Responsibility

Responsibility is a Huge word. I realise some of its importance as I see it encompasses a whole gamut of other characters we all should possess.
Responsibility implies duty, discipline, care, focus, among many other qualities. To act responsibly  implies that we act with reason, intelligence, love, dedication, loyalty, selflessness, nobleness, accountability, reliability, and many moral 'abilities'.
I can only imagine the depth of the word and even a thesaurus is at loss for finding equivalents.
Responsibility can probably be categorised towards 1. Oneself 2. One's Family 3. To His Occupation 4. To his Community and 5. To God. Meaning anything and everything we do, we have to do responsibly.
Responsibility is in the mind and acceptance of the extent of the responsibility one takes up lies within one's comprehension or one's capabilities, strengths & the size of his circle of love. A person who loves himself becomes knowledgeable, he who loves his family becomes respected, he who loves his Occupation becomes talented,  who loves his community becomes a leader, He who loves God becomes an enlightened soul.
Responsibility sometimes is taken willingly and sometimes thrust on someone. While some responsibility towards all of the above is always implicit, others are taken by choice. The more a person acts with selfless responsibility, more respect he/she earns. This is the self-centric view about Responsibility.
Everyone of us has a tendency to 'FIX' Responsibility on others. It is the fulfillment of these said and unsaid responsibilities that elevates respect and love towards that person.
Also that we tend to 'fix' responsibility on others of every aspect, event and incident that happens around us. The 'fixing' may be rational or emotional, and many times we tend to fix it wrongly. When answering the question,"Who is responsible for all (or each of) the problems in my life?" We generally 'fix' responsibilities irrationally. Or we 'fix' it on 'God'. Yes, God is responsible. But Where is God? God is within me. Then it necessarily follows that I am responsible for the problems in my life.
The more we learn to say 'I am responsible' the more we are likely to change and become a better person. While I have to caution that this might lead to a 'Guilt' Feeling, we have to overcome that with ways and means that should suit oneself.
To me, the goal to is to be 'Responsible' every moment of my life. God Help Me!

Guru

Shri Gurubhyo Namaha
Innumerable Books - both prose & poetry have been written about the greatness of a Guru, by describing their nature, character, greatness, intellect, abilities, spirituality, practices and such attributes.


THE NEED
Saint Thyagaraja, the great music composer, says, " Guru Lekha Etuvanti Kuniki Theliyaka Podhu." Meaning that, "Without a Guru not even an iota of knowledge can be gained."  So, if we are to improve in any way, we should seek knowledge, we should seek a Guru who will teach us, we should submit ourselves to him, surrender to him, observe him, learn from him (both explicit and implicit teachings), submit ourselves to his tests, exhibit our understanding of his teachings (to which he may explain or correct us - as the case may be) and surrender to him totally. Moreover, throughout our life, we have to constantly seek his audience to guide us. As the proverb 'Learning never ends' says, it is a lifelong association we should seek. 


OSHO in answering to who is a Spiritual Master? Says, Just by being near a Guru, you become more and more aware of yourself. If you submit yourself as a real disciple - and by being a disciple, I mean being open to the presence of the master. You may be sitting before a mirror with closed eyes - then the mirror cannot show you anything. The mirror is a mirror because it does not do anything on its own. But if you are in front of the mirror with open eyes, then the mirror can show you what you want to see about yourself. Such is the presence of a Guru.


In the presence of the our Guru; Knowledge flourishes (Gyana raksha); Sorrow diminishes (Dukha kshaya); Joy wells up without any reason (Sukha aavirbhava); Abundance dawns (Samriddhi); All talents manifest (Sarva samvardhan). What more do we want...


Once my uncle said, "I have not found a Guru who is worthy enough to teach me." I am of the exact opposite view. Who are we to test the qualities of a Guru. Most of us have little or no idea on what makes a Guru. The little we know actually misguides us. Saying, 'There is no guru worthy of me' is like saying there is not a single school to teach me. Schools are abound everywhere. But we do not seek admission, nor apply for scholarship. It is the student (the disciple in this case) that makes the difference. If you are a good disciple, you will find 'teachings' everywhere.

