Guest guest Posted August 29, 2006 Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 Dear Sriniji and all, thank you, Sriniji, for uploading the files. Having read what has been said, I am left with a question about choosing steps/minor goals. My question is: are we always able to judge what would be best for us? I realize that it is important to decide if a step will take you towards a chosen goal or away from it, and that this is also a tool with which you can evaluate steps already taken. But my question is whether or not we are always able to judge this for ourselves. I mean, isn't there a tendency to choose steps which are either too comfortable/easy, or too difficult/ambitious (when learning how to perform puja, I could choose to add one mantra a month or I could have the ambition to master the advanced Shiva Puja in that time.) So in the first case you could be tempted to think you are doing fine, while actually you are not moving at all, and in the second case you would think you had chosen the wrong goal, while all you did was bite off more than you could chew. I also find it is not always easy to evaluate if some situation I have maneuvered myself into is taking me towards or away from the goal. For instance, some years ago I decided to take a simple part time job in order to have more time for spiritual practice. Now I have more time, but really dislike the job. Does this dislike take me away from my goal because I spend too much time fretting about it and I feel I waste talents I could have put to better use, or does it actually take me closer because it gives me a chance to practice humility and selfless service? How well do we know ourselves and how do we judge our own strenghts and weaknesses? What would be the role of a guru in this? I would welcome any ideas on this, with love, Henny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2006 Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 Dear Henny, My question is: are we always able to judge what would be best for us? I would see for some one who has not seen the "light" it would be hard to judge what is best for us. The three sources of knowledge to guide us are a. A guru or more knowledgeable person b. The Scriptures c. Our Intuition and past experience How well do we know ourselves and how do we judge our own strenghts and weaknesses? What would be the role of a guru in this? The answer is to maintain a spiritual diary everyday and maintain an honest account of our failings. About the role of the Guru, I am not sure. Love srini , "henny_v_i" <henny_v_i wrote: > > Dear Sriniji and all, > > thank you, Sriniji, for uploading the files. Having read what has been > said, I am left with a question about choosing steps/minor goals. > My question is: are we always able to judge what would be best for us? > I realize that it is important to decide if a step will take you > towards a chosen goal or away from it, and that this is also a tool > with which you can evaluate steps already taken. But my question is > whether or not we are always able to judge this for ourselves. > I mean, isn't there a tendency to choose steps which are either too > comfortable/easy, or too difficult/ambitious (when learning how to > perform puja, I could choose to add one mantra a month or I could have > the ambition to master the advanced Shiva Puja in that time.) So in > the first case you could be tempted to think you are doing fine, while > actually you are not moving at all, and in the second case you would > think you had chosen the wrong goal, while all you did was bite off > more than you could chew. > I also find it is not always easy to evaluate if some situation I have > maneuvered myself into is taking me towards or away from the goal. For > instance, some years ago I decided to take a simple part time job in > order to have more time for spiritual practice. Now I have more time, > but really dislike the job. Does this dislike take me away from my > goal because I spend too much time fretting about it and I feel I > waste talents I could have put to better use, or does it actually take > me closer because it gives me a chance to practice humility and > selfless service? > How well do we know ourselves and how do we judge our own strenghts > and weaknesses? What would be the role of a guru in this? > > > I would welcome any ideas on this, > > with love, > Henny > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2006 Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 Hi Henny I think if we have a Guru we can review this in detail with, that is ideal, but even then, the role of the Guru should be to make us independent ... all this is custom made for each of us to resolve. I have similar questions. What to do? I need to make some more money, I need peace, I have to take care of others. How to balance it all? The worry is there, and to varying degrees, the worry itself becomes the problem. Our spiritual practice can help there, not to insulate us, but to free our minds enough to see solutions, or, to be patient enough to get through a difficult phase ... My personal feeling is, through trial and error, you get to know what is the right next step. The more trying, the faster you get through the inevitable errors. steve , "henny_v_i" <henny_v_i wrote: > > Dear Sriniji and all, > > thank you, Sriniji, for uploading the files. Having read what has been > said, I am left with a question about choosing steps/minor goals. > My question is: are we always able to judge what would be best for us? > I realize that it is important to decide if a step will take you > towards a chosen goal or away from it, and that this is also a tool > with which you can evaluate steps already taken. But my question is > whether or not we are always able to judge this for ourselves. > I mean, isn't there a tendency to choose steps which are either too > comfortable/easy, or too difficult/ambitious (when learning how to > perform puja, I could choose to add one mantra a month or I could have > the ambition to master the advanced Shiva Puja in that time.) So in > the first case you could be tempted to think you are doing fine, while > actually you are not moving at all, and in the second case you would > think you had chosen the wrong goal, while all you did was bite off > more than you could chew. > I also find it is not always easy to evaluate if some situation I have > maneuvered myself into is taking me towards or away from the goal. For > instance, some years ago I decided to take a simple part time job in > order to have more time for spiritual practice. Now I have more time, > but really dislike the job. Does this dislike take me away from my > goal because I spend too much time