3.09.2009

Path to Shivahood in the Thirumanthiram

Every seeker wishes to know the way and wants every delusion cleared. Yet there is frustration and lack of knowledge on how one should even proceed in this path. It raises the deep question on why am I born human?

What is the meaning of being human?

The beauty of Thirumular's explanation is that it removes the veil of Maya straight away by presenting this concept to us. Being human is a state, its not me or you, but a state that we have taken on in this birth. This quite simply answers the question - Who am I. Aham Brahmaasmi - That I am/That thou art.

I am not human as much as I am consciousness in this form of a human in this period of time, in this kaal. I breathe because I have taken birth and in this birth my purpose is to raise myself to not just the state of a sidhha or a deva but to raise myself to the state of Shivahood. Is it possible, it is and Thirumular explains how.

Many people center their spiritual progress to offering 5 to 10 mins of puja, offering Archanai at a temple, and/or following few steps to do a parigaram to ward off immediate troubled forces created by planets and yet they wish for wealth, prosperity and progeny. Thirumular attributes all this to the path of Kriya where, though it is beneficial it also accumulates karma. We cannot consider our spiritualism as complete by any of these methods.


Thirumular further goes to explain that the nature of the supreme atman cannot be discovered or experienced by the senses hence it is vain on our part to hope to achieve salvation through our senses. Just as it is in the nature of the sun to rise in the east, one cannot wish it to rise from the west, similarly it is in the nature of the divine to be realized through contemplation and jnana and not just through momentary archanai/puja or action.


The higher form of worship is in the mansion of the mind, our mind, that which only we can control.

Offer oblations in love
Light lamps golden,
Spread incense of fragrant wood
And lighted camphor in directions all
Forget your worldly worries, and meditate
You shall attain rapturous mukti true

Worship is in the consciousness of the mind, where oblations are offered with love, lamp lights appear golden and the fragrance of incense spreads around the Lord. Burn camphor in all the four directions and forget all your worldly worries for a while, this time is for just meditate on the Lord. It is a state of bliss and peace that is achieved over time with practice. Ritual helps us do this with discipline and as one rises in their spiritual curve this turns into a conscious activity in the mind, rhythmic and simple as one tunes in their mind to spend some silent moments with the self.


The beauty of this practice is explained in another passage:

Even when other men's wives approach them
They touch them not
They have mastered passions all
Their mind is preoccupied perpetually
With offer of oblation diverse
They worship prostrating low
Constantly chanting mantra
Thus in the mansion of the mind they abide.

In the realistic world today seduction is an art not just known to women but men as well and these temptations can come from any where, to both genders included. Excluding the chauvinism in the verse that is very male centric, the essence applies to all. When the mind is so deep in the thought of Lord Shiva, in the conscious state it dwells on him in worship, and all passions are mastered and controlled. The mind doesn't waver, and the oncoming temptation doesn't affect it leaving the bhakta far from falling prey to seduction.

Thirumular quotes:

They know not to reach him by jnana divine,
They seek him by ways of senses, in vain
If within you constantly seek him in the right way
You shall indeed be in nadanta

As one rises up the charts of evolved spiritualism, kriya path gives way to that of jnana. Contemplation takes over action.

Bhaktas, yogis and jnanis do not take to kriya path but instead move into jnana and reach the state of Nadanta.

Yourself himself becoming
And himself yourself becoming
And with two none
And as one Shiva becoming
When thus it is,
Those who went the way of kriya
If they take to jnana
They with Shiva one become
They who seek kriya
May but devas be

There is so much inner beauty in this passage. By being in dhyana and contemplating regularly one can attain Shivahood. By mere practice of ritual in momentary intervals one can best hope to reach the state of being Deva. If the mind dwells entirely on Shiva, it entertains no other thought and life's problems appear like states of living without any attachment.


Problems are accepted situations and conscious mind time is spent in single point concentration leaving the mind passionate of Lord Shiva thus elevating the soul to a constant state of Shivahood.
In this state OM rises from under the navel, VA rises from the throat stretched, NA has its seat in forehead and bindu and nada are still placed higher. Nectar or amrit flows from the 7th centre, the bright light of jnana glows at the 8th chakra, in the 11th chakra lies the supreme and beyond it is the void described as the dwadasanta space.

In this world that we live in, in this stressful world that we belong to, time, contemplation, passion and persistence are the possible characteristics that can lead us closer to salvation.

* Dwadasanta is the mystical place 12 units above on the head counting from the region of the third eye between the brow. Each unit is an angula, measuring 1 division on the finger.
Courtesy: Excerpts from the Thirumanthiram written by Sage Thirumular.

