Avvai KuRaL 49 ~ Breathe from Living to Life!

Avvai KuRaL 49 ~ Breathe from Living to Life!

வாயு வழக்கம் அறிந்து செறிந்தடங்கில்

ஆயுட் பெருக்கம் உண்டாம்.

vAyu vazhakkam aRindhu seRindhadangil

Ayut perukkam undAm.

By knowing how to properly inhale, contain and release (exhale) breath and by practising it diligently, one’s lifetime can be extended.

When we hear that one’s lifetime or how long one lives is predetermined, it is neither blind belief nor ignorance. The number of breaths for each and every piece of creation has been determined equally, without any bias or inequality, by the creator. The length of one’s lifetime - including humans - depends on how a particular creature breathes.

Dogs live for about 12-14 years. Humans, who adore and keep dogs as pets (or pelt them with stones) can live for over a hundred years (the typical human lifespan at present is only about 60-70 years). It’s scientifically proven that certain types of tortoises (there’s one in Galapagos islands) live for hundreds of years. Few ocean based species and trees live for thousands of years. The difference between all these species is not in their appearance, food or habitation. But how they breathe - rapidly (dogs), fast - always in a hurry (humans), deliberately (tortoise) or in a very limited quantity (ocean creatures & trees) - determines the difference in their lifespan.

In the ancient culture of BhArat, the science of living had been researched in depth; methods to extend one's lifespan have been invented and formal techniques were devised (and offered to all by AchAryAs or expert teachers who themselves have practised these techniques for years). GnAnis (enlightened beings) have realised breath as PrANavAyu (life giving air / wind) and termed the technique to inhale (pUrakam), contain / hold (kumbhakam) and exhale (rEychakam) breath as PrANAyAmA (the scientific method of breathing). Those who practice PrANAyAmA techniques diligently (and follow healthy habits - of body & mind) can actually extend their life span.

It’s a fact that accomplished yOgis like Agasthya Muni and Pathanjali Maharishi, who knew the nuances of the PrANAyAmA science and its life connect, have actually lived for several hundreds of years. The difference between meditators who live a longer, healthier life by talking less and spending more time in silence, following their spiritual practices diligently and the emotionally charged ones who expend their energy by yakking all the time, and live suffering from high blood pressure and heart ailments, is how they handle the life force of prANA. In fact, without knowing anything about the refined techniques like PrANAyAmA that are inward focused to extend one’s life span, the various attempts like nips and tucks using plastic surgery and drugs that the celebrities rely on to keep the external physical form young is nothing short of hilarious.

P.S: The 112 methods offered by AdiyOgi ShivA to DEvi Shakthi for self-realization / enlightenment (VigyAn Bhairava TantrA) include prANA related techniques.

~Swamy | @PrakashSwamy 

AvvaikuRaL is Swamy's new nano blog series, interpreting the spiritual treatise by AvvaiyAr, in the magnificent KuRal poetry form (popularly known from ThirukkuRaL by ThiruvaLLuvar) .

Avvai KuRaL 73 ~ Feeling ShivA in the Heart Temple!

Avvai KuRaL 73 ~ Feeling ShivA in the Heart Temple

உள்ளமே பீடம் உணர்வே சிவலிங்கம்
தெள்ளியர் அர்ச்சிக்கும் ஆறு.

uLLamEy peedam uNarvEy Shivalingam
theLLiyar archchikkum ARu.

Those who prepare their heart (not the one that pumps blood to keep the physical body alive, but the spiritual heart aka Hridhayam) as the pedestal (AvudayAr) on which the intense feeling / emotion expressed towards the divine (devotion / bakthi) is worshipped as ShivA (the omnipresent divine or Parabrahmam) in the LingA form (formless form, representing the origin of creation), are the ones with clarity of mind (thoughtless mind, which is accessible only by the realised beings).

Devotees go to temples (consecrated spaces with divine forms in the GarbhagrihA or sanctum sanctorum), offer flowers and other sacred items suitable for pUjA to the archchakar (priest) and fervently worship the divine form (God / Goddess) as the ritualistic offerings are performed (abhishEkham, alankAram, ashtOthram, aarti or Deepa ArAdhaNai). While there is nothing wrong in this form of worship, attaining realisation through such external methods is very rare.

