Are you progressing? - Spiritually...

How do you measure?

விரும்பும் நற் செயலில் 

ஈடுபடும் சமயங்களிலும்,

மலர் செடிக்கோ,

நட்ட மரங்களுக்கோ 

நேரிடும் பொழுதும்,

யாதும் செய்யாது

கண்கள் மூடித்

த்யானிக்கின்ற

ஒவ்வொரு நொடிப் 

பொழுதும்

மனித சக்தியை

மீறிய தெய்வீக

ஆன்ம அனுபவத்தை

யாவரும் உணரலாம்.

அவ்வுணர்வு ஓர் 

சங்கிலித் தொடர்.

ஒரு முறை 

துளியெனும் உணர்ந்து

விட்டால் போதும்.

பின் எல்லாம்,

பாரதியின்,

' தீக்குள் விரலை வைத்தால் நந்தலாலா, நின்னைத் தீண்டும் இன்பம் தோன்றுதடா'

தான்.

The wrap quote :

"Meditation is not evasion, it is a serene encounter with reality."

 ― Thich Nhat Hanh

Vastu Shastra - Ilaiyarrakkudi sathas

Vastu Shastra - Ilaiyatrakkudi Sathas

Vastu Shastra comprises of sculpture - சிற்பம், architecture - கட்டிட நிர்மாணம்.

One Shri B.N. Shukla from Punjab participated in the ஸதஸ் - a meet where scholars assemble, discuss and debate on various disciplines - at the time Maha Swami was staying in இளையற்றக்குடி to observe sathurmasya vratam. Shri Shukla said Vastu Shastra is a upaveda - coming under one of the four prime Vedas, viz , Atharva Veda. He cited Prugu Veda Rishi wrote on Vastu Shastra.

Vastu Shastra as many are aware, though not in minute details, is concerned with building, construction, building plans and town planning as well. By the term building all edifices are covered, ranging from Temple, palaces, school, colleges, choultries, and houses of Am Aadmi.  We have all heard of Bhumi Puja while starting to construct a house. In fact it's to pay obeisance to Lord Vastu.

Every building activity is equated to a human anatomy. Like a human being has head, body and various other parts of body, a building should similarly sync in all aspects.  Vastu Shastra narrates all these meticulously. 

Many in real estate and building construction activity claim their projects are vastu compliant. I don't know if any Engineering college teaching civil engineering cares to derive from Vastu Shastra. We are clamoured to go copycat in building too.  What other Nations adapt, the same style is craved for.

Overall, holistic well being, good physical and mental health in a household has much to do with how vastu compliant one household is.

Imperative it's to have a vastu check of any household by an expert Vastu consultant.

Info courtesy: 

தெய்வத்தின் குரல் 

Vol 3, edn 27, Nov 21 pgs 730-732

Need vs Greed ....அத்தியாவசியம் vs பேராசை

Need vs Greed...

அத்தியாவசியம் vs பேராசை

'The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed.' 

- Mahatma 

Mahatma was staunch believer in our Dharma Sastras.

Mahaswami, on the title of this, draws from our Sastras and saintly sayings from Our Rishis of yore. Here are a few nuggets from His quoting:

○Dharm Sastra:

Sastra stresses on 'अपरिग्रह , aparigraham, அபரிகிரஹம்.

What's அபரிகிரஹம்?

Sometimes we learn a term from the antonym of it. The same applies here to . பரிகிரஹம் means accumulating possession, wealth. Now you can deduce meaning of அபரிகிரஹம், i.e., not adding anything.

The logical corralary would bang on your ears, "Should I have not having anything at all?". The problem lies not with the metaphor but in our tendency to go literally at anything. But the spirit leads to some senses. Again to derive home, Mahaswami refers to Dharma Sastra.

According to Sastra,

' நீ ஜீவிப்பதற்கு எது அத்தியாவசியமோ அதற்கு அதிகமாக ஒரு துரும்புகூடச் சேர்த்துக் கொள்ளதே.". When translated, it means don't accumulate anything beyond your life's necessities.

○Patanjali in Yoga Sutra gives 5 stipulations, 'yama', யமாs:

Ahimsa - non violence 

Satyam - Truth

Asteyam - refrain from stealing 

Brhamacharyam and finally 

aparigraham

○Manu repeats the first three yamas, Ahimsa, Satyam and Asteyam and adds a fourth one viz., சௌசம், the cleanliness, which our Honourable PM time and again emphazises on. Perhaps Manu might have used சௌசம to mean aparigraham.

 

Maha Swami elucidates as Many might have thought, 

' தனக்கு அத்யாவசியமானதற்கு அதிகமாக ஒன்றைச் சேர்த்துக்கொண்டால் அதுவே திருட்டுத்தான்.". Meaning if one adds to his possession anything beyond his bare necessities, that tantamounts to theft.

In this sanchara, if we attempt to question Dharma Sastra, whether it's practical, Maha Swami emphasizes, " lest we incur any Dosha, anything incompatible to good living, we must follow aparigraha Dharma."

மௌன மனோலயம் - The beauty in Silence

மௌன மனோலயம் - The beauty in Silence

In some back piece, we were speaking of Mahaswami 's stressing on upavasam - vratam - உண்ணா நோன்பு.

Mahaswami just doesn't restrict to fasting. He advises on to observe yet another vratam - vratam of observing Silence, மெளனம்.

