Organic toor dal

My mom had stopped eating sambar for a few years now as toor dal wouldnt digest well. But, after switching recently to organic toor dal, tempted by the fresh aroma which was lacking in the regular ones, she tried it for a day. Encouraged by her bodies acceptance, she has resumed eating it now every now and then. May be her digestive power has improved but that seems unlikely as digestive power of lentils usually decline when you reach 55-60. Go Organic!

Thirumandiram on Shivaratri

Enjoyed the following arbitrary collection of verses from Thirumandiram on Shivaratri (yesterday) night - displays beauty in words and depth of experience. I am also posting English translation from some pdf obtained online which does not mention the authors name.

602
மனத்து விளக்கினை மாண்பட ஏற்றிச்
சினத்து விளக்கினைச் செல்ல நெருக்கி
அனைத்து விளக்குந் திரியொக்கத் தூண்ட
மனத்து விளக்கது மாயா விளக்கே

Light the Lamp of Mind
And dispel the Darkness of Egoity;
Extinguish the Fire of Wrath
And brighten all lamps within
Thenceforth alike,
The Mind's Lamp is an undying Lamp indeed.



603
எண்ணா யிரத்தாண்டு யோகம் இருக்கினும்
கண்ணார் அமுதினைக் கண்டறி வாரில்லை
உண்ணாடிக் குள்ளே ஒளியுற நோக்கினால்
கண்ணாடி போலக் கலந்துநின் றானே

Well may they practise Yoga eight-thousand year
Still they see not Lord,
Sweet as ambrosia
And dear unto apple of eye;
But if within you seek Him enlightened
He within you is,
Even unto reflection in the mirror.



1857
படமாடக் கோயில் பகவற்குஒன்று ஈயில்
நடமாடக் கோயில் நம்பர்க்கு அங்கு ஆகா
நடமாடக் கோயில் நம்பர்க்கு ஒன்று ஈயில்
படமாடக் கோயில் பகவற்கு அது ஆமே.

The offering you give
To the Lord in the temple steepled high
Reaches not His devotees,
Who the walking temples noble are;
When you offer things
To the walking temples noble,
That sure reaches the Lord
In the temple steepled high.



1872
பெண்ணல்ல ஆணல்ல பேடல்ல மூடத்துள்
உள்நின்ற சோதி ஒருவர்க்கு அறியொணாக்
கண்ணின்றிக் காணும் செவியின்றிக் கேட்டிரும்
அண்ணல் பெருமையை ஆய்ந்தது மூப்பே.

Neither male, nor female, nor hermaphrodite,
The light that is within ignorance concealed
Never, never can cognise Him;
Without eyes He sees,
Without ears He hears,
Only those in Knowledge ripe
Have for sure, seen Him.



1887
பிச்சையது ஏற்றான் பிரமன் தலைதன்னில்
பிச்சையது ஏற்றான் பிரியா அறஞ்செய்யப்
பிச்சையது ஏற்றான் பிரமன் சிரங்காட்டிப்
பிச்சையது ஏற்றான் பிரமன் பரமாகவே.

The Lord begged in Brahma's skull,
The Lord begged for Dharma to perpetuate;
The Lord begged in Brahma's skull,
That Brahma to Brahmam become.



1983
மண்ணை இடந்துஅதின் கீழொடும்
விண்ணை இடந்து வெளிசெய்து நின்றிடும்
கண்ணை இடந்து களிதந்த ஆனந்தம்
எண்ணும் கிழமைக்கு இசைந்து நின்றானே.

Breaking through the Earth (Muladhara)
He penetrates beyond into the Adharas that
Are Sky (Visuddhi) and Space (Ajna) within;
He is the very source of joy that dazzles the eye;
He indeed responds to contemplation sweet.



2064
மாணிக்க மாலை மலர்ந்தெழு மண்டலம்
ஆணிப்பொன் நின்றங்கு அமுதம் விளைந்தது
பேணிக்கொண்டு உண்டார் பிறப்பற்று இருந்த
ஊனுக்கு இருந்தார் உணராத மாக்களே.