Coming to think of it, all a Guru does is to teach you to be a disciple (or student) and in that state of humility and submission to the fact that, "I want to Learn", itself helps you learn from all around.
   
Here is what Kulanarva Tantra says..."The disciple's only essential practice is to surrender himself to his guru." 


CHARACTER of a GURU

I wish to state only that, we should not see who is saying what. Rather see the thought or advice or philosophy separate from the person who said it and accept it on its merits. It is said, ரிஷி மூலம் நதி மூலம் பார்க்க கூடாது. Meaning, a river may run through many countries / districts and many a sewage / dirty stream may mix with it. If you seek to see if the river is pure by going through its entire course, you are bound to see the dirt and pollution that is part of the river. So will you find some character flow in a Teacher if you dig deep enough into his life. But what should matter is at the point of drinking the water, taste it, if it is sweet and does no harm - drink it - do not worry about the origins of the river. Similarly look at the advice a Teacher tells you, and take it as it is. 

But I also have to say that a Guru is one who practices before he preaches, so look at his present practices (if at all you have to look to judge) rather than past actions before discarding an advice because it has been said by someone with a dubious past. Take the instance of Valmiki, a robber and hunter by nature. Are we to discard the entire Valmiki Ramayana because it was written by Valmiki? 

PHILOSOPHIES & PRACTICES of GURUS
Each Guru advocates, a particular philosophy that they hold and teach to their disciples. Sometimes there is a conflict of ideas when we see the teachings of two Gurus and we somehow start saying one philosophy is more sound than the other. What do we know, that we think we are able to stand in judgement of these Gurus. 


On the other hand, even in Pedagogy (Teaching Methods for children) it is well known fact that childrens' learning can be classified into, Visual, Auditory & Kinesthetic (tactile) learning. While some children need to see the teachings, some just need to listen, while others need to touch and feel and do to learn. Similarly, as each Disciple is different and hence, a Guru takes an individual approach to each disciple. 
I could go on, but would like to stop with a quote from Kabir...


Sab Dharti Kagaz Karoon
Lekhan Ban Raye...
Sath Samundra Ki Mas Karuoon
Guru Gun Likha Na jaye...


"Even if the whole earth is transformed into paper with all the bigtrees made into pens and if the entire water in the seven oceans aretransformed into writing ink, even then the glories of the Guru cannot be written. So much is the greatness of the Guru."


Jai Guru

Bharathi

தேடிச் சோறுநிதந் தின்று - பல
சின்னஞ் சிறுகதைகள் பேசி - மனம்
வாடித் துன்பமிக உழன்று - பிறர்
வாடப் பலசெயல்கள் செய்து - நரை
கூடிக் கிழப்பருவ மெய்தி - கொடுங்
கூற்றுக் கிரையெனப்பின் மாயும் - பல
வேடிக்கை மனிதரைப் போலே - நான்
வீழ்வே னென்று நினைத் தாயோ?நின்னைச் சிலவரங்கள் கேட்பேன் - அவை
நேரே இன்றெனக்குத் தருவாய் - என்றன்
முன்னைத் தீயவினைப் பயன்கள் - இன்னும்
மூளா தழிந்திடுதல் வேண்டும் - இனி
என்னைப் புதியவுயி ராக்கி - எனக்
கேதுங் கவலையறச் செய்து - மதி
தன்னை மிகத்தெளிவு செய்து - என்றும்
சந்தோஷங் கொண்டிருக்கச் செய்வாய்...

Walking your life

If one has to successfully complete his life’s destiny, he has to learn to walk. Walk through the path of life. Walk across mountains, and all hurdles that life throws at us. Walk with care and walk with a steady and unwavering confidence. Learning to walk on ground is easy. But learning to walk in life is the real goal for every human being born on this Karma Bhoomi.

