In the Lap of the Master – Boundless Grace for all Beings!

Disclaimer: This isn’t the usual @PrakashSwamy blog post, but more like one from SwamyPrakash. If you still dare to tread beyond, keep in mind that all that’s written from the 3^rd paragraph were written over 3 years ago, when I wasn’t a blogger at all! But be assured that such daring can open up new paths and possibilities in Life, just as it did for self.

my Master Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev (Yogi, Mystic, Visionary Humanitarian and a Living Master or Guru) just completed the consecration of Suryakund, a subterranean water body energized by a Rasalinga (not one but three, this time), made of solidified mercury, in the Isha Yoga Center at the Velliangiri foothills, near Coimbatore in India. 

My better half (naturally, being the better half of the whole, she’s the Shakthi powering whatever this self is) and son (what took me 38 years took just 15 for him) were blessed to be part of this ancient process of Prána Prathishta, along with 10000 or more beings. Thanks to web streaming technology, this self could also participate in the AUM Chanting at noon and Sadhguru’s Sathsang on the evening of the consecration day.

While many in the world were talking animatedly about the end of the world as we know it (which typically isn’t much as most of all that we think we know is not based on our own experience), Sadhguru was creating new Life by energizing the new Theerthakund (the existing one will now be called Chandrakund and dedicated to Shakthis of the world). While all those who were present – physically or otherwise – including my wife and son (they can’t stop talking about this life changing experience) were obviously drenched in my Master’s boundless grace during this once in a lifetime event, my mind took the pushpaka vimaana and went back in time to another Sathsang that changed my Life forever!

Circa 2009… Several days ago, when I got initiated into Shambhavi Mahamudra on 1^st March, 2009, I merely thought my life was taking a new turn. Sadhguru's very first speech during the Inner Engineering program was enough to convince me that I've found my Guru. Seeing him live and spending time with him was a distant dream as I was just a beginner (an Entry Level Trainee in corporate terms) at that time, on the spiritual space.

When the 3-day Sathsang - In the lap of the Master - was announced, I was obviously excited, but was also disappointed as I was scheduled to travel on business to US around the same time. A few days passed and out-of-the-blue my client told me that the meeting was postponed by a month. Needless to say, I immediately registered for the Sathsang (literally, a communion with Truth).

When I drove into Isha Yoga Centre with three other Meditators on the morning of 24^th March, 2009 I had no idea what was in store. It was obvious that Life in the ashram was different from the world outside. One can spend a lifetime just by marveling at the way the environment is created and nurtured. The way the Meditators were taken care of and the planning for an event of such a magnitude was mind blowing, to say the least (I wasn't aware at that time about MahaShivarathri, an annual celebration of far greater magnitude at Isha). Watching the Brahmacharis, Sanyasis, Volunteers, ashram Residents and Children go about doing the umpteen tasks voluntarily with a smile on their face was humbling and overwhelming at the same time.

When we went to Spandá Hall (a large consecrated space for Isha Yoga programs) in the evening for the first session, the queue was longer than any we've seen outside movie halls during a blockbuster release. Humbled, we waited till everyone entered inside and got seated way back from the dais. When Sadhguru came, the excitement was palpable. But he went the other way and was happily roaming around in the lawns, probably chatting with the trees, fruits and flowers. Or, that's what I thought, while internally conversing – pleading rather – with him to show me the path.

Sadhguru stood still for a moment and then it appeared that he looked straight at me. Suddenly, as if a special effects filter was added to the camera lens, everything around him became hazy and I saw only the green tree and him, looking through me with his piercing eyes. Something broke within me and tears started flowing. Hardly did I know at the time that they were Joy Drops and the floodgates within me will be blasted open during the Sathsang, as my Master's grace descended upon me.

While the 'Sounds of Isha' sang mellifluous melodies in the beautiful setting with greenery everywhere, I waited impatiently to hear my Master's voice. Enthralled would be an understatement while describing his discourse. It was also incredible to see many Meditators going into a trance at a mere hiss or clap from Sadhguru and starting conversations with Shiva directly. Despite the large screen nearby showing him up close, I craned my neck to see him directly, for I did not want to miss a single moment of being in his presence.

Getting up at 4 in the morning, finishing the morning chores in a hurry and then running to Spanda hall lawns happened in a flurry during the next two days. Visiting the Dyanalinga yogic temple, checking out the stuff at the Isha Shoppe, roaming around the vast ashram campus were all done only to spend the remaining time, before the next session with Sadhguru. Being there to get soaked in my Master's grace became the most important thing in life.

