Ten Steps to Help....

[Guest guest]

Dear Shushila:

 

I'm happy that my little story story helped you be able to open to the Datta

family...I can only offer you little clues as to how to maintain your

relationship with Swamiji in the west...I understand your longing. It's hard

to be a devotee sometimes when you are alone in the west....Here's a few

things that I've done that help....first make your home part of the

ashram...put a picture of Swamiji in every room....soon you will discover

that the energy in your house changes....secondly, sing little bhajans like

Krishnam Vishnam, or chant "Jai Guru Datta, Sri Guru Datta" when you are

doing things like driving, washing dishes, walking through the grocery

store, offer the vibrations up for healing for someone you know...thirdly,

play at least one of Swamiji's tapes or CDs every day in your house and/or

car---listen especially to Celestial Messages right now, it helps you get

over being depressed. Fourth, cultivate relationships with other devotees.

Write to people you have met in India, find out through the list who the

nearest devotees are to you...start a satsang group with them for bhajans or

readings...it helps to have people with whom to share Swamiji

stories..Fifth, do seva....find some good cause for which can you volunteer

to help others, work at a shelter once a week or something, and do it in

your heart as seva to your guru...Sixth, Take care of yourself...walk

everyday and take the walk with Swamiji in your heart...talk to him as you

walk..Seventh, Meditate and do your breathwork and yoga in front of his

picture for at least ten minutes every day. Eighth, wear the bracelet with

his name. It's like having him with you, and you can touch it when you feel

alone. Ninth, try every morning to read a few lines of his books. Make it

his lesson for you that day...try to practice what he has taught. And tenth

and last, but certainly not least, make sure you have a picture of Sri

Swamiji in which he is smiling and you can look at his eyes. EVERY NIGHT sit

down with this picture and talk to him. Tell him about your day, ask him for

help with problems...surrender everything to him...I think if you try these

few simple steps you will see that he is truly with you constantly..Hope

that helps. Much love, Daria

-

Susheela Sagan <susheela333

vze232dc <vze232dc

Friday, May 25, 2001 1:26 AM

Re: bhakthi

 

 

> Dearest Daria,

>

> Thank you so much for your reply and your

> understanding. When I found out about the

> groups (just a few days ago) I looked through every

> message - it was your account of wishing Swamiji had

> been with you as a child and your resolution that

> inspired me to write my "S.O.S." to our datta family.

> I could really relate to your words, as so often I've

> felt the same (wishing I'd known Swamiji since my

> childhood). Upon first getting back from India I was

> so strong - I was really able to keep the connection

> with Swamiji alive and well in my heart. Over the

> weeks I've felt that slipping, however. I kind of go

> back and forth with feeling OK about my karma to be a

> Westerner and then feeling angry about it. I think

> about all of the devotees who are so lucky to live in

> the ashram and wonder why that couldn't have been my

> karma too! Then I think whatever I did to deserve

> this incarnation so far away from Swamiji and Datta

> Peetham couldn't have been good. In fact, it feels a

> bit like a punishment! I was doing OK because I

> thought I'd get to go back to India for Navaratri, and

> then found out I couldn't. Its so strange - at the

> ashram Swamiji and I pretty much never spoke - he was

> so much alive in my heart that we didn't need to.

> Everyone told me that when I would come back to the

> West, it would still be the same, that Swamiji would

> still be there. But now here I can't really feel him

> with the same intensity, and this makes me so sad. Do

> you have any suggestions? Thank you so much for

> helping me.

>

> Jai guru datta,

>

> Susheela

>

> --- vze232dc <vze232dc wrote:

> > Dearest Shusheela,

> >

> > Jai Guru Datta! Look within....the ashram is there,

> > Sri Swamiji is

> > there...when He trusts you enough to be on your own

> > it means you are well

> > enough and strong enough to do his work...he'll call

> > you to him and to the

> > ashram when you need recharging and when he needs

> > your presence

> > there...leave the spaces in the ashram for those who

> > need the most healing,

> > the intensity of his presence...learn the lesson he

> > wants for all of us...to

> > find him inside in our hearts...be honored to be his

> > messenger and presence

> > where you are...your actions demonstrate his love

> > everyday to those around

> > you...

> >

> > Much love, Sri Guru Datta,

> >

> > Daria

> > -

> m/