fretting about it and I feel I > waste talents I could have put to better use, or does it actually take > me closer because it gives me a chance to practice humility and > selfless service? > How well do we know ourselves and how do we judge our own strenghts > and weaknesses? What would be the role of a guru in this? > > > I would welcome any ideas on this, > > with love, > Henny > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2006 Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 Steveji, thank you, I like this: "The more trying, the faster you get through the inevitable errors" this statement somehow has a very uplifting effect on me: it reminds me of Swamiji saying somewhere that, although it is inevitable we fall, the trick is to train ourselves to get up faster. So, by all means, let's keep trying! with love, Henny .., "Steve Connor" <sconnor wrote: > > Hi Henny > > I think if we have a Guru we can review this in detail with, that is > ideal, but even then, the role of the Guru should be to make us > independent ... all this is custom made for each of us to resolve. > > I have similar questions. What to do? I need to make some more money, > I need peace, I have to take care of others. How to balance it all? > The worry is there, and to varying degrees, the worry itself becomes > the problem. Our spiritual practice can help there, not to insulate > us, but to free our minds enough to see solutions, or, to be patient > enough to get through a difficult phase ... > > My personal feeling is, through trial and error, you get to know what > is the right next step. The more trying, the faster you get through > the inevitable errors. > > steve > > , "henny_v_i" <henny_v_i@> wrote: > > > > Dear Sriniji and all, > > > > thank you, Sriniji, for uploading the files. Having read what has been > > said, I am left with a question about choosing steps/minor goals. > > My question is: are we always able to judge what would be best for us? > > I realize that it is important to decide if a step will take you > > towards a chosen goal or away from it, and that this is also a tool > > with which you can evaluate steps already taken. But my question is > > whether or not we are always able to judge this for ourselves. > > I mean, isn't there a tendency to choose steps which are either too > > comfortable/easy, or too difficult/ambitious (when learning how to > > perform puja, I could choose to add one mantra a month or I could have > > the ambition to master the advanced Shiva Puja in that time.) So in > > the first case you could be tempted to think you are doing fine, while > > actually you are not moving at all, and in the second case you would > > think you had chosen the wrong goal, while all you did was bite off > > more than you could chew. > > I also find it is not always easy to evaluate if some situation I have > > maneuvered myself into is taking me towards or away from the goal. For > > instance, some years ago I decided to take a simple part time job in > > order to have more time for spiritual practice. Now I have more time, > > but really dislike the job. Does this dislike take me away from my > > goal because I spend too much time fretting about it and I feel I > > waste talents I could have put to better use, or does it actually take > > me closer because it gives me a chance to practice humility and > > selfless service? > > How well do we know ourselves and how do we judge our own strenghts > > and weaknesses? What would be the role of a guru in this? > > > > > > I would welcome any ideas on this, > > > > with love, > > Henny > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 Henny, You're right, it's hard to make good decisions when the mind is still clouded by desire and aversion. I will pray for you! Jai Maa! Chris , "henny_v_i" <henny_v_i wrote: > > Dear Sriniji and all, > > thank you, Sriniji, for uploading the files. Having read what has been > said, I am left with a question about choosing steps/minor goals. > My question is: are we always able to judge what would be best for us? > I realize that it is important to decide if a step will take you > towards a chosen goal or away from it, and that this is also a tool > with which you can evaluate steps already taken. But my question is > whether or not we are always able to judge this for ourselves. > I mean, isn't there a tendency to choose steps which are either too > comfortable/easy, or too difficult/ambitious (when learning how to > perform puja, I could choose to add one mantra a month or I could have > the ambition to master the advanced Shiva Puja in that time.) So in > the first case you could be tempted to think you are doing fine, while > actually you are not moving at all, and in the second case you would > think you had chosen the wrong goal, while all you did was bite off > more than you could chew. > I also find it is not always easy to evaluate if some situation I have > maneuvered myself into is taking me towards or away from the goal. For > instance, some years ago I decided to take a simple part time job in > order to have more time for spiritual practice. Now I have more time, > but really dislike the job. Does this dislike take me away from my > goal because I spend too much time fretting about it and I feel I > waste talents I could have put to better use, or does it actually take > me closer because it gives me a chance to practice humility and > selfless service? > How well do we know ourselves and how do we judge our own strenghts > and weaknesses? What would be the role of a guru in this? > > > I would welcome any ideas on this, > > with love, > Henny > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Sriniji, I see this is why getting our goals on paper, as honestly as we can, is important. Then our Gurus can help us to undertand and refine. If they are true Gurus they will intuitively know what is best for us and when. For myself, the inner Guru is also and the most imporant. After writing out my goals to share with my Gurus a peace came. No matter what reaction I was to get from my living Guru, the primary goals were clear and would remain. The how may change depending on others and circumstances. I await her guidance with trust. The soul's path takes many lifetimes. There is a comfort in that. Jai Maa , "srini_sadhu" <srini_sadhu wrote: > The three sources of knowledge to guide us are > > a. A guru or more knowledgeable person > b. The Scriptures > c. Our Intuition and past experience > > How well do we know ourselves and how do we judge our own strenghts > and weaknesses? What would be the role of a guru in this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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