' Association ' - Speech Delivered by PN

                                                      

' Association '

   -  P.Natarajan

The ' Reiki Infinitive ' Association  held its 17th annual meeting on the evening of 13th January 2016. I attended the meeting as an invitee. The President of the reiki association welcomed the members and wished them a prosperous new year 2016. The Secretary and the Treasurer read the annual reports. After chanting 'OHM', the 'maha mantra', the house recited the 'Vishnusahasranama stotram '. The hall was filled with a sense of devotion and  enhanced vibration. Guided meditation was followed for some time and the members felt peaceful at the end of the session. The President invited me to speak. I chose to speak how Association becomes important in the mental make up of an individual. Let me summarize  below the salient points I brought out during the meeting :-

  ( 17th Annual Meet of ‘ Reiki Infinitive ’ in progress )

I recited first the dhyana sloka (salutations to pārvatīparameśvarau )

वागर्थाविव संपृक्तौ वागर्थप्रतिपत्तये।

जगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ॥ १-१

vāgarthāviva saṁpṛktau vāgarthapratipattaye |

jagataḥ pitarau vande pārvatīparameśvarau || 1-1

! Shri Gurubhyo Namaha :!

“ Friends, as you are aware, Swami Vivekananda's birth day was observed yesterday (12th Jan).  Speaking on ‘Association’. Swami Vivekananda observed :- " when rain drop from the sky falls on the hands, it is pure enough for drinking. If it falls in the gutter, it loses its entire value and can not be used even to wash the feet. If it falls on a hot surface, it evaporates or better said ‘ perishes ‘ .  If the same rain drop falls on the lotus leaf, it shines like a pearl. If it falls in the oyster, it becomes a real a pearl. The drop is same but its existence and worth depends upon where it is associated with. The moral is :- ' be always associated with people who are good at heart '.

Swami Vivekananda, a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was an erudite scholar and a great orator. He propagated the principles  of Vedanta in the West and was instrumental in bringing Hinduism to the status of a world religion. Govt. of India declared 12th January as ‘National Youth Day’ in 1985 in memory of Swami Vivekananda. To quote Govt. of India’s communication:- “ It was felt that the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a source of inspiration for the Indian youth “.  Swami's book on ‘ Karma Yoga ‘ describes Karmayoga is a mental discipline that allows a person to carry out his/her duties as a service to the entire world, as a path  towards enlightenment.  I am addressing here the teachers’ community who are imparting knowledge to students population - indeed a great devotional career !

“ Friends, let me now take up what Adi Sankara observed about meaningful association which he referred most appropriately as ‘Sat-Sang’. He called upon to recite “ Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam Govindam Bhaja Mooda Mathe :-

”.भजगोविन्दं भजगोविन्दं  गोविन्दं भजमूढमते !

Adi Sankara, thus reiterates us to be associated with none less than the Almighty. Adi sankara sings :-  “SATSANGATWE NISSANGATWAM NISSANGATWE NIRMOHATWAM

NIRMOHATWE NISCHALATATWAM NISCHALATATWE JEEVANMUKTHIH “

सत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वं   निस्सङ्गत्वे निर्मोहत्वम् ।

निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलतत्त्वं    निश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्तिः ॥ ९॥

I wish to point out here that the verses between 2 to 12 in Bhaja Govindam song is known as ‘bouquet of flowers‘ !

Adi Sankara elucidates the advantages of good association in the above verse. He says ‘sat sang, company of virtuoso leads us to develop detachment or non attachment,  which takes us to a state of desirelessness. Absence of desires is the first step to evolve an individual to a state of immutable reality, that is  to have a firm bent of mind and a thorough awareness which ultimately takes a person to liberation in life ”.

In this context , the members of Reiki Group constitutes a ‘Sat-Sang’ and I consider it as a good opportunity to address this elite group. Good Association need not necessarily be with fellow beings only. We can become members of libraries like British Council, YMCA, Management Associations and associate ourselves in reading spiritual texts and  the life histories of great people like  the Buddha, Ramana Maharishi and so on, which would give a fillip for improving the quality of life.

Cricket is a popular sport and when wickets fall at a rapid rate, there comes a partnership between  two batsmen in the middle order. The association between these two transform the game to gain respectability and the losing side puts up a formidable total. The association or the good understanding between these two batsmen gives a tangible benefit . Any misunderstanding would have led to run out of one of the  partners and the innings ending miserably.

Another example in the same light vein,  I can cite . We can  remember easily names, phone numbers, date of births, anniversaries by associating them with important dates like 15th August, 26 January, or flowers and its colours, festivals or with names of  celebrities. Computer passwords can also be remembered in a similar logical sequence.

Associating  with numbers and names, no doubt,  we can improve the  memory power. Indeed remembrance is a golden chain that links our hearts together and be friends for ever. The best of friends can always meet along the way of memory sweet. Thus association between persons creates a chemical bond, its vibrato or valence speaks of its efficacy.

I wish all of you ‘A happy and prosperous  New Year 2016 and also a Happy Sankaranthi !I

I wish to say some inspiring quotes on the subject before concluding :-

( 1 ) “  What surrounds us is what is within us “

( 2 ) “  Salt is useful in association but useless in isolation “

( 3 ) ”  The Thread which is used to bind the flowers to form a garland derives perfume from the parent body “

( 4 )  “  Tell me your friends, I will tell you what you are  “

( 5 )  “ The Union of the best with the best is the best  “

Thanks  for giving me an opportunity to be associated with you !

pn