Those with clarity of mind, i.e. the realised beings, don’t search for the divine externally. They prepare their spiritual heart (hridhayam - not the physical one) as the pedestal (AvudayAr) through austerities / spiritual practices that purify the mind and body (in order to be worthy for the divine to reside, within) and crystallise their feeling / emotion towards the divinity within all beings in creation as the ShivA LingA (the primordial formless form of the divine) and surrender to the divinity within oneself, in pure devotion. This is the appropriate way of worshipping ShivA, i.e. that which is not aka Parabrahmam.

PUsalAr nhAyanAr is one of the celebrated 63 Shaivaite (those who consider / worship / surrender to Lord ShivA as the ultimate reality) saints. He has built a whole temple within his heart, stone by stone, over a period of time. On the day he has earmarked for the consecration of his inner temple, KAdavarkOn aka Rajasimha aka Narasimhavarman II, the mighty emperor of KAnchi (Kancheepuram, capital of ThoNdainhAdu) also planned the consecration of his marvelous KailAsanhAthar temple (in KAnchi). Lord ShivA, the ocean of compassion, appeared in the emperor’s dream and gently advised him to change the date of his temple inauguration as he had to be present at PUsalAr’s temple at the same time. Amazed at someone else building a bigger temple than him, the emperor went looking for the saint. When he met him in his humble dwelling and enquired about the whereabouts of his temple, PUsalAr nhAyanAr simply smiled and pointed to his heart. This incidence highlights the magnificent Truth embedded in Avvai KuRaL 73.

~Swamy | @PrakashSwamy

AvvaikuRaL is Swamy's new nano blog series, interpreting the spiritual treatise by AvvaiyAr, in the magnificent KuRal poetry form (popularly known from ThirukkuRaL by ThiruvaLLuvar) .

NhAladiyAr 400 ~ Verse 259 ~ Flies are Us!

NhAladiyAr 400 ~ Verse 259 ~ Flies are Us

பொழிந்தினிது நாறினும் பூமிசைதல் செல்லாது 
இழிந்தவை காமுறும் ஈப்போல் - இழிந்தவை 
தாம்கலந்த நெஞ்சினார்க்கு என்னாகும் தக்கார்வாய்த் 
தேன்கலந்த தேற்றச்சொல் தேர்வு.

Pozhinhdhinidhu nhARinum poomisaidhal sellAdhu
Izhindhavai kAmuRum eeppOl - izhindhavai
ThAmkalanhdha nhenjinARkku yennAgum thakkArvAith
ThEnkalanhdha thEtRachchol thErvu.

Though the flower holds delicious honey and spreads its fragrance all around, a fly will leave it and eagerly go to where the filth is. Similarly, for those with a tainted or corrupt mind, even the choicest counsel, filled with wonderful insights that provide clarity in life, offered by the wise ones or realised Masters, is of no use.

For a fly that’s stuck with filth - in thought and action - the value of a beautiful, fragrant flower with honey is of no interest or use. Even if someone explains in detail about the flower’s value, the fly won’t change its preference (for the filth). But for the bees, which fly around busily, looking for honey, no one needs to explain the value of the flowers.

People who are totally stuck in materialistic survival are like that fly. The spiritual insights and methods for attaining liberation offered by Realised Masters / Gurus won’t change them in any way. Because, in their mind, things like wealth, success, status, fame of the material life are the most valuable.

Seekers who are traversing the spiritual path are like the bees. They are seeking ways and means to realise the Truth, i.e. attain self-realisation or enlightenment, so it’s not necessary to explain to them the value or importance of a Guru.

Note: That's why, even though Mrs Swamy keeps worrying about those who are not even interested in tasting the nectar of spirituality, Swamy never speaks about spirituality to anyone, on his own.

~Swamy
@PrakashSwamy

நாலடியார் 400 ~ பாடல் 259 ~ ஈக்களும் மாக்களும்!