It is here that a real Guru plays his role. He teaches you to walk in Life. But even when we are grown as adults and we know to walk and even run on ground, in the “Walking our Life” are like a new born baby. Who cannot get from one place to another without the help of another person. To my knowledge, our Guru Plays this role to the perfection. He takes us on his shoulder. Bearing our full weight and carrying us to a point of safety. While carrying us, he ensured that he bore the brunt of the treachery of the land he was traversing. All the way describing to us how he is crossing that portion of life. While he was traversing slippery ground he proceeded with caution, while crossing hot desert sands, he proceeds with balance. While crossing thorny lands, he crosses it deligently, even getting pricked by the thorn. When he was pricked, he stopped and removed the thorn and then proceeded to carry us. He did this out of love. He did this out of his enthusiasm in helping us learn to walk in life. He carries us as if we were a child hoping we will learn someday.

We out of our ignorance and lackadaisical attitude towards learning, forget that we are forever in the process of learning and our Guru has taken the efforts to teach us. We forget he even leads by example. Showing us how to walk – rather than just tell us, he shows us. But we fail to learn. We bask in the comfort of being able to traverse difficult terrain. We forget that we have to learn when we are taught and think naively that he will carry us forever. We forget that the purpose is to teach us and not just carry us. We were supposed to learn and we fail him.

After carrying us for some distance and teaching us to walk, all he expects of us is to start walking bit by bit. Atleast tell him, “Swamiji, let me walk – leaning on to you” and he will be glad to guide us while bearing most of our weight, but with a little bit of effort from us. From there after some time, he expects us to tell him, “Swamiji, let me walk – holding your hand” and he will be glad to guide us while leading us through the path of life. After some more time, he expects us to tell him, “Swamiji - let me walk besides you” and he will be glad to keep you company and guide you by words. After a while, he expects us to tell, “Swamiji, let me walk my life, but do come to my aid when I call you” and he will be around to ensure that you don’t falter. To be guided by his thoughts. That is what is expected of us. To learn while he teaches us to walk in life.

But as we are, we refuse to learn to walk and instead, look up to him to carry us through our life. Which is neither right, nor possible. No person can carry you for life. No one else can walk for you in your life. You have to walk it. You have to traverse through the difficult walk of life. We can receive support, either physically or by words or by thoughts, but we, have to walk our life.

W have to understand, how many people can he carry physically? Only by guiding us by words and by his thoughts, can he help more people. Let us not burden him by relying on his physical help, but help him help us better, but relying on his words and thoughts.

Jai Ma.

You will find what you seek!

Let me start by posing a question.

CAN YOU DEFINE HOW A SWAMIJI SHOULD ACT?

(Do not confine your thoughts to how our Swamiji acts, or should act, or how you would like him to act)

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If you can - well and good. I request you to know think about it a bit more and write it out on a piece of paper.

Just write about 10-15 lines on 'How a Swamiji should act'

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Now that you have done.......

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I request you to throw it into the dustbin. You will not find that here at Siddha Bala Peetam.

Because....

HE is beyond definition.

How much ever good qualities you can think of, He is holier than that.

How much ever you have accurately written about his characters, He is much more than that.

He is deeper than what you can fathom. He is Bigger than that you can measure. He is all that you can hope for and a million times more.

I wish to only say ...

You will find in Swamiji what You wish to see. You will get what you search for. You will get what you deserve.

If you seek guidance, you will find it. If you seek compassion, you will find it. If you seek knowledge you will find it. If your seek ananda, you will find it. If you seek solace, you will find it. If you seek solutions to your problems, you will find it. If you seek forgiveness, you will find it. If you seek to have divine experience, you will find it.

At the same time, If you seek to find mistakes, you will also find it. If you seek to look for flaws in his character or actions you will find it. Believe me, it is not He that matters - but You.

By trying to define Swamiji, we are trying to impose our version or our understanding of the concept of Swamiji and trying to limit him. But HE being an enlightened soul, we have to understand that HE is beyond all that.

Dear members, many of you may have already understood the above. But I wish to make just a point.

When you first met swamiji, it is but natural to be inquisitive and test the waters. But, once you have accepted him as your Guru, we have to accept him as a whole and not in parts. We would be only foolish, if we were to take only certain aspects of his guidance.

Let us all take his guidance unquestioningly - and I am sure, we will all lead fruitful lives.

Jai MA

Research on Human - Animal dis/similarity

I have only few things that we are different, our Dexterity.

"And as human beings, we have the privilege of marveling at, as well as unraveling, what it means to be ourselves. We are each born with the capacity to live many different lives, yet we die having lived just one. We are capable of great diversity in our personal trajectories, and yet it appears that even our potential is not unlimited. We, too, are animals, although in the case of Homo sapiens, exactly what that means remains to be discovered." - Boffo in We are all Animals.

When Alice was lost in Wonderland, she asked the Cheshire Cat:
"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where - " said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.
" - so long as I get somewhere," Alice added as an explanation.
"Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."

Expecting Nothing out of Life

Expecting nothing out of life.

Is it humanly possible to expect nothing out of life. What is expecting? We not only do not know how to expect nothing but all we do is to expect everything. We feel because we have done our bit, the rest should come in a platter.

Well only one thing comes to my mind..... As you Sow so shall you reap.

U shall reap all the results of your actions and these are governed by your karma.

If you did not get your engineering seat - that your karma of not studying, If you did not ace your exams, it is of your karma of not listening in your class. If you did not get your promotion, it is because of your karma of not sincerely working for the company.

That My friends is Karma. Of what u did or what you failed to do.

In above cases, Good karma is to be Studious, attentive in class, and working sincerely. These can be governed primarily by following a disciplined approach to life. Fall not prey to petty things, and petty joy, but constantly remaining in focus of our Life's Goal.

Discipline in Thought & Action will eventually produce good results.

Even as you read, one question may arise in your mind. What do I get by leading a disciplined life.

Again I come to the topic I started with.... what is 'get' in the above question but an expectation of life.

Life is not an equation you live but an experience that you live through.

Forget the GET. Forget what you want life to give to you. If life gives you something, take it happily. Rejoice that you have got what life gave to you. There are many of us who are not able to take what life offers you. But leave what life offers at you in search of 'expected' results.

If a girl is not married by the age of 25 or so, immediately her parents start running from temple to temple. To propitiate the Gods.

It is probably destined that she leads such a life till a particular time. Probably she is not prepared to face the married life. Probably she is destined to meet a better match who would be more appropriate. One cannot hold grudges with life. Whats happening is not puppetry, but a dama.

I can draw many allusions to the statement - that

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages."

--From As You Like It (II, vii, 139-143) William Shakespeare

The whole life is but a drama
1. It is not real
2. Still you have to play your part
3. You get booed if u dont play it with your heart and soul
4. You get applauses for good performance - eventhough you cried most of the time
5. You get applauded - even if you played a stupid donkey
6. You are not here permanently - you have your exit
7. If you clown around - you may get applauded but remember what they talk behind you
8. Nobody is bothered what happens to you afterwards - Most of the People who applauded forgot you so did most of the people who booed you.
9. If you were the audience you will be on stage someday
10. After watching the drama you still return to playing your own drama

Life is not a great puppet show where god plays with all life as puppets and controls every action of every life. If we think so - it is because it is naive. He has done nothing personal to you and has no vengeance with any life form. Get Real - Life doesn't revolve around you. Its free will.

Imaging you take a bucket of water and you pour it on ground, it will flow and rush to the lowest point of gradient - because it is its nature. All inanimate objects tend to move to a static end. All life tend to follow the universal Law of self preservation.

All God has done is given us a good environment and free will and is seeing us all evolve.

