These are the Words of the Guru translated by Ma. C. Thurairajasigham and the late T. Muttucumaru at Swami's behest. They appeared from time to time in the Sivathondan journal between 1949 and 1961 under the titles of Good Thoughts, Grace Ambrosia, Upadesha Manjari, the Ambrosia of Divine Grace and the Testimony of the Guru. We give below a revised version with new captions:
I.
We are the servitors of Siva.
No harm will befall us, if without forgetting we meditate on
the holy mantram that we have neither beginning nor end,
neither birth or death, neither day nor night, neither happiness
nor sorrow.
What you contemplate, that you become.
Persistent spiritual effort is necessary. Do not becomediscouraged.
Those who fail to toil will not reap any reward.
No pains, no gains is a familiar saying in the world.
perserve until you suceed. Why do you constantly ponder on
unworthy pursuits? Banish these futile intents and worship
God with a full heart. Accept joyfully and carry out whatever is
dispensed to you. In the end everything will lead you to success.
Perform cheerfully whatever work and duties are assigned
to you, and be convinced that everthing that happens is for
the best. It is so.
You may even ignore these things altogether. Both courses are
aceptable.
Your liberation does not depend on action or inaction. Do not
desire to be free of action. Do not become attached to action.
Devote yourself to that which naturally befalls you, whether it
involves action or inaction.
--Natchintanai. 368.
Greater than life itself is good conduct. Those who conduct themselves with rectitude possess everything that is worthwhile. Non-killing, non-stealing, non-vituperation, non-covetness, truthfulness and humility--these are useful assets for virtuous living.
In whatever pursuits you are engaged, you should train yourself to work with zeal, keennesss and delight. Such a discipline will lead you to acqure steadfastness of the mind. It is then that the mind develops the power of one pointedness, which in turn will lead you to enjoy an abundance of anma-sakti. Thenceforth everything will be bright, and you will not be disturbed by the agitations caused by seeing the difference in objects, as friends and foes, light and darkness.
“Everything originates in me; everything finds permancy in me; in me everything revolves in dissolution.” --So must we become suffused with such pure thoughts. Further, we must frequently meditate as follows: “Nothing do I lack; everyone loves me and I too love all.” --Meditating thus, one should endeavour to live up to this ideal. If one can practice spiritual sadhana in this way, the capacity to know everything and the power to do anything will develop spontaneously.
--Natchintanai. 369.
Aum Tat Sat Aum
We are the servitors of Lord Siva. We lack nothing. Our duty is to serve the Lord. It is the fundamental goal of our life in this world.
The moon fulfils the will of Siva. The sun and other planets also carry out His bidding.
The gods and demons, and all other beings are also engaged in the performance of the Lord's work.
In everything do we see the will of Siva at work. Not an atom moves but by His will--nothing gained and nothing lost. We continue to be ever the same.
There is no one above us or superior to us; good and evil cannot affect us. There is no beginning and no end for us. We have no likes or dislikes; we have no desire for material goods. The spectre of the mind does not haunt us; neither are we bound by the limitations of place, time or causation. We simply bear witness to everything around us.
Aum! Tat Sat Aum !
We are the servitors of Siva;
Siva's servitors are we
We are Sivanadiyar;
Sivanadiyar are we.
This is Sariyai--moral excellence
This is Kriyai--service
This is Yoga--harmony
This is Jnana--wisdom.
This is the sacred mystery. In this Truth lies the soveriegn remedy.
Steadfast contemplation leads to the bliss of serenity.
A contemplative is not swayed by rules of conduct. An ascetic life of fasting and norms of discipline have no impact on these ardent servitors of Siva.
These noble legion have so lived, and do live and shall continue to live ithe world ever so spontaneously. No one can fathom their greatness. The sweetness of sugar-candy can only be relished by those who have tasted it.
1. Oru Pollappumillai--Intrinsic evil there is not.
2. Eppavo Mudintha Kaariyam--That is what it is--Accomplished is His Will.
3. Naamariyom--We know not.
4. Muluvathum Unmai--All That IS, is Truth Abolute.
--Natchintanai. 371
Believe in God; Believe in Him with perfect trust. Consider
Him as sweeter than the sweetest of earthly joys. Ponder that
He is the incomparable One. Reflect on His glory night
and day and at all times. Let the constant remembrance of
Him fill the interstices of your being.
Meditate that, “I am naught--He alone Is.”
