Bhakti, Kundalini, and Wisdom: The Evolution of Spiritual Life | பக்தி, குண்டலினி, ஞானம் - ஆன்மீக வாழ்வின் வளர்ச்சி பாதை

In the 12th Velvi discourse, Gurumahan explains how worship should evolve through the different stages of life and emphasizes the importance of Irai-unarvu or Mei-unarvu (Divine awareness) in attaining wisdom. He also reflects on the essence of the Bhagavad Gita and highlights its core teaching.

Cultivate devotion (Bhakthi). As a child, you are taught that the Almighty dwells in the temple. According to the traditions of your faith, go to the temple and offer your worship. This is a noble and beneficial practice. As you grow into youth, realise that the same Almighty exists as Kundalini Shakti. At that stage, begin to inquire into and understand this Kundalini energy with intellect and awareness (MeiUnarvu). Later, as old age approaches, engage in the practice of yoga. Through such practice, attain wisdom in the end (true wisdom, Divine wisdom, Brahma-jnana, Atma-jnana, and Supreme knowledge).
By attaining this wisdom, one can reach the state beyond birth and experience the great life free from death. When you realise this truth, how should you live in this world? You can live naturally with others. That is the natural way of life (Sahaja). How should one live in such naturalness? See the Divine within everyone. Look upon every person as a manifestation of God. When you see others in this way, what will you do for that Divinity within them? If the unseen Divine presence lives in each person, you will naturally think about what they need. That is why righteousness means knowing one’s duty and performing it. What does your mother, father, brother, sister, wife, husband, neighbours need? Reflect on this. That is why, my dear ones, the God realised by the wise is duty itself. What does the Bhagavad Gita teach? If you extract the essence of all its eighteen chapters, what remains? Perform your duty. Whatever has happened has happened for the greater good. If everything that has happened is for the greater good, then whatever is yet to happen will also unfold for good. Today you are well. How will you be tomorrow? You will be even better than today. But if your thoughts say, “Things will only get worse,” then events may move in that direction. Whatever you think, that is the path things tend to follow. If someone says, “Mother, I feel I might fail,” and the reply comes, “Yes, you will fail,” then see what happens. That is why a person gradually becomes what he thinks. So how should we think, and where should we place our thoughts? It must arise from inner awareness (MeiUnarvu). When you go to a temple, if the deity were not there, would you simply bow and leave? Suppose someone says, “There is no deity inside.” What would you do? Would you say, “Oh, God is not here, never mind,” and still pray? If even the priest says, “God was here until yesterday. Just imagine that God is inside, and I will perform the ritual,” would you still pray? None of you would. You would think something is wrong with the priest. If there is no deity, what is the point of performing worship? In the same way, true worship requires divine awareness (MeiUnarvu). Consider this example: today we serve sweet payasam. What is needed to experience its taste? You need the sense of taste. If, by a mantra, every tongue becomes numb, and then you are given payasam, you would not taste anything. For payasam to be enjoyed, there must be awareness of taste. In the same way, when you worship God, you must have awareness of the Divine. When you go to the temple and worship the Lord, let there be true Divine awareness (MeiUnarvu) within you. Without that awareness, worship remains incomplete. 

Let Wisdom Flourish!
Let Peace Prevail!
Let us protect Mother earth!
Let us protect the Universe!

Santhosam

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