Oneness from the perspective of Saint Ramalinga
Dear all,
All over the world, spiritual masters of various paths are generating their positive vibrations towards human beings. Many spiritual paths find its own way to teach “oneness”. Many spiritual saints in the past like Sri Subramanyar, Sri Agasthiyar, Sri Pathanjali, Sri Nandhi, Sri Thiruvalluvar, Sri Thirumoolar, Sri Maunaguru, Sri Arunagirinathar, Sri Babaji, and St.Jesus have made lot of social revolution towards the betterment of humanity and Oneness. Though the real meaning of “Oneness” has been taught by various religious people around the world, convention and conversion of religious activities have led the people in to imbroglio always.
When Difference of belief, religiosity and conversion rate of religion (from one religion to another religion) never revealed truth and oneness among them, one of the Indian saints- poets, Sri Ramalinga Adigal, who was an incarnation of Lord Arutperumjodhi Andavar, unveiled all those differences with his popular songs- Thiruvarutpa. He proclaimed to the world that ‘God’ is with all, and all are in him. He also said, “Convention, practice of rites and rituals are not required to realize God”. Compassion with all living being alone is enough for self-realization and ‘God- Realization.
Today, the entire world pays its highest tributes to saints like Sri Babaji and Saint Jesus for their teaching of peace and brotherhood. In this connection, Respected Sri Yuketheswar Giri wrote a book “The Holy Science," in the year 1894, with a purpose to show the unity in all the religions. Some of the ideas introduced in the book were called "revolutionary" of that time. Later on, his disciple Yogananda wrote a book "The Autobiography of a Yogi," which became and "is" very popular. In this book, he elaborately informed Kiriya yoga, Immortality and saint Babaji. Thus, one may say that the secret of Indian mythology and yoga spread over all the countries in the west.
Like “Holy Science” written by Sri Yuketheswar Giri in the year 1894 with a purpose to show the unity in all the religions, Sri Ramalinga Swamigal wrote 5818 (from his childhood) songs with a purpose to nullify the disparity among the souls. In his ‘Great Sermon’ in the year 1874, He advocated that oneness- Compassion was more essential. His ultimate aim was to eradicate the social disparity such as Religion, Caste, Colour, and Race etc in the world.
He also proclaimed to the world that the almighty is with all, and all are in Him. Thus, he called all the people to come forward to his path for realizing oneness and eradicating death.
ஆடாதீர் சற்றும் அசையாதீர் வேறொன்றை நாடாதீர் பொய் உலகை நம்பாதீர்...
Oh my dear! Illusive world would oscillate you to convert your path
You would not follow it as it is a false one...
Compassion & Altruism
Many saints in the past have taught brotherhood among the people. Few among them extended their love towards all living beings, few among them stressed the non killing of animals, but no one like saint Ramalinga had stressed that compassion was a true penance, which would lift all the levels of spirituality like Yoga. If yoga had shown self realization of soul, compassion would show the manifestation of god and Immortality -says vallalar. If one goes with deep penance for attaining self realization, it takes more years to happen, on the other hand more levels of practice and guidance from a spiritual master is required. One cannot individually practice such yoga or penance. Moreover, the ultimate aim of penance may deviate from its path as if an individual himself/herself believed that he/she is GOD.
Hence, one has to practice ‘Penance’ through natural way so as to reach the level of unwished status for visualizing/ realizing the almighty.
கடுந்தவத்தும் காண்பரிதாம் கடவுளாகி உளவிறந்த எம்போல்வார் உள்ளத்துள்ளே ஊறுகின்ற தெள்ளமுத ஊறலாகி - திருவருட்பா
‘Oh my dear! I tell you the truth and truth only! God may not easily be seen! Many yogis and saints go for long time penance for realizing Him, but their efforts end with futile. God is with compassionate people like me; you too can realize it, if you renounced your selfish thoughts’- He says.
Today, many spiritual personalities are creating an artificial demand for Yoga. In fact, one cannot say that which way would be the best one. There are 16 ways to realize the Almighty which are Sariyai, Kiriya, Yoga and Gnanam; all these four would extend its level for further four levels as 4x4= 16 levels. Hence the realization of God depends upon the condition of one’s maturity level.
In history, many of our ancestors and siddhas have followed different ways of spirituality. It was indeed kept confidential until Saint Ramalinga opened it. He was the only saint, who broke the doors of heaven’s abode through his popular songs- ‘Thiruvarutpa’.
He revealed a secret of divine path with his revolutionary thoughts. He nullified all the segments of caste, and castism in order to improve the society.
சாதியும் மதமும் சமயமும் பொய்யென ஆதியில் உரைத்த அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி
Whenever the display of some false propaganda existed like God is associated with some caste and He showered His grace only upon them, Sri Ramalinga guided the public not to worry and panic. Wherever compassion is being practiced, God is closely associated with them. Hence one should believe that the compassion is true penance.
எங்கே கருணை இயற்கையில் உள்ளன அங்கே விளங்கிய அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி When yoga was treated as the highest spiritual tool for self realization, he advocated the people that the same experience of yoga could be achieved through compassion. One need not go for artificial experience through yoga. If it is practiced in such a way, one would become drowsy. He cannot visualize all the living beings as divine beings- Vallalar says.
In fact, oneness is not an easy one for one who wishes to follow. If one goes for self quest so as to know the origin of soul and other living beings in the world, one would certainly find the answer that all the particle of atoms has the uniformity. There will be no particles of atom without each other. Similarly all living beings in the world have close relationship.
Thus, to unite the people through spirituality, Saint Vallalar wanted to teach oneness among them. He established a Community Hall for free meal in the year 1867 and ‘a Hall of wisdom in the year 1872’. He then asked the people to follow the commandments as:
- God is one; He is the Supreme Grace Light; He has to be realized through love
- Small deities should not be worshiped
- In the name of God, killing of animals should be avoided
- Meat is to be avoided as God is with all living beings
- Disparity among the Religion, Caste, Race and Languages should be avoided.
- Oneness – i.e. treating all lives as one’s own is to be observed.
- Compassion is a key to open the heaven’s abode
- Stories in Mythology never inform the secret of God
- Superstitions and rituals, and rites should not be observed.
- Vision of society and welfare of living beings are to be given priority.
All these commandments were considered to be basic steps to enter in to spirituality and oneness. If it is practiced sincerely in worldly life, one would certainly be removed of all self-centered life styles like Sexual Thoughts, Anger, Unsatisfied desire, Sexual appetite, Arrogance, Jealous and Egoism. Finally one would also realize the oneness of God – ‘God is with all and all are in Him’.
ARUTPERUMJODHI ARUTPERUMJODHI THANIPERUMKARUNAI ARUTPERUMJODHI
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