Let the worship of God be the goal of your life.
Whatsoever you think, that you become.
Cherish the Lord in the recess of your heart.
Everything, everywhere is subject to His Will.
Ultimately it will be seen that he is All in All.
--372.
SivaPeruman is the non-dual Reality.
I glory in contemplating that He and I are inseparably linked in
Oneness.
Whatever one yearns for, that he becomes.
Therefore meditate that Thou and He are in unison. Then shall
all thy acts pulsate as His acts.
The Supreme Reality Is He. He is immanent everywhere.
The One has assumed many forms.
He is beyond birth and death, transcending time and
timelessness;
He is eternal, and ever unchanging.
The perfection of Truth illumines All.
--Natchintanai. 373.
The mind flits like a prancing monkey.
One knows not how to quell its frolics; Well said.
There is a fine remedy within you. Perhaps you have forgotten
it. Listen.
Take in daily the medicine of 'Siva Dhyanam'--contemplation
of Siva.
The pranks of the impish mind will be subdued.
When you take it, mix it with a decoction which also you possess.
Restraint of the tongue and control of desires are the ingredients
which form the decoction. Even this will not suffice.
Everything depends on the correct diet. And that too is within
your control.
This will consist of balanced diet, adequate sleep and moderate exercise. Thus fulfilment is assured.
Follow this prescription for the well being of your Soul.
If one yearns to control and subdue the mind fully, one should
practise Siva Dhyanam--contemplation on Siva.
It is the ceaseless and constant remembrance of Siva.
He will then begin to concentrate step by step and focus his mind
on the One Supreme Reality.
Peace, serenity, patience and endurance will then blossom
within him.
His mind will be brimming with contentment. Praise or blame
will not affect him; He will dwell in the light of his inner self;
He will radiate benevolence and the good of others shall become
his own blessedness.
If one takes a hand lamp at night, will he falter in the dark?
He will not stumble. Like-wise no evil can shadow the path
of him who meditates on Siva? He will not see any imperfection.
Practice is better than precept.
Ill-will has no place where good-will reigns.
--Natchintanai. 374-375.
The Wise who have known the Self, in whose heart is enthroned
the Lord, will not be deluded by the joys and sorrows of the
earth, but will live benignly in the world as the drops of water
floating on the lotus blooms. Those who do not cultivate
discrimination will be unequal to face the challenges of life.
The wise man who practises dispassion and fosters self-
knowledge will overcome the sway of good and bad forces, and
cease to be selfish and self-centered. It is certain that he will
attain the abiding felicity of the Lord's blessed Feet.
Those ignorant of this Path will be subject to much confusion and
bewilderment.
As the bees rejoice in sipping the honey the flowers after a
long quest, so also doth a devotee experience bliss after searching
in the petals of his heart, and by ceaseless worship shall he find
the honey of immortality.
He will no longer be tossed by shifting values.
Behold a farmer who tills his field, sows paddy, separates the
weed from the growing plant and gathers the corn in the
fullness of time.
Even so doth a devout worker till field of his heart where
abides Siva.
He sows the seed of devotion, plucks out the extraneous weeds
of lust, anger, desire, cruelty, and envy, and enjoys the harvest
of plentitude in Sivam Sarvamayam.
Lo, Siva looks upon the human beings with joy, as blossoms of
beauty adorning the garden of His world.
The goldsmith melts the gold and fashions from it many an ornament.
Siva, the renowned goldsmith takes the molten gold of the soul,
and fashions many a jewel for diverse purposes.
The physician heals many an ailment by prescribing efficacious
decoction, made up of different medicinal herbs.
So too our great Divine Physician heals many an afflication
of the Soul by admonishing a blend of the gross and subtle
matter and secures for it eternal bliss.
The mother delights in seeing her child happy and presents him
with many toys. So too are we, the children of Parama-Siva,
richly blessed by His manifold gifts of love.
The enlightened ones will not yeild to the temptations of the
deluding senses, because they know the Truth, that the Atma
is the Eternal Self.
They will not yeild to the sorrows of desire and attachment.
Their glory is extolled by the Vedas and Agamas.
Truly their presence on earth emanates an unseen power of Love.
This is the secret of victorious Living.
-376.
Oh Man! Thou art Truth! Thou art Goodness! Can
aught harm thee?
Thou art omnipresent! In Eternity art Thou.