39 comments:

JC said...

'I' have to first accept that 'I' am Him! And, therefore, if 'I' am looking for the 'Absolute Truth', 'I' (believably a model of the Universe/ image of the Supreme unique being) must first seek the essential 'Truths' in the various 'Untruths' (like sifting sands to reach the gold particles)utilising the facilities provided 'naturally' to me, ie., the limited physical senses with the relisation that those are naturally inefficient - to different levels in different individuals...

Observation of a piece of camphor, as it evaporates/ burns in no time, conveys real life-span as 'zero', whereas a lighted oil-lamp conveys how life-span can get extended indefinitely by a system that provides continuous supply of the required materials, viz. material form of the lamp(s) itself, wicks and oil etc. (reflected in 'Nature' as the ideal by the 'panchtatvas'/ 'panchbhootas' that have apparently helped sustenance of the solar system for over 4 billion years already - or maybe only its projection that appear real to us humans due mainly to inefficient physical senses, and also lack of knowledge how to awaken the sixth sense!)...

JC said...

'I' might also add that the 'wise ancients' have indicated the 'Absolute Truth' to be related with 'zero'. 'I' had also earlier indicated 'my thought' to seek the basic thought behind 'rituals' and 'meditation' carried through ages (unfortunately 'blindly' today by the 'average person'). 'I' could realise it as a process to reach zero thought or a thoughtless stage in order to communicate with the Absolute Truth who alone believably remains in that state eternally...

YOSEE said...

திருமூலர் ,முதல் சித்தார் . யோக முறையை பின் பற்றி , குண்டலினியை எழுப்பி, சிவபதம் அடையும் வழியை சொன்னவர். அஷ்டமா சித்திகளை அடையும் பொருட்டும் பாடி, மும் மலத்தை நீக்கும் வழியையும் சொல்லி, கடைசியில், எதுவும் வேண்டாம், "அன்பே சிவம் " என்றும் பாடி வைத்திருக்கிறார். எவர்க்கு எது வேண்டுமோ , எது பொருந்துமோ எடுத்துகொள்ளலாம் , ஒரு சூப்பர் மார்கெட் போல் !

JC said...

Hi Yosee, Because 'I' was exposed to the 'devanagari' script from the childhood besides English due to 'slavery', to me your comment appears like a beautiful painting in black and white - perhaps a piece of 'modern art'! It's perhaps a reflection of our attempt to read in words, irrespective of the script, the communication by the ancients through graphical/ pictorial symbols - just as we understand destructive force represented by the figure of Ma Kali, and so on!

Kavitha Kalyan said...

Hi Yosee

I cant read Tamil. And your comments are very meaningful.

Can you translate that please.

Regards

Rwitoja Mukherjee said...

Not fair ,Yosee!

JC said...

'I' had earlier also cited an example of a relative cum friend, a few years senior to me, who in the Fourties or so reportedly used to see Bollywood films in Hindi with a handkerchief placed over his head in the dark cinema hall. Once 'I' had an opportunity to accompany him and with the report in mind, 'I' noticed that he was wiping away tears from his eyes! Thus 'I' realised the purpose of the handkerchief and the reflection of 'inferiority complex' due to awareness of it as a sign of emotional weakness, which is assocaited only with the female gender!

After the film was over, 'I' asked him why he shed tears while watching representation of a fiction, an untruth? He replied that it was beyond his control. It was natural in so far as he was concerned!

Now, 'I' can similarly believe 'real life' also as projection of images in the apparent human eyes, just as we do not need to switch on some projector to see dreams before we go to sleep - it is accepted as natural by one and all!

Those who practice Reiki or apply Acupuncture/ Acupressure etc. (or even gemstones) for treatment of some ailment, however, appear as if attempting to activate the so-called dormant energy in the 'chakras' indicated to exist within human form by Yogis, just as integrated circuits (IC) in man-made electronic computers...and Krishna called Arjun an instrument, a medium (nimitta matra) - like an actor playing his/ her assigned role in a drama...

YOSEE said...

Kavitha: sorry, it dint occur to me that you may not be able to read tamil. Since this post is about Thiru Moolar's tamil work, i assumed you'd've read a few of his axioms.

JC: this piece of "modern art"does not have much " meaning" to convey !

Rwitoja: ooops !

Direct translation of the epigraphy: Thirumoolar, considered the first Siddha,dwelt on transcending the mundane and attaining The Light by raising the Kundalini through Yoga ( physical process);he has also taught the esoteric science of ridding ourselves of the 3 malas(i.e. impurities namely aanavam,kanmam,mayai)to attain shivahood (thought process); pointed out the ways to superhuman nature ( attaining ashta maha siddhis); but finally he also dispenses the very rudimentary, very simple prescription : Anbe Sivam ( Love is Sivam)which can be processed by even those with limited abilities. I have called him a Super Market from where everyone can select what he wants and can cope with , to reach that single goal.