Like as per Sastras there are special occasions on which all - except children, elderly - have to compulsorily observe fasting, examples - Yekadasi, Maha Shivratri, Gokul ashtami, Ram Navmi etc., -, the Sastras prescribe special occasions for observing Silence.

Mahaswami goes on to say, while taking food, it's advisable not to speak. The mouth has two jobs, consuming and talking. Better do only one at a time. In doing so you control your taste buds. And you don't find fault in the food.

Best days to observe silence are Monday, the சோம வாரம், Thursday, the குரு வாரம், again the day of Yekadasi.

As Monday and Thursday are working days, one may choose the weekly holiday, Sunday.

Mahatma had very hectic schedule during his days as a freedom fighter. Yet, he never failed to observe silence at least once in a week.

Fasting and observing Silence complement each other. It's a double whammy. Takes you closer to your spiritual experience.

When we fritter our energy engaging in small talks, spreading trivialities, we indeed offend Goddess Saraswati, the deity for granting ability to learn good in life. The nakshatra, star of Goddess Saraswati is மூலம். This Moola nakshatra day too is a good occasion to observe silence.

And what's best, as Maha Swami says, is do dhyan, meditate at least for half an hour each day.

"Mediation is a vital way to purify and quiet the mind, thus rejuvenating the body."

 - Deepak Chopra

Every 💧 Drop...counts

Every 💧 Drop...counts

Sad fact is

You may ask

One day,

'where is this

Green 🍏 heaven?'.

Have we ever

Heard:

B'lore suffers

Water 💦 scarcity?

Time,

Plant saplings.

Stop 🛑

Glaciers melting.

Pinch yourself.

We are literally

Sitting on 

Fury, firey

Pans.

God,

Oh Lord Varun

Show us

Copius Mercy.

पूर्णमिदं- Purnamidham

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पुर्णमुदच्यते

पूर्णश्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते॥

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

oṃ pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidaṃ pūrṇātpurṇamudacyate

pūrṇaśya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate॥

oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ॥

- Ishavasya Upanishad 

From the Whole - purnam,

We derive the solace.

Yet, the Whole remains whole.

Currently into reading volume 3 of Mahaswami's -  தெய்வத்தின் குரல், though into it on and off and reading just a page or two or at the most one topic at a go, I humbly submit Mahaswami remains Whole, never exhibiting even an iota of a trace:  That I'm all powerful.

We come across others' writing, narrating about the miracles from their experiences from Mahaswami.

Yes, Miracles do happen, though Mahaswami Himself may not claim any credits. The Jnani, that He is He transcends all recognition, craving for credits.  

Throughout His volumes, you will see a homogeneity.  He keeps emphaizing on upholding of Sastra, adhering to the codes of Dharma Sastra. You'll see subtle positivity all through, never a trace of giving up, any negativity.

I'll wrap this with an occurance which I have had a direct knowledge of and with another incident which I read about elsewhere.

First, in a village near Tiruvarur, a renovation work in a temple was underway. The date for consecration was fixed and fast approaching.  The organisers faced fund crunch.  One gentleman from a nearby village suggested that the organisers visit Mahaswami.  The organisers reached the Math and with Prayers to Mahaswami they explained to Him about the shortfall.  Mahaswami didn't say anything but asked them to wait.  In a few minutes, a duo Directors from a Car Manufacturing company with their Offering of RS. 50000/- sought the blessings from Mahaswami.  Mahaswami without touching the offerings directed the Directors to give the money to the organisers.

Another incident, parents of a girl about to get married came with invitation and prayed before Mahaswami. Parents didn't say anything. But Mahaswami could read their sadful faces.  He instructed the assistant to take note of their train coach, journey details and seat numbers. Their train was in the night. Just about an hour before the departure time of the train, a philanthropist came with an offering of RS.50000/ - to have darshan of Mahaswami. Mahaswami blessed and told the philanthropist to rush to the station and give the money to the parents of the girl waiting for marriage.

oṃ pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidaṃ pūrṇātpurṇamudacyate

pūrṇaśya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate॥

oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ॥

Mahaswami remains Mahaswami.

சரணம் சரணம்.

Godwards

Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu

Gurur Devo Maheshwarah

Guruh saksat Parabrahma

Tasmai Shri Guruve Namah 🙏

குரு பிரம்மா குரு விஷ்ணு

குரு தேவோ மகேஸ்வர;

குரு சாஷாத் பரப்பிரம்மா

தஸ்மை ஸ்ரீகுருவே நமஹ 🙏

The Guru is in and out.

Guru split :  Gu,  Ru.

Gu : Darkness, ignorance.

Ru : Remover of ignorance.

 

Who is Guru?

The God is a Supreme Magician.

Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi was once asked, 'how does one find Guru?'.

God graces the devotee to find the Godliness in his Self. The God is out and He pushes from outside and facilitates the evolution of Godliness in a devotee. And The God, from inside pulls the devotee and make him see, self-correct when he indulges in wrong doings and REALIZE HIS SELF - the Godliness.

Brahma : creator of SELF - knowledge, making us the Godliness in our self.

Saksat: Exactly that : God Himself 

Parabrahma: the Supreme Consciousness, Godly SELF.

No difference between a preceptor, the Guru - the Teacher and the one who learns, is taught AND the GOD Himself.

The Guru handholds the disciple till the latter evolves, blossoms into Godliness Himself. All the God, the GuRu, the Remover of ignorance does is push an earnest seeker from outside and pulls him from inside towards Godliness, the Godward journey.

Tasmai Shri Guruve Namah: Salutation to You Guru.