As the lion roams about the forest with mighty main, so regally
do thou too move in the domain of the world.
Under no circumstance should you falter.
There is nothing unique in this world. Truth abides in All.
Goodwill prevails everywhere.
Oh Man! Seek not to assert authority over anyone or anything
in this world.
Always be a witness. Nobility is your heritage.
It cannot be inherited by any stratagem.
That art. It is so. All else is a mirage.
Thou art neither ignorance nor knowledge.
Thou art Paramatma. Aum Tat Sat Aum.
Oh Man! Practice patience.
It is the key to know Thyself.
Grieve not! Joy and sorrow are part of the phenomena of the
world
Thou art Conciousness pure.
Nothing need overpower you. Be vigilant and ever wakeful.
Use the key of Siva-Dhyanam to open the avenue to everlasting
Mukti, the beautific state of liberation.
Thereafter everything will be revealed to you.
Aum Santi, Santi, Santi.
--377.
Oh Friend! Who has the perogative to declare thee as a sinner?
Art thou not a facet of Siva? Has thou forgotten it?
Repeat ceaselessly, Aum Tat Sat and surrender yourself fully
at His Feet.
Do not reglect meditation on Siva. Ultimately all will be well.
Free thyself from the bonds of effort and effortlessness.
Of what use is a multitude of words? A rich harvest can result
only out of a fruitful soil.
Fear not. We are the bondsmen of Siva,
Even as Siva is immortal, so too are We.
Heat and cold, joy and sorrow, youth and age are but the
concomitants of nature.
Why need we be afflicted by the reactions of our deeds? Let
the tide of cause and effect rise and ebb in the natural process.
Remember that we are eternal. We are imperishable.
Truth cannot be negated.
What is not cannot be equated with what is.
There is naught but felicity for us who bide by Siva's Will.
When we have surrendered everything at Siva's Feet, we can
never suffer from want or greed.
We are the multi-colored gems strung to the cord of Siva.
The cord shall never be reft asunder, nor shall we suffer any
separation. Why expound futher?
Aum Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.
--Natchintanai. 378.
The Soul is eternal; undifferentiated; It is Perfection.
The body is mortal; (differentiated) subject to separation.
When this is so, how then can we equate the two?
If we attempt to do it, can there be anything more sacrilegious?
The soul is everlasting. It is supreme.
The body has a birth and is subject to overlordship.
When this is so, can we compare these two? Such comparisons
are odious.
The Soul is wisdom intrinsic? It is immaculate purity.
The body savours of ignorance and is impure.
What folly is it to compare these two?
--379.
The Soul is radiance, self luminous.
The body is by nature veiled in darkness. Can we draw any
parallel between the two?
He who conceives himself as a body is like unto a man, who
thinks that he is made up of the potter's clay.
He is an illumined man, who considers himself perfect,
immortal and enlightened. Even the gods cannot equal him in
stature.
He who tunes himself to be tranquil in the midst of discordant
situations, who realises that he is changeless and is of the
essence of Purity will be extolled by the sages as a Seer.
How can we say that the world is an entity and the body too,
when the Vedas and Agamas proclaim that the Supreme One
alone is immanent in this universe, and that It alone is all-
pervasive, with nothing else beside it or beyond it? It is not
Ignorance to think that the objective phenomena and the body
can exist independant of the Supreme One?
Sang the Sages of old: “Thou Art One; In many art Thou too.”
Thus it is clear that there is nothing apart from the Supreme
One. His Will prevails from everlasting to everlasting.
The Word--It vibrates in the light of Peace--Mounam.
The Act--It pulsates in the light of Peace--Mounam.
Everything radiates the effulgence of Peace Perfect
Peace.
--Natchintanai. 380.
Sivathondan. Vol. XIV. 1949--
Vol. XXIII. 1960.
I.
Follow thou the precepts of the Seers in general and the utter-
ances of the Four Saints.
Moral rectitude is excellent; It is the symbol of good breeding;
It gives sweet content.
Worship thy ancestal preceptors.
Walk in the footsteps of the Great Masters.
Love all as thou loveth thyself.
Heaven in within you.
This world wanes and waxes in constant succession.
The Lord pervades in water, air, ether, sky and land.
There is harmony in this Universe.
Study Kalladam. Do not engage in argument with the sceptics.
Not even the minutest atom moves without His will. If ye know
this, you will realise the Truth.
If you are true to your own self, then everything will be well.