In the sphere (of cranium)
Where the garland of scarlet rubies glows,
He the unalloyed Gold,
There stood;
The divine nectar welled up there;
They who swilled it,
Ended their birth's cycle;
They who did not
Remained but to gormandize.



2067
கண்காணி இல்லென்று கள்ளம் பலசெய்வார்
கண்காணி இல்லா இடமில்லை காணுங்கால்
கண்காணி யாகக் கலந்தெங்கும் நின்றானைக்
கண்காணி கண்டார் களஒழிந் தாரே.

Thinking there is none that oversees
They many evil deeds perform;
None the place, in fact,
Where the over-seer is not;
The Lord pervades all, overseeing all;
They who the Over-seer saw,
Abandoned evil deeds all.



2073
கன்னி ஒருசிறை கற்றோர் ஒருசிறை
மன்னிய மாதவம் செய்வோர் ஒருசிறை
தன்னியல்பு உன்னி உணர்ந்தோர் ஒருசிறை
என்னிது ஈசன் இயல்புஅறி யாரே.

The Virgin Sakti on one side
The learned ones on one side,
The Tapasvins steadfast on one side,
The Self-Realized beings on one side,
Thus is the Lord seated;
How is it they know not His nature true!



2074
காணாத கண்ணில் படலமே கண்ணொளி
காணாத வர்கட்கும் காணாதது அவ்வொளி
காணாத வர்கட்கும் கண்ணாம் பெருங்கண்ணைக்
காணாது கண்டார் களவொழிந் தாரே.

The eye that sees not
Is by cataract (ignorance) covered;
The Lord is the Light Unseen,
Even for those
Whose eye no sight has;
He is the Eye Divine,
Even for those
Who have seen Him not;
They who have seen Him
In the inward eye
Have verily the Truth seen
All illusion rid.



2089
இன்பத்து ளேபிறந்து இன்பத்து ளேவளர்ந்து
இன்பத்து ளேநினைக் கின்றது இதுமறந்து
துன்பத்து ளேசிலர் சோறொடு கூறையென்று
துன்பத்து ளேநின்று தூங்குகின் றார்களே.

Born in bliss, grown in bliss
Steeped in thoughts of bliss
This way, they forget;
Instead,
Hankering after food and raiment
In sorrow steeped they are;
And in sorrow steeped, they insensible slumber.



2090
பெறுதற்கு அரிய பிறவியைப் பெற்றும்
பெறுதற்கு அரிய பிரானடி பேணார்
பெறுதற்கு அரிய பிராணிகள் எல்லாம்
பெறுதற்கு அரியதோர் பேறுஇழந் தாரே.

Rare is human birth,
Yet they seek not Lord's Feet,
So rare to reach;
They attained the rare human birth,
Yet missed this Treasure Rare,
They are but crawling creatures, indeed.

Thirumandiram & JK

Thirumandiram continues to awe me! I have traced quite a few commonly used tamil sayings in Yoga to this great book. Today, I stumbled upon an equivalent to JK's 'Truth is a pathless land'

அது உணர்ந்தோன் ஒரு தன்மையை நாடி
எது உணரா வகை நின்றனன் ஈசன்
புது உணர்வான புவனங்கள் எட்டும்
இது உணர்ந்து என் உடல் கோயில் கொண்டானே.

They who sought Him in one Special Way
Knew Him not in any way;
And thus it is the Lord
That the eight universes pervades;
Of my heart, too, a temple made.

Thirumandiram - 1722

Schooling and Dharma

I saw a few scenes from a horrible movie last weekend on TV. One of those scenes though made a profound statement about modern education.

A village had to choose a headman. After some discussions, a committee decided it should be the person who is least interested in money (interesting approach, in contrast with elections). They conduct a (partially silly?) test of throwing a rupee (which had some value in the context of a village 30 years ago) on the road and observe reactions. They decided that the shortlisted candidates would be those who pick it up and search for the owner of the money. In the next scene, the village drunkard returns it but not the most 'educated' dude in the village (who is the son of the former headman). 