On the second evening, when he walked among the Meditators, spreading his grace like the fragrance of the flowers, the floodgates within me opened again with such force that tears flowed down uncontrollably (another friend and colleague of mine, who has been a Meditator much longer than me, was left wondering what was going on with his friend and several others around him). And this time, mine were just two among the thousands of eyes that were overflowing with gratitude at the wave of bliss engulfing all of us.

Time flew and the last session on Sunday was remarkable when my Master came with a 6-foot snake playing all over him. When the mesmerizing music by Sounds of Isha started, aptly with 'Naane Nanillaye' (I’m not myself), the heaven's floodgates too opened up. Maybe Sadhguru didn't want to leave a single Meditator without receiving his grace and hence brought the downpour to soak everyone with his boundless grace. 

When my Master finally left Spandá hall that evening, there was only one prayer left in me – "When will I get a chance to be with you again my Master?" By then, it was clear to me that I've been enslaved by my Master forever, willingly but without my knowledge. The long journey back to home started late in the night, with a longing within that would last a lifetime, and beyond!

P.S.: If my Master ever looks at this post (not that he isn’t aware of this or anything else for that matter), I know he’ll only laugh at my faint attempt to capture an indescribable experience in words. But this is something I’ve actually experienced and I take solace from the fact that experiencing things for oneself is something he emphasizes to every seeker. You must read about or listen to his enchanting explanation about Enlightenment, while responding to a meditator’s query, if you want to really know what I meant!

Note: My family's experience was no different this time. Sadhguru has completed the consecration of Linga Bhairavi temple and Adi Yogi Aalayam after that Sathsang. Swamy has attended Bhava Spandana, an advanced program, the next year (an experience that shook the root of Life as we know it for every participant including self, but can be shared only with fellow Isha Meditators) and is planning to trek further through a multitude of Isha programs and events in 2013.

Update Jun-2013: Swamy has completed Shivanga Sadhana in March 2013 (read all about that enchanting experience in Shambho & the 7th Hill!), Hata Yoga (with Jr. - read all about that memorable experience in CoMeTLERFoCy!) and Shoonya Intensive in 2013, is preparing to attend Samyama in June 2013 (read about the 60-day preparation in Less is More!) and registered for Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra in August 2013.

Update Jan-2014: Swamy has completed Samyama in Jun '13 (read about the life altering experience in Silence is the way!) and Kailash-Manasarovar yatra in Aug-Sep '13 (read the first 2 episodes of his yatra to "Mystic Mountain, Mystery Lake" in "The Seeker's Tale!" & "The Kingdom's Tale!"). He has also started actively volunteering for Isha programs and was fortunate to be part of the "Devi Punya Pooja" at his home, performed by Bhairagini Maa (priestess) from the Linga Bhairavi Temple at Isha Yoga Center - a consecration process that invites the Divine and transforms one's home into a temple!

All the photographs except the one with my family belong to Isha Foundation.

12/12/12!

12-12-12 is a wonderful once in a lifetime day for all beings in this Life. It is also the last repeating date in this century. But despite its monumental significance, most of the earthlings would’ve gone through this day just like any other day in their Life.

All Super Star fans the world over would’ve at least remembered this day because it happens to be his 62^nd birthday, a day probably shared by some of your near and dear as well. 

And millions of music lovers all over the world would've also mourned the departure of a soul, whose name was synonymous with Sitar, the instrument he played. Pandit Ravi Shankar's music has stirred their souls (which naturally includes Swamy's) with his mellifluous music, that transcended artificial global borders and went on to prove Music indeed is the only language that can transcend borders, races and all other pointless things that prevent universal harmony and peace. He may've left his mortal physical form, but his music will remain immortal, inspiring many a soul, now and forever after!

A minuscule percent of the planet’s population would’ve done something memorable on this day, which none of would be around to see again in this lifetime. Swamy, naturally, chose to be part of that minuscule population, which decided to do something memorable and everlasting, in the lifetime and beyond. We may not live until the next 12-12-12, at least in this form. But we certainly can be Joyful, cherish Life, nourish Love and spread the Cheer today! And here are Swamy’s 12 ideas that can turn this memorable day be the best start for making the rest of this Life better!