Thou can'st make God, thy bondsman.
Be Thou at Peace--Attain the Freedom of Being--
Equal may
you be!
Immerse in the the Awareness of Silence. There is nothing beyond it.
Just as houses are useful to dwell, so are the religions useful
steps in a man's life.
Behold the Lord in everything in the world. Abide ye in Reality;
It abides in Thee.
Thou need not go in search of anyone. Distinctions
between
great and small shall recede to the background.
Diverse
are the forms that emanate from the One.
The Lord and I are inseparable. Therefore it behaves me to
keep myself pure, and sanctify the body as a fitting
abode
for Him.
Blessed is the service to the world. Blessed are those who serve
in the cause of Sivathondu.
He worships God constantly who works in a spirit of dedication.
Ignorance begins to wane when ye realise that God dwells
within you.
Can the legs usurp the work of the hands? So too the
function
of the legs cannot be done by the hands. Hence how
can
we beguile ourselves into differentiating between the
great
and small persons?
All are indispensable.
In as much as the spirit abides in a man's body, aiding him to eat, walk and sleep, so also doth the spirit of God move in thisUniverse. Everything is His sport.
That Thou mayest realise the Beloved who rests in thy bosom,
purity of mind and a wholesome body are essential.
There is neither gain nor loss.
The body is thy shelter. Thou art the Lord's abode.
Wander not but practise discipline.
The mind's fullness is the truest wealth.
Walk in the light thou hast; It is wrong to delude yourself
merely to please others.
Death too is a game.
Illness is a sacrificial boon of grace.
Good conduct is dearer than life itself.
What thou doeth is for thine ownself. One cannot help another.
We are THAT: We do not become THAT.
Under no circumstance, and from no one should we beg.
Guru and disciple are not seperate entities. All are THAT.
Man must endure suffering. It is the invigorating tonic.
Smile at thyself when sorrow befalls you. Joy and
sorrow affect
only the body.
Control thy mind step by step. Direct thy thoughts to God and
learn to concentrate on Him
Free thyself from the bonds of desire and hatred for any object.
Discern with equanimity praise and blame.
In matters of spirituality, do not associate with those who have
no devotion.
Speak the truth boldly in the company of persons.
Let not the sway of authority deviate you from acting according
to your conscience.
Better than the knowledge gained from books, is the wisdom
begot of noble men's association.
Justice, Discrimination, Courage and Truth are the Soul's jewels.
Obedience to fear is the mark of the cowards:Obeisance to
Love is the hall-mark of the strong.
Whatever belongs to you should be shared with Him.
By pointing at evil, one cannot purge evil; by means of goodness, integrity, and love can evil be overcome.
A man who has no patience cannot be a man of justice.
“That I am; that I abide in every being,” are truths which
most people cannot easily comprehend.
Better than scholarship and book knowledge is the descipline
of inward reflection, concentration and remembrance.
True Education should lift the veil of ignorance in man.
Never be despondant that your progeny has not increased.
Think not that according to my decree or your decree, that this universe is twain.
He who is prompted to do good to others is innately accentuated
by the desire to do good to himself.
Self interest is the ulterior motive.
Neither the world nor thy neighbor can be improved.Seek ye
first to improve yourself.
The path of virtuous conduct is the only path of San
Marga
known to me.
It is universal. Thus I speak in Truth. It is universal.
In truth I speak thus. This is the path by which ye canknow yourSelf.
Suffice it to follow the virtuous code for righteous living. There
need not be any undue effort to know God.
He who has the strength of mind will not falter. He who isconfused will not realise the Truth.
Into the world you came empty handed; Likewise empty handed
will you quit when the call comes.
If you aspire for Mukti in this birth, make thy mind a crematorium and reduce to ashes the flaming desires that arise therein.
Change and decay regulate all objects with form: The mind too
is one with form and hence must suffer extinction.
Let not the effects of past deeds rise in quick succession and
overpower you. Chant the Panchakshara--the mantra
of
the Five Letters.
The Lord God is not the cause of Good and Evil.
Those saints who have purged their minds of pollution will not be defiled even in the midst of dross, everafter.
One word of Grace will disentangle you from the
mesh of past
actions. Do not delude thy knowing self revealed to you
by His Grace, with thy egoism.
The World is a picture.
Ponder on the term brother and scoundrel as of balancedconnotation.