Movies tend to deliberately concentrate societal characteristics and show them out of proportion. Even after conceeding that, this is an interesting perspective that we are seldom aware of! What does modern day schooling do to ones sense of dharma?

Oneeeeeee, twooooooo, ...

Standard practice: In - 4 secs, Ex - Om ; Repeat 10 times

But if student is not able to count and do the breathing simultaneously, change it as follows :):
In, Ex - oneeeeeee
In, Ex - twooooooo
In, Ex - threeeeee
...
In, Ex - tennnnnnn

கவிதை

சொல்லாதிக்கத்தில் உருவாகாது கவிதை
பொருளாதிக்கத்தில் உருவாகாது கவிதை
தன்னைதாம் அனுபவத்திருக்கும் பொழுது
தாமாகவே வெளிவருமே கவிதையானது 

சமுசாரமும் நிர்வாணமும்

சமுசாரமும் நிர்வாணமும் போகிகள் ஒவ்வாதென்பர்
சமுசாரதிற்கு வெளியே மலர்ந்தவர் வெகு சிலர்
சமுசாரத்தில் உயர்ஞானம் கண்டவர் ஜனகர்
சமுத்திரத்தின் மேலும் பள்ளிகொண்டவர் போலே!

சமுசாரம்

மௌனமும் வைராகியமும் ஒன்றையொன்று வளர்க்கும்
இரண்டையும் சோதிக்கும் சமுசாரம்

அகம்பாவம்

அகம்பாவம் வளர்ந்து அறம் அழிந்தால்
அகம் ஆகும் பாவம்

क्लेश कर्म विपाकाशयैः

The title of the note transliterated in English reads 'kleśa karma vipāka-āśayaiḥ'. The common meaning for the above words is give below.

Klesa : painful , afflicted, impure
Karma : actions
Vipaka : consequences
Asayaih : resting place , storage of traces , propensities

This is the first half of one of the foundational yoga sutras (chapter 1, sutra 24). These days, whenever I teach any adult (individuals who display a certain level of maturity and independence with which I can dialogue), I start with an exploration of the above four words and its relationship with Yoga. This sutra explores how many of our actions (individual / social) are caught up in endless cycles. It is best to see a few examples.

Example1 - Stress



Most of us can quickly identify this in us. If you are not working in a field that you truly like and if you are not disciplined enough there, you will flow through this energy and life sapping cycle often.


Example2 - Poverty



We can see this often in the world outside us. That is, only if we are alert to this. Mostly we are not for the story of our lives itself is so energy sapping for us that we seldom get to see this.


Example 3 - Capitalism / World Bank induced



If you are not keenly observing the direction in which societies and economies in the world are taking, this can be missed easily.


Whether something is a cycle or not is partly objective and partly subjective. To figure out the cycles that one finds oneself in in ones own life, it is best first to get the inputs of genuine past explorers in the path. They will be able to show a few cycles and then give us some books / resources which can help provide one an intellectual 'proof of concept'. Then, one can go ahead and explore it in ones own life to get a first hand knowledge.

When I teach yogasana, I have started to try and emphasise these cycles, especially the ones that I feel the student may not have been exposed to (provided, it is something that I have at least some basic idea about). It is one thing to intellectually understand it and another to actually experiment with it and gaining at least a certain degree of freedom from some of these cycles. This requires tremendous amount of energy and a certain degree of relentlessness in ones chosen pursuits. I feel, regular practice of asana and pranayama creates a physique and physiology that can provide this. It also provides a calm enough and focussed mind that can do this.

A couple more possible cycles that I have tried to grapple with personally are (exact way of describing these may need more polishing). Start looking at the cycle from 'C'.
C- Cycle causing state
A - Action in the world
R - Result of action
I - Impression (residue) in individual/world


1. Schooling


2. Image of Self


3. Physical Appearance



There are lot more I feel. Consider what happens when we get into arguments that last for a time - we get into a certain position and every further argument only reinforces our position and never brings us out of that. Consider what happens when we get home loans that gets us committed for 20 years. Consider what happens when we get used to a certain 'life style' etc!