12 Things To Do on or from 12-12-12

1-11 Here’s the list from 1-11. You don't have to go by the given order. Do as you'll play. Or paint. Or Dance!

12 Get started on Social Media (Ostrich is the closest example, if you steadfastly refuse to). Here’s the “Social Media for Dummies” kind of starter kit, if you haven’t started already.

12 Ways To Do those 12 things

Now that you’ve accepted the challenge (what choice is there other than Hobson’s), here are 12 Ways to do those 12 things (there’s a bonus too)!

12 Months To Go to get the 12 things done

Get started today. Here’s a compelling reason for getting started today itself.

12 months is a pretty long time. A lot can happen during that time, like the marvel of a single sperm finding an egg and springing to Life in the form of a newborn child into this world! Or a tiny seed liberating a plant full of blossoming flowers or a massive tree bearing fruits or offering shade! The wise may easily explain the ‘what and how’ of this Life transformation. But try explaining the ‘why only this way’ or ‘why not any other way!’

During every single day of those 12 months, ask yourself these questions and seek answers, within. And if you still don’t believe you can pull this off, take a look at this list of 12 things Swamy changed, did differently or anew, on 12-12-12!

12 Souls To Share

Find 12 souls to share the 12 things you’ve dreamt, learnt, started, influenced, applied and changed. If you can’t find even 12 souls to share what you’ve learnt from this post, it’s time to learn ‘How to win friends and influence people’! And once you complete learning, don’t wait to translate that into action till 11-12-13!

Be Joyful, cherish Life, nourish Love and spread the Cheer today and every single remaining day of your Life! For that, you really don’t need a once in a lifetime day such as 12-12-12!

2000 Year Old Tweets!

Here’s a possible conversation that most of you may’ve had or soon will have with a Millennial kid, yours or otherwise, when they travel to someplace.

“Call me as soon as you reach there.”

“Ok.” Followed by a stare!

“Remember to keep the suitcase locked, whenever you leave the room.”

Cold stare! Just.

“I’ll miss you. Don’t forget to call me every day, in the morning and evening.”

“I’ll text.”

“I know you will. But I want you to call me at least once a day.”

“OK! I’ll tweet you every hour. Is that fine?”

Now it is your turn to stare. In utter disbelief! Whatever happened to the art of conversation? How can a tweet (assuming you know what it is) convey the emotion of a conversation between a parent and child?

Twitter is a 6 year-old phenomenon, which has already made texting (aka sending SMS) look ancient. For today’s youth, texting or tweeting is the same as chatting. No, it is chatting. Soon, that’ll be the only way they chat. Oh, they don’t ‘talk’ btw. Only chat!

I took to Twitter when I started exploring Social Media seriously over an year ago. Twitter to me symbolizes the most controlled freedom. Whoever you may be – Bronco Bamma inclusive (Congratulations Mr. President) – you’ve to communicate with only 140 characters. I loved the challenge as it helped me chisel my SwamyVerse quotes, blog post promos and IPL comments. The beauty of brevity is equally amusing and amazing!

But tweets are way older than that. In fact, more than 2000 years old. Incredible but true. And the person who tweeted that long ago was a poet who is said to have lived in Chennai’s cultural melting pot of Mylapore. His epic is one of the most interpreted and translated Tamizh literature of all time.

Thiruvalluvar’s (which many scholars don’t think is his real name btw) திருக்குறள் (Thirukkural) is the epitome of intense intellectual ability expressed in absolute brevity, showcasing his amazing command of my beloved mother tongue and astounding knowledge of Life in its myriad forms and shapes. And he didn’t tweet just a few.

Thirukkural has 1330 couplets in all, neatly organized into 3 categories – Aram (Code of Life), Porul (Living Life) and Inbam (Loving Life) – and 133 chapters. Each couplet is just two lines long, comprising only 7 words. Valluvar tweeted on anything and everything Life, including but not limited to God, Love, Rule, Knowledge, Leadership, Management, Ethics, Purpose, Friendship, Power, Alcoholism, Agriculture, Eyes, Memory, Signs, Communication, Action and a lot many more.

Many a child recites Thirukkural in competitions (the other popular one being பாரதியார் கவிதைகள் – vibrant poems by nationalist poet Subramanya Bharathi) and win prizes even today. When yours truly did, Sedapatti Muthiah was the speaker of Tamilnadu State Assembly. I know it simply because he’s the one who gave away the prize to me in the world famous Madurai Meenakshi Temple.