Nothing that we do is above the universal truths that hold good for like - Survival of the Fittest, Fight or flight. etc. etc.

As a result, what does each animal expect out of life, and why should we be any different.

Yes! I can understand the conflict that arises that - Why should we be like animals. We are ofcourse more evolved and we have more intelligence.

I do agree that we are different from the animals, but we have to answer the question 'how different are we'.

How can you say No to your Guru

Shri Gurubyo Namaha
JAI MA

How can you say no to your Guru!

The only way to conduct ourselves in the presence of our Guru is to be in full attention mode, ever thinking "Your wish is my command."

I believe that we have got whatever we deserve, and we have got everything only by the grace of our Guru. If he has given whatever you deserve, when he asks something of you, how can you say no to your guru?

Only people who think that they have not got what they deserve will think about saying no to the Guru.But how much of a fact is that we have not got what we deserve. If we think deeply, it is because we do not cherish our blessings. We do not see what we have got but tend to think about what we have not got. How bad is our plight? How much, we have been the cause of our plight?

Our Guru knows all. He knows what to ask of us and what not to ask. Therefore it is our duty to await his wish and do it as its his command.

Our Guru is supreme intelligence personified, and we should not apply our intelligence in his presence. He will do the thinking for all of us. This is not meant to make us think that we should not use our minds, but to use it in the best possible way, ever remembering that his intellect supercedes us.

The upcoming occasion of our Paramaguru Aaradhana is one such opportunity to do as per our Guru's Commands.

The Aaradhana is the way our Guru celebrates his Guru. He celebrates the fact that he has been blessed by such a Guru in Swami Sri Vidya Dos. These celebrations are seen physically once a year. But we all know how Swamiji celebrates his Guru throughout the year - every moment.

We as the disciples should celebrate our Guru every moment we are with him and even when not in his presence. These celebrations should not be limited to once a year, or while in his presence, but should be continuous.

The Aaradhana is one way of celebrating our ParamaGuru for having blessed us all with such a supreme Sath Guru.

Let us join hands and make this 10th Aaradhana of our Parama Guru a wonderous and divine celebration. Don't ever say no to your Guru.

Jai Ma

Ego Trip

Birth of the Ego – Ego is born the moment consciousness starts. For the new born baby there is no Ego. Ego is born only after memory begins. Without consciousness, memory cannot exist. Without memory, ego too cannot exist. That doesn’t mean to live an egoless life, we have to be forgetful, or lead an unconscious life. To be egoless, we have to lead a super-conscious life. Meaning that we have to be always aware of our circumstances we are in and our relative position in it. Only by living in a super-conscious state, can we get rid of the Ego.

Control

Why does the Human nature try to control situations and environments so much.

Most people want to control others. Leaders want to control the state. Politicians want to control their followers, religious heads – their disciples, husbands want to control their wife and children, employers – their employees. Socialists want to control the commune. Capitalists want to control their market. Military leaders want to control their soldiers. While we all want to control things outside – not many people venture to control their self!!!

The superficial control of things outside is neither real not permanent. One may lose control of them anytime. Leaders may be overthrown, politicians lose followers, children rebel, employees strike, communes fight, market changes or soldiers mutiny. In all these cases, control is illusionary.

Whereas control over self is more real and more permanent. It also produced definite results that last. We have to strive to bring ourselves under total control.

Resistance to change.

I have personally seen that we impose our existing thoughts, for the simple reason that we always assume it is difficult to change. Rather, we are lazy and do not change and try to live in a cozy rut we have started living. An old slipper may feel cozy, but it will invariably slip and u will lose your footing when you most need it.

Just like that old slipper, we hold a lot of old thoughts and old habits which will lead to a slip some day. It is better to change our thoughts and habits when it is required. How are we to know? We just have to follow the advice of our Guru. Check often on the status of your slippers. Keep reflecting on where you are heading. If you find that you have slipped a bit, change slippers as and when necessary – meaning change your habits and thought process.

