pujas - who am I?

[Guest guest]

[FYI: Our new-ish member, Sue a/k/a samatmikadevi, promptly left the

group after reading my last post (click "Up Thread"), and sent me a

personal e-mail explaining why. In it she raised a few points I felt

it might be important to address in front of the whole group ...]

 

Hi Sue:

 

Most of the concerns expressed in your parting letter were actually

answered in my response to your previous post expressing similar

misgivings. If you are interested, kindly re-read what I have

already said. Regarding your additional comments:

 

*** I think it might be helpful to you all in the future to inform

people that the site is mainly Kaula and vamacharya. ***

 

As I said in my previous on-board reply:

 

"This is a site for devotees of Devi in Her many forms by the many

paths that lead to Her. It is explicitly a Hindu group, though a

good number of active members are not Hindus. Their respectful

views, questions and comments are welcome also. This is not

explicitly "a site for vama-marga," but that path is respected here,

as are its followers, and you will certainly see posts of vama

persuation. You will also see the Samayachara, the Dakshinachara,

the Kaulachara and the Vamachara traditions represented here."

 

My guess is that some person or another told you otherwise offboard,

and you accepted their characterization?

 

*** I believe [your group's orientation comes] from Robert Svaboda.

***

 

I am aware of Mr. Svoboda's work, but I am not particularly

impressed by it (much of it is just silly), and I certainly do not

consider him a teacher or influence in any sense of the word.

Discussions of Svoboda occur throughout the archives also, should

you ever care to search around.

 

*** What I don't understand is why you as moderators allowed a

personal attack on the site, and some of you personally contributed

to it. ***

 

Reading back through the archives, I did see one post which I agree

could be construed as a "personal attack". I am sorry it offended

you. However, I could find no evidence of any moderator contributing

to it, however, unless a simple statement of disagreement

constitutes an "attack".

 

*** I suspect that you are in the business of drawing in new

individuals ***

 

No, actually I am an attorney who works in the publishing field;

another of our moderators is a nurse; one is a United Nations

diplomat; one is an account executive for The Gap; still another is

a university IT professional. Some are in the U.S., some in India

and Malaysia. We all have families and busy lives, and maintain the

Shakti Sadhana sites strictly as an act of love and devotion toward

the Devi, to Whom we all bow by our various paths. It is not

a "business," we make no profit from any of this, and we are not

most certainly not interested in "drawing in" anybody.

 

As stated in my previous post, our goal is simply to: "Make

information available. Let people take it or leave it, think it is

true or false, judge you as they think fit. Tell them: 'Come here if

you like. Don't come if you don't like. Only try to see for

yourself. Don't blindly accept what others say.'"

 

*** As to Amritananda, I personally know him and he has been my guru

for 14 years. ***

 

We have that much in common. ;-)

 

*** I also know several people involved with the more fierce paths

that are devotees of his, and he has always sent them to other

persons to learn these things ***

 

Yes. But please know that the Vamachara paths involve much more than

the worship of "fierce" goddesses. Kaali, Praytangira, Vanadurga,

Shoolini, etc. (all of whom are frequently invoked in Guruji

Amrita's practice and practice prescriptions), in my opinion can be

classified as Vama. Vama is, after all, largely about breaking the

traditional taboos; "fierceness" apart, when one who is by

definition a vegetarian uses meat it is vama.

 

*** [...] to my knowledge [Guruji Amrita] seldom if ever gives out

mantra for these paths - certainly not to beginnners. Sri

Svaprakashanada [...] was not one to overly encourage people on

these paths, either. Please rethink what you are doing. ***

 

Again agreed. But what exactly is it that you think we "are doing"

that must be re-thought?

 

*** if I was mislead by the site and I have been around these things

for awhile, think of the younger people. ***

 

I think this is the crux of the issue. Just as a some poor

experiences with some (fake or real) Vamacharis turned you against

the entire path, a poor experience with one or two members here seem

to have turned you against the entire list wholesale.

 

*** Please be honest enough to describe the different paths, to

counsel caution and investigation -- which is one of Guruji's big

teachings -- before attempting to become involved in these things.

***

 

All of my posts at SS are "honest"; whether they are valuable and

accurate or worthless and misguided is for the reader to judge (as

you obviously have). But what I post is sincere, for better or

worse. I have no desire to deceive or mislead anyone.

 

*** Please admit that the Samacharya and dakshinacharya schools do

not accept vamacharya -- and that the site is mainly for Vira Kaulas

and vamacharyas. ***

 

While I respect your 14 years in Srividya, I disagree with your

statement and your characterization of the Srividya traditions.

Knowledgeable practioners, Amrita very much included, do not reject

any of the traditions within Srividya. In any event, I have prepared

a discussion of the four main traditions of Srividya and will post

them forthwith.

 

aim mAtangyai namaH

[Guest guest]

Dearest Devi Bhakta,

 

I am very sad to learn that Samatmikadevi has left the group. It was because of

her that I went and purchased the Native American book - Lame Deer, Seeker of

Visions. I am yet to read it, and I will, because I wish t see the wonderous

"manifestations" of our sweet Devi throughout the world; does one not wish to

know everything they can about the one they adore ? I am an ardent fan of

Svoboda :-p so there :-D, his Aghora series are among my most treasured

possessions.

 

However Shakti Sadhana for me is aamong the most wonderful happenings in my

life. As you have so well explained, we are nt here to jusge thers, rather it

is here that one cn grow in the common sharing of ur own experiences and

devotion. The only person I judge is my self, and I think it was you who poined

out that I should not do so either, but allow our sweet Devi to flow through us

ass she wills. I alsoo learnt a very important leson that embrace and surrender

(to Devi) are two sides of the same coin. This has been a very vital paradigm

shift for me.

 

I believe if Sue had to go, then it must be because her time with us

was meant to be short. I remember Nora some time ago mentioning how

sometimes people come to SS to 'test' us. This is so sad because it seems such

a waste of the precious time we have, but again Que Serra, Serra

:-)

 

Many times here I too have faltered, yet none of the Moderators have

expelled me, and perhaps (I hope) look upon me with benign tolerance.

 

My biggest problem is my tremendous pendulum swings between discipline and

indiscipline, something I pray to find a cure for soon. I recently was

initiated into the first two levels of Reiki, and here again I witness the flow

of our sweet Devi from the Land of the Rising Sun.

 

May we all continue to mature in our devotion and gyan in our paths.

 

I love all of you, I do.

 

Jai sweet Kali,

 

Love,

 

Red