Thirumanthiram forms one of the pillars of Shaiva Siddhanta or Meikanda agamam ( "The science of Knowing Truth" )the theology adhered to in the south,laying stress on charya,kriya,yoga and jnana.Of all schools of shaiva siddhantam, Thirumoolar's comes closest to Advaita philosophy. Rest are Dualistic as they recognise three distinct Basics: Pati(Lord),Pashu(being) Pasam(the bond). Thirumoolar's work is called Thiru-manthiram because a man-tra is that which opens or liberates(tra)the mind(man)It is believed that Thirumanthiram works both literally and representatively i.e. some hymns are specific prayers while some work as a sequence of rhythmic sounds whose wavelenghths help in "opening" the mind.Ofcouse, the ultimate mantra given out is Om Nama Sivaya.

Kavitha Kalyan said...

:) I read English translations for all hymns in Tamil and sanskrit.

I cant read the Tamil script, and Thirumanthiram is way beyond me.

:)

JC said...

Thanks Yosee for the explanation.

The concept of Yoga or fusion of a component of the one and only immortal Supremesoul (Siva), ie, the immortal soul, and each one of the innumerble mortal physical bodies responsible for the variety and heirarchy in 'Nature' in all its aspects could perhaps be called the basic 'Hindu' thought.

Also, from the observation that the 'wise ancients' in general indicate time to move from Satyuga (the period during which moral value in humans is believed to have a range between 100 & 75 percent over 1.296 million years) to Kaliyuga (a duration of 0.432 million years and efficiency ranging between 25 & 0%), one at any time or place could perhaps realise why material forms/ virtue in humans appear to deteriorate with passage of time. Whereas the 'churning of the milky-ocean' indicates evolution to have taken place in four stages - from poison (mortality) to Amrit (immortality)...

JC said...

To add to the above further to appreciate human behaviour, one could perhaps visualise how the 'perfect' being, the immortal one could utilise 'essences' or 'satva' of say 8 planets rendered immortal to create human form and its varieties utillising permutations and combinations of those 'essences'...and then review his path from zero to infinity any numbers of time...for the 'wise ancients' indicate each Yuga to get reviewed (perhaps over) 1000 times during one day in the life of 'Brahma' that, as per them, has a duration of 4.32 billion years...however the 'present day' estimate indicates about 4.6 billion years already elapsed in the life of our solar system, which perhaps could be explained by adopting 1080 cycles (and not 1000)...

Thus each human being, representing some stage in the life of the 'Creator' during evolution is believed to be also be 'perfect', but needs certain exercises, such as Yoga to activate the 3 components, called physical, mental and spiritual which define the overall balanced development at the end of Satyuga when perfection was believable achieved by Siva...and 'mantras', 'tantras' and 'yantras' are recommended for use as tools by an 'average human being'...

Dhaanik Arwin Lal said...

very nice of u, I've been visiting tamil nadu for quite some times. the temples are very addorable...but its not all about temple n prayers...the country need to progress well, eliminate corruption which exist everywhere includes one needs to bribe the priest to worship!!!!!
poverty is saddest thing in human life. wonder when can ths issue can be resolve?
dhaanik

JC said...

Before 'I' attempt answering the query of Shri Dhaanik, for academic interest, 'I' would like to correct the duration of Satyuga to 1.728 million years (the duration indicated earlier relates to Tretayuga, which is 3 times that of Kaliyuga)...

'Poverty' today (understood by the 'wise ancients' as reflecting the era called 'Kaliyuga', literally the 'Dark Age' when 'halahal' or 'poison' that is overall 'pollution', reflected by 'corruption'/ 'indiscipline' in humans due mainly to lack of knowledge of one's purpose had emerged due to start of 'churning') is used to indicate only the lack of 'material' by a large percentage, relatively larger in number in 'India' that is 'Bharat'...there is no measure devised to evaluate the 'spiritual' component, which is 'blindly' believed to be high if one visits temples, or the 'char dham' - as indicated by the 'wise ancients'...

Only 'silver lining' that Kaliyuga is believed to have is that it brings 'Satyga' back once again when one can expect perfection/ near perfection even in humans - unless it is the time for Brahma to go to sleep for over 4 billion years at the end of the present Kaliyuga if it happens to be His last one - just as man retires at a certain age from 'active service'!

Dr.Anil Joshi said...

