Can there be two selves? Asks the Guru!

Can there be two selves? Asks the Guru!

I love myself; I hate myself;

I have to change myself; I have to realize myself!

Says the person, as if there are two selves (I and myself).

Can there be two selves? Asks the Guru!

Can there be a direct and simple question than this one?

The question is so direct that

It is not concerning anything but the self (I)

The question is so simple that

It is neither I need to have prior knowledge of any external things

Nor it has anything do with what I possess

The knowledge includes the language, math, science, all the ‘-logies’,

Relationships, scriptures, testaments and revelations.

The possessions include materials, concepts and philosophies

Thus, the question is applicable to anyone, without any exceptions

Let us contemplate and enquire!

Let us contemplate on our many selves.

There appears many selves claiming I am the male, I am the son,

I am the brother, I am the Employee and I am the father.

The list goes on and on and there is no end to it.

Acting as the basis of all these selves

There appears the body & mind identified self (Ego)

All other selves are derived from this Egoic self

Now, let us enquire if this ego is my true self?

The body identified self appears in the waking state and

The mind identified self appears both in the waking and the dream states

Egoic self and its derived selves are absent during the deep sleep state

But there is a continuity of self at all times

So, which self remains in all the three states?

Who am I then?

During the waking state, we need to ceaselessly enquire this egoic self

Enquiry comprises of paying complete attention to:

The egoic self’s emergence, movement, transformation and subsidence;

And the effects of this egoic self.

Let us enquire into the egoic self, its appearance and disappearance

And discover the substratum / the Self, from which the egoic self appears

Can there be two selves? Asks the Guru!

Can there be a direct and simple question than this one?

The most important question that can root out all the other questions

Yet, the mind that is habituated with the external knowledge and possessions

Doesn’t find this question as interesting, appealing and important

And does not want to pay attention to the self.

If this question is that of the life itself

And has the potential of discovering that we are already free

Let us contemplate and enquire!

Can there be two selves? Asks the Guru!

Can there be a direct and simple question than this one?

Adiye Adiye - Tamil Song from the movie Kadal - The attitude, feelings and experiences of a disciple who have surrendered to the Guru

Movie: Kadal 

Song: Adiye Adiye

Youtube Link to the Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpx91RTrs2M

Background of the Song:  This song is a love song between Gautham Karthik and Thulasi Nayar in the Tamil movie Kadal.  Even though this song is meant to be a Love song between the hero and heroine in the movie, from a spiritual context, it really fits into the characteristics of a disciple towards the Guru.  This song depicts the attitude, feelings and experience of a disciple, in a sequence of steps, who have surrendered to the Guru.    The song is written by Madhan Karky.  The music by A R Rahman eloquently describes the temperament of the disciple.  The singer Sid Sriram expresses the heart and soul of the disciple beautifully.  The following points are the highlight of this song.

• A disciple surrenders to a Guru and gets initiated and his limited mind opens up.
• The surrendered disciple asks the Guru where he is taking him to.
• The surrendered disciple says that he couldn't figure out the Samsara and will follow him like a kid goat.
• Guru says to him "YOU ARE THAT (BRAHMAN)" and disciple wonders about this impossibility
• Disciple is frightened by his own mental impressions (vasanas)
• But by Guru's grace he transcends (some of) them
• Now, the disciple says to Guru now I understand that you are taking me to my liberation
• Disciple explains how Guru has helped him to experience the Truth
• Disciple asks the Guru, but after coming out of the experience and if I go back to the old ways (unable to keep it permanent), will you leave me struggling?
• The Disciple will continue to follow the Guru until he is liberated.

Legend:        Spiritual Contemplation                   Transliteration                                  

'The disciple surrenders to Guru, Guru initiates the disciple and as a result his limited mind is opened

மனச தொறந்தாயே நீ

எங்க இருந்து வந்தாயோ நீ

manasa thoranthaye nee

engirinthu vanthaayo nee

'Since the disciple has surrendered he asks the Guru, where HE is taking him, the answer comes in later lines

அடியே அடியே

என்ன எங்க நீ கூட்டிப் போற

அடியே அடியே

எங்க நீ கூட்டிப் போற

என்ன எங்க நீ கூட்டிப் போற

adi ye adi ye

enna enge nee kootti pora?

adi ye adi ye

enge nee kootti pora?

enna, enge nee kootti pora?

