File - LS-LT-FAQ.txt

[Guest guest]

1) Restrictions based on the texts itself

---------

 

Both lalitaa sahasranaama and lalitaa trishatii require that

 

a) the text should be kept secret

 

b) should be revealed and given only to those who are initiated to

SriVidya + other good qualities such as devotee etc.

 

You will see this in the uttara piiThika of these works.

 

 

2) What happens in practice:

-----------------------------

 

a) Text is not a secret and available to all. And almost all groups and

schools of thoughts agree on this point.

 

b) Some believe that initiation to SrividyA (or bAlA tripurasundari

mantra based on daxiNamuurti samhita is required) is a must and some

schools do not accept it. Latter is the majority. Mostly people treat

it like any other devotional work, which you buy in a book shop and

start reading.

 

 

3) What can one do:

---------------------

 

a) There is no restriction in practice on listening to audio cassettes

or reading translations etc. IMO,if you can find time to listen to an

audio cassette once a day, it is even better than reading from a book.

There are very good cassettes available. I always found closing one's

eyes and listening, gives you better focus than reading from a book.

 

 

b) To chant the safe approach is to take initiation to SriVidya from a

qualified teacher and get permission You got to be lucky to do this.

 

 

c) Alternatives:

 

There are lot of teachers who start you into this without Srividya.

Find one of them, if you are not keen or do not see a reason for taking

Srividya. Typically from both LS and LT, the responsibility is on the

shoulders of the guru. There may be some who are kind enough to do it.

 

We know of an instance where shrii shrii bhaarati tiirtha swamigaL of

shringeri maTha has permitted a devotee to start both sahasranaama and

trishatii by blessing that devotee's book and asking the devotee to

chant these works.

 

Typically, teachers decide this on a case by case

basis. Hence, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A TEACHER FIRST.

 

 

 

 

4) Additional Details

----------------------

 

See messages 3463. 3470. 3472, 3474, 3477, and 3484 on our group

archives. or see

 

http://ambaa.org/archives/msg03417.html

http://ambaa.org/archives/msg03424.html

http://ambaa.org/archives/msg03426.html

http://ambaa.org/archives/msg03428.html

http://ambaa.org/archives/msg03438.html

http://ambaa.org/archives/msg03431.html

 

 

5) Disclaimer

-------------

 

In any case, you and you alone are responsible for the decision you

make. Please read the texts, understand them, consult your family elders and

make a decision. God has given us intellectual power and we should use it to our

fullest extent possible for making any decision. Then you can say, I tried my

best and the rest is in God's hands.