I have no doubt that by total surrendrance we can definitely change ourselves thereby our destiny. Not only by his prayers but by becoming that much closer to perfection by acceding to his advices.

Circle of Influence

Every person has a circle of influence. Meaning he can influence the decisions and actions of those people who lie within the circle. Swamiji has a big circle of influence. Generally speaking – the great people have very big circles of influence. Take the great leaders, their circle of influence is really big. The biggest, I might venture to say is that of Jesus. His circle of influence is virtually the whole Christian world. Meaning to say, his thought can influence every one who surrenders to him and reside within his circle of influence. Similarly of the Great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Buddha, and many others.

Swamiji really helps only those who surrender to enter that circle of influence. If you just ask for his help without surrendering, it is of no use and Swamiji will not be able to help you. If you do not enter the circle of influence – he will not be able to influence your destiny. There fore you face the consequences of your actions (of not surrendering)- so to speak “swayamkritha aparatham”. Moreover, in most cases, Swamiji uses the subject himself to be cause of change by influencing his/her actions thereby changing their destiny.

To be more practical, Swamiji, gives you advice on how to act and then promises divine intervention. Only by acceding to his thought and acting upon them, his influence on you will remain. Thereby rid of the trouble you are facing. Those who do not accept his advices and ignoring them, put themselves outside his circle of influence. Thereby there can be no change in the situation.

One of the reasons we do not enter Swamiji’s circle of influence is that we hold a certain amount of doubt about him or that we are not in total agreement with his thoughts. In most cases we are selective in taking heed to his advices. We ignore some by putting our own thoughts to the foreground. As a result we are not total in our surrendrance to his circle of influence thereby have to face the consequences.

Visions

Jai Ma

It was a wonderful day on 26th April, when at the usual Satsang, something divine and poignant happened.

To aid in concentration and help meditate, I started focussing on the photo of Periya Swamiji, His Holiness Swami Sri Vidya Dos. Just as I was reciting the Guru Mantra, i suddenly was overcome by a nice vibration and saw that instead of Periya Swamiji's face, I could see a face of Ramakrishna Paramahamsar. During this period my vision was very focussed and the whole field of vision was blank and covered by a green tint. Only the photo of Swamiji remained in my vision. I could feel how Arjuna saw only the eye of the Bird. This was the first time that I had such a single minded concentration.

Surprised as I was, I immediately mentally venerated to Sri Ramakrishnar. While this was done, the image slowly dissolved in the green tint. Again, another face emerged out of the tint, and I was able to recognise the face of Sri Ramanar. I was indeed awed. I again paid my mental obeisance. Slowly, like a slide show, I could see a stream of faces of great spiritual leaders. Each appearing and upon a mental veneration slowly fading away. It was like a parade. I could see, Swami Vivekananda, Sri Adi Shankara, Sri Bharathi Theertha Maha Swamigal of Sringeri and Sri Jayendrar of Kanchi, Sri Vijayendrar of Kanchi, Kundrakudi Adigalar, Aurobindo, Sri Trichy Swamigal of Mysore, and a host of faces in Sanyasi attire whom I could not recognise. More to my surprise, I saw Mother Teresa. That was a profound moment. Tears started to flow from my eyes. I also saw, Sri Yogi Ram Surat Kumar, Mata Amritanandamayi, Sri Jaggi Vasudev, Shridi Sai Baba. I even saw Guru Nanak, Guru Hargobind Singh. I could not recognise a few muslim saints.

Overall, it was a wonderful moment. I could feel that everyone blessed me with that vision.

After the satsang, I sat thinking about what happened.

The first thoughts were that I just realised that all the above great souls were giving the teachings and blessings through Periya Swamiji who acted through My Venerable Guru, Swamiji, Swami Sri Gomathi Dos.

So I could see my Guru as the one who could provide me with the whole summation of all divine teachings. I need not seek for anything beyond what my Guru teaches me. What I need to know - is taught by my Guru. What I deserve to know is imparted promptly by my Guru.