Look upon thy mother in her assigned role, and the dog in its role, and thy ailment in its proper perspective, and act accordingly.
This spacious earth is a garden of meditation.
Display not sweetness before the debased, and shake not the
brass pot with tamarind.
He is beauteous who though cripled in body is not crippled inspirit.
Mukti is Freedom of Being. Emacipation consists in sustained
enjoyment of unruffled serenity.
Do not entangle yourself with those who sow discord.
The Lord's Wisdom cannot be encompassed in books.
Brahmacharya consists of a disciplined life and conforms to the
harmonious conduct of the body, mind, and word.
Pronounce the Pranavam and take refuge in the Lord.
It is not for your wife, children or kinsmen that you should grieve for.
'Tis yourself that you have to sorrow most about for not knowing
thySelf.
If one has moral excellence, grace befriends him.
If he has the perfection of knowledge, grace betides him.
If he has the aspiration for service, grace abides in him.
Chastity is the quality of loyalty to the Supreme Beloved.
Men and women should possess it.
If there is a slur in your divine heritage, you cannot perform yourduty well.
Each man must perform his own assigned duty
(Svadharma),
and it is for the Lord to vouchsafe grace on him.
My duty is to do His bidding and serve; it is His will to succour
me and shower His grace.
Restrain thy hands: restrain thy legs; restrain thy
tongue;
restrain thy generative organ. Such a man is a
warrior.
Control thy mind with the aid of 'discriminating reason', and
rule over it.
Curb the inclination for evil thoughts, and do not
wait to act
until it is too late. A house on fire should be
extinguished
at once and not left to burn down.
The image of illusion is the body. It helps to promote egoism.
Why struggle to work out involved arithmetic mentally?
It is easier to solve it with the aid of necessay tools such as
paper. So also, it is easier to begin with the help of the body,
and then seek the aid of the mind. Begin therefore to worship with rituals, and proceed to the worship by the mind.
By the daily worship in a holy sanctuary for an year, in righteous
conformity to the accepted tradition, even the childless
women can enjoy the boon of progeny.
Whether it is a consecrated life of renunciation, or any other
walk of life, show deference as is meet.
He who is inordinately ambitious cannot do his duty well.
He is a man of wisdom who wanders like a seeming dead man,
without undue attachments.
As the all-pervasive ether, so is the Lord all-pervading.
'Mystic Union' is the conjunction of the Jivatma with the
Paramatma.
Know, that he who believes that God is within him, has experi-enced illumination.
Cultivate inward peace of heart, even though you are involved
in the daily tasks like any ordinary man of the world.
By
sincere devotion you can realise Iswara directly.
Even the ascetics who have advanced in spirituality are inclined
to be dragged by the weight of the senses five, which tend to
break all barriers. Therefore do thou ceaselessly meditate
on Siva in order to attain Self-realisation. Only he who has
been blessed by His Grace, can control his senses five.
Constantly pray to Siva. When a man distracts himself
with the things of the world, then will attachments spring up.
From attachments arise desires. Desire begets vexingimpatience, and resentment leads to confusion. Fromthe conflict of tensions commence wrong doing.
Therefore
fortify thyself by Siva Dhyanam--the contemplation of Siva.
When we deviate from the path of Dharma, we commit wrongs
on account of our frail nature. The worship of Siva alone
can save us from evil and grant us strength. Not all
the
treasures of the world can help us to subjugate our unruly
passions. Therefore invoke the divine Grace, so that thou
shalt steer clear fo the fleeting ambit of sensations, by a
disciplined mind.
The enlightened ones called it the practice of Tapas orpenance. Resoluteness cannot otherwise be acquired,
not
even by profuse offering or sacrificial rituals.
The billows surge from the sea; so too arise the waves of
thoughts from the mind.
Yoga means confluence. So say the Seers. Whenever we
want to get at an object, our hands must work in unison.
Likewise when we want to attain God-realisation, our
minds
must work in steadfast humility and concentration.
Subjugation of the mind is not an easy task. It cannot be
done in a day or a year. If one is always vigilant, the capricious mind may yeild a little to the pressure of restraint.
If one knows the secret talisman to control the
rebellious mind,
and bring it under submission to the Lord's Will, it
will
signal a significant conquest.
AumTat Sat Aum--That alone is Real.
Sivathondan. Vol. XXIII. Nos. 8-12. 1960.
Vol. XXIV. Nos. 1-7. 1961.