Kavitha,,Yosee,
The accompanying photograph says it all!We have a Pati(Brahmeshwar) a pashu(The praying Sadhu) & the pash(the locked trunk which apparently holds the earthly belongings of the Sadhu)!!

Anonymous said...

Ah! thirumanthiram!!!......how melodiously the word thrilled the very existence of me!...One of the mentors in my life who almost was a thatha to me used to loudly recite a tamil sloka to elucidate his point of arguement in spirituality.The recitation would drip into my being like honey eversince my ears received them.Day after day I felt as if they thenil karumpaga inikkuthe....and these verses were from thirumanthiram.He entered into samadhi some 10 years back and eversince I have been choosing to read and contemplate on articles written on thirumanthiram.The presentation "path to shivahood in the thirumanthiram"was gone through with great voracity and for some 10 or more minutes of its reading I had been revelling as though i had been in front of my thatha- mentor.Namasthe kavitha for giving such a rare experience with your warming literature.I dont know tamil well and such enlightening articles on tamil/shaiva philosophy elucidating the essence of them in english with sanguine expression are heartily welcome.I would like to add a tailpiece...my thatha-mentor would explain the meanings of some recitations ,and would say that you need not worry if you don't get the point...just enjoy the beauty of the alignment of each word to the other..how elegantly they resonate when they are recited.. how vividly similar words are used by repeating them to mean different things..etc...by saying this he would recite some more musical utterances in thirumanthiram enhancing my mind to some inexplicable level....while complaining that the meanings are not coming,he would say thaan patra patra thalaippadum thaane.....Namasthe kavitha once more for giving such an enchanting account...thank you...

JC said...

Yosee, you said, "...I have called him a Super Market from where everyone can select what he wants and can cope with , to reach that single goal..."

The same thought is also believed to get conveyed in the Bhagawad Gita, which is addressed to the terrestrials - just as when a teacher explains a particular lesson to a class of students and then takes a test, it can be observed that percentage marks obtained by the class generally varies from zero or near zero to one hundred or near it...and the majority of students would be near an average, which could vary between a range depending on the overall standard of the School/ Colege...thus indicating it as a 'natural' phenomenon conforming to the variety that is naturally observed in all aspects of 'Nature'...Thus the advice by the 'wise ancients' to surrender in 'Krishna' (who is responsible for 'creation of maya' and therefore the one who alone can lead a seeker to the 'Absolute Truth', ie, his own virat or the most evolved immortal form, Shiva/ Vishnu)...

JC said...

Also 'I' might add that no one knows what he should buy from the 'supermarket', which would lead one to the 'goal' - primarily because no one knows what the 'real' eventual goal is! For only when 'I' physically travel 'I' know what my temporary distination is at a particular point in time...The ancients also called the world "a market where only lies are sold"...

As 'I' am 'educated', using my (or another animal's) physical senses 'I', however, get to know that all rivers eventually meet different appearing water bodies, called seas/ oceans, that are all naturally interconnected, and thus apparently for humans also similarly there could (or should perhaps) be a solitary 'goal'...

'I' had earlier also somewhere cited what Harivansh Rai Bachchan (in Madhushala) said to the effect that everyone tells you different paths, however one should follow one path and eventually one would anyway reach the goal! This also gets reflected in the basic 'Hindu' thought of worshipping any physical form (only as a medium) to reach the Formless ('Krishna' the 'Black' that is unseen/ mysterious and mischievous being)...

JC said...

Regarding "surrender in Krishna" the 'Black', believed to be mischievous besides being unseen, 'born in a prison', or imprisoned within the physical form, conveys need to communicate with one's soul represented by essences of the solar system members that believably also reflect heirarchy among themselves...

In view of the above, the variety and heirarchy reflected among humans too could be on account of which planet governs a particular individual. Perhaps with that objective in mind the 'wise ancients' attempted relating any given individual with a particular planet based on the apparent time of one's birth with '0' as datum at Kashi the believable birth-place of Shiva the immortal as the Controller of Time...as 'I' had earlier also elsewhere indicated how the 'real zero Longitude' (the Big Circle) passes through Amarkantak (source of River Narmada), Varanasi, and Mount Kailash the believable abode of both Shiva and Parvati [and is the source of 'holy Ribvers' Ganga (associated with Shiva), Yamuna (associated with Krishna), and (Brahma's consort) Saraswati that disappeared and reappeared as ('Brahma's son') Brahmaputra]...

JC said...

