Guest guest Posted August 10, 2006 Report Share Posted August 10, 2006 "The scripture of Sanatana Dharma (The Eternal Ideal Of Perfection) is never complete; each of us contributes in its writing by living the example." This is a beautiful thought, but I confess to not really understanding it. Is it to be taken literally? Thank you, Karen [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2006 Report Share Posted August 12, 2006 Namaste Karen and all beloved Family, Thanks for the question -- one time i had the blessing of asking this same clarification with Swamiji and i pray that i can share my understanding correctly. Karen has picked this sentence from the Devi Mandir web page -- Our Mission.. You can see the complete text here: http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/taxonomy_menu/46/61 Everybody is part of history and plays a role - it can be a beautiful role, a minor role..etc...it is our choice...depends upon our ideal of perfection. Swamiji says that we are children of Shiva (who allows us to make a sankalpa and choose our path and make a plan and follow it) and Divine Mother (who gives us the fruits of our karma). So we can either pick a beautiful ideal of Perfection and strive to reach it or sit back and let life take its course -- in either case Divine Mother is going to give the fruit of our karma...why not we pick a noble ideal and strive for that truth and love in our lives...and that way we can contribute an example in our lives for our world. Jai Maa! Thank You! ramya , "forall10q" <forall10q wrote: > > > "The scripture of Sanatana Dharma (The Eternal Ideal Of Perfection) is > never complete; each of us contributes in its writing by living the > example." > > This is a beautiful thought, but I confess to not really understanding > it. Is it to be taken literally? > > Thank you, > Karen [] > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2006 Report Share Posted August 12, 2006 Thank you Ramya. This clarification is very helpful. Jai Maa , "n_ramya108" <n_ramya108 wrote: > > > Namaste Karen and all beloved Family, > > Thanks for the question -- one time i had the blessing of asking this same clarification > with Swamiji and i pray that i can share my understanding correctly. > > Karen has picked this sentence from the Devi Mandir web page -- Our Mission. You can > see the complete text here: > > http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/taxonomy_menu/46/61 > > Everybody is part of history and plays a role - it can be a beautiful role, a minor > role..etc...it is our choice...depends upon our ideal of perfection. Swamiji says that we are > children of Shiva (who allows us to make a sankalpa and choose our path and make a plan > and follow it) and Divine Mother (who gives us the fruits of our karma). > > So we can either pick a beautiful ideal of Perfection and strive to reach it or sit back and let > life take its course -- in either case Divine Mother is going to give the fruit of our > karma...why not we pick a noble ideal and strive for that truth and love in our lives...and > that way we can contribute an example in our lives for our world. > > Jai Maa! Thank You! > > ramya > > > > , "forall10q" <forall10q@> wrote: > > > > > > "The scripture of Sanatana Dharma (The Eternal Ideal Of Perfection) is > > never complete; each of us contributes in its writing by living the > > example." > > > > This is a beautiful thought, but I confess to not really understanding > > it. Is it to be taken literally? > > > > Thank you, > > Karen [] > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2006 Report Share Posted August 12, 2006 Your beautiful answer, Ramya, to my question is very much appreciated. Swamiji's words, though simple, deliver a powerful message. Thank you, Karen [] , "n_ramya108" <n_ramya108 wrote: > > > Namaste Karen and all beloved Family, > > Thanks for the question -- one time i had the blessing of asking this same clarification > with Swamiji and i pray that i can share my understanding correctly. > > Karen has picked this sentence from the Devi Mandir web page -- Our Mission. You can > see the complete text here: > > http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/taxonomy_menu/46/61 > > Everybody is part of history and plays a role - it can be a beautiful role, a minor > role..etc...it is our choice...depends upon our ideal of perfection. Swamiji says that we are > children of Shiva (who allows us to make a sankalpa and choose our path and make a plan > and follow it) and Divine Mother (who gives us the fruits of our karma). > > So we can either pick a beautiful ideal of Perfection and strive to reach it or sit back and let > life take its course -- in either case Divine Mother is going to give the fruit of our > karma...why not we pick a noble ideal and strive for that truth and love in our lives...and > that way we can contribute an example in our lives for our world. > > Jai Maa! Thank You! > > ramya > > > > , "forall10q" forall10q@ wrote: > > > > > > "The scripture of Sanatana Dharma (The Eternal Ideal Of Perfection) is > > never complete; each of us contributes in its writing by