The Eternal Idea of Perfection and Chandi Path

[Guest guest]

Jai Maa

I have been following the discussion regarding the meaning of

Sanatana Dharma and the eternal idea of perfection that we all

contribute to. I am reminded of two sources that have brought much

inspiration. First is the book the Nectar of Eternal Bliss and Sri

Ramakrishna's advice to the householders....churn the milk until it

becomes butter, then it can float on water without becoming diluted.

Or perhaps that when planting a young tree we put a fence around it,

but once it is strong we can tie even an elephant to it. Until we

realize God as our very own nature, it seems that the process of the

Sadhaka involves working through layers of understanding as we

manifest the song of our individual and collective souls.

 

Also, recently I read a discourse by SRI SWAMI KRISHNANANDA on the

Chandi Path or Devi Mahatmya. The web link to the full text is listed

below. I have written below my understanding of some key points that

I think are related to our discussion.

 

http://www.dlshq.org/religions/devi_mahatmya.htm

 

A few things stand out for me in Swami Krishnanada's discourse. First

is that we must deal with the dirt or mala of tamas. This means

rubbing clean, washing, sweeping, MOVING, take action, or worship of

Maha Kali. Karma Yoga removes Mala. Then from Tamas we move to

dealing with the down sides of Rajas. So we are feeling strong and

like we have mastered something, are getting things happening and

experiencing some successes in our lives and prosperity, Maha Lakshmi

helps us, but then the mind keeps jumping around. There are lots of

desires and distractions, they just keep changing form no matter how

we try to take them down. We want more than worldly success, we want

to stop this jumping mind. So we need to worship God. Upasana removes

Vikhepa Shakti, tossing of the mind. But then we are still stuck.

Maybe we get complacent or satisfide with what has been achieved. We

know that there needs to be something different but we do not fully

understand what that is or how to get there. We still have ignorance.

Sattva helps us see the spiritual path but it cannot give us Truth.

There is still a glass wall between us and Self Realization. We need

the higher wisdom that removes ignorance. Maha Sarasvati can help us

pierce the veil of ignorance and achieve Self Realization. Move from

Sattva to Truth.

 

So it seems that our "goals" and vision for what we can offer the

world as an expression of perfection may be intuitive and clear early

on, but our process of realizing or expressing this example takes

time. We have to work through the stages. Simply, if we are not

healthy or do not have the economic means to free up our time or

intellectual abilities, it will be difficult to do intense sadhana.

So even the basic aspects of functioning within Tamas and Rajas must

be dealt with in order to get to a Sattvic expression of life and

move toward expression of perfection, Self Relization. How we express

it in words and action will evolve and likely will reflect our

process as sadhakas through the three Gunas and the universal story

of the Chandi Path. It is all Mata Devi. My we love her and enjoy her

lila, all of it. Jai Maa