Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 Namaste everyone, I am curious to find out what many of you do on a daily basis as regular spiritual practices and such. If any of you feel inclined to share, either publicly or privately, I was greatly appreciate your contribution. I’m interested in seeing how people can manage their time being a parent, working, volunteering, spending time with friends and family… and also manage their time for sadhana, seva, satsangs, etc. At the moment, I don’t quite have any daily practices down pat. It’s certainly something I plan to start doing as soon as possible. I was off work for a year and a half and also drifted away from God, Kali, & Amma during this time. Now that I’ve blissfully returned, I also started working full-time. I’m a single-parent (separated)… so time management is really something I need to work more on. I’ve finally reached a point to where I can balance work and home life a bit better now, and to where I am accustomed to my new schedule. (I was also sick for a bit over a year prior to starting this new job. I’m now healed completely… but it all shows what a roller-coaster ride the past year or so has been for me!) So far, I “try” to pray each night. I say “try” as many times I am putting my children to sleep, and I end up so tired that I go to bed at the same time they do. Several weeks back I decided that I would dedicate my drive to work to praying and singing bhajans. I have a 30-45 minute commute, one-way, so it has proven to be a great way to get loads of prayer in, and also a blessed way to start my day off! I’ve realized that I could also be using my drive home as valuable time, too. I normally listen to the radio, or on several occasions I will listen and sing to bhajans. It’s just not something concrete… yet! (**) I participate in a prayer sankalpa every week, as well. I do the prayers on Saturday or Sunday, and then I also sneak it in, if possible, while at work and having some down time. I will sit quietly and read through it, praying for everyone involved and listed. I really need to get in more sadhana daily. I also need to start meditating… something I don’t know too much about. Funds are limited, but I’ve been buying a few books here and there to help me out along my path. I also purchased a nice wrist and neck mala online, cheaply priced, to boot. I should be getting it some time this week, which will greatly aid (and motivate) me in chanting my mantras. Thank you in advance to anyone willing to share their practices with me. I learn so much by reading all of your experiences, thoughts, and feelings. I also think it will be a valuable way for me to see some great ideas and inspirations! Jai Ma!!! ¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:- ¸.•´ .•´¨¨)) ((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::.. -:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•` ..::Bela::.. "Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The heart that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 OM NAMAH SIVAYA i have heard it said that singing the Divine Name(bhajans) is the highest sadhana. it purifies the heart and focuses the mind. and Amma says that Japa should be done all the time. below are a couple of Amma quotes about japa; "Mental purity will come through constant chanting of the Divine Name. This is the simplest way." - Ammachi, Awaken Children, Vol. 1 p60 (0772) Children, always chant the mantra. The mind must be trained to do japa incessantly. Then whatever work we may do, the mind will continue japa. A spider continues to spin a web wherever it goes. In the same way, during every action, continue japa mentally. - Ammachi, For My Children, p69 (0559) "Children, in the present dark age of materialism, chanting the mantra (japa), is the easiest way for us to obtain inner purification and concentration. Japa can be done at any time, anywhere without observing any rule regarding the purity of mind and body. Japa can be done while engaged in any task." "Once you become the offering, once your whole being is in a state of constant prayer, then what is left is not you but Him. What is left is Love. Prayer can perform this miracle. Crying can accomplish this feat. What is the purpose of meditation? It is to become love. It is to attain Oneness. Thus there is no better meditation technique than praying and crying to the Lord." - Ammachi, Awaken Children, Vol.5, p30 (0360) JAI MA Ammachi, "Bela Gaytan" <bela.fela@g...> wrote: > > Namaste everyone, > > > > I am curious to find out what many of you do on a daily basis as regular > spiritual practices and such. If any of you feel inclined to share, either > publicly or privately, I was greatly appreciate your contribution. I'm > interested in seeing how people can manage their time being a parent, > working, volunteering, spending time with friends and family… and also > manage their time for sadhana, seva, satsangs, etc. > > > > At the moment, I don't quite have any daily practices down pat. It's > certainly something I plan to start doing as soon as possible. I was off > work for a year and a half and also drifted away from God, Kali, & Amma > during this time. Now that I've blissfully returned, I also started working > full-time. I'm a single-parent (separated)… so time management is really > something I need to work more on. I've finally reached a point to where I > can balance work and home life a bit better now, and to where I am > accustomed to my new schedule. (I was also sick for a bit over a year prior > to starting this new job. I'm now healed completely… but it all shows what > a roller-coaster ride the past year or so has been for me!) > > > > So far, I "try" to pray each night. I say "try" as many times I am putting > my children to sleep, and I end up so tired that I go to bed at the same > time they do. Several weeks back I decided that I would dedicate my drive > to work to praying and singing bhajans. I have a 30-45 minute commute, > one-way, so it has proven to be a great way to get loads of prayer in, and > also a blessed way to start my day off! I've realized that I could also be > using my drive home as valuable time, too. I normally listen to the radio, > or on several occasions I will listen and sing to bhajans. It's just not > something concrete… yet! (**) > > > > I participate in a prayer sankalpa every week, as well. I do the prayers on > Saturday or Sunday, and then I also sneak it in, if possible, while at work > and having some down time. I will sit quietly and read through it, praying > for everyone involved and listed. > > > > I really need to get in more sadhana daily. I also need to start > meditating… something I don't know too much about. Funds are limited, but > I've been buying a few books here and there to help me out along my path. I > also purchased a nice wrist and neck mala online, cheaply priced, to boot. > I should be getting it some time this week, which will greatly aid (and > motivate) me in chanting my mantras. > > > > Thank you in advance to anyone willing to share their practices with me. I > learn so much by reading all of your experiences, thoughts, and feelings. I > also think it will be a valuable way for me to see some great ideas and > inspirations! Jai Ma!!! > > > > ¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:- > ¸.•´ .•´¨¨)) > ((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::.. > -:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•` ..::Bela::.. > > > > "Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The heart > that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the > choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 Thank you so much for these quotations. So Divine. On Jan 3, 2006, at 3:40 PM, ecjensen_us wrote: > OM NAMAH SIVAYA > > i have heard it said that singing the Divine Name(bhajans) is the > highest sadhana. it purifies the heart and focuses the mind. and > Amma says that Japa should be done all the time. below are a couple > of Amma quotes about japa; > > > "Mental purity will come through constant chanting of the Divine > Name. This is the simplest way." - Ammachi, Awaken Children, Vol. 1 > p60 (0772) > > Children, always chant the mantra. The mind must be trained to do > japa incessantly. Then whatever work we may do, the mind will > continue japa. A spider continues to spin a web wherever it goes. In > the same way, during every action, continue japa mentally. - > Ammachi, For My Children, p69 (0559) > > "Children, in the present dark age of materialism, chanting the > mantra (japa), is the easiest way for us to obtain inner > purification and concentration. Japa can be done at any time, > anywhere without observing any rule regarding the purity of mind and > body. Japa can be done while engaged in any task." > > "Once you become the offering, once your whole being is in a state > of constant prayer, then what is left is not you but Him. What is > left is Love. Prayer can perform this miracle. Crying can > accomplish this feat. What is the purpose of meditation? It is to > become love. It is to attain Oneness. Thus there is no better > meditation technique than praying and crying to the Lord." - > Ammachi, Awaken Children, Vol.5, p30 (0360) > > JAI MA > > > > Ammachi, "Bela Gaytan" <bela.fela@g...> wrote: > > > > Namaste everyone, > > > > > > > > I am curious to find out what many of you do on a daily basis as > regular > > spiritual practices and such. If any of you feel inclined to > share, either > > publicly or privately, I was greatly appreciate your > contribution. I'm > > interested in seeing how people can manage their time being a > parent, > > working, volunteering, spending time with friends and family… and > also > > manage their time for sadhana, seva, satsangs, etc. > > > > > > > > At the moment, I don't quite have any daily practices down pat. > It's > > certainly something I plan to start doing as soon as possible. I > was off > > work for a year and a half and also drifted away from God, Kali, & > Amma > > during this time. Now that I've blissfully returned, I also > started working > > full-time. I'm a single-parent (separated)… so time management is > really > > something I need to work more on. I've finally reached a point to > where I > > can balance work and home life a bit better now, and to where I am > > accustomed to my new schedule. (I was also sick for a bit over a > year prior > > to starting this new job. I'm now healed completely… but it all > shows what > > a roller-coaster ride the past year or so has been for me!) > > > > > > > > So far, I "try" to pray each night. I say "try" as many times