Sattva suddhi

The more one enters the zone of Sattva, the clearer the sweet fragrance within can be felt! Getting started is difficult further away but getting it perfect is easy. On the other hand, closer to it, getting started is trivial but getting it perfect is harder! Patanjali says, hitting the point of sattva suddhi (pure sattva), one obtains a constant pleasant disposition, finds it easy to focus, conquers ones senses and eventually becomes eligible to witness ones soul!

Commonly, people do not see the depth of the zone of sattva, hence it might appear to be boring and lifeless. In addition, the common misconception that one end alone can be achieved without its paired opposite on that level provides the energy to continuously struggle to obtain the preferred end! Seeing this clearly helps develop the internal acceptance that being in the zone of sattva is more important that being in the commonly preferred zone. This indeed is the first step in Yoga!

Conversation between Paul Brunton and Kanchi Acharya

A section from an interview of Kanchi acharya (Sri Chandrashekhara Saraswathi) with Paul Brunton in Jan 1931. Caught my eye and hence sharing it :)

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Q: If I do not get any results from my personal efforts, will you help me?
A: I am a head of a public institution. Most of my time from dawn to night is spent in the official duties of this institution. Hence, you have to go in search of a Guru who can spend time with you.

Q: I am told that it is very hard to find a real / true Acharya. It is especially difficult for a European to meet such an Acharya?
A: There are true Acharyas in this world and it is possible to meet them.

Q: Then, can you send me to a true Acharya?
A: I know of two such Acharyas. One of them is living in a dense forest in the southern part of this country, but in silence. Very few people can see him and no European has ever seen him so far. I could send you to him, but he might refuse to see you.

Q: I am eager to know about the other person. Who is he?
A: The other person lives in the country. He is jnani and you can seek him.

Q: Can I obtain more information about him?
A: He is called ‘Maharishi’. He lives in the place called Thiruvannamalai situated in the North Arcot district. If necessary, I will give you details to reach him.

Q: I am very much obligated to you. Another person has come to see me from the same place. I have pulled you away for a long time from your numerous and important official duties. Please excuse me for that. Please give me leave.
A: Yes. I presume that you will definitely go to Thiruvannamalai.

Q: I was planning to complete my South India tour today and had already made arrangements to leave tomorrow. What can I do in this situation?
A: You can decide to change your arrangements and leave South India after meeting with Maharishi. Do not worry. Your desires will be fulfilled.

Medicine

மருந்தாகும் உடல்பிணி நீக்குபவை சிரியோர்க்கு,
மருந்தாகும் அழுக்காறு நீக்குபவை சற்றே உயர்ந்தோர்க்கு,
மற்றொருவகை மனிதருண்டாம், அவர்க்கு,
மருந்தாகுமாம் மரணமெனும் மாபிணி நீக்குபவையே!

Medicine is that which relieves bodily disease for the immature,
Medicine is that which relieves mental impurities for the slightly mature,
But, there exists another kind of human, for whom,
Medicine is that which relieves the greatest disease called death!

Yoga under Vishishtadvaita

Santa at office

Surprise gift for everyone at office! Benefactor unknown!

Rebirth

PS (pre-script): All of this is reductionist, meaning an approximation!

1. A leaf that lives as the physical form of the leaf only, sees birth and death.
2. A leaf that lives as more than the physical form of the leaf (emergent realities at various levels) sees birth, death and rebirth.
3. A leaf that lives as the tree, sees no birth, no death!

Interestingly, for everyone, all three are true. The degree to which each of this is present varies with individuals. One can modify the proportions to be in alignment with ones deepest desire(s)!

No proportion is 'greater' than another proportion. But, from the perspective of the leaf, if 3 dominates, there will be less suffering for itself and ones in contact with it. This implies, in my opinion, a moral case can be made for desired proportions of the three (as in good to have more 3 than 2 and more 2 than 1) :)

PS (post-script): Give or take some linguistic gymnastics :)

மாணிக்க வாசகம்

"யானுனை தொடர்ந்து சிக்கென பிடித்தேன் எங்கெழுந்து அருளுவது இனியே!" - மாணிக்கவாசகர்

"I've followed you and have gotten hold of you! Where can you go henceforth?" - Manikkavasagar

Varan varan poochandi

Most frequently played song in my house :)
கொல்லி மலை தாண்டி
கொடகு மலை தாண்டி
காத்தா வருவாண்டி
கருப்பா வருவாண்டி
வேசம் கலைபாண்டி
விரதம் முடிபாண்டி
காரிய கூத்தாடி
காரிய கூத்தாடி

Bob to Babu

சித்துவின் நண்பனாக செர்மனியிளிருந்து வந்திறங்கினார் பாப் அவர்கள்!
பாட்டியின் வாயில் இவரது பெயர் நுழையாததால் பாபு என இவரது பெயர் மாற்றப்படுகிறது!

