Guest guest Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 Hi MSBauju ... Thank you for your suggestions to Joy. You noted in closing, "Moderators, it seems to me this could be considered a frequently-asked-question, although it's asked in different ways by different people. Have you thought about adding something to the webpage/homepage to address this question?" Yes, we have and we continue to. The trick is that a complicated suggestion (for example, clicking on the front-page Devi and downloading the Khadgamala materials) makes people think that Shakti Sadhana is "too hard" or "too structured," while a simple suggestion (for example, to find an image of Devi you like, decorate Her, make offerings to Her, pray to Her, recite Her mantra, etc.) is perceived as being "too simple" or "too vague." In between these, there are countless other ways to approach Devi. But your point is well-taken and I will take it up with the other moderators. We do have a Khadgamala FAQ; perhaps it's well past time to put together a general "Shakti Sadhana" FAQ. Could I ask members to toss out any basic questions they would like to see addressed? Thank you! DB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 , "Devi Bhakta" <devi_bhakta> wrote: > [....] perhaps it's well past time > to put together a general "Shakti Sadhana" FAQ. Could I ask members > to toss out any basic questions they would like to see addressed? Hmmm. The questions I asked sometime back were: What's a "first five" reading list of books for a beginner? And I got some good answers. And then I asked What's a good beginning sadhana? And I got some intriguing answers :-) And here are some other questions I've seen asked, some basic, some not. Note that these are not *my* questions, just my rendition of what I've seen: [from Westerners, most of whom I take to be Neopagans]: How do I get started? How does one become a Shakta? [the moderators have answered this one in the past] What temples, mandirs, or organizations exist in the U.S.? How do I join a group and/or get initiated? [from others:] Where can I find [such and such text] in [a particular language]? Where can I find an image of [a particular goddess]? How do I find a guru? What about those 5 M's? Do you guys really *do* that? [okay, I paraphrased.] And then there are questions that don't necessarily get asked, but sort of underly some of the discussions: What is tantra? What is the function of the guru? Is a [physical] guru necessary? What is the function of antinomian practices in tantra, and what is their place in Shakti Sadhana? What are the differences between a Neopagan approach to Goddess worship and a Hindu approach? I don't know that I phrased that last one very well, but it seems to me that there are major differences in worldview, values, approach, and underlying beliefs in the two sets of paths, and that those differences (unconsciously, sometimes) color group discussions in fascinating ways. If you [moderators] were to construct a FAQ, I'd suggest you pick and choose your favorite questions to answer..... The "where do I find [text/images]" questions might be particularly unrewarding to try to answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 If the members, the silent ones included were to ask questions, then the learned in the group can provide the answers and that will form the basis of the FAQ. What do you think? Devi Bhakta <devi_bhakta wrote: Hi MSBauju ... Thank you for your suggestions to Joy. You noted in closing, "Moderators, it seems to me this could be considered a frequently-asked-question, although it's asked in different ways by different people. Have you thought about adding something to the webpage/homepage to address this question?" Yes, we have and we continue to. The trick is that a complicated suggestion (for example, clicking on the front-page Devi and downloading the Khadgamala materials) makes people think that Shakti Sadhana is "too hard" or "too structured," while a simple suggestion (for example, to find an image of Devi you like, decorate Her, make offerings to Her, pray to Her, recite Her mantra, etc.) is perceived as being "too simple" or "too vague." In between these, there are countless other ways to approach Devi. But your point is well-taken and I will take it up with the other moderators. We do have a Khadgamala FAQ; perhaps it's well past time to put together a general "Shakti Sadhana" FAQ. Could I ask members to toss out any basic questions they would like to see addressed? Thank you! DB / Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2005 Report Share Posted January 6, 2005 Hi, db wrote > ...as being "too simple" or "too vague." In between these, there are > countless other ways to approach Devi. Maybe these very words could be included in the answer to that FAQ. If people are told that there are countless ways to approach Devi (even if only one or two are described) it reduces the risk that someone will look at a description of a method of worship and say: "No, that doesnt sound like what I m after, so it seems shakti sadhana is not the path for me." Om Shantih, Colin , "Devi Bhakta" <devi_bhakta> wrote: > > Hi MSBauju ... > > Thank you for your suggestions to Joy. You noted in > closing, "Moderators, it seems to me this could be considered a > frequently-asked-question, although it's asked in different ways by > different people. Have you thought about adding something to the > webpage/homepage to address this question?" > > Yes, we have and we continue to. The trick is that a complicated > suggestion (for example, clicking on the front-page Devi and > downloading the Khadgamala materials) makes people think that Shakti > Sadhana is "too hard" or "too structured," while a simple suggestion > (for example, to find an image of Devi you like, decorate Her, make > offerings to Her, pray to Her, recite Her mantra, etc.) is perceived > as being "too simple" or "too vague." In between these, there are > countless other ways to approach Devi. > > But your point is well-taken and I will take it up with the other > moderators. We do have a Khadgamala FAQ; perhaps it's well past time > to put together a general "Shakti Sadhana" FAQ. Could I ask members > to toss out any basic questions they would like to see addressed? > > Thank you! > > DB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2005 Report Share Posted January 6, 2005 kochu1tz wrote: If the members, the silent ones included were to ask questions, then the learned in the group can provide the answers and that will form the basis of the FAQ. What do you think? I agree with Kochu. Messages posted in this group, I've compiled them and put it in the homepage [ Message board Discussion ]. Don't the Message Board Discussion form the basis of the FAQ? http://shaktisadhana.50megs.com/Resource/Messageboardmain.html I wonder weather any members ever bothered to go there and check them out. I wanted to make things easier especially for new comers to get a better understanding of the discussion before participating. I believe whatever questions have been address before is there, but not in great detail though. Questions about Guru for example, I have specially featured it in a separate page/menu : all questions and answers with regards to Guru etc. I understand MsBaju statement too, that occassionally questions gone unanswered. I would like to advise members, not feel dishearted but to repost the question again and again, eventually somebody will answer them. I don't know weather this is a good way. I know the homepage is not up to date, my apologies. It is just that for the past few weeks Ive been rather occupied with personal commitment, but I am back at work again in Shakti Sadhana Homepage. This is my promise to Shakti Sadhana for this year, to continue updating. I believe I have updated them till early November. My apologies again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2005 Report Share Posted January 6, 2005 , "NMadasamy" <nmadasamy@s...> wrote: > [....] I've compiled > them and put it in the homepage [ Message board Discussion ]. > Don't the Message Board Discussion form the basis of the FAQ? > > http://shaktisadhana.50megs.com/Resource/Messageboardmain.html You are right; many of the questions I've listed are answered here, and I apologize for implying otherwise. > I wonder weather any members ever bothered to go there and check > them out. Now and then! Just the other day I read the one about the dolls.... So, maybe Joy's query will initiate a "getting started" discussion that can be added to the homepage. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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