living the > > example." > > > > This is a beautiful thought, but I confess to not really understanding > > it. Is it to be taken literally? > > > > Thank you, > > Karen [] > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2006 Report Share Posted August 13, 2006 OM Namah Sivaya Could we not select "a beautiful ideal of Perfection" and live it, personalize it ,and see ourselves as embodiments of Perfection, acting accordingly? Are not those who sit back and let life take its course tamasic? Do they not see a insurmountable barrier between themselves and Perfection even while Perfection abides in them, constitutes their essential identity and continually calls them? Even their breath calls to them. Their inbreath whispers, "So" and their outbreath whispers, "Ham". With each breath they remind themselves, "I am That " and yet refuse to hear themselves. OM and Prem , "n_ramya108" <n_ramya108 wrote: > > > Namaste Karen and all beloved Family, > > Thanks for the question -- one time i had the blessing of asking this same clarification > with Swamiji and i pray that i can share my understanding correctly. > > Karen has picked this sentence from the Devi Mandir web page -- Our Mission. You can > see the complete text here: > > http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/taxonomy_menu/46/61 > > Everybody is part of history and plays a role - it can be a beautiful role, a minor > role..etc...it is our choice...depends upon our ideal of perfection. Swamiji says that we are > children of Shiva (who allows us to make a sankalpa and choose our path and make a plan > and follow it) and Divine Mother (who gives us the fruits of our karma). > > So we can either pick a beautiful ideal of Perfection and strive to reach it or sit back and let > life take its course -- in either case Divine Mother is going to give the fruit of our > karma...why not we pick a noble ideal and strive for that truth and love in our lives...and > that way we can contribute an example in our lives for our world. > > Jai Maa! Thank You! > > ramya > > > > , "forall10q" <forall10q@> wrote: > > > > > > "The scripture of Sanatana Dharma (The Eternal Ideal Of Perfection) is > > never complete; each of us contributes in its writing by living the > > example." > > > > This is a beautiful thought, but I confess to not really understanding > > it. Is it to be taken literally? > > > > Thank you, > > Karen [] > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 At every moment of our lives three things happen... 1) the sureness of I 2) the objects it perceives 3) the experience or the principle of Sat(I) Chit(consciousness) Ananda(experience)... And principle of 'I' never changes - that is you cannot ever cease to exist - the truth of 'I' is eternal...but according to what the 'I' perceives it experiences. So if it perceives good it experiences the same and so on... Now let say what we ('I') perceive and experience now is suffering or the vagaries of the mind then the only option we have is to take steps to rectify it... Till we ('I') perceives 'That' which makes us completely free and experience complete satisfaction - call it God or Brahman or Self... So only when we are like the Buddha aware of our sufferings and the suffering of the others or like Arjuna in the Gita who perceived conflict in and around him, will we want to change... Thats what spirituality is all about - 1) first understanding our plight 2) setting a goal to rectify it 3) working towards it... Then... Not being aware or hiding from our plight is what is tamasic... Being aware and doing something (it may be the wrong course) about it is rajasic... Being aware and doing the best thing that will surely take us towards our goal is sattvic... Jai Sri Ramakrishna! > OM NAMAH SIVAYA > > or is that surrendering? if One simply Loves God and asks for > nothing is that the same as sitting back and letting life takes it's > course? which i don't think would be tamasic. i guess maybe the > answer is an individual One. i have a question on this same lines. > Shree Maa says, "Surrender the ego so that we can recognize God when > he comes rather than passing our time trying to manipulate his > creation." my question for Swamiji or whomever is this; what > determines the difference between putting forth effort to achieve a > goal and manipulating creation? if our intentions are not selfish > (or at least we think they are not), isn't working towards any goal > a kind of "manipulating creation" to achieve a desired outcome? > > JAI MAA > > , "omprem" omprem@ wrote: > > > > OM Namah Sivaya > > > > Could we not select "a beautiful ideal of Perfection" and live it, > > personalize it ,and see ourselves as embodiments of Perfection, > > acting accordingly? > > > > Are not those who sit back and let life take its course tamasic? > > Do they not see a insurmountable barrier between themselves > > and Perfection even while Perfection abides in them, constitutes > > their essential identity and continually calls them? > > > > Even their breath calls to them. Their inbreath whispers, "So" > > and their outbreath whispers, "Ham". With each breath they > > remind themselves, "I am That " and yet refuse to hear > > themselves. > > > > OM and Prem > > > > , "n_ramya108" > > <n_ramya108@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > Namaste Karen and all beloved Family, > > > > > > Thanks for the question -- one time i had the blessing of > > asking this same clarification > > > with Swamiji and i pray that i can share my understanding > > correctly. > > > > > > Karen has picked this sentence from the Devi Mandir web > > page -- Our Mission. You can > > > see the complete text here: > > > > > > http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/taxonomy_menu/46/61 > > > > > > Everybody is part of history and plays a role - it can be a > > beautiful role, a minor > > > role..etc...it is our choice...depends upon our ideal of > > perfection. Swamiji says that we are > > > children of Shiva (who allows us to make a sankalpa and > > choose our path and make a plan > > > and follow it) and Divine Mother (who gives us the fruits of our > > karma). > > > > > > So we can either pick a beautiful ideal of Perfection and strive > > to reach it or sit back and let > > > life take its course -- in either case Divine Mother is going to > > give the fruit of our > > > karma...why not we pick a noble ideal and strive for that truth > > and love in our lives...and > > > that way we can contribute an example in our lives for our > > world. > > > > > > Jai Maa! Thank You! > > > > > > ramya > > > > > > > > > > > > , "forall10q" > > <forall10q@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > "The scripture of Sanatana Dharma (The Eternal Ideal Of > > Perfection) is > > > > never complete; each of us contributes in its writing by > living > > the > > > > example." > > > > > > > > This is a beautiful thought, but I confess to not really > > understanding > > > > it. Is it to be taken literally? > > > > > > > > Thank you, > > > > Karen [] > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 These comments and this discussion bring to mind something that Tenzin Palmo (Buddhist nun) has said. In discussing rebirth as a human (which as Shree Maa says is a great blessing in and of itself) Tenzion Palmo says that human rebirth is not so rare in itself, "but to be reborn in an environment where you can find a genuine spiritual path and a teacher? And with the intelligence and desire to follow it? There's nothing comparable to such a rebirth in its preciousness and rarity! How many of the billions of people are even interested in a path? How many of those are able to follow it or get someone to guide them?" Thank you, Karen [] , "omprem" <omprem wrote: > > OM Namah Sivaya > > Could we not select "a beautiful ideal of Perfection" and live it, > personalize it ,and see ourselves as embodiments of Perfection, > acting accordingly? > > Are not those who sit back and let life take its course tamasic? > Do they not see a insurmountable barrier between themselves > and Perfection even while Perfection abides in them, constitutes > their essential identity and continually calls them? > > Even their breath calls to them. Their inbreath whispers, "So" > and their outbreath whispers, "Ham". With each breath they > remind themselves, "I am That " and yet refuse to hear > themselves. > > OM and Prem > > , "n_ramya108" > n_ramya108@ wrote: > > > > > > Namaste Karen and all beloved Family, > > > > Thanks for the question -- one time i had the blessing of > asking this same clarification > > with Swamiji and i pray that i can share my understanding > correctly. > > > > Karen has picked this sentence from the Devi Mandir web > page -- Our Mission. You can > > see the complete text here: > > > > http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/taxonomy_menu/46/61 > > > > Everybody is part of history and plays a role - it can be a > beautiful role, a minor > > role..etc...it is our choice...depends upon our ideal of > perfection. Swamiji says that we are > > children of Shiva (who allows us to make a sankalpa and > choose our path and make a plan > > and follow it) and Divine Mother (who gives us the fruits of our > karma). > > > > So we can either pick a beautiful ideal of Perfection and strive > to reach it or sit back and let > > life take its course -- in either case Divine Mother is going to > give the fruit of our > > karma...why not we pick a noble ideal and strive for that truth > and love in our lives...and > > that way we can contribute an example in our lives for our > world. > > > > Jai Maa! Thank You! > > > > ramya > > > > > > > > , "forall10q" > <forall10q@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > "The scripture of Sanatana Dharma (The Eternal Ideal Of > Perfection) is > > > never complete; each of us contributes in its writing by living > the > > > example." > > > > > > This is a beautiful thought, but I confess to not really > understanding > > > it. Is it to be taken literally? > > > > > > Thank you, > > > Karen [] > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 Thank you God Sister, Karen. I have also heard the Dalai Lama express this opinion. How rare and fortunate. So much is required for