Siddhu's friend Bob from Germany! Since grandma is unable to pronounce his name, he has been renamed Babu! :)

Amazing ants

Open biscuit packet inside a bag - hanging from a small protrusion in corner of the bed such that bag touches a wall. Ants from outside the house found the same! They had to travel at least 20 meters and had to negotiate turns, tables, and junk stuff along the way! The animal world never ceases to amaze me! Watched this video again for the umpteenth time!

Spark and droplet

A spark is none other than the blaze!
A droplet, though, is at the service of the ocean!

அனர்க்கூறும் பெரும் அனலும் ஒப்பாம்
நீர்த்துளியோ பெருங்கடலின் சேவகனாம்!

சுத்த பிரம்மனின் நாமம்

ஆனந்தத்தாலும் அல்லாமல்
துயரத்தாலும் இல்லாமல்
கண்ணீர் வழிகின்றதே!
உன் நாமம் கேட்கையில், என்ன இது?
கோபால பாலனும்
உன் வடிவாய் திகழ்கின்றானே!
சுத்த பிரம்மனே, என்ன விந்தை இது?

துளசீதாசரே

என்ன தவம் செய்தீரோ துளசீதாசரே!
தெய்வீக பாடலை இயற்றிட அருள் பெற்றீரே!
அதில் சொட்டளவு மட்டும் நான் பெற்றால்
அரை வரியில் ரகுநாதனை போற்றினால்
ஜென்ம ஜென்மங்களின் ஏக்கங்கள் தீர்ந்திடுமே!

Aparigraha and Escape Velcoity

What is the connection between Aparigraha and escape velocity?

சாதனை பிறக்கும்

மேலே சென்று அங்கே இருந்தால்,

மணம் நீங்கி வாழ்வே சவமாகும்!

சிவமதை கண்டுவிட்டு கீழே வந்தால்

இன்றும் என்றும் புவி செழிக்கும்!

செய்தும் இல்லை என பொய்மொழிந்தால்,

அவர்கள் செயல்கள் புரி வதில்லையோ?

வாழ்வே தவமென இதயம் ஆனால்,

தீவினை ஒழிய சாதனை பிறக்கும்!

உன் வீடா?

வாவென அவள் அழைத்ததும்,
உன் வீடென நினைத்தாயோ,
அறியா பேதையே! என
நகைத்தான் அவன்!

நிலவு vs நிலவு

கையில் கால் முளைத்த நிலவு
தலையை நிமிர்த்தி பார்க்க,
வானில் முக்கால் வளர்ந்த நிலவு
நாணி முகிலின் பின் ஒழிகின்றதே!
அடடா ஆச்சரிய குறி!

Badrinath and Kedarnath

On the way up, we first go to Badrinath and then to Kedarnath. Kedarnath is difficult to reach. On the way down we leave behind Kedarnath and carry the fragrance of Badrinath with us.

His Name

Countless techniques of Yoga
did I try over many ages
But, in the end
Or may be,
right from the beginning
All that was needed
was to here thy name
all but once
in deep silence!
May be, just may be,
all those techniques
were preparatory!

What did I know of love's austere and lonely offices?

Speaking indifferently to him,
who had driven out the cold
and polished my good shoes as well,
What did I know, what did I know
of love's austere and lonely offices?

-- from the poem 'Those Winter Sundays' by Robert Hayden
-- beautifully expresses a sons regret at not thanking his dad enough!

We had tired of confusion - a poem by Roger Lipsey

We had tired of confusion, stupidity, and evil
And so we climbed the mountain to see
From a great height, through clearest air,
The grand design. We saw the abstract
Of experience: the sacred algorithm
That shakes itself into ten thousand forms and lives,
Sets the swarm in motion though it is simple in itself,
Even slightly naive.

We were dazzled. But my wife was soon uneasy.
'I miss little things,' she said. 'I can’t see threads or bugs
Or harmless errors. I can’t see second tries.
Can we go down the mountain just a bit?

And so we turned from the source
And descended to a col at middle height
Where the view was narrower but scarcely less grand.
To our surprise we heard voices, wing beats,
Newborns wailing, leaves unfolding from moist stems,
Footsteps, breaths... And conspiracy, bloodshed, folly.
Light and dark mix there: the sacred algorithm hesitates,
Shivers like a doubting creature, and resumes its faithful plunge.

We were dazzled. But my wife was uneasy.
'I hear our niece weeping,' she said. 'We must go to her.'
And so we left the mountain and dined that evening
With our niece, who needed only kindness to smile again.
But I could not free myself from longing to return to the heights:
Like the faint scent of incense after a ceremony,
Memories of our expedition hung in the air. Until one day:

'Look,' she said - and held up to the light a tiny object.
'I found it this morning when I was planting green peas!'
It was a perfect replica of the sacred algorithm,
Pulsing with milky light, slightly naive, entirely blessed.
'Shall we plant it?'

