Time for a broader perspective of Space

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In the previous two notes, we explored how most of us are locked in a limited perception of time and self, endlessly chasing life goals without any relief in sight. For most, the only relief that comes is in death. What are we living for? What is the purpose of this human life? What is the point in chasing behind elusive future ambitions when you are not able to enjoy the pleasures of today? These are questions we rarely have time to answer. But, there is no more ‘time’ to be languishing in this ignorance.

We are today poised at a time in history when Earth itself is evolving to her next stage. As we hurl through space, aligning ever more to the central sun, there are some extraordinary celestial events that have happened, are happening or are is going to happen such as the movement into the photon belt, galactic alignment, the alignment of the Suns, precession of Equinox, the solar flares, etc. As the Earth experiences a shift in energy due to these events, she goes through a transformation where before evolving into a lighter/higher density, she goes through a dark period and purging/pralaya.

Right now, we are almost at the end of this transition – as a result, what is called a shift in consciousness is occurring – from existing in 3rd Density, we are moving to 5th Density (an increase in frequency). The lower the density, the higher the feelings of separation from the creator (duality) and grosser are our experiences. Now, as the Earth moves to 5D, it gives us an opportunity as well to increase our vibration and move closer to the frequency of light.

Do not let the words confuse you – this transition can be viewed and considered from multiple angles – whether from a purely spiritual/”god consciousness”/belief perspective OR astronomical perspective with regards to the celestial events that are triggering this, OR from the perspective of an increase in frequency/vibration. But whatever angle you approach from, or whatever feels comfortable to you, the truth is we are facing a wonderful opportunity to move into a higher state of vibration nearing the frequency of light.

So, how do we move to 5D? It is very simple though may not "easy" in current times – all we need to do is hold the frequency of love and truth in our lives, and purge ourselves of our past baggage, ego-self and make all attempts to come out of the grips of ignorance, it will happen automatically as we align our vibration with Earth.

However, for those of us that are still caught in the dramas of our limited selves, this will indeed prove to a testing period.

Ultimately, as the Rishis and Siddhars outline, the end of Kali-yuga may even destroy your very soul. But before that, the inner struggle of your soul will reflect in your external life bringing you much pain and challenges. This is why it is important to know that your real self is not merely what you are today. “You” are much much more – a multidimensional being as they call it. And tools such as meditation, yoga, mindfulness and any of the hundred other holistic practices are designed and being made available to us today for this very reason.

As we take time to practice this and realize and break out of the limited perception of Self, Time and Space, we can realize a higher truth about our own existence and ‘reality’. We can finally move out of duality and experience the universal consciousness that has been spoken about – Or bring the universal consciousness into physical reality into our daily lives.

In short, the need of the hour is this:
1. Live a life of love towards yourself, your family, all human beings and all beings
2. Shed the past baggage/karma (there are many tools for karma cleansing)
3. Shed the ego-self (practicing humility, self-work, soul work)
4. Educate yourself and come out of ignorance (stop subjecting yourself to the influences of the external world, frequency control, Maya, etc, etc.)

#GoldenAge #TimePerception #Ascension #Spiritualgrowth

Time for a broader perspective of your "Self"

Beyond your identity (name, age, nationality, family, job, inclination, etc, etc,), do you know who you are? Even sustainability (and spiritual identity!) are identities we take on according to our likes, desires, influences, need to do "good" and share, ego, and past actions. Now, suppose, all of that is taken away from you - what would you have left?

In that context, where did you come from? Who are you? How long are you going to live? Where are you going to go after this? Ever thought about it?

It's very easy to answer all the above quickly from an intellectual standpoint made from knowledge obtained from books/such sources. However, "experiencing" this "knowledge" is more important than just understanding it from the "mind". Before religions got corrupted with power and human ego needs, their role in the society was to encourage individuals to pursue and seek this exact "experience". Now, most religions have become blockages rather than stepping stones.

As a result, the so-called "modern man", especially one living in urban areas with urban influences, feels proud to throw away their cultural and religious teachings (the real teaching and not the made-up/altered ones!) and call themselves "modern", delighted in his/her unencumbered state. Unfortunately, it's like throwing the baby with the bathwater!