the path and none of us do it alone. We are all parts of the whole and dependent upon it. What a blessing to be here. Jai Maa. , "forall10q" <forall10q wrote: > > These comments and this discussion bring to mind something that Tenzin > Palmo (Buddhist nun) has said. In discussing rebirth as a human (which > as Shree Maa says is a great blessing in and of itself) Tenzion Palmo > says that human rebirth is not so rare in itself, "but to be reborn in > an environment where you can find a genuine spiritual path and a > teacher? And with the intelligence and desire to follow it? There's > nothing comparable to such a rebirth in its preciousness and rarity! > How many of the billions of people are even interested in a path? How > many of those are able to follow it or get someone to guide them?" > > Thank you, > Karen [] > , "omprem" <omprem@> wrote: > > > > OM Namah Sivaya > > > > Could we not select "a beautiful ideal of Perfection" and live it, > > personalize it ,and see ourselves as embodiments of Perfection, > > acting accordingly? > > > > Are not those who sit back and let life take its course tamasic? > > Do they not see a insurmountable barrier between themselves > > and Perfection even while Perfection abides in them, constitutes > > their essential identity and continually calls them? > > > > Even their breath calls to them. Their inbreath whispers, "So" > > and their outbreath whispers, "Ham". With each breath they > > remind themselves, "I am That " and yet refuse to hear > > themselves. > > > > OM and Prem > > > > , "n_ramya108" > > n_ramya108@ wrote: > > > > > > > > > Namaste Karen and all beloved Family, > > > > > > Thanks for the question -- one time i had the blessing of > > asking this same clarification > > > with Swamiji and i pray that i can share my understanding > > correctly. > > > > > > Karen has picked this sentence from the Devi Mandir web > > page -- Our Mission. You can > > > see the complete text here: > > > > > > http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/taxonomy_menu/46/61 > > > > > > Everybody is part of history and plays a role - it can be a > > beautiful role, a minor > > > role..etc...it is our choice...depends upon our ideal of > > perfection. Swamiji says that we are > > > children of Shiva (who allows us to make a sankalpa and > > choose our path and make a plan > > > and follow it) and Divine Mother (who gives us the fruits of our > > karma). > > > > > > So we can either pick a beautiful ideal of Perfection and strive > > to reach it or sit back and let > > > life take its course -- in either case Divine Mother is going to > > give the fruit of our > > > karma...why not we pick a noble ideal and strive for that truth > > and love in our lives...and > > > that way we can contribute an example in our lives for our > > world. > > > > > > Jai Maa! Thank You! > > > > > > ramya > > > > > > > > > > > > , "forall10q" > > <forall10q@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > "The scripture of Sanatana Dharma (The Eternal Ideal Of > > Perfection) is > > > > never complete; each of us contributes in its writing by living > > the > > > > example." > > > > > > > > This is a beautiful thought, but I confess to not really > > understanding > > > > it. Is it to be taken literally? > > > > > > > > Thank you, > > > > Karen [] > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 Dear Bhagini and Bandhuvar, How can this puny human manipulate creation! The creator has laid down the rules and he, who makes rules, alone can change it. Those souls who have with His grace shed all the dross and have become one with Him do have power to change things; but they do not desire to do so. Indeed what God does is always in the best interest for everyone, whether he understands it or not. All, that human can do and should do is to choose a goal and try his best to reach it with whatever powers God has bestowed on him. When we take a step towards Him, He with His abundant love comes hundred steps forward to hug us and bestows on us more strength to move forward. Just sitting, doing nothing is for those who have reached the stage of Nrivikalp Samadhi. Till then one cannot but do something. And that something has to be for moving towards the chosen goal of perfection. Swamiji says on page 66 of ‘Kashyap Sutra’: “Every time we fall, because we will fall, it is not wrong that we do, it is natural, so we should pick ourselves up again. Let us maintain the humility to remember that we could fall any moment. Pray for elasticity to bounce right back up again, until we become fixed in the eternal consciousness of Siva.” Chetan Merani Everyone is raving about the all-new Mail Beta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Om Namah Sivaya There can only be an "I" if there is also an "other". With Satchitananda there is no 'other' so it would seem that "I", the individual, cannot be equated with "Sat", the Truth of Absolute Existence beyond all names and forms. "Being aware and doing the best thing that will surely take us towards our [spiritual] goal is sattvic." Yes, of course, and as we know to reach our ultimate spiritual "goal" of