For Adiji

June 22, 2004

Maharishi wrote...

Anything that is "forced" and goes against natural living can be

troublesome. Swami Sivananda suggested using common sense in all such

matters.

All according to each one's destiny.

Love and blessings

========================================

Love and blessings to you too, Mji:

Sounds like something Harshaji would say...

Not that there is anything wrong with that :-)

Anyway, over on the advaitin site, Ken Knight posted

an excerpt from a book of ShriMata Anandamayee discourses.

It is another way of saying...

All according to each one's destiny.

I think it is something to remember when the urge strikes to examine

what you are doing in light of what some other enlightened soul

just posted as the way, the right way, and the only way to enlightenment :-)

Each of us, whatever our philosophy or bent, is on exactly the path

we should be on. While it may lead to a crossroad where we go

into another direction, unless and until we reach such a point,

as Ramana Maharshi said..."Be As You Are."

Love,

Joyce

=====================================

ShriMataji Anandamayee...Concerning the value of

religious and philosophical discourses. Mataji said:

"By listening repeatedly to discussions and discourses

on topics of this kind, the path to first-hand knowledge

of what has been heard gradually opens out.

You know, it is as when water uninterruptedly dripping

on a stone finally makes a hole in it, and then a flood

may suddenly surge through, which will bring Enlightenment.

Be it the perusal of Sacred Texts, listening to

religious discourses, engaging in kirtana (singing of

praise songs) God must be the alpha and omega of

whatever is done. When reading, read about Him, when

talking, talk of Him and when singing, sing His

praises. These three practices are intrinsically the

same; but because people respond differently. the same

is expressed in three different ways to suit each

person's temperament and capacity for assimilation.

Essentially there is only He and He alone, although

everyone has his own individual path that leads to

Him. What is the right path for each, depends on his

personal predilection, based on the specific character

of his inner qualifications.

Take for instance the study of Vedanta. Some seekers

become completely drowned in it, just as others may so

lose themselves in kirtana as to fall into a trance. A

student of Vedanta may become wholly absorbed in his

texts, even more so than the one who gets carried away

by kirtana. According to one's specific line of approach,

one will be able to achieve full concentration through the

study of a particular Scripture, or by some other means.

First comes listening, then reflection, and last of

all the translation into action of what has been heard

and pondered over. This is why one has first of all to

listen, so that later on each may be able to select

Vedanta or kirtana or whatever else be in his own line.

Have you never come across people making light of

kirtana, saying, "What is there to be gained by it ?"

Nevertheless, after listening to it for some length of

time, they actually develop a liking for it.

Therefore, one must listen before one can reflect, and

then later, what has been heard and reflected upon

will take shape in action suited to the person

concerned. To listen to discourses on God or Truth is

certainly beneficial, provided one does not allow

oneself to be moved by a spirit of fault-finding or

disparagement, should there be differences of outlook

to one's own. To find fault with others creates

obstacles for everyone all around: for him who

criticizes, for him who is blamed, as well as for

those who listen to the criticism. Whereas, what is

said in a spirit of appreciation is fruitful to everybody.

For only where there is no question of regarding anything

as inferior or blameworthy can one call it satsang.

Who is known as a Vaishnava? One who sees Vishnu

everywhere. And as a SAkta? One who beholds the Great

Mother, and nothing save Her. In truth, all the

various ways of thought spring from one common source.

Who then is to be blamed, who to be reviled or

suppressed? All are equal in essence."

Thou art Mother, Thou art Father,

Thou art Friend and Thou art Master,

Truly, Thou art all in all.

Every name is Thy Name,

Every quality Thy Quality,

Every form Thy Form indeed.

[For Sanskrit version of this...

http://www.omshaantih.com/images/Goddess/Shakti/tvameva.htm ]

"Yet He is also where no forms exist, as pure

unmanifested Being; all depends on one's avenue of approach.

Is it not said that what is viewed by the Saivas as

the Supreme (parama) Siva, and by those who inquire

into the Self, as the One Self is none other than the

Brahman Itself? In reality there is no contradiction ,

so long as the slightest difference is perceived, even

by a hair's breadth, how can one speak of the state of

Pure Being? For this reason, no matter what path anyone may

choose, it is That. Vedanta actually means the end of difference and

non-difference. [(Anandamayee only spoke Bengali and

she is here playing with Bengali in which the letters

B and V sound alike. Hence Veda can sound like Bheda

which, as we know from RV X. 177, means 'difference'.

As anta means 'end' she constructs Vedanta as the 'end

of difference.' Note from Ken Knight)]

While engaging in sAdhanA one must concentrate in a

single direction; but after it has been completed,

what comes then? The cessation of difference,

distinction and disagreement. Differences indeed exist

on the path, but how can there be difference of Goal?"

June 22, 2004

I like this direct post from Osho on Shatipat:

<< No one can do shaktipat, no one can transmit energy; but someone

can be a vehicle for such transmission. It is true that no one can do

it. And if somebody claims that he can do it, he is indulging in sheer

deception. No one can do it, and yet in some moment transmission of

energy can happen through someone. If that someone is totally empty

and surrendered, shaktipat can happen in his presence. He can work as

a conductor, as a catalytic agent, but not knowingly. Through him

God's infinite energy can enter into another person.

No one can be a catalytic agent knowingly, because the first condition

to act as conductor is that you should not know it, that you have no

ego. Ego disqualifies a person for being a medium for shaktipat. With

ego one becomes a non conductor of energy; divine energy cannot flow

through him. So if there is a person whose ego is completely wiped

out, who is absolutely empty inside and is a total void, who is doing

nothing for you, really who does not do a thing—then through his

emptiness, through his void, which acts as a passage, God's energy

can certainly reach you. And its speed can be very fast. >>

>From http://www.oshoturk.com/osho-life/06-22-shaktipat.htm

Antoine

Lady Joyce

<< Maharishi wrote...Anything that is "forced" and goes against

natural living can betroublesome. Swami Sivananda suggested using

common sense in all suchmatters.All according to each one's

destiny.Love and blessings >>

June 23, 2004

Antoine Carré

[antoine.carre (AT) sympatico (DOT) ca] Wednesday, June 23, 2004

2:57 AMSubject: Re: