எண்ணக் குப்பை

Life is for continous practice of dharma. Our Tamil literature has dharmic books like Thirukkural, naaladiyasr etc.  These books speak about the general code of conduct. But if we go through these books, we will understand that these codes of conduct are too high for an ordinary being. Take for example பொறையுடைமை in Thirukkural.

The first kural itself seems too idealistic for most of us.

அகழ்வாரைத் தாங்கும் நிலம் போல

தம்மை இகழ்வார் பொருத்தல்தலை.

But Kannagi is a classic example for this kural. Thus, though the codes are high in standard, we see examples for these codes in Tamil literature itself. But how come we find them difficult to follow i  these days?

That is because there is a missing piece in the puzzle.  We fail to read ashrama dharmam related books in sanskrit. Thoug smriti granthas like manu smriti are highly controversial, it is important to go through them.  Because it lays down the ashrama dharmam or vishesha dharma of each varnam. 

Only when these rules are followed, the codes of conduct set by books like Thirukkural can be achieved. 

Our daily life should be for following dharma. Unless it is taken seriously and folllowed through out one's life, the ideals cannot be touched. In our mind, they will be ideal foe ever.

For example, our nithyakarmas like sandhya vandhanam and nithya poojai, are stated as our duties without attaching any direct fruit for our action.  Thus, with a sense of duty, without expecting anything in return, when we do it for a long time, with faith , we become eligible for next level of learning.

Tamil community was following these ashrama dharmas right from the beginning . that is why Nayanmaars and aazhwars decorated this land. 

Sanskrit is like foundation of beautiful house. Tamil is the house built on that foundation. One devoid of other carry little value.

Random words

 We are the makers of our fate. That is the bold statement of Vedanta.  Gnana is a difficult path to travel.  Taking responsibility for our actions.  Vivekananda declares weakness is a sin.  That is gnana margam.

Gods grace will help us to come out of shackles of maya.  But destination shoild be reached with our self efforts .  With the help of guru we realise non duality.  We realize that the God who helped us till now was none other than self.

But not all are adhikaries  or eligible student of gnana margam.  With our materialiatic nature, boosted egos, self centered mind we cannot obtain gnanam. 

Humility and service are to be developed first to become eligible for gnanam.  That is why atleast more than 50 percent of hindus are supposed to take only humility and service as dharma.  I mean ladies and shudras. 

That does not mean that rest of the male population are automatically eligible for gnana margam.

Seeking logic for every thing we do is a bane.  That only shows our arrogance.  We fail to look up  to any one.  That is due to the ego nurtured carefully by our materialistic life.

Shasthram prescribes the daily routine for us. Continued adherence to shasthram is tapas for a householder.   What does it do to us?   We accept vedas as supreme. The vatu learns vedas, follows shashthram. Thus there is faith, practice and learning in his life.

Only when these three combine together, one becomes a good student .  

In present day, we dont follow shasthram. Even if we follow, we are unable to believe or unserstand. Because we are divorced from learning. Thus the full benefit of our shasthric practice cannot be reaped.

 Despite these odds, if one chooses to practice our shashthram to the extent possible in our day to day life, we will be guided to light for sure.