Now, devoid of a soothing background of any cultural or religious or ancestral values, we are left to grapple with ourselves as our lifestyles get increasingly fast-paced, our work, societal and family pressures skyrocket, and our individual identities get stacked up dangerously as a cover-up looking like it might crumble at the slightest touch.

Fortunately, thanks to the many good souls who have taken it upon themselves to "awaken" the "modern man", we have so many schools and gurus now trying to teach ways to help people discover thy "Self" - whether it is meditation, yoga, self-introspection, energy work or any other activity that brings us closer to ourselves. Unfortunately, these schools and gurus are also facing the same pressures of the current time and end up either confusing us even more OR completely disillusioning us with their strict rules, compliance mandates and "almost-a-new-religion-in-the-making" kind of functioning!

So, where/who do we turn to then? Who can be our real guides who can help us know our "Self"?

And most importantly, why is it crucial and urgent to do this NOW (not when you get old, not next year, not tomorrow, but NOW)?

Time for a broader perspective of Time

All of us are well aware of the concept and importance of time in our lives – from our desires, wants and needs dictating our daily routines to weekly tasks to monthly ‘to-dos’ to annual planning – However, sadly, one’s perception of time is mostly confined to thinking within the limits of one’s own lifetime. And that would be perhaps about 80, 90 or 100 years maximum in current times. By studying history, one may extend this to a few more hundred years. But that is about it.

The ‘limited’ perception of time is one reason for apathy (including things like throwing garbage on street!) and many of the unethical (as per generic human standards but also, more importantly, our own) or unpleasant activities/ emotions/ feelings/ thoughts we let grow in our minds and lives. But it’s ‘time’ to wake up to a broader perspective of time.

As we are all well aware, time is cyclic – the ‘wheel of time’ or ‘kaalachakra’ is a concept well ingrained in our minds from the times of watching Mahabharata on Doordarshan! But as we continue chasing our desires and living up to other’s rules, we lose sight of this ‘nature’ of time. Our perception of time becomes ‘limited’ to days, weeks, months, years, and one lifetime. For those that believe in reincarnation, the perception of time may well extend to many lifetimes – but that is a rarity.

Belief or no belief, know that, in this cycle of time, we are now at a crucial juncture. Whether you want to think of it in terms of Hinduism/Buddhism that talks about the four yugas of Satya/Treta/Dwapara/Kali yuga, OR the Greek system of Golden/Silver/Bronze/Iron age, OR any other system that talks about “end times/ Apocalypse” and rebirth of the Earth, know that we are now in transition. The transition from the dark ages/iron ages/Kali yuga that we are currently living in to the Golden age or Satya yuga.

Just take a look at some of the world events - from excess floods in one part of country to severe drought in another part of the same country, or raging forest fires whether in America or Australia, to the ice melting and real global warming threats to the world we live in - all of it seem to be orchestrating some sort of ‘destruction’. While human activity is certainly a reason for many of these ‘events’, you must know that this is also a result of the cycle of time. In other words, these are expected to happen as Mother Earth shakes off all the crap we have piled on her and goes through a cleansing cycle to be reborn – to usher in the Golden age.

This is also a precious opportunity for all our souls to ‘cleanse’ itself of all the baggage it may be carrying from of all its births so far. As with all things connected to this particular way of perception of time on Earth, we cannot afford to miss this ‘opportunity’. If we do, we will simply be bystanders as the rest of the ‘awake’ humanity uses the chance to make the transition – and this is the best that can happen. The worst, of course, is the complete destruction of our soul – not our human body, not our ego identity, but the death of our very soul itself.

In short, this is not the time to waste time on your worries and concerns and go chasing things in the external world. This is the time to have a ‘timeout’ to really consider what’s important for you, deep inside. And once you find that, do as your heart dictates.

Are you doing that?

#GoldenAge #TimePerception #Ascension #Spiritualgrowth

Parvathamalai - The hill of the Parashakti

Just like Tiruvannamalai and Sathuragiri, Parvathamalai in Tamilnadu is another beautiful, spiritual refuge where one can get a few quiet moments to oneself to contemplate all about life. Only that is, if one doesn't get distracted by the plastic bottles, trash and various other litter that generously dots the hill.

Situated about 30 km from Tiruvannamalai, Parvathamalai is roughly 3500 - 4200 feet in height and is a magnificent mountain that raises her head tall in the entire region. The view from the top is mind-blowing - on one side, she looks at Arunachala and on another, the entire Javvadu hill range stretches out as green as grass on all sides. What a sight to behold for the brave aspirant who can climb up conquering his/her fear. That's right - the climb up Parvathamalai is an arduous task.

First, there are about 1100 man-made steps, then there are rough cut rocks made into steps supported by installed iron rods. These support structures were sponsored and installed by a group of devotees who formed a trust (called the "Triplicane Sri Paruvathamalai Adiyargal Thiruppani Sangam") themselves to raise funds and carry out the work. No amount of gratitude will be enough to thank them. The rock steps then slowly give way to bigger, more rough paths which finally lead to what you can easily call the most dangerous thing you might do in your life - you need to climb up an almost vertical boulder with just sparsely placed iron rods to pull yourself up. At one point, you will reach a particular ledge where you need to literally cling to the rock face while looking below into a deep spasm or look ahead into the beautiful lands and hills stretching out in front of you. If you don't shake with fear, you are definitely bound to shake with hysteria-induced laughter if you are a first-timer.

Once you reach the hilltop, the wind welcomes you in all his glory - ha, so much wind, so much wind that you might even be tempted to let yourself get carried away. Until I felt the winds of Parvathamalai, I never realized that I have been missing the wind dearly. He has been such an integral part of my life, having grown up next to a seashore - and I miss him so severely in the polluted urban space I live in right now. Once your heart settles - from all that fear, beauty, awe and the sheer magnificence and amazement that you have made it to the top, the little temple where Shiva and Bramharambigai reside await you.

Unlike other temples where there are priests performing poojas for you, the Parvathamalai temple is special - anyone can express their devotion and do alankarams, abhishekams or any poojais to the deities themselves. You are welcome to sit and meditate as well. It is a belief that there are many siddhars and great sages have lived on this hill, and many in fact still visit it in their sookshma sharira.

I don't know about the siddhars but my very gross human mind is disturbed at the sights I saw on my way up and down Parvathamalai last week. If you have read my post about Sathuragiri, you will know why. Earlier, the case with Tiruvannamalai inner path was also the same. Fortunately, there's a ban on inner girivalam now - Arunachala is spared of human apathy. All of us are so consumed with our own lives, our own little worries and our own built-up little fantasies that one empty plastic bottle becomes such a burden that it needs to be thrown away - irrespective of whether you are in the midst of a city market or the most sacred of places you believe in. And, please, let's not even get into why use disposable plastic bottle in the first place - that argument is for another day.

Having done the climb, and carried my own (plastic) bottle, I can tell that it will weigh very heavily on you the moment the last drop of water leaves it. Let's be real. For a person for whom the next step itself is an effort (as is such climbs or girivalam, whether it is Sathuragiri, Tiruvannamalai or why even Kailash), carrying one extra load is just not logical. For the average person with awareness, the eyes search for a trash bin - perhaps for the next 100 steps. Don't find one? Utter a small prayer (maybe) and throw that bottle down wherever. No, I did not do that, am talking about how the mentality of the others who have done the act might have worked. And then there are the monkeys who are ever ready to snatch the bottles from you, carry them deep into the mountains - as the poor things are looking for water all the time. Net result? Trash all over - plastic water bottles, "Tata Glucose cans", plastic water satchets, candy wrappers, biscuit wrappers...and in some odd cases, even some left behind underwear!!