'Similar to Pallankuzhi game, I do not understand the path of this Samsara that has many twists, turns and rules (karmic law, pavam & punniyam, dharma & adharma, right & wrong).  I tried my best and failed. I am imperfect and have erratic behaviors.   I am sure you can save me.  I have surrendered to you.  So I am following you like a kid goat

பல்லாங்குழி பாத புரியல

உன்ன நம்பி வாரேனே

இந்த காட்டுப் பய ஒரு

ஆட்டுக் குட்டி போல உன் பின்னே சுத்துறனே (2)

pallaankuzhi paadha(i) puriyala

onna nambi vaareney

indha kaattu paya oru aattukutti pola

u(n) pinne suthureney  (2)

'Since the disciple has surrendered, he asks the Guru, where HE is taking him, the answer comes in later lines

அடியே அடியே

என்ன எங்க நீ கூட்டிப் போற

adi ye adi ye

enna enge nee kootti pora?

'Hey Guru, where are you from?  You are saying, I do not have limitations and “YOU ARE THAT (BRAHMAN)”.  Is that possible? This is similar to asking a fish to fly by just drawing wings to it.  People around me reminds about my limitations all the time, but you are saying I am the substratum itself, without limitations, where are you from (are you crazy)?    

மீன தூக்கி ரெக்க வறஞ்ச

வானம் மேல நீ வீசி எறிஞ்ச

பறக்கப் பழக்குறியே

எங்கிருந்து வந்தாயோ நீ

meena thooki rekka(i) varanja

vaanam mele nee veesi yerinja

parakka pazhakkuriye

engarunthu vanthayo nee

'Since the disciple has surrendered he asks the Guru, where HE is taking him, the answer comes in later lines

அடியே அடியே

என்ன எங்க நீ கூட்டிப் போற ( 2 )

adi ye adi ye

enna enge nee kootti pora? (2)

'You have shown me how to see my own vasanas (mental impressions) (Refer to Siva Puranam by Manickavasagar and Abirahmi Andhadhi by Abirahmi Pattar).  When I watch how these mental impressions put me into compulsive actions and they frighten me because I am bound by that. 

கண்ணால கண்ணாடி செஞ்சு

என் அச்சத்த காட்டுறியே

kannaala kannaadi senju

en achaththa kaatturiye

But by your grace, you are removing the vasanas without trace, revealing the pure heart

என் தூசி துரும்பெல்லாம் தட்டி

உள்ளம் வெள்ளை அடிக்கிறியே

en thoosi thurumbella(m) thatti

ullam vellai adikkiriye

'Since the disciple has surrendered he asks the Guru, where HE is taking him, the answer comes in next lines

அடியே அடியே

என்ன எங்க நீ கூட்டிப் போற ( 2 )

adi ye adi ye

enna enge nee kootti pora? (2)    

'Here the disciple answers where the Guru is taking him.  Guru is taking away from Samsara to Liberation. It is like joining the earth to the SKY through rainbow.  Only you can do this. 

ஒ பூமி விட்டு சொர்கத்துக்கு

நீ வானவில்லில் பாத விரிச்ச

oooh bhoomi vittu sorgathukku

nee vaanavillil paadha(i) viricha

'How does the Guru do that?  The disciple has surrendered his mind and constantly contemplates on Guru and follows him like a kid goat. With the grace of the Guru, the mind becomes strong like a tight rope.  When they are simply lose threads it cannot be useful.  But when these threads are joined to form a tight rope it become useful utilitarian to lift something.  Similarly, when the mind is scattered in many directions then it cannot concentrate.  But with a single thought of Guru the mind is strengthened and the disciple experiences the Truth and the Guru takes him towards liberation. 

மனசக் கைறாக்கி

இழுத்து போறாயே நீ

manasak kayiraakki

izhuthu poraaye nee

'Even after experiencing the Truth, the mind may slip away and dwell in Samsara, until Sahaja Samadhi is reached. If that happens will you leave me Guru? (Refer to Kaivalya Naveneedam verse, Guru’s response where the disciple asks the Guru what he can offer to Guru for making him to realize the Truth and Katha Upanishad – Chapter 2, Section 3 verse 11).

சொர்க்கம் விட்டு பூமி வந்தால்

மீண்டும் கிழக்கில் சூரியன் வந்தால்

நான் விழிச்சு பார்க்கையில

கலைஞ்சு போவாயோ நீ

sorga(m) vittu bhoomi vandhaal

meendu(m) kizhakkil sooriyan (va)ndhaal

naan vizhichu paakayile

kalanju povaaayo nee

The answer is not given in the above song.  Obviously, the disciple has tasted the nectar and would be following the Guru like a kid goat until the liberation is attained.