And, these three rivers, Nadis, are believably represented in human form as Susumna, Ida, and Pingla Nadis (pronounced differently though), as the central nervous system and the sympathetic nervous systems (in 'modern scientific terms'). The nerves in human body are believably related with ring-planet Saturn, the ninth and 'Sudrshanchakradhari one as per 'Hindus' that acts as the cut off planet (and Hindu mythological stories indicate the weapon used by Vishnu/ Shani for cutting off heads of Rahu as well as Ganesha!)...

The mischievous nature of 'Krishna' (also a sudershan chakradhari, perhaps represented by ring-planet Jupiter) the representative of Vishnu is, however, cleared when one learns that 'Vishnu is Shiva, and Shiva is Vishnu', but not accepted by the masses that generally get divided into two visible categories: Shaivites and Vaishnavites! And, the neutral category or the third side of the coin is taken for granted!

YOSEE said...

JC : Quote["Also 'I' might add that no one knows what he should buy from the 'supermarket', which would lead one to the 'goal' - primarily because no one knows what the 'real' eventual goal is!"]unquote
When one has meandered through the vicissitudes of life,learnt by experience that all that gave sensory happiness along the way are only ephemeral, one begins to grasp the truth of the ancient ones' teachings that the seemingly real world is not really real. That's the point at which goals are formed and the longing to seek for meaning takes root. Then one actually knows what she wants. One wants a cessation of meaningless existance and dreary cycles of birth and death.One understands that there is an Experience beyond the immediate and that it is achievable. And,one wants to KNOW. That itself is a big step. It is at such a stage in our spiritual evolution (independent of physical age)that we reach out to the works of masters.With our limited intellects, we try to find answers in their words. And such works are plentiful and varied.We cannot judge which is The Right One, because there is no Single Right One. Because of our vasanas, we are attracted to some philosophy and pursue that, knowing what we want to find. And because we want to, we will find it too. "Knock , it shall be opened. Seek, it shall be given".In so far as it leads one to inner peace,to the song in the antaraala, which ever path/goal she chooses is Real.

Aswin Kini said...

It's very nice to see people like YOSEE giving precious insights on Thirumoolar here. Please do let us know more about ancient texts.

Kavitha Kalyan said...

What amazes me is that every one who ever commented to my blog has commented to this particular post.

Its wonderful, and i hope this forum is there to stay :)

It took me a good while to make space for a meaningful discussion with the learned across the internet.

Regards
Kavitha

JC said...

Yosee you said, "...Because of our vasanas, we are attracted to some philosophy and pursue that, knowing what we want to find."...

The 'wise ancients' have indicated each one of us to have a certain 'mental inclination'or 'thought plane' (Sant Tulsidas says, "Jaki rahi bhavana jaisei, prabhu moorat tin dekhi taisi." That is one sees the 'Truth' according to one's mental level or inclination), which governs the line of one's action. In simple words, "Birds of the same feather flock together."

For example, in one's day-to-day life, even while walking down an unfamiliar road and seeking someone (a guru) who could direct one to some particular address, one doesn't ask just anybody - one 'instinctively' attempts to 'read the face' (there are 'specialists' or 'master' also who do that) of the stranger and only if it appears safe one asks her...And, if the guru turns out to be mischievous (like 'Natkhat Nandlal' that is 'Krishna'/ Satan she might misdirect you! That's where the so-called 'luck' or 'fate' comes in...

According to 'astrolgers', that happens on account of 'bad graha', for 'grahas' governing each are indicated either to be of the same or opposing nature (both in nature therefore could either be hot/ cold, or one of them could be 'hot' and the other 'cold')...

In 'Kaliyuga' however the efficiency of humans believably is the lowest, it appears difficult to find characters (instruments) that pertain to 'Satyuga', although there believably are some such typical characters at all times, even if the majority might appear to be 'spiritually poor' thanks to Time of Mahakal...

Kavitha Kalyan said...

Joshi uncle, Yosee and all

It is not very easy to identify the genuine teacher from the mass of people we have swarming around us. Yet we seek a guru who will direct the way and we come with predefined ideas that the Guru has got to be in flesh and blood, has to be human and has to speak my language.. Tough... might not always happen.

If we let our minds open and didnt look at the world and its working with predefined ideas we would be much better in "receiving" the education which is unlike what we have been through so far in the civilized world we know.

Our mind is far more capable than we think it is, even in the current form of being human. It can sense, it can detect only if we allow it to. The reason why the scriptures keep saying dont get sucked in be maya means, dont let your mind always be filled with thought, and noise for you will never hear the supreme because he/she/it works only when its silent.

Our mind is an antenna which picks these messages in the form of IDEAS in our waking hours and in the form of DREAMS while we sleep.