So, what can one do? What would you do? Remember you are already spent - obviously (maybe) you can attempt to churn the ocean and try to clean up on your way down. I did do it when I went on the inner girivalam and felt such a sense of love from Arunachala. So, if you are called to do it, please please do it. But not the average person - they wouldn't spare a glance at the bottles when they are coming down either (when it might be easier to carry an extra load). And don't tell me - let's ban the sale of water bottles. There are utterly poor village families who are relying on selling water, biscuits and other things at the foothills. There is no water or source of water on top of the hill - they depend entirely on rainwater which is extremely sparse in summer. Can't ban the sale of water bottles (till we find another sustainable, workable solution to package water in). How about banning people from going at all to the hills, unless they carry their own reusable water bottles OR swear in blood that they will bring back their trash (and others')? Fantastic - that would be the ideal solution.

But its not an ideal world. Not yet.

In the meantime, we can't sit and crib behind our computers either. For you see, armchair activism can be very compelling. Or human memory can be very weak - you feel so aghast at something one moment but a few moments later when your life calls you, you will forget the very thing that moved you in the first place. But if one gets an inspiration or a calling that seems to be from above, one can't ignore. Nope.

Here's giving birth to "Swacha Malai". A small effort at cleaning the hills, especially those that are battered by human ignorance and apathy. Let the trashers continue trashing till they learn better but let not the cleaners stop working.

If you have been in a similar situation, and didn't know how to contribute, perhaps you want to join hands with me and sponsor and give employment to a local person to undertake a regular clean up. If so, get in touch with me please - 98860 followed by 68649 is the number.

Healthy Vegan Cookies (Made with Whole Wheat, Coconut Oil and Palm Sugar)

I finally cracked the recipe for the perfect vegan version of the whole wheat cookie thanks to a recipe request from a friend. I am so thrilled that I couldn't stop myself from sharing it here!!

It turned out so crispy and so yummy...a delightful cross between coconut biscuit, butter biscuit, and choco chip cookies. A must try for sure.

Ingredients
* 1 cup wheat flour
* 1/2 - 3/4 cup powdered brown sugar or palm sugar (depending on taste preference). Can replace with Jaggery powder too
* 1/3 cup Coconut oil
* 1/2 Teaspoon salt
* 1/2 Teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 Teaspoon baking powder
* 1 Teaspoon vanilla essence (I don't use this as I am not sure what you get in the regular market is synthetic chemicals or the real Vanilla essence. I am just waiting for my Vanilla plant to start flowering to make my own essence!!)

Optional: 1/3 cup of walnuts or choco chips or other nuts. You may grind the nuts roughly along with the palm sugar to get a better texture instead of the nuts as is when you bite into the cookie.

How to make:

1. Mix all ingredients together to the consistency of thick chapati dough.
2. Make it into small balls and flatten slightly into cookie shapes. If balls don't form, add one spoon or more of water and try again.
3. Preheat oven. Bake at 180° c for 12-15 mins (Alter time according to the preference for softness or crispness and oven condition).
4. Cookies will spread on being baked. So make small balls/flats.
5. Once baked, cool for a few mins and then bite into the best vegan whole wheat cookies you have tasted in a while.

Sathuragiri - Open secrets no one is going to tell you about

Please read this note before you decide to read the entire blog:

Sathuragiri is a beautiful place but more than that, it has been described by most everyone as a "mystical" place for wonderful spiritual experiences. If you'd like to read some of these divine experiences, please head to this, this, this and this blog. From Siddhars (Mystic saints of South India known for their devotion to Shiva and skills in subjects such as astronomy, medicine, alchemy, etc.) appearing as dogs to guide people on the path....to visions and divine guidance in dreams, the picture one gets after going through all these resources and hearsay is that of a miraculous place on Earth where even the common man (read someone who is not even on the Sadhana path) may get blessed by the divine. The call to visit Sathuragiri and to be able to actually make it is something that is not in our control. Also, one needs to be extremely "aware" and "open" to actually experience anything, they say - whether a meeting with a Siddhar or some other divine experience. But once you have got your call, you can either loose yourself in devotion, be in the Now and get the divine blessings or you can choose to stay very much grounded, see the harsh reality and feel utter helplessness. My account of this trip and this hill is of the latter kind. So if you want to read a spiritual account, please go read the blogs I have linked to above - they are really wonderful and gives one so much hope as well as directions/tips on how to get to the hills, places/temples to visit, etc. On the other hand, if you'd like to be disillusioned, read on! 