நாலடியார் 400 ~ பாடல் 259

ஈக்களும் மாக்களும்

பொழிந்தினிது நாறினும் பூமிசைதல் செல்லாது
இழிந்தவை காமுறும் ஈப்போல் - இழிந்தவை
தாம்கலந்த நெஞ்சினார்க்கு என்னாகும் தக்கார்வாய்த்
தேன்கலந்த தேற்றச்சொல் தேர்வு.

தன்னுள் இனிய சுவையுடைய தேனைக்கொண்டு, நறுமணத்துடன் மலர் இருந்தாலும், ஈயானது அதைவிடுத்து, மலம் போன்ற இழிவான பொருட்களையே விரும்பிச் செல்லும். அதுபோல இழிவான மனமுடையவர்களுக்கு, அறிவில் சிறந்த அல்லது ஞானோதயம் அடைந்த பெரியோர்கள் கூறும் இனிமையான, வாழ்வில் தெளிவை ஏற்படுத்தக்கூடிய, தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்ட நல்ல கருத்துகளால் எந்தப் பயனும் இல்லை.

எப்போதும் மலத்தையே விரும்பி, அதைத் தேடிச் சென்று உழலும் ஈக்கு, அழகான, நறுமணம் மிக்க, தேனை உடைய மலரின் அருமை தெரியாது. அதன் அருமை பற்றி எவ்வளவுதான் எடுத்துரைத்தாலும் அது தனது இழிவான விருப்பத்தை மாற்றிக் கொள்ளாது. ஆனால், ஆர்வத்துடன் தேனைத் தேடிச் சுறுசுறுப்பாக அலையும் தேனீக்கு மலரின் அருமை பற்றி யாரும் எடுத்துரைக்கத் தேவையில்லை.

பொருள் சார்ந்த வாழ்வின் மீது மிகுந்த பற்றுடன் இருக்கும் மனிதர்கள் அந்த ஈயைப் போன்றவர்களே. ஞானோதயம் அடைந்த குருமார்கள் கூறும் ஆன்மீகக் கருத்துகளோ, மெய்ஞானம் அடைவதற்கான வழிமுறைகளோ அவர்களிடம் எந்த மாற்றத்தையும் ஏற்படுத்தப்போவதில்லை. 

ஆன்மீக வழியில், உண்மையை உணரும் தேடலுடன் செல்லும் சாதகர்களுக்கு, ஒரு குருவின் வழிகாட்டுதலின் அருமை பற்றி யாரும் எடுத்துரைக்கத் தேவையில்லை.

குறிப்பு: இதன்காரணமாகவே, ஆன்மீகம் பற்றிய ஆர்வமே இல்லாதவர்களின் நிலை பற்றித் திருமதி ஸ்வாமி அடிக்கடி வருத்தப்பட்டாலும்கூட, ஸ்வாமி வலியச்சென்று யாரிடமும் ஆன்மீகம் பற்றிப் பேசுவதில்லை.

~ஸ்வாமி
@PrakashSwamy

Avvai KuRaL 203 ~ Guru & ShivA

Avvai KuRaL 203 ~ Guru & ShivA

குருவின் அடிபணிந்து கூடுவது அல்லார்க்கு
அருவமாய் நிற்கும் சிவம்.

Guruvin adipaNindhu kooduvadhu allARkku
AruvamAi nhiRkum Shivam.

Without surrendering to a Guru and remaining connected with him/er in some way, it's not possible to experience the divine.

In the culture of Bharat, i.e. SanAthana DharmA, which emphasises that Mukthi or liberation is the true purpose of life, the Gurus who offer ways and methods to attain liberation have always been given an exalted position in the society. Even in the present era, when people madly chase victory in everything, there is no change in a Guru’s importance.

The reason for that is, Gurus know the ways and means for liberation, through direct experience inward, known as Self-Realisation or Enlightenment. Those who've attained Self-Realisation are celebrated as Realised Beings & Masters in this ancient culture.

Such realised beings & Masters know that ShivA or the omnipresent divine or Parabrahmam isn't in the deities worshipped in temples but resides as a living reality within each and every piece of creation, experientially. The saying “GuruvEy Shivam,” i.e. Guru is ShivA, also emphasises the revered state of the enlightened beings.