Tapas

न उत्तरदायक जीवनस्य परन्तपः
प्राणायाम उप तपः

Living life responsibly is the highest form of tapas (process of cleansing oneself of impurities)!
Pranayama is a secondary form of tapas to assist the same!

Differential calculus vs Politics

Q: What portfolio will you take up when we obtain swaraj? Will you be prime minister or foreign minister?

A: Under swaraj, Ill become a professor of mathematics and retire from political life. I detest politics. I still wish to write a book on differential calculus. The country is in a very bad way and I am compelled to take part in politics!

Life beyond schooling and jobs

Life beyond

This is a hour long lecture by Prof Devdas Menon (Prof, Structural Engg, IIT Madras) on discovering ones life purpose and letting the inner seed flower to its fullest extent. The lecture is based on the speakers personal quest. He also supports it by drawing ideas from modern research in psychology & ancient wisdom from many traditions.

Though the context of the lecture is decided by the audience - 20 yr olds studying BE in IIT, I feel most of these ideas lend themselves to be adapted by everyone of us in varying contexts in our lives.

Please spend an hour watching this and reflecting upon the same!

ஆசை ஒழிய அருள்

ஆசையென்னும் இம்சை
இன்றே ஒழிய
நன்றே நீரே
அருள் பொழியாயோ!

Awareness, the master!

Sharp vessel
sudden cut
blood oozes
mind races!

Practice works
awareness watches
mind settles
blood oozes!

Blood oozes
blood flows
blood drips
red floor!

Awareness watches
awareness awareness
flow slows
flow stops


Rain arrives
life flows
master watches
awareness master!

Core & Elective!

A heart at peace and a heart full of responsibility go hand in hand! Not for nothing Hinduism has the image of Narayana - eternally at rest and totally responsible for the well being of all of creation! Discovering a state of being where ones heart is completely at peace and filled to the brim with responsibility is the core module of life's education. All else is elective!

Spirits Irrebellious

Full moon
clothed in orange
almost shy,
hiding behind clouds
rises, in effortless elegance,
from the sea below,
dry and untouched
by those furious waves!

Few eyes
care to notice,
despite its beautiful juxtaposition
by the side of
a dilapidated white building
on a wide beach
filled with people
entirely wet; touched by
the ravages of time!

This immensity
is capable and willing
to edge every heart
into that eternity,
which is not entangled,
in the causal web,
that emerges
from that spider
also known as time!

Sleep walkers,
caught in
imaginary & transitory parts
of the great unseen web all around,
are oblivious,
to the orange disc in the sky,
and that all pervading one!

And sadly,
neither are the rebellious!
for space in the heart
to hold all pairs of opposites
is essential
to set one free!
to notice the Orange moon!

Raw energy,
bountifully they possess;
the rebellious.
but is directed outward!
they notice the full moon
occasionally, for sure!
But, end up,
like the little blue beetle
which by its very struggle
gets caught deeper in the web!

Meaningful rebellion,
eliminates all
illusory self/world views!
leads to the discovery,
of that secret ocean within -
the seat of the non-dual turtle,
the wellspring of ceaseless energy!

On contact,
waters the inner seed
which arises gloriously,
like the orange moon,
dry and untouched
by furious thought waves,
that is merely the surface
of a far far deeper reality!
Spirits Irrebellious!

Tagore to Gandhi

What power, is there in this world to rob
me of my freedom? For do not thy arms reach
the captive through the dungeon-walls bringing
unfettered release to the soul?
And must I cling to this body in fear of
death, as a miser to his barren treasure?
Has not this spirit of mine the eternal call
to the feast of everlasting life?
Let me know that all pain and death are
shadows of the moment; that the dark force
which sweeps between me and thy truth is but the
mist before the sunrise; that thou alone art
mine forever

-- Tagore (in a letter to Gandhi)

கோபாலன்

தேன் இனிது
தேன் சிந்தும் இதழ் இனிது என்பர்
எதனினும் பேரினிதான
உன் யாழிசை கேளாதார்

உன் குழல் அழைத்த நொடியிலுருந்து
உன் நிழல் தரும் அமைதி தேடி
உன் பின் கோகளாய் வந்தோம்

உயிர்கொண்டும் உயிரற்றிருக்கும் அனைத்தையும்
தன்னுள் வைத்து வழி நடத்தி
பாலனம் செய்யும் கோபாலா!

Between sky and eye

Perfect winter evening,
a wood pecker slowly hops up
a long and barren coconut tree
sandwiched between
dark skies pregnant with water and
awake eyes pregnant with gratitude!