Our train pulled into the Virudunagar station at 4.30 in the morning, running an hour behind schedule. Virudunagar, a town 50 km South of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, was our gateway to the Sathuragiri hills, an offshoot of the Western Ghats well-known in these parts as the "Siddhargal Bhoomi" (meaning abode of the Siddhars). The actual base camp to the Sathuragiri hills was another hour or so drive from Virudunagar. So wasting no time, we went to a beautiful Mango Farm enroute to the hills for a quick refresh and breakfast. The idea was to start the "difficult" trek up the hill (7 or so odd kilometers one way) well ahead of the harsh afternoon sun. Well, that was not to be. Due to various reasons, we could begin our journey from the base camp only by 10.30 or so. By then, the early Summer Sun was out in all his glory, shining resplendent for the benefit of all beings, living and dying, plastic or otherwise.

A mandatory bag check later (in which nothing was really confiscated from our group except a matchbox), we took off with a bamboo pole in each of our hands to assist in the climb that was to come. The path starts off decently enough - stone steps painstakingly laid by the authorities (the workers actually) for about a kilometer or so to aid the seekers and give them comfort as "far" as possible. After that, the hills lay their beautiful grounds open - sharp rocks, narrow paths, deep drops, steep climbs and slippery boulders nestled amidst lovely vegetation, lush forests, mysterious underways and trickling streams. The path climbs up quickly as we gain altitude - apparently, we need to cross seven different hills before we actually get to the "Sathuragiri Hill" - a hill surrounded on all sides by other hills.

The first heart stopping moment comes - the "Vazhukai Parai" or the "Slippery Rock". The story goes that, in ancient times, when people used to carry oil for the lamps in the hill top, many of them slipped on this rock and met their creator and the oil spilt by them further made the rock even more slippery causing many more to meet their creators as well. Hmm, am not sure of the truth behind that story but one thing was for sure - it was a near 70 degree steep incline that looked like something straight out of a military rock climbing training camp!! Well, whether one has attended such a camp or not, there was no choice or alternate path to this Parai - so praying the Monkey God to give me strength, I just went straight at it without looking more than the next foot up. And that made all the difference to the climb for me and it turned out to be an easy one. Heaving a sigh of relief at having conquered that "difficult" one, one's hope was for a relatively easier path then on - well, not to be. It only seemed to get harder! Steeper climbs - though not necessarily slippery - uneven rock steps in which one might easily miss a foot and meet the creator! It looked like the entire terrain was made for mystical experiences - either in this realm if you are the blessed one or in the post-life realm!

Not to sound discouraging but the path was indeed difficult - not for the average Sita or Geetha or Ram or Shyam. But climb it, they did, the thousands of devotees who came in for the auspicious occasion of sani pradosham. It was our sheer luck that we happened to visit the hill on that day, in the company of thousands of people, men, women and young children, lost in their sheer faith and devotion. Mothers carrying their young ones, old men struggling to put the next step forward, men in orange cloths sweeping the steps as they beg and climb, workers carrying heavy loads of rations and supplies on their heads for the shops/temples/mutts on the hill top....one need only look at others to get inspired and keep going. The magic was definitely in the air.... while the plastic was literally everywhere else!

It took us about 5 or 6 hours to reach the hill top. Struggling to put one foot forward after another, we climbed the final steps to the temple - only to find it extremely crowded with not a single gap to even take a peek at the Lord. Well, ingenuity was a skill all of us learnt early so bringing that handy, we caught a quick glimpse of the Abhishekam before we moved on to give our aching bodies a ground to lie on. But the many Annadhana mutts (where food is served free to all devotees) wouldn't have it... "Vanga, Shiva, Vanga, please have food" they went (Come in, Shiva, Come in) imploringly.  Though we had our share of packed lunch, we had to step in, so beseeching was their request. And the food? Equally tasteful.