Since they're aware that the blissful experience of self-realisation is a possibility for every human being, they offer the methods and techniques to others. So, without getting the Grace of such a Realised Master and without following / practicing the methods offered by such a Guru, God or Divine will remain an invisible idea or concept.

However many holy places or places of worship they go to worship the divine, however many sermons and discourses they listen to about the divine, without the guidance of a Guru, it's not possible for them to realise the divinity within oneself and remain immersed in the state of eternal bliss.

Note: All religious heads are not necessarily realised beings or Masters. That's why, Spirituality is beyond the confines of religion. That's also why, anyone belonging to any religion can follow the methods offered by any Guru, i.e. Self-realised / Enlightened Master.

Be joyful & Spread the Cheer :) 

~Swamy
@PrakashSwamy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Avvai KuRaL is a new Nano series of bite-sized bloggets, umm.. blog+nuggets, by Swamy, exploring the spiritual treatise written by the venerable tamil poetess AvvaiyAr, in the astounding KuRaL poetry format.

You’re welcome to cherish other Swamy blog posts (Swamystery, Been There Seen That, Swamyview, Swamyverse, Swamygraphy), Quotes (SwamyQuote) & Poems (Swamyem – including 200+ #DhinamOruPadhigam hymns), leave a comment and share it with your social circles. 

You’re also welcome to stay connected to Swamy (@PrakashSwamy) on Social Media.

Avvai KuRaL 152 ~ Theory vs Practice!

Avvai KuRaL 152 ~ Theory vs Practice!

Let's start the Avvai KuRaL series with a counterintuitive KuRaL.

வாக்கும் கருத்தும் மயங்கும் சமயங்கள்

ஆக்கிய நூலினும் இல்.

vAkkum karuththum mayangum samayangaL

Akkiya nhoolinum il.

Wonderful religious discourses, the deeper insights offered during such discourses and the holy books or scriptures of a(ny) religion cannot offer liberation (mukthi).

Most humans belong to one religion or another, from the time of their birth (not much of a choice there). Some even switch to a different religion in between. All religions have holy books or scriptures. Wise / holy persons who are well-versed in those tomes in each religion, will offer discourses or sermons on the content of those books or scriptures, covering diverse topics such as liberation, ethics and values, devotion, etc. Based on their knowledge and experience, they may even offer additional interpretations of those ancient tomes. But however good those books or discourses or their explanations are, none of them can actually offer liberation itself.

Self-realisation or realising the Truth of Life is not only a possibility for every human being, it’s also an intensely personal inner experience. Holy books or scriptures and the discourses based on them may at best offer methods or techniques for the realisation or enlightenment in theory but not the experience itself, which is a practical, and deeply personal, experience. That’s why Spirituality is distinct from Religion as the seeking and the ultimate realisation is possible for any human being, irrespective of the religion they belong to or even if they don’t belong to any religion (agnostic).

* Avvai KuRaL is a new Nano series of bite-sized bloggets, umm.. blog+nuggets, by Swamy, exploring the spiritual treatise written by the venerable tamil poetess AvvaiyAr, in the astounding KuRaL poetry format.

You’re welcome to cherish other Swamy blog posts (Swamystery, Been There Seen That, Swamyview, Swamyverse, Swamygraphy), Quotes (SwamyQuote) & Poems (Swamyem – including 200+ #DhinamOruPadhigam hymns), leave a comment and share it with your social circles. You’re also welcome to stay connected to Swamy (@PrakashSwamy) on Social Media.

Be joyful & Spread the Cheer :) 

~Swamy

@PrakashSwamy

NhAladiyAr 400 ~ 118 - Different Cows, Same Milk!

NhAladiyAr 400 ~ Verse 118 ~ Different Cows, Same Milk!

ஆவேறு உருவின ஆயினும் ஆபயந்த
பால்வேறு உருவின அல்லவாம் - பால்போல்
ஒருதன்மைத் தாகும் அறநெறி ஆபோல்
உருவு பலகொளல் ஈங்கு.

Cows may be of different colours or breeds. But the milk offered by them remains the same - white in colour, irrespective of which colour a cow has on its skin or the breed it belongs to. Truth - the eternal reality known as ParaBrahmam - too is similar.