His smile

Thinkers contemplate

ending psychological time

He smiles and it stops

Proper self-actualization - Why Steve Jobs and Dhirubai Ambani are not my role models

Corporate bigwigs and extraordinarily rich people tend to be the prominent role models for most people. It is indeed a sign of a society headed in an unhealthy direction that such people are the most popular role models. We are trained to look up to these people and salivate at their success stories from childhood. This is not to find fault with their lives. They lived their lives in ways that suited them and made money / fame for themselves. As long as their means is sanctioned by the law, one cannot (at least legally) accuse them of any wrongdoing. At best, one can attempt to change the law, if one deems it immoral (I personally believe, there are many such laws that these tremendously successful people employ in their quest for personal glory). The issue here is with regards the adulating millions.

Our adulation of successful people comes from our own perceived inadequacies of our life. Life long training of most of us to go behind success naturally creates celebrities in the society whose life one looks up to. Of course being a popular rich person in the society is not wrong - someone or the other will have to be in that situation. But it needs a particularly insensitive mind to exploit a pathetic, moralless and downright cruel system to make millions for oneself, and that too without any global vision for the betterment of humanity. Without the sweatshops around the world, without supporting violent regimes that allow extraction of crucial raw materials at tremendous human cost (particularly that of the weak and marginalized ones of the world) and without being tremendously unsustainable environmentally, many accomplishments of these businessmen would not have been possible. It is one thing to be a part of these systems without knowledge and/or without choice and another to exploit these systems to the hilt to accomplish what one wants. It is important to see an individuals accomplishments in the global context of how their work has lead to the empowerment of humanity before lavishing praise on them. It is at best silly and at worst donwright cruel towards the workers whose lives were sacrificed for the sake of the success of some of these businessmen.

On the technology front, people like Richard Stallman, founder of Free Software Foundation, Linus Torvalds (initiated the development of Linux OS) and Julian Assange (founder of Wikileaks) are more inspiring role models to me than folks like Steve Jobs. Not that lives of Stallman, Torvalds or Assange are impeccable. I am sure if we dig sufficiently deeply, we may be able to find the darkness in their lives too. But, at least, they had deliberately directed some part of their work towards empowerment of humanity - the right use of technology. Technology used otherwise (for purposes of titillation) only puts new toys into our hands. If Jobs has been less of a hawkish businessman, I would have been happier. All his works were packaged within aggressive capitalism. Nothing too special, in my opinion!

These successful people often give stirring speeches on how to stay hungry and how to go behind what one dreams (which many of us keep repeating all the time). In other words, the relentless quest for self-actualization. Self-actualization is indeed wonderful but it needs to be done correctly. The perfect self-actualization comes about in a life that listens to its inner voice, uses all the skills at its disposal and propels one life using truth and directs the self-actualization by how it adds real value to the world. I do not see this being manifested in the lives of many successful businessmen. Unfortunately capitalism (almost) does not permit this and many evidently highly skilled people end up wasting their talent on its treadmills. Can we as a society awaken to this and set up systems and institutions wherein the fabulous talent of people like Dhirubai Ambani and Steve Jobs are channelized in the right direction? Unless, all of us, as a society, organize to allow the proper flowering of every individuals inner seed, there is bound to be tremendous conflict in our society. Many selfish agents working in the same field trying to maximize ones own benefit is a recipe for disaster. Horrible poverty and nauseating opulence will exist side by side. The strain of this duality cannot last forever. Akin to an overcharged capacitor breaking down without being able to bear the potential difference on its two plates, society will crumble with the weight of this duality.

What, as an individual, are you going to do about it? What would be your unique and creative response to the same?

PS: Death of a loved one is indeed painful to friends and relatives. My support to his mourning near and dear ones. At least his pain from a debilitating cancer has come to an end. RIP Steve Jobs!

Who were Nero's guests?

Tacitus, the historian, claims Nero organized a party after the 'Great Fire of Rome' to eliminate rumors that he caused the fire. Apparently, many 'criminals' and 'slaves' were burned to provide light for the party. Who were Nero's guests? Is the party still going on? Are Nero's guests still around?

Poverty kills!

Mute calves from Warhad are we

watching the plunder of mothers milk

Drenching earth drop by drop

with our sweat

yielding pearls

yet our babies in hunger fret!

Cotton crop watered by out sweat

knotting 17 tears on our clothes

We farm with our sweat

on the pyre our bodies will only half burn

no money to buy the wood!

Reins of our lives always in the hands of others

While grinding flour

the floors will stain with out blood!

-- Late Shri Krishna Kalamb, farmer poet

Hungry bony boy

Hungry bony boy

begs his mama for food.

Mama, teary eyed

points to the sun glowing red

Then, give me that bread now

I havent eaten since night

stomach is growling

Let this hot bread cool down son

So far, yet so scorching

it may blister your mouth!

The hot sun journey

and dipped behind the mountain

And waiting for his bread,

bony boy went to sleep hungry again!