All we need to do for now is silence that noise inside our heads and wait for what is coming. We might not be lucky to get the guru we seek but we can do it on our own by practicing concentration by meditation, japa etc... Over a period of time, our nature changes, our mind rests and thoughts slow down and our detachment to the world increases and we are content with what we have.

NOW we have got to do at least this much to even get started..

Else God help us. My point of you, can be debated.

Regards
Kavitha

YOSEE said...

Kavitha,they say you cant hide a spark inside a basket for long ! Its bound to be noticed !I'm glad your forum is growing, dear.

JC, i dont know much on astrology side - grahas et al . But i do believe that there's nothing called "luck" and nothing happens "by chance" . We reap what we sow - good or bad. Our choosing wrong guides was also meant to be. For, to realise that a mistake has been made is to take a positive step forward. Its a learning process which was meant to be , a process to work a karma out of the system. Once burnt, twice wise. Our vision will be refined so that we "see" and choose better.
I agree totally with Kavitha that a Guru need not be a person in flesh and blood. We can gather lessons from everywhere if our antennae are in good working order.Yet, a helping hand is desirable.We can gather, but may not be able to process all data by ourselves. To climb a wall, we can creep up like Spiderman, swing up like Tarzan,leap up like Batman with our special aids. But its easier, simpler to climb up a ladder (guru),rung by rung.The process of climbing is still our enterprise, what we feel up there is still our experience; the ladder does not influence either.

YOSEE said...

I have a personal experience to share here. I should say my first guru was my grandmother,not a traditional orthodox religious person but a kundalini sadhak. But i was a bad pupil and played truant, Till my 30th. year, i was agnostic and a closet communist. Then, due to many reasons, my mind started wandering around the dimly remembered granny-tales. Now that i started looking, i saw many doors, that were always there. I chose one. There were mind transformations. But once the ripples subsided, i found lacunae. So, to a different portal.Experimented again. More light and breeze came in. Still, there were dust heaps here and there. I decided i did not need other's analyses and went into myself,by myself. Like Kavitha says, the mind rested,noises dulled,stillness tried to prevail. But no Buddhahood ! I strongly started feeling i had collected a library full of Greek & Latin books and needed help to read them. Now, my guide is Sri Ramana Maharishi.I am in LKG and am happy in this school. There are many classes upwards to go with many summer breaks with Yama. No hurry. Its peaceful to know i'll eventually reach ( in whatever yuga) my Graduation.

Rwitoja Mukherjee said...

Anyone or anything from whom we can learn is a guru.Sometimes, we can even learn what not to do from a person and that is quite an important lesson or we can call it a sort of 'reverse' lesson.

Sri Ramana had come into my life a decade ago.My life had gone into a roller-coaster mode for a year. The ride had just stopped and the dust barely settled when I found his mantra of 'Who am I?.About the same time,Rabindranath Tagore also made an appearance and I was totally besotted by his Rabindra Sangeet.Not for nothing did Gandhiji call him 'Gurudev'.Two years down the line I discovered Sri Aurobindo.The Bhagvad Gita has always been there,as an incomparable source of strength.Paramhansa Yogananda's 'Autobiography Of A Yogi'also shows the way at times,when the mind is too preoccupied with the material and the mundane.Buddha is there with his tremendous understanding of the functioning of the mind,Jesus with his message of forgiveness.And so the list goes on.I turn to them according to my need of the moment.

What I have learnt in my life is that adequate and appropriate guidance will be provided when and where I need it.The Guru within me oversees my inner development as well as controls my outside circumstances.He always has and always will see to it that the right guidance is given at the right time.What facilitates the learning process is patience and complete trust in Him.That is all that is asked of us.

JC said...

HI Kavitha, You said, "It is not very easy to identify the genuine teacher from the mass of people we have swarming around us..."

In the 'present times', in the late Seventies, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's failure to see clearly, after the event, was attributed to her advisers, who apparently swarmed around her...and the 'wise ancients', similarly, explained our (otherwise 'perfect') souls' inability to see, or realise the 'Absolute Truth', clearly because of the accumulated dust around the soul (it believably being imprisoned within an inefficient system of matter, reflected by the essences of the solar system). It was generally expressed as a very light veil of dust, or curtain, in front of one's eyes that only needed to be lifted/ removed with the help of the 'light within' each - just as a small lighted candle even helps dispel the darkness in a confined space...also just as Rwitoja says, "...The Guru within me oversees my inner development as well as controls my outside circumstances..."

Thus faith in the 'supreme being', helped by the words of the 'wise ancients', available in the various records perhaps available to us as per a grand design buried in the junk/ garbage (the works of 'satan' that help mislead us away from the path apparently leading to the 'Truth') - as it is reflected in 'Nature' too (such as gold particles in sands of rivers that need sifting patiently - say, in the beginning by adventurers who landed on the eastern coast of North America, and which aparently led to the 'gold rush', yellow as well as black, the outcome of which is apparently reflected by the 'present day 'material advancement' not only in the 'west' but also in the 'east', thanks to the light shown by the 'west', which however might be imbalanced though due to lack of 'spirituality', for even a 16 year-old today says that he/ she doesn't believe in God! and so on as reflected by 'extremism' that perhaps reflects teh characteristic property of element Hydrogen that only has one Proton and one Electron and it lacks in Neutron, the Nirguna, Nirakar of the 'Hindus')...

JC said...

Although perhaps all 'educated people' might already know it, 'I' might add that Hydrogen gas available on earth is highly inflammable. It is also mainly stored within the core of all stars that form the main component of the innumerable galaxies in the universe. Perhaps as part of a 'grand design', it is 'naturally' undergoing chain reaction since billions of years to help stars to act as natural sources of light and heat...and candle/ torch light could perhaps be realised as models of our Sun, just as humans are supposed to be models of the entire infinite universe (that holds innumerable galaxies)as per Yogis...

The ancient Hindu Yogis are well known to have been highly advanced 'Astronomers', in fact 'siddhas', that is, all rounders, who developed relationship between the infinite and varied universe and its models (literally, 'ocean contained in a pitcher') in the form of animals that reflect heirarchy that apparently confuses an individual human being at times other than Satyuga due believably lack of overall knowledge, vide Gita...

JC said...

However, although one might have been a student of 'Arts', one needs also to reflect on the fact: Why or how when there is 'perfection' or near immortality in the Solar system - that also contains the beautiful planet earth - as it is in existence for over 4 billion years as against in the 'present' a maximum life-span of under 150 year among humans who are believed to be rooted to the 'sky'? (although certain trees rooted to earth apparently have relatively much longer life-span)...and Hydrogen, literally the element that helps generate 'water' (that is necessary for sustenance of all 'life forms' and believably is one of the five elements or 'panchtatva' that necessarily go in to the formation of all physical forms in the infinite universe, including earth), assisted by Oxygen gas that 'naturally occurs in 'earth's atmosphere', in 'air', without which 'life on earth' couldn't have been possible...

JC said...

'My' Guru has been 'water', having been associated with works related with 'Water Resources' and, therefore, 'I' agree with Rwitoja when she said, "Anyone or anything from whom we can learn is a guru."

Although one might interpret it differently, there is an age old saying, "Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru devo Mahesh/ Guru sakshat Parambrahma/ Tasmai Shri Guruve namah." 'I' believe Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesh to represent the three-in-one God in physical form (reflected by our Sun as Brahma, Earth as Shiva and the gravitstional force concentrated at its centre as 'Kali'/ 'Krishna' as the representative of Nirakar Vishnu that is Nadbindu) and Prambrahma referring to the Formless who is reflected by the infinite void of the universe that holds innumerable galaxies...reflected believably by 8 nos 'chakras' within the human form (totalling to 8x8 'Yoginis' ie 64 components of energy possible in eight cardinal directions), as its model that of course needs addition of energy/ informatin held in all 8 points at different levels, ie Chakras, total lifted to a single point, 'Sahasrara chakra', located in the head to reach the 'Absolute Truth' contained in the essence of planet Saturn, the 9th graha of the Navgrahas and distributed in 8 grahas from Sun to Jupiter - maybe released slowly and gradually over apparent time at one's disposal during 'sanyas' or retirement, which could happen at any age, perhaps as per the 'grand design'...

JC said...

"Water is life."
Like reflection of 'Treyembakeshwar', the mythological three-in-one God, 'Water' is the only fluid that appears in three states in 'Nature' - solid, liquid and gas, ie., as ice/snow, water, and clouds...and as human efficiency believably naturally reduces from Satyuga to Kaliyuga, with refernce to 'India' as a typical example, potable life-giving waters in the three holy rivers that originate at Mount Kailash (representing Satyuga) naturally flow down to meet the saline water in the seas that aren't potable (representing Kaliyuga when poison/ pollution ruled) and are present in all three sides of the subcontinent...To make the 'water cycle' unending or immortal, the 'panchbhoota'/ 'panchtatva' ie., 'earth' (Shiva), 'fire' (Sun/ Brahma), assisted by 'air' and 'sky', or space, continue to perform unendingly under the direction of 'Bhootnath', or Formless Vishnu/ Shiva!

JC said...