The paths that lead to the ultimate Truth (& the teachers or Gurus who offer them) may be as different as the many varieties of cows, but the outcome of all the paths - self-realization or liberation or mukthi - is the same, just like the milk of the cows.

நாலடியார் 400 ~ பாடல் 118 ~ பசுக்கள் பல, பால் ஒன்று!

பசுக்கள் பல்வேறு நிறத்தில், பல வகைகளைச் சார்ந்தவையாக இருந்தபோதும், அவை தரும் பால் வேறு நிறத்திலோ, வடிவத்திலோ இருக்காது (எல்லாப் பசுக்களின் பாலும் வெண்மையாகவே இருக்கும்). அறமும் - என்றும் நிலையான, பரப்பிரம்மம் எனப்படும் பேருண்மை - அத்தகையதே. அவ்வறத்தை, அதாவது மெய்ஞானத்தை (தனிப்பட்ட அனுபவமாகத் தன்னை உணர்தல்) அடைவதற்கு இருக்கக்கூடிய பலவகையான வழிகள் (யோக முறைகள்) பலவிதமான பசுக்களைப் போன்றவையே.

வழிமுறைகள் மற்றும் அவற்றை வழங்கும் ஆசான்கள் அல்லது குருமார்கள், பசுக்களைப் போல் பல்வேறு விதமாக இருந்தாலும், அவை அனைத்தின் மூலம் கிடைக்கும் பாலானது, மெய்ஞானம் எனப்படும் பேரின்பம் அல்லது வீடுபேறு என்ற விடுதலையே ஆகும்.

~Swamy
@PrakashSwamy

Guru Devo Maheswara!

Today is "Guru Poornima" - the day to celebrate and bow before one's Guru in absolute reverence! Here are the links to Swamy's blog posts & quotes on my Master Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. May his boundless grace descend upon those who get to know of him through these.

Guru - SwamyRay quote on the dispeller of darkness.

In the Lap of the Master - Boundless Grace for all beings! - blog post on Swamy's first hand experience in the presence of his Master for the first time!

Silence is the Way! - blog post on Samyama, the 8 day silence program in the presence of my Master 

Less is More! - blog post connected to the 60 day preparation for Samyama program.

Saying Yes to No! - another blog post related to the 60 day preparation for Samyama program.

Shambho & the 7th Hill! - blog post on Shivanga, the 42 day spiritual process that culminated in the beyond the physical ascent up the 7th hill.

HMV! - blog post on Swamy's motivational messages to his son, based on Sadhguru's daily messages.

Purpose of Life! - Swamy's Glog on one of Sadhguru's quotes.

SwamyView | Sadhguru More Than A Life - Swamy's review of the book on Sadhguru's lives by Arundhathi Subramaniam.

Formless Form! - Swamy's Glog on Shiva, the unmanifest.

SwamyView | The Himalayan Lust - Swamy's review of the book by Sadhguru.

Poems

All That & More!
அவை அனைத்தும், அதற்கு மேலும்!
ஆம் நம சிவாய! 
Silence!

Stay tuned for Swamy's blog series on Kailash - Manasarovar Yatra with Sadhguru in August 2013!

Update Jan-2014:
Mystic Mountain, Mystery Lake! - Kailash-Manasarovar yatra trave(b)log, on the Life altering journey to Adiyogi's abode.
Episode 1 - The Seeker's Tale!
Episode 2 - The Kingdom's Tale!

Update Mar-2015:
Darkest Night, Brightest Light! - Swamy ponders about the wonderful selfless offering of volunteers during Mahashivarathri celebrations.

Update May-2015:
Arputhar (அற்புதர்) - Review of the book (Miracler, err.. Miracle maker) by கலைமாமணி மரபின்மைந்தன் முத்தையா (Marabinmainthan Muthaiah).

Update June-2015

இலன் எனினும் உளன்!  

Shambho!

Be Joyful & Spread the Cheer :)

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Purpose of Life | SadhguruSpeak

SadhguruSpeak series is my tiny contribution - a la the squirrel's to Lord Ram - to my Master Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s magnificent vision of enabling every being to realize their true potential through inner wellbeing. Quotes are my Master's & images are mostly Isha's. Welcome to the Silent Revolution of Self-Realization :)