-- Late Shri Krishna Kalamb, farmer poet

Poem by a late farmer poet

Different I am

so unusual my life

my death too, will surprise you

like untimely rain.

Fond of poetry

I exist like the cotton crop

its root sweet

alike the hard stem of sugarcane

Of my death, they will say

how it hangs

like decorations on door frames

-- Late Shri Krishna Kalamb, farmer poet

Hora incerta, mors certa

Hora incerta, mors certa

Image from here - http://www.oxherding.com/my_weblog/2011/09/yellowstone-4.html

Looks like a day!

நாளென ஒன்றுபோற் காட்டி உயிர் ஈரும்

வாளது உணர்வார்ப் பெறின்!

It looks like a day but the wise realize it to be a

sword that cuts through one life!

Beyond likes & dislikes

வேண்டுதல் வேண்டாமை இலானடி சேர்ந்தார்க்கு

யாண்டும் இடும்பை இல!

Those who live in the space within that is beyond likes and dislikes,

do not suffer!

Children are usually in the pre-conventional stage. Adults are in the conventional stage to varying degrees (some are in the pre-conventional stage too). As one evolves, one enters the post-conventional. Of course, this a continuum and the boundaries are arbitrary. But, when one is desirous of moving in this direction, one would only be happy to set the stiffest of standards for oneself in this regard!

Melencolia

தனக்குவமை இல்லாதான் தாள்சேர்ந்தார்க் கல்லால்

மனக்கவலை மாற்றல் அரிது!

Unless one discovers within one that which has no equals or opposites, its next to impossible to stay free of mental worries!

What is it within you that has no opposites or equals?

முதற்பத்து குறள்கள்

முதற்பத்து குறள்கள் படித்து உணர்ந்தவர்க்

கில்லை யோகத்தின் தேவை!

Live like prana!

Prana flows into us and maintains our health and vitality. But, we can successfully thwart it in many ways, for e.g., by eating unhealthy stuff and thereby inviting digestive issues. But, the moment prana can break through, it will flow in and restore health. This behavior is exactly like the flow of water. This indeed is our essential nature - that of prana. Through the entirety of our lives, can we engage with the world in this fashion? That is, to actively construct a life through which we contribute to the joy and beauty of the world, and in every situation that happens therein, do the best possible and show no anger or frustration when prevented from doing so. Even when one is thwarted continuously, can we watch out with immense poise for the first signs of a break through?

Third eye

When the third eye opens, its light that should come out. Fire should be held within and the light should be let out. Only when the body / mind are not perfected, does fire come out!

Pyrrhic victories

Victories in zero sum games are always Pyrrhic victories!

கொடிது கொடிது

கொடிது கொடிது வறுமை கொடிது
அதனினும் கொடிது இளமையில் வறுமை!

கொடிது கொடிது அஞ்ஞானம் கொடிது
அதனினும் கொடிது முதுமையில் அஞ்ஞானம்!

HRV & Spectral Power Density Function

With a desire to transform ones life and with proper breath training, the moment to moment heart rate curve can be transformed from a haphazard curve to a proper sine curve. The spectral power density function indicates the internal focus on ones life's goals. Without this spiritual development, there is hardly any internal focus as there are way too many conflicting desires. But with proper spiritual development and breathing practice, the spectral power density function shows a proper single spike around the value 0.2, indicating that conflicting desires have been eliminated and that the individual is perfectly in touch with hir inner seed!

Heart Rate Variability

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) measures the heart rate on a moment to moment basis i.e. the inverse of the duration between two heart beats. When an individual is peaceful and experiences positive emotions, the curve is a nice sine wave. Otherwise, it is a haphazard curve. As we grow spiritually (aka as we drop various facets of our ego), the curve becomes continuously better at all times (even under emotionally demanding circumstances). The higher the amplitude of the sine wave, the more our lives feel fulfilled and the more we have the ability to take 'shit' in our lives. Thus, we give increasingly skilfully responses to increasingly demanding situations in our lives!

ஆறுமுகம்

ஆறுமுகம் ஆன பொருள் நீ அருள வேண்டும்!

Tataḥ dvandvāḥ anabhighātaḥ

"Tataḥ dvandvāḥ anabhighātaḥ", says Patanjali. There is immense depravity all around. Are we even troubled by these? Only when our hearts are troubled by all the nonsense around, will we be triggered from within to construct a life that is a creative and effective response to the darkness around. Then, we also recognize that reality is eternally peaceful. But, simultaneously, everything is a mess. By being troubled by this duality sincerely and by providing it an effective response, we transcend them! The perfect evolutionary challenge! Says Patanjali, "When the right effort ceases, one is no more troubled by dualities!"