Also, our Sun is also addressed as Aditya/ Aditi the number one...which read with the belief of creator as 'Mother' could relate the female of the human species with Hydrogen whose structure has only 'two sides' - Proton and Electron...whereas after evolution, ie., 'churning', Shivahood was believably reached at the end of Satyga and a neutral or blank side also got introduced, as reflected by structure of rest of the elements that are naturaly found on earth...

The story indicates at teh end of churning, Vishnu in 'Mohini form' distributing 'amrit' or immortality to the 'devas' that is members of the solar system, including 'shadows' Rahu, the Guru of the 'rakshasas' or crudely speaking, 'demons', but rendering him impotent by cutting his lower body away, which also became an independent part of the system, as Ketu...As all forms reflect some energy, the two, Rahu and Ketu, in the modern day terms' could be visualised as Ultraviolet and Infrared rays respectively that form part of the visible spectrum (as seen naturally in the rainbow lso)...related with gemstones Gomedak and Lahsuniya respectively...

JC said...

'I' can imagine the Southwestern coast, near Mumbai, as the right hand of Shiva and the Himalayan range in the Northeast, where Kamakhya Temple that is dedicated to Kali/ Sati the energy that believably resides in the heart of Shiva, as His left hand ('bamangi'), is located...and respectively are responsible for the water cycle in the subcontinent...and Krishna as the evolving form of Vishnu/ Shiva in a cyclone/ hurricane that has one eye in the centre of the hundreds of kilometers of water disc picked up from the seas by air as symbolic representation of the 'sudershan chakra' (Krishna/ Vishnu's having the third eye of 'Shiva' the Destroyer)...

JC said...

And, a water-fountain (having a choked nozzle with debris due to lack of use with passage of time even though the source of water might still be present for it is anant or unending) perhaps is the best example of the 'activation' of 'Kundalini' by Yogis at any time (normally dormant 'mooladhar' with passage of time from Satyuga to Kaliyuga, or from upper stage of Kaliyuga to the lower stage of the era)...as soon as the debris is removed, water/ knowledge gushes out and could reach the ideal level of 'sahasrara', when the whole debris gets removed, perhaps by water itself...

JC said...

In the 'present', 'scientists' haven't yet reached how water first came to exist on earth. The 'Hindu' mythology (perhaps in cryptic words) conveys it to have descended from the moon on the locks of Shiva. However, as 'scientists' also believe, moon evolved from earth itself...thus in other words earth itself (the four handed Gangadhar/ Chandrashekhar Shiva Himself, or the 'Nadbindu' the four handed Vishnu, the supreme form of 'Krishna' the 'Black')is indicated as the provider of all materials...just as it is our beautiful planet earth that provides all materials for sustenance of life on earth, also the 'Mrityulok' of the 'wise ancients' where deth of life forms is inevitable after a certain period of their existence, which is like a 'flash in the pan' compared to the life-span of the universe (perhaps because it is only projection of apparent time versus events, which keeps the memory of 'Bhootnath Shiva' alive eternally)...

Maybe, the above could help one answer the eternal question: Who am I? but not the purpose of the eternal drama, ie., what Bhootnath seeks...Is it His own origin? That is, His mother...just as each human being, rich or poor, has one that feels responsible for bringing up of its offspring...and God believably is unending and hence likely to have the Mother of all mothers, a true manifestation of eternal love!

JC said...

Peetamber 'Krishna', who rules the North that is Himalyas, says He works every second without any rest and has nothing new to achieve in the three worlds and therefore doesn't need anything from us and even plain water could be offered to Him (as Hindus traditionally offer water to the direction east where the sun rises), just as 'my brain' doesn't rest even in sleep when it doesn't need any material thing! Whereas, the mischievous/ Neelamber Krishna, the yet to be fully evolved character, who rules the 'west', allows one to physically rest on Saturday as well as Sundayin he 'present' that actually was the 'remote past' in His life! And, hence the so-called 'slavery of (apparent) time'...shen everybody feels 'perfect' although in reality under the effect of 'poison' that believably existed at the begining of the 'churning'...

Anonymous said...

doing kevala kumbhaka as per guru's instructions.. on shiva panchakshari and remaining in savikalpa samadhi, granthi bhedana takes place.....and leads to grace of sambhava parmeshwara and kaivalya........anand....gurubyoh namah.....

Anonymous said...

Just came across your blog. It is absolutely great with beautiful narrations. Reading some of your old posts as I get time, keep up the good work. It is of great use for seekers like us in the modern world who do not know anything from the knowledge of the ancient. As a newbie in spirituality, I must say my Guru has been the Internet, Google and books. I think the omnipresent Guru is helping me through the medium that is best suited for me.