and betray him so that the young soul could forgive him and see his wish of pardoning another fulfilled.

Annie Besant and Bhagavan Das in their "Sanatana Dharma" wrote "The Upadhis are only brought into existence to serve the purpose of the Jivatman moved by desire to taste these worlds. The wish to experience is said to lead the Atman to form organs for receiving and transmitting to himself the experience. His wish lies at the root of each and matter obeys his impulse and obediently moulds itself into a form suitable for the exercise of the life function. The jivatman is a conscious being and that consciousness seeking external experience fashions sense and sense organs for contact with the outer worlds." 

How wonderful. We create the situation and the scenario allowing all our desires to take shape. What we are going through is what we had asked for. We had asked for these experience and hence are enacting the role and taking on the experiences.

Dr Janardena Thangamoney wanting to sacrifice his life in serving the sick, has led several Medical Camps for AVM and PTC, joined a team of medical doctors some time back to bring cheer and good health to the natives of interior Sabah. Siddha Heartbeat carried his services at  

https://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.my/2018/03/bringing-medical-care-into-interiors.html

https://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.my/2018/02/medical-camp.html

https://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.my/2017/10/medical-camp.html

https://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.my/2017/07/medical-camp.html

On returning back to Peninsular Malaysia, Dr Jana messaged me, "I came back from Sabah yesterday.. it was a very soul fulfilling trip for me." He wrote about their living condition, "Villagers depend on water tanks from rain water. They don't have proper sanitary system." His teammates among others was Dr Ganesh and Dr Ng. They did manage to do an additional test, Ultrasound Heart Scan besides conducting the regular checkup and test. He continued, "For a simple ultrasound scan, the villagers have to travel 6 hours by road...Upon Muruga and Agastiyar's grace, managed to bring the scan machine to the villagers. Providing them this service, It was blissful!"

The dear doctors who teamed up to serve the Sabahans were mentioned in the English daily New Straits Times, the Chinese daily Sin Chew Daily and the Malay daily Berita Harian yesterday. Thumbs up to the doctor and his team.

BEWARE OF SPIRITUAL PRIDE

Compassion or "sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others" is a state of extreme sensitivity to others tears. To reach this state is a far cry for many. The heart has to open up for this state to happen. Then he sheds tears for others misfortune. He begins to find ways to eradicate their sufferings. Nature then comes to his aid. Nature makes him co-creator. Nature pays obeisance to him. Nature reveals her secrets. Everything becomes an open book. He is one with "the will of nature and the plan of god" as Rohit Mehta describes in his The Creative Silence, from the Theosophical Publishing House. This is the state of a Siddha.

Attaining this state we are cautioned about the appearance of spiritual pride. It is said that one can and do slip and fall even as he stands at the gates to gods kingdom. Indeed the one who takes the stage looks down on the rest as of inadequate knowledge and substance. The spiritual pride takes the stage. Elsewhere a true messenger of god would drop by when you least expected with a simple message that would shake your whole understanding and perception of life and move on as quietly as he came. An episode from Mahakavi Bharathi's life will attest to this. 

Bharathi who chances upon one Kulla Swami while in Pondicherry, gives chase as the Swami dashes off. He finally catches up with him in a torn down and abandoned house. Bharathi seeks upadesam. The Swami points him to the remaining portion of the wall and the sun and then turns to show him his reflection and that of the sun in the well. "That is my upadesa for you", saying thus he leaves immediately. 

பக்கத்து வீடிடிந்து சுவர்கள் வீழ்ந்த

பாழ்மனையொன் றிருந்ததங்கே

பரம யோகி ஒக்கத்தன் அருள்வழியால் என்னை நோக்கி

ஒரு குட்டிச் சுவர் காட்டிப் பரிதி காட்டி

அக்கணமே கிணற்றுளதன் விம்பங் காட்டி

"அறிதிகொலோ !" எனக் கேட்டான்

"அறிந்தேன்" என்றேன்

மிக்கமகிழ் கொண்டவனும் சென்றான்

யானும் வேதாந்த மரத்திலொரு வேரைக் கண்டேன்.

தேசிகன் கை காட்டி யெனக்குறைத்த செய்தி

செந்தமிழில் உலகத்தார்க் குணர்த்து கின்றேன்

"வாசியை நீ கும்பகத்தால் வலியக் கட்டி

மண்போலே சுவர்போலே வாழ்தல் வேண்டும்

தேசுடைய பரிதியுருக் கிணற்றினுள்ளே

தெரிவதுபோல் உனக்குள்ளே சிவனைக் காண்பாய்

பேசுவதில் பயனில்லை அனுபவத்தால்

பேரின்பம் எய்துவதே ஞானம்" என்றான்.

Stop all talk and begin to experience Vaasi, was the message to Bharathi.

As I am writing this post Srīnāthā Rāghavan posted a wonderful piece of advice regarding the pride that unknowingly takes hold of many a spiritual man.

"How to keep one's Ego under check?" was the question.

The suggestion, "Nishkaama Seva (Selfless Service), Dharma (Performing one's duty unattachedly) and Daana (Charity out of Compassion)."

While I used to be a regular at the Sri Ramakrishna Mutt, Khar, Mumbai, I would prefer to spend most of my time in the Library, reading old and rare books. Many years I spent such, when one day the old Librarian Monk, who was a Friend and Mentor by then, came up to me casually and said, "Expanding the Intellect is just one side of the coin, you also have to deepen your Heart as well?"

When asked how to do so He said, "Go and serve the ill and afflicted in the nearby Hospital?" 

Taking his suggestion to be a command from the Master Himself, I quit reading books (I had read more than enough by then) and immersed myself in serving the sick. That was the most precious spiritual guidance I have ever received in my life and thankfully acted upon it as well.

For nearly two years, 2-3 times a week, I got the opportunity to serve the sick and the dying, helping me to come out as a better "attuned" person. 

Spiritual Attunement is nothing but how well you can connect with the other's pain and afflictions and what you can do willingly and proactively to ease it. 

Knowledge and Wealth, has the ability to swell our Ego, but when complimented with Seva, it will become a great blessing for the whole world.

And as I pen these words, a devotee from Visakhapatnam messaged me that she too has joined the ranks of Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM), Amudha Surabhi (AS), Thondu Seivom (TS), Pothihai Tharma Chakkram (PTC), Thedal Ulla Thenikalai (TUT) and many family members in Malaysia, India and South Africa who have taken up the noble task of serving annadhanam to the hungry and unfortunate and carrying out other seva.

Aiya, with the grace of Appa and inspired by all of you in Malaysia, our family is serving food to the homeless each month. I cook a very basic humble meal of steamed rice and a nutritious mixed vegetable curry that comprises of 5 vegetables, moong dal (protein), any one green like spinach. My husband and I drive around and serve food to 20+ homeless people. The joy of cooking and serving is immense. A humble reminder of how blessed we are. Thank you, Aiya, for helping me along my spiritual journey with your wise words that you so articulately put across on the blog. Gratitude! Muruga Saranam!