எதை தேடுகிறீர்கள்

ஆணிகொண்டு மேனியை தைத்தவரையும்
அன்புகொண்டு மன்னித்தருளியவரின்
என்றும் குன்றா ஒளி உள்ளிருக்கையில்
ஆலயங்களில் எதை தேடுகிறீர்கள்
எனதருமை அன்பர்களே?

இறை-இரை

ஊனின் இறை இரை
ஆன்மாவின் இரை இறை
ஆன்மாவின் உறை அகன்றால்
இரையும் இறையாகும்!

Maitri adishu balani

‎"Maitri adishu balani", says Patanjali! Environmental catastrophe, wars, poverty, emptiness, depression, loss of sensitivity, violence on animals etc etc. The list of atrocities our civilization is entertaining is endless. No individual's actions are sufficient to change them. But, every individuals heart can be moved by this! When that happens, the individual constructs a life that is a creative response to all of this. The life that is so moved is based on compassion, friendliness and happiness at anothers fortune. This is exactly what Patanjali says as that which would give an individual the strength to cut through the infinite fears and desires of the ego and accomplish union with the divine within. The essence of karma yoga!

Inner and outer garbage

Every piece of waste we produce goes to places like these - every chocolate wrapper, every piece of packing material in every single purchase of ours, the waste produced in the manufacturing process of things we consume (which is manifold than the end waste coming after consumer usage) etc etc. Typically the garbage dumps are located near the residences of the extremely poor and the socially marginalized. The air and water in the nearby areas are often critically polluted causing countless diseases to those who are already marginalized and poor. What then is the responsibility of each individual? What do we do about our actions that cause the production of this garbage that goes to places like this, the Kodungaiyur garbage dump in Chennai? Why have our lifestyles become so extraordinarily wasteful and destructive? Why is it acceptable for the rich nations to export their waste (from kitchen waste to nuclear waste) to poorer nations? Even within poorer nations why is it acceptable to have such inequalities? Isnt this external garbage a reflection of the internal garbage?

Saranagathi

Saranagathi or surrender has (almost) nothing to do with rituals and prayers. Instead it implies a sincere commitment of refusing to take the side of ones ego at every point in ones life. Beyond the ego, lies the door to the divine. By, refusing to mollycoddle ones ego, we directly arrive at the door of the divine. This is a deceptively simple route. The ways of the ego or the sense of the limited self are extremely subtle. This can only be overcome with sincerity! Refusing to take the side of the ego does not imply destroying oneself, it simply means adhering to what is right at every point in ones life - in every argument we have, in every decision we make, in our life styles, in our choice of work / principle activity of our lives, in our choice of places where we put our money, in our vision for the society, in our response to varying forms of violence all around us etc. This will naturally lead to an extremely purposeful life filled with love and compassion! When one is able to effortlessly adhere to what is right instead of the preference of the ego, one can effortlessly see the truth that acaryas such as Ramanuja have been trying to elucidate for many millennia!

Inner stillness like a mountain

When ones body acquires the ability to let matter through, no one can ever hit us. Even if someone attempts to hit us, it will go through and hence after a few attempts, they will be astounded and will stop. Basic laws of physics preclude this from happening. But, except our own ego, nothing can prevent this from happening to our mind. When we absolutely refuse to react internally to any offense or abuse, the abuser will have to stop sooner than later. Typically the abuser feeds on our reaction. When that stops due to our cultivation of inner stillness, the pointlessness of the aggressors actions will dawn on hir and they will stop. For, this one needs to cultivate inner stillness - inner stillness like that of a mountain! Perfect external poise will emerge from that stillness and we will be able to provide increasingly skillful responses to all situations!

Saint and Child

The two ways of being that are most beautiful are that of the innocent child and the wise saint! Interestingly, they are realized simultaneously!

Arriving at the Truth

When we drop the need to be heard, seen as correct, justified etc in an argument, we arrive at the truth. When we have lost all such need with respect to any argument with anyone under any circumstance, we would have arrived at the TRUTH! Surely, truth is arrived at only in this fashion - by dropping the darkness within and not by proactively seeking the truth (which is simply impossible). Surely, in this regard, the more we give, the more we receive!

Guru seeking out sincere disciples

I hear often from many gurus that it is the student who needs to go to the guru and that too with devotion. That does not seem quite right. The guru is just a wall but a wall on which divine light is being reflected. It is important to get the seeker of spiritual wisdom to focus on the light and not on the wall. By insisting on devotion, the focus is turned to the wall. In addition, it is tremendously important to the society that we have many people deeply established in spiritual wisdom. When such is the case, it is wonderful if the guru seeks out the sincere seeker! Ramanujacharya famously shouted the sacred words from temple top despite being warned of dire consequences by his guru!

Work time

Baboons in a forest spend about 3 hrs a day to make their living! How much do we spend?

Rituals?