I once again prostrated to Swamiji mentally and made a resolution once again to totally surrender and dedicate myself to his lotus feet. I also thanked him mentally for having bestowed on me such a vision.

Jai Ma.

Mantra is energy.

Mantra is energy. It can be used for good or for evil, depending on the intention of the person using it, but the energy itself is neutral. If you recite mantra for your own sake, it will help only you, if you will pray for others, it will help both you and the other party, if you recite to harm someone, the mantra will harm you as well. Be responsible, it is a power tool.

The mantras came from Indian spiritual tradition. Mantra is the essence of the God and each mantra calls upon a certain aspect of him, known by a different name. According to all new and ancient science every thing in Universe is nothing but a field of vibration with different rates of intensity. We are all different because we vibrate at different rates. Any force, or god is also can be represented by a vibration with specific formula, that is mantra. Therefore, mantras of each God connects us directly to this source of energy, and to a corresponding aspect within us, helping to activate and empower it. Anything or anybody in the world can be affected and changed by a vibration, this is mantras work: reciting mantras creates a vibration that affect you and those you target.

Nature of Atman

Drops of rain when they condense in the clouds are colourless and odourless. But upon landing on this land, they take up the colour appropriate to the place of landing. If it has landed in the red sand, it takes a red colour, if it lands in clay soil it takes a blackish colour. The drop that lands in the sea tastes salty, and that which landed in the gutter gets a displeasing stench. But take that drop of water and boil it and once it evaporates it leaves the characteristics it took on while here and vapourises to become pure water vapour which when condensed forms pure water. Similarly, we began from Paramathma, and upon taking this birth imbibe the characteristics and become impure. To become pure and to realize the Paramathma, we must undergo severe tests and hope to loose the acquired colour and odour. By constant Sadhana, we have to get rid of the impurities accumulated in this birth and become one with Paramathma again.

Guru Mahima

Guru mahima. Swamiji yesterday narrated a story of the parrot. How to understand the directions of a Guru. Also illustrating the subtle guidance shown by a Guru.

There was this Guru and his sishya. Everyday the sishya goes around town taking Biksha and then brings back what he gets and shares it with his Guru. One day when he was at a big house, he saw a Parrot in a Cage just at the entrance of a Big house. He found out that the Bird could speak. Immediately as the Parrot spoke, he entered into a conversation and informed the parrot that he was here in that town along with his beloved and great Guru. Upon hearing this, the parrot directed the sishya to ask one question to his Guru. That was, “When will I escape from this prison of mine”? The Sishya too said ok and after receiving Biksha returned to the Gurukul and narrated the incident to the Guru. The moment, the Guru heard the Question, he went into a big fit of paralysis and immediately lay unconscious. The sishya then frantically tried to revive him, which he succeeded in an hour or so. This upset the Sishya. He became angry at the parrot for putting such a question to his Guru and endangering him. He wowed that he would never speak to a parrot again. The next day, when the sishya again went to the house for Biksha, the parrot started to speak to him. But the Sishya did not even venture a reply. But the parrot kept on insisting. At one point of time, the sishya lost his cool and started yelling at the parrot. Saying because of the parrot, yesterday, his Guru’s life was put in danger and narrated whatever happened at the Gurukulam to the parrot. And it was foolish for him to have acted at the behest of a lowly parrot. Immediately the parrot went into a fit of paralysis. Stunning the sishya, who called nearby for help. When the owner of the house came out and saw the parrot unconscious, he asked the sishya what happened? To which, the sishya replied that he was talking to the parrot and suddenly it went into a fit of paralysis and fainted. The owner took the bird out of the cage to inspect the bird. As soon as the bird saw an opportunity, it immediately took wings and said to the sishya to thank the Guru. For through him he had given the parrot a wonderful teaching on how to escape.