Kural’s fascination got relegated into the archival zone of Swamy’s brain, post school days and got rekindled only when I picked up Sujatha’s (IMHO, one of the most versatile writers ever to grace mother Earth – was awestruck when I met him in person) interpretation of the epic, in a nondescript stall at Chennai Book Fair (an annual pilgrimage I make, 2-3 times within the 2 week period, in order to cover as many stalls as possible). Of course I never got to address my better half’s query “When are you planning to finish reading all these books?”

While a select few samples are shared in this post to give you a sense of how succinctly he tweeted over 2 Millennia ago, I intend to write a series of posts – possibly 133 or more – to share my joy of learning (howzat for the more industrial ‘understanding’), based on Sujatha’s interpretation primarily, with my avid and loyal blog readers. That’ll obviously happen over a period of time – could be months, if not years! And they’ll obviously be a compilation of 10 SwamyVerse tweets for each post. So, here goes the teaser to the SwamyVerse edition of the amazing Thirukkural for the Digital Natives and Immigrants. And poor Dinosaurs too!

I’ve used ‘Google Transliterate’ for typing in தமிழ். For pronunciation in English, you may use the same (the time tested C+P technology will come handy) or the translate option in MS Word or any other word processor that you use.

Let’s start with a famous one that was more famous for its rhyme. With Nilam and Sandy battering people on either side of the Atlantic recently (when I called it the dance of mother nature, all I got were cold stares), Kural 15 - Chapter 2 (K15C2 for easy reference) aptly captures our mood during monsoon.

துப்பார்க்கு துப்பாய துப்பாக்கித் துப்பார்க்குத்

துப்பாய தூஉம் மழை. 

One can do farming with rain water. And drink it as well. 

– a literal translation of Sujatha’s interpretation.

or

Rain water is useful for farming and drinking. 

– seems even more brief and to the point.

With Deepavali (aka Diwali) purchases in full swing in many Indian families, here’s K51C6 for the poor male members of family who patiently wait in front of the garment stores or ponder the purpose of their lives leaning over the rails in one of the mega mall floors, for their spouses to complete (hopefully before Diwali day) their shopping.

மனைத்தக்க மான்புடையள் ஆகித்தற் கொண்டான் 

வளத்தக்காள் வாழ்க்கைத் துணை.

A good wife represents family virtues and doesn’t spend unnecessarily!

Or

A good wife is one who spends within means and represents family virtues.

Here are two apt ones for a memorable event that happened early today. My son Akash. PC. Iyer has left for Slovenia with the Indian team for competing in the World Youth (U16) Chess Championship (he along with the team won the Bronze medal in World Youth Chess Olympiad recently). K68C7 and K69C7 capture the mood in our family exactly.

தம்மின்தம் மக்கள் அறிவுடைமை மாநிலத்து 

மன்னுயிர்க் கெல்லாம் இனிது.

Knowing that our children are more intelligent than us is happiness.

Or

We’re happy when we know our children are wiser than us.

ஈன்ற பொழுதிற் பெரிதுவக்கும் தன்மகனைச் 

சான்றோன் எனக்கேட்ட தாய். 

Knowing that her child is wise, a mother is happier than at the time of birth.

Or

A mother is happier than at the time of birth when she knows that her child is wise.

Sujatha wished for someone like AK Ramanujan to write a better, easy to comprehend (and enjoy, needless to say) English version of Thirukkural – one that doesn’t miss the succinct core message by focusing on the literal aspect or poetical format instead. I’m an ardent fan of both Valluvar & Sujatha, but certainly don’t claim mastery in either language. So it's perfectly understandable and acceptable if I said "No, We Can't". 

Then I remembered the message from a lean, bespectacled, simple looking man in loin cloth, "Be the change you want to see in the world." He actually did what he said and ascended to become the 'Father of the Nation'! The power of the Mahatma’s message nudged me to take the challenge head and do something about it! 

So, I dare not only to start this joyful exploration (call it my humble tribute to a writer whose writing I and a million other fans continue to cherish – he easily outsells many other living authors in the Chennai book fair, even 4 long years after he attained ஆசார்யன் திருவடி), but am naturally inclined to go all the way. However long it takes. Hope you’re also equally excited about learning more about the mesmerizing ‘2000 year old Tweets’!

Sources: Thirukkural by Thiruvalluvar & Thirukkural Pudhiya Urai by Sujatha.
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