I > am putting > > my children to sleep, and I end up so tired that I go to bed at > the same > > time they do. Several weeks back I decided that I would dedicate > my drive > > to work to praying and singing bhajans. I have a 30-45 minute > commute, > > one-way, so it has proven to be a great way to get loads of prayer > in, and > > also a blessed way to start my day off! I've realized that I > could also be > > using my drive home as valuable time, too. I normally listen to > the radio, > > or on several occasions I will listen and sing to bhajans. It's > just not > > something concrete… yet! (**) > > > > > > > > I participate in a prayer sankalpa every week, as well. I do the > prayers on > > Saturday or Sunday, and then I also sneak it in, if possible, > while at work > > and having some down time. I will sit quietly and read through > it, praying > > for everyone involved and listed. > > > > > > > > I really need to get in more sadhana daily. I also need to start > > meditating… something I don't know too much about. Funds are > limited, but > > I've been buying a few books here and there to help me out along > my path. I > > also purchased a nice wrist and neck mala online, cheaply priced, > to boot. > > I should be getting it some time this week, which will greatly aid > (and > > motivate) me in chanting my mantras. > > > > > > > > Thank you in advance to anyone willing to share their practices > with me. I > > learn so much by reading all of your experiences, thoughts, and > feelings. I > > also think it will be a valuable way for me to see some great > ideas and > > inspirations! Jai Ma!!! > > > > > > > > ¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:- > > ¸.•´ .•´¨¨)) > > ((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::.. > > -:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•`       ..::Bela::..  > > > > > > > > "Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. > The heart > > that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is > the > > choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > > > > > > Mata amritanandamayi > > > > > > ▪  Visit your group "Ammachi" on the web. >  > ▪  >  Ammachi >  > ▪  Terms of > Service. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Namaste and thank you for your reply to my question! It warms my heart to know that singing bhajans is thought of to be a high form of sadhana! I absolutely adore the few bhajan CD's I have, and sing them out loud or in my mind most of the day. My son even requests that I sing "From Place to Place" when I rock him to sleep each night. (But, he calls it "Millions of Times", LOL.) I've tried to do japa at work when I have time, and have my wrist mala in my purse, so that I can chant my mantra during my breaks. I do data entry though, so it's not possible to chant my mantra while trying to enter in data. I saw from the Amritapuri.org website, that if you can not do japa while working, you should pray before and after. Pray before to ask God for your blessings in performing your work, and pray afterwards to ask for forgiveness, for any errors or mistakes you may have made. I've put a little reminder on my computer, that pops up in the morning, before and after lunch break, and before I leave, to help me remember to pray. Again, thank you for replying and posting this information. I appreciate your feedback! Jai Ma! ¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:- ¸.•´ .•´¨¨)) ((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::.. -:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•` ..::Bela::.. "Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The heart that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma _____ Ammachi [Ammachi] On Behalf Of ecjensen_us Tuesday, January 03, 2006 6:41 PM Ammachi Re: Daily Practices OM NAMAH SIVAYA i have heard it said that singing the Divine Name(bhajans) is the highest sadhana. it purifies the heart and focuses the mind. and Amma says that Japa should be done all the time. below are a couple of Amma quotes about japa; "Mental purity will come through constant chanting of the Divine Name. This is the simplest way." - Ammachi, Awaken Children, Vol. 1 p60 (0772) Children, always chant the mantra. The mind must be trained to do japa incessantly. Then whatever work we may do, the mind will continue japa. A spider continues to spin a web wherever it goes. In the same way, during every action, continue japa mentally. - Ammachi, For My Children, p69 (0559) "Children, in the present dark age of materialism, chanting the mantra (japa), is the easiest way for us to obtain inner purification and concentration. Japa can be done at any time, anywhere without observing any rule regarding the purity of mind and body. Japa can be done while engaged in any task." "Once you become the offering, once your whole being is in a state of constant prayer, then what is left is not you but Him. What is left is Love. Prayer can perform this miracle. Crying can accomplish this feat. What is the purpose of meditation? It is to become love. It is to attain Oneness. Thus there is no better meditation technique than praying and crying to the Lord." - Ammachi, Awaken Children, Vol.5, p30 (0360) JAI MA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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