How long will we be literally following rituals? Does it not make us really stupid? This jain example of removing every strand of hair in the head manually is a case in point. What it really stands for is that we need to remove every impurity that covers the state of purity within - every single unresolved emotional conflict, every single fear, every single desire, every single aspect of the ego etc. To do that, one needs to go deep within, discover the state of purity within and be committed to be established in the same. Once that is done, it is up to the individual to decide what to do about the ritual. But without that underlying discovery, following rituals is really naive. Of course, this is true for all belief systems, irrespective of how profound the claimed benefits of adhering to the ritual are!

Cost of selfishness

Consider a network where two units of some content needs to be transported per sec. There are different paths and each path has a cost. Now, two different paths need to be chosen. If each individual unit of content is selfish, then the first unit that gets to pick the path chooses the cheapest and the second is left with no choice. But, if the first unit makes a considerate decision, the second unit gets a much better option. In the latter case, the overall cost to the society is lower. This is a very simplistic situation with only two players. In real life, the setup is extremely complex and there are very many players. The social cost can skyrocket and can be manifold greater than the socially optimal cost when everyone is unselfish. That is mathematics, but in real life, the cost cannot keep on increasing. Factors that have not been taken into account will creep in and the entire system will collapse. That is the fate of our society as is demonstrated by the multi-dimensional environmental collapse we are heading towards. When we see this societal cost of selfishness, what does responsible living constitute?

Inner Space

Lot of people are stuck at the point of zero or very little awareness state. They are incurably obsessed with stimulus from the eternal world and their response to the same. Inner space and awareness do not matter at all to them. Some are naturally gifted with some inner space and hence are not so obsessed. But, sadly, most such people do not still consciously know about it. The presence of inner space is utilized to 'grow' in the world. Instead, if one is serious about expanding that space, there comes a point where only the inner space of awareness remains. Stimulus and response then happen in some obscure corner of that space. They become extraordinarily insignificant!

கந்தா உன் அருள்

உயிரினங்கள் ஒன்றை ஒன்று வாழ்த்திடும் பொழுது
அதன் உள்ளிருந்து வாழ்த்துவது உன் அருளன்றோ
கந்தா உன் அருளன்றோ!

Chain of responsbility

Lot of people are angry, understandably, with the TATA group for such third rate advertising! The issues at stake hardly need elucidation (Singur / Kalinga Nagar etc)! Besides the responsibility of the organization, I would like to call attention to the responsibility of the actresses who acted in this, the so called 'creative' mind that conceived this ad, the technical people behind it etc. It is true that many of the support cast may be unaware of any details of the ad. Still, they must hold themselves accountable for playing a role in producing such profanity! This is exactly similar to the way we all participate in the presence and continuance of various forms of violence in the world! We are all simultaneously pawns at the hands of the world and simultaneously the masters of the world. We are simultaneously forced to do things we may not agree with or feel is appropriate and simultaneously we are responsible for the very existence of such forces. How, then, are we going to shift from being a pawn to being the master?

Kids and ambitions

Why dont people simply want their kids to be outrageously happy and not anything else? Usually happiness is taken for granted and above and beyond that, people drive their kids to have ambitions (directly or indirectly) and thereby make it big. Sadly, that is never true. While effortless happiness and peace are natural and innate, they are not so easy to be established in for most of us. When one is successful in that, out of that happiness, need for action and the action itself will emerge. Then, the personal becoming will not be of any consequence. Action is then done purely for the sake of it.

Right and Detached Action

Two sides of the same coin! One without the other cannot exist. To claim to adhere to one without the other is mere delusion!

ஒவ்வொரு முத்தமும் தேவை கண்ணா

சில முத்தங்கள் நெற்றியில்
சில முத்தங்கள் கன்னத்தில்
சில முத்தங்கள் நக்கலாய் மாறும்
சில முத்தங்கள் கக்கலாய் மாறும்
ஆனால் ஒவ்வொரு முத்தமும் தேவை கண்ணா!

Boat on one shore

Given that a boat is well tethered to one shore, how best should one row in order to reach the other shore quickly?

Relaxed breathing

When we carry active / residual stress from events of the past or fear from events of the future in our minds, it is usually reflected in the ability to breath in a free and relaxed manner. Observe how babies breathe. Their stomach bulges out on inhale and goes back in on exhale effortlessly. This is the breathing pattern of someone with no stress whatsoever. For most adults though, this is very difficult and the most common reason being the amount of stress they carry within. When asked consciously to inhale, many people pull their stomachs in. Possible indication of stress. Developing the ability to breathe rhythmically at about 6 seconds per inhale and 6 seconds per exhale is a wonderful way to negate that residual stress in our system. That ability is also a good indicator of the mental health of the person.