Request to those who have gotten to this point in this article :):

If you have grappled with any such cycle in your life, do write to me about your experience. If I have some experience in it too, I can work with you and we can come up with some nice examples which can be shared with students. In addition if you have any resources (books / articles / documentaries etc) that can help in a 'proof of concept', do share them with me! If I do not have any experience in it, I would be most happy to learn the nuances of the same from you!

while (1);

I heard the last few minutes of a talk in IIT about the central being (or column) around which ones life may be built. I really did resonate with that. Sharing some further thoughts (of mine) along that line here.

1. Life vision is the central column of the mental being
2. Breath is the central column of the physiological being
3. Spine is the central column of the physical being

The above three parts are highly interconnected but it is also useful to see it as three different parts. Regular and appropriate asana practice works on the spine and makes it strong and flexible. The entire body gets nicely organised around this. Likewise, regular and appropriate pranayama practice works on the breath (and the slightly more esoteric nadis) to make the entire physiological body revolve around the breath.

When one practices this regularly, ones approach to life dramatically changes. When there is a situation in ones life which one is not able to stand, one quickly retreats into another mental state which acts as a refuge. We regularly see this in movies. When the heroine rejects / cheats the hero, the heros attitude in life changes - either they start blaming women or they withdraw into themselves and get into depression. This is a reaction in their mind as the original event was too stressful for their mind to handle. This reaction becomes a refuge. But when ones spine becomes the central column and has developed strength and flexibility, one develops the ability to face touch situations actually without running away into a refuge.

When ones breath becomes the central column of the physiological being, many physiological processes and in particular respiration, digestion and excretion become very efficient. Thus, we are left with lot of surplus energy to face life.

When one is able to face problems in life and that too with surplus energy, then chances are that one will deal with situations skilfully and successfully. Thus, staying ahead of the curve becomes effortless. Only when this happens, one is able to question how the world is and how ones life is. This will lead us to explore deeper questions in life and create a vision for oneself. Gradually developing such a central column for ones life will lead to a fulfilling and meaningful life which is away from social programming and other meaningless affairs. Lives that are not organised this way tend to be involve themselves in activities that are mostly devoid of meaning or at least such lives will not be developed to their fullest potential. The movie 'Shawshank Redepmtion' talks about how jail lives can be utterly boring and monotonous. Furthermore, it goes on to show how in order to avoid the insanity arising out of this boredom, inmates develop some mostly meaningless habits so that their minds can be occupied. This is not significantly different from how we fill most of our waking lives with activities. This is described fairly accurately by the following statement from the C programming language

while (1);

For those who are not acquainted, the above statement will get the computer to continuously do work but effectively nothing of significance gets done! How many parts of our lives are like this? Do we have the strength and motivation to do so? If not, what is it that saps all the available energy?

ஞானமுங் கல்வியும்

நமச்சி வாயவே ஞானமுங் கல்வியும்
நமச்சி வாயவே நானறி விச்சையும்
நமச்சி வாயவே நாநவின் றேத்துமே
நமச்சி வாயவே நன்னெறி காட்டுமே.

ஞானமும், கல்வியும், நானறிந்த வித்தையும் பஞ்சாட்சரமே; நா கூறி வழிபடுவதும் அதனையே ; நன்னெறி காட்டுவதும் அத்திருமந்திரமேயாகும்.

-- திருவாசகம்

ஆழ்மன ஆசை

ஆழ்மன ஆசைகளின் அசைவில் ஆட்டம்
அறியாதோர் வாழ்வு ஓட்டம்

குணவீரியம்

திரை விலகினாலும் குணவீரியம் தணியாது
தேவை தியானம் அதற்கு

योग जिज्ञासा

नित्यं योग जिज्ञासा! प्रत्यहम् योग अभ्यास!
Forever, desirous of Yoga! Daily, practice yoga!