merging with Brahman, Infinite Divinity, we must overcome even sattva, moving beyond the playground of the gunas which is the phenomenal world. , "n_mallan" <n_mallan wrote: > > At every moment of our lives three things happen... > > 1) the sureness of I > 2) the objects it perceives > 3) the experience > > or the principle of Sat(I) Chit(consciousness) Ananda(experience)... > > And principle of 'I' never changes - that is you cannot ever cease to > exist - the truth of 'I' is eternal...but according to what the 'I' > perceives it experiences. So if it perceives good it experiences the > same and so on... > > Now let say what we ('I') perceive and experience now is suffering or > the vagaries of the mind then the only option we have is to take steps > to rectify it... > Till we ('I') perceives 'That' which makes us completely free and > experience complete satisfaction - call it God or Brahman or Self... > > So only when we are like the Buddha aware of our sufferings and the > suffering of the others or like Arjuna in the Gita who perceived > conflict in and around him, will we want to change... > > Thats what spirituality is all about - 1) first understanding our plight > 2) setting a goal to rectify it 3) working towards it... > > Then... > Not being aware or hiding from our plight is what is tamasic... > Being aware and doing something (it may be the wrong course) about it is > rajasic... > Being aware and doing the best thing that will surely take us towards > our goal is sattvic... > > Jai Sri Ramakrishna! > > > > > OM NAMAH SIVAYA > > > > or is that surrendering? if One simply Loves God and asks for > > nothing is that the same as sitting back and letting life takes it's > > course? which i don't think would be tamasic. i guess maybe the > > answer is an individual One. i have a question on this same lines. > > Shree Maa says, "Surrender the ego so that we can recognize God when > > he comes rather than passing our time trying to manipulate his > > creation." my question for Swamiji or whomever is this; what > > determines the difference between putting forth effort to achieve a > > goal and manipulating creation? if our intentions are not selfish > > (or at least we think they are not), isn't working towards any goal > > a kind of "manipulating creation" to achieve a desired outcome? > > > > JAI MAA > > > > , "omprem" omprem@ wrote: > > > > > > OM Namah Sivaya > > > > > > Could we not select "a beautiful ideal of Perfection" and live it, > > > personalize it ,and see ourselves as embodiments of Perfection, > > > acting accordingly? > > > > > > Are not those who sit back and let life take its course tamasic? > > > Do they not see a insurmountable barrier between themselves > > > and Perfection even while Perfection abides in them, constitutes > > > their essential identity and continually calls them? > > > > > > Even their breath calls to them. Their inbreath whispers, "So" > > > and their outbreath whispers, "Ham". With each breath they > > > remind themselves, "I am That " and yet refuse to hear > > > themselves. > > > > > > OM and Prem > > > > > > , "n_ramya108" > > > <n_ramya108@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > Namaste Karen and all beloved Family, > > > > > > > > Thanks for the question -- one time i had the blessing of > > > asking this same clarification > > > > with Swamiji and i pray that i can share my understanding > > > correctly. > > > > > > > > Karen has picked this sentence from the Devi Mandir web > > > page -- Our Mission. You can > > > > see the complete text here: > > > > > > > > http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/taxonomy_menu/46/61 > > > > > > > > Everybody is part of history and plays a role - it can be a > > > beautiful role, a minor > > > > role..etc...it is our choice...depends upon our ideal of > > > perfection. Swamiji says that we are > > > > children of Shiva (who allows us to make a sankalpa and > > > choose our path and make a plan > > > > and follow it) and Divine Mother (who gives us the fruits of our > > > karma). > > > > > > > > So we can either pick a beautiful ideal of Perfection and strive > > > to reach it or sit back and let > > > > life take its course -- in either case Divine Mother is going to > > > give the fruit of our > > > > karma...why not we pick a noble ideal and strive for that truth > > > and love in our lives...and > > > > that way we can contribute an example in our lives for our > > > world. > > > > > > > > Jai Maa! Thank You! > > > > > > > > ramya > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > , "forall10q" > > > <forall10q@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "The scripture of Sanatana Dharma (The Eternal Ideal Of > > > Perfection) is > > > > > never complete; each of us contributes in its writing by > > living > > > the > > > > > example." > > > > > > > > > > This is a beautiful thought, but I confess to not really > > > understanding > > > > > it. Is it to be taken literally? > > > > > > > > > > Thank you, > > > > > Karen [] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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