A full stomach, an aching body and an early morning wake up calls for an early shut down. But not before nature calls. So off we went searching for a place to relieve one self. In a hill, where nearly lakhs of devotees are known to come every fortnight, there was not a single clean toilet to be seen. The one lone toilet complex, with ten or so odd commodes, looked war-ravaged and not cleaned in the last hundred years. The human waste abounded, with not even a single fly in sight. Good news you might think. I would ask you to think otherwise - the waste was so old that even the flies have gone off elsewhere searching for fresh feed. Alright, one can't really ask for material comforts while they come seeking mystical experiences, I know. No problemo! Is there a bush behind which we can relieve ourselves? Sorry, out of the many thousands who climbed up along with you, at least a hundred odd are also looking for the same bush. And don't forget that you are not the first thousand to climb these parts. Hmm, close your eyes and nose and go back to the museum of shit. Done! So where do we deposit our "wipes"? Is there a dust bin in sight? Nope! Throw them to the wind and just hope the wind is not blowing in your direction lest it brings it right back to your face.

Night comes in and with it the much needed darkness - for those of us who couldn't muster enough dollars to pay for the museum visit. But one issue - is one allowed to pee and shit right next to a temple? Well, when nature calls, she calls - whether man decides to build a temple nearby or not, right? Right.

Chirping birds, the sound of faraway bellowing bears in the jungle and some cool breeze - A wonderful day dawns the next morning. Time for our trek down. Just to even think about how we will go down the same steep path sent a chill up our spines. While climbing up was somehow managed, climbing down promised to be a risky affair - one slip, one twist and gone with the wind one will be, along with the heavy hip pouches we were sporting.

Heavy pouches, you ask? Well, where else can one stash all that chikki/chocolate/biscuit wrappers we carefully kept back during the trek up? Not that it would have made a difference. What will a few tiny wrappers add to the million plastic waste that is already strewn all over the paths right? Unfortunately, our "consciousness" was of a different kind. Let the Siddhars wait! Look at that trash, it said. Should we pick it up? Should we initiate a clean up? But the body is already weary from the difficult trek - it will not take kindly to any additional load. Then what about all that plastic that is accumulated there, the heart cried. Is there even a tiny hope of a clean up? The mind boggled at the very thought of it.

When I went to Tiruvannamalai a few months back and got lucky enough to visit the "banned" inner path, I understood why the authorities had banned it within just a few minutes of entering the path. In the "so-called" banned path (which has been banned for more than 5-6 years now), the plastic wrappers were still strewn around - in spite of the repeated attempts of the forest department and the many volunteers who regularly picked up the left over trash. The "devotees" who brave the ban and still come in (like me!!) must be really the devote kind, right? But then why would they still throw their plastic water bottles, plastic wrappers, chocolate covers on their beloved Arunachala? It's not the devotees, you say? Well, the Arunachala is equally dear to the locals, right? In spite of that...in spite of all that ban and rules in Tiruvannamalai, it stands today as a pale representation of it's earlier self - the fringes of Arunachala covered in trash and plastic. A tearful sight. And Kailash? Let me not even go there lest I remember the sound of plastic prayer flags beating gleefully even as the Himalayan wind tried to sweep off all the trash!

Sathuragiri is heading the same route. She is crying desperately for attention, even as a lakh devotees climb up her every fortnight looking for solace and blessing. She is mourning the dumbheadness even as she blesses and gives her children the "mystical" experiences they seek. She is reeling under flying plastic, carelessly thrown trash, contaminated water bodies, long pathways lined with non-decomposing human waste - even as she mercifully feeds them and gives them her abode to rest. While the Siddhars are meditating lost in their devotion, the other mortals are equally lost in their devotion while looking to their immediate conveniences. Before long, am afraid, the Hills will not be known for any "mystical" experiences - rather, they will stand tall as a witness to the destruction mankind is capable of in the name of faith and devotion.

A very very harsh recount of my experience. While they asked me to be "aware" and "open" to mystical experiences and meetings with Siddhars, never did I imagine that my "awareness" will be of the trash mounds and human excreta.

My heart laments - How do we save her? How do we get people to stop trashing her? How do we get the government to take some measure at providing proper sanitation at the hill top? How do we educate the locals about plastic and help them fight for their own land? How, how, how?

Where do I even start?

While the urban groups are fighting to bring in awareness in the cities, our villages are slowly going to the trash. How do I save Shiva from the trash?