Thus, in mysterious ways, the Guru acts. His actions seemingly innocent, but carry a wealth of knowledge.

Compassion

It is said, “He who has drops of compassion (karuna) is Human and he who hasn’t is no better than an animal”. Just a few drops are enough to qualify to be human (Nenjil Eeram irundhal manidhan). But our Guru - Swami Sri Gomathi Dos is one who has the Ganges flowing in his heart incessantly. He is ever compassionate.

By taking our place in his heart – we will be cleansed by his karuna. Just like a bath in the Ganges.

He is so filled with compassion that he can fulfill everyone who comes to his fold.

But during our daily interactions with Swamiji, we find that many a time he scolds one among us, he acts irritated and he is angry. Many a time, I have been at the receiving end of his tirade. Does that mean that he shows different Karuna to different people or different Karuna at different times? How are we to take this in our stride?

I can only think that I am blessed to be the object of his scolding. Because he only scolds those who can take it. He only scolds those whom he loves and likes. He only scolds those who will learn from his words. He only scolds those who respect him for his true opinion. More importantly he never scolds without reason.

But isn’t it oxymoronic that he scolds whom he loves?

Well, our Guru is a person, whose Karuna knows no bounds. He can love incessantly. He can love blindly. He can love everybody. But to what effect? What good will come out of loving somebody who doesn’t deserve it? For all we know, such blind love has often gone unrecognized. The receiver neither realizes nor recognizes that he has been loved – that too undeservedly. Therefore it becomes necessary to love those who only deserve it.

Taking this further – Do we deserve his love?

I say no – we don’t deserve an iota of his love. Surprised? Well, that is the truth!

Why, you may ask? Well, because we are not perfect!

So whenever we are with Swamiji, out of his karuna he endeavours to make us better.

Most of us come to Swamiji with a host of problems. If we were to be rid to the problem by the mere sight of him, then we will keep returning to him with the same problem.

Whereas our Guru is such a person that he goes to the root of the problem and remedies it by whatever means required. Resorting to either Sama, Bedha, Dhana, or Dhandam.

It is our naïve rosy wish that whenever we come to him, he will be ever loving and show his unbounded Karuna and bless us that we be relieved of our problem. Believe me, it will be solved. Unfortunately, because we – the imperfect ones – are the root of the problem, we face the same problem again and again we come to Swamiji with the same problem. Does that help you? Has his Karuna really helped you? I would think not.

That is why when he takes recourse to what is the root of the problem and even resorts to Dhana or Dhandam, it doesn’t mean that he is being less compassionate. Or he is not showing his Karuna. Infact it is the opposite. The more he advices, the more he loves you. That his way of showing his Karuna. He cannot show less Karuna, for the Ganges of Karuna in his heart never runs dry. And like the Ganges, he doesn't see distinction of place, time, or person - he cleanses - whoever it is.

If you are at the receiving end of his tirades, you only have to understand it that he is being a Mother. A mother who feeds her child bitter medicines that the child may grow strong. A mother who despises to give bitter medicines, but does it for the betterment of the child. Like that mother, our Guru gives us bitter medicines – albeit reluctantly, but unfortunately, we like a child are adamant and spit it out and make a commotion out of it, even criticizing the medicine.

We as disciples should take that medicine without commotion. In whatever way it is given and follow His instructions to the letter. In that way, we can repay his Karuna by becoming closer to perfection.

Most of the people who come to meet Swamiji, come with Fruits, Betel Leaves, Flowers and a Dakshina. And they expect his Karuna in return. Are they trying to buy his love? Are they trying to bribe him to show his Karuna? Are they buying his Karuna? Well, I don’t think it will work. Unless we really bribe him with real love – he will not give us his Karuna. Our Guru is no astrologer who predicts the future for a fee. He is no soothsayer who tells your fortune for a fee. The only fee our Guru expects is Love. Love of the Divine. Love towards Ma. And She through her unbounded Karuna, through our Guru will bless you with Goodness.