Cleaning house

We share the world with all the creatures of the world. In particular, the space of our house is shared with spiders, ants etc. While it is indeed good and desirable to keep our house clean and hygienic, its way better if we apologize to the spiders and the ants when we destroy their hard built residences. These days, sadly, we hit all these insects with poison in the name of cleanliness. When are we going to stop that? When our heart is lightened with compassion, one can feel the pain of these creatures and then one will be called to do what best one can do!

For the sheer joy of it!

Action need not always be performed with an end in mind. Like the squirrel that runs up and down a tree for the sheer joy of it, one can act for the sheer joy of it! In fact, life itself can be found effortlessly through such actions!

Inner Seed

When you have accomplished your big dreams, settled down in your family life, have had your share of entertainment, what would you do in your life? Towards what kind of action / living / life will you be propelled (from within)? Therein lies the clues to your discovery of your inner seed. Self actualization involves watering that seed and letting it flower! That is the real you which is waiting fo...r your attention while you are caught up in the million fears and desires of your body and mind. It takes courage to accomplish this after going beyond the countless fears and desires we harbor! Waiting for all the fears and desires to give way for us to reach that seed is akin to waiting for the waves to stop. The one who sees this with clarity is the one who is awakened. How many of us have it in us to listen to our deepest and innermost voice?

மோகம் - ரோகம் - யோகம்

மோகமென்னும் ரோகத்தில்
மீண்டும் மீண்டும் நான் மூழ்கினாலும்
யோகமென்னும் போகத்தில்
யோகமுதல்வா என்னை நீ ஆழ்த்தி
மோகரோகத்திலிருந்து விடுவித்தாய்
யோகநாயகா, யான் பெற்ற இன்பம்
பெருக இவ்வையகம்!

Junk food to the mind

Junk food - seductively tasty! And at the same time, horribly unhealthy! Most of us would agree that regular consumption of this is injurious to health. But, we do not apply the same logic to the mind. Regularly subjecting the mind to junk input is pernicious and makes the mind junk. When all we talk / think is egoic or entertaining, mind accumulates junk and becomes heavy with tamas. Constant input of meaningful and trans-egoic thoughts and ideas, makes it fit and nimble! Are we willing to at least see that we are subjecting our mind to junk constantly and therein bring about a change?

No inadequacy

The spiritual path is not a path of self denial. Torturing oneself is only a perverse form of pleasure. The spiritual path is about discovering that there is no inadequacy in our essential nature and bringing that out in our daily lives. When that sense of completeness within is discovered, all desires drop by themselves. Ultimately, the purpose of desires is to give some satisfaction. When all the satisfaction is found within, there is absolutely no need for one to expend any effort to obtain external satisfaction. Any temptation would be like seeing an extremely tasty and well prepared food when ones tummy is already filled with tasty and healthy food.

Answer without the question

Pray, what is the question? Obviously, without knowing the question and without solving it by transforming ones life, knowing the answer intellectually is of no use. That would be like a child refusing to learn to solve a maths problem because the answer is found in the answer key!

Stinking Jobs

Most of us would not even go somewhere near the place of work these people. We might not be able to do anything immediately. But shouldnt we at least realize every time we take their services (directly or through any organization that we are associated with), we propagate social / economic / caste inequalities. What then are our responsibilities? Can we listen to our hearts call on this?

Ego in Awareness

Folktale has it that vampires cannot stand light and disintegrate in the presence of light. So does the ego - in the presence of awareness. Typically, most peoples awareness does not encompass the entirety of their thoughts and feelings. For that to happen, it has to be choiceless. When one is able to be choicelessly aware, when one can see the entirety of ones life story, then the ego collapses. Then one starts developing lot of space between ones life story and oneself. Then, that awareness can be aware of itself!

Action & Divinity

Action does not lead to divinity. Action can express divinity!

Peace activism

The fragility of the ego can be seen all too often in crowded public transportation vehicles. The heat, pressure to reach on time, crowd intruding into personal space etc, keep the individuals on boil all the time and the moment an ego is pricked in the slightest way, even a mild stamping of ones feet is enough for people to burst out. Seeing this, how does one treat ones ego. Shouldnt we treat it as a diseased part that is just waiting to be offended. When one sees this and is sincere about transforming it, all ugly dimensions of the same can be chopped off gradually and it can be transformed into a ripe ego. Possibly, the most important peace activism an individual can engage in!

Ideological solutions

Some/many communists may want to get rid of such mechanization and employ more people with shovels! But, unfortunately, human problems are much more complex than what proponents of ideological solutions can fathom. While the compassion behind needing to provide employment to (starving?) people is admirable, stubborn adherence to ideological solutions is naive (why not employ even more people with table spoons?). While systemic changes may certainly be needed, the key change is to be done within the individual. In particular, the change is to be free of all belief systems and ideologies!

Kids for universe

Why train kids merely to enter university? Why not prepare kids to face the universe and make it better? Though the two are not necessarily contradictory, the latter subsumes the former!