To Chris ~ Online-class: PUJA - some questions for you!

[Guest guest]

Chris wrote:

 

I have a hard time with puja, and honestly, I'm not sure why. I'm

really rather conflicted about it (but then, I'm conflicted a lot

these days, it seems). It is possible that I'm just lazy.

 

I get a lot out of path and japa and some kinds of pranayama and also

methods of practice like bhuta shuddhi and prana pratishta, and I

enjoy following a ceremonial system of practicing these various

activities of worship. What I seem to rebel against is the stuff, the

physical objects, and the time and resources it takes to gather and

maintain them (lazy, huh?)...

 

 

 

Dear Chris ~ recently, when I wrote to Henny about all the offerings in the

Advanced Shiva Puja (and remember, I am mostly doing my recitation, sitting up

or reclining on my bed), and she reminded me that Swamiji said it is more

important to do the worship than to worry about collecting the items. Perhaps

you could berate yourself less and do what you DO connect with. It sounds like

you are doing a lot of sadhana, and that seems the important thing.

 

If you are rebelling, fighting yourself won't help, I believe. This has

never worked for me. Just continue your practice with no judgement for not

including all the objects. Or do as henny suggested, and just have a flower on a

plate and imagine you are taking the objects from your heart. I remember the

first time I saw Swamiji and Shree Maa ... they were doing a Homa on the bank of

a river somewhere in Colorado (I can't remember where now). Swamiji said,

for all of us, like me, who just showed up without a clue, that the items

offered could be taken from our hearts. I still do this ... I actually love doing

this ... at the beginning of any puja, for the eta gandapushpe part (offering

the flowers). Somehow, the feeling of taking the flower from inside my own

heart and offering it seems very special.

 

If you are just being lazy, berating yourself won't help there either. To

this little turtle, it appears you are doing a lot, and doing what you are

already doing, you can't possibly go wrong. Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji ~ Linda

[Guest guest]

I don't know..I didn't intuit that Chris was berating himself at

all. Or even remotely complaining. And certainly not limiting

himself in any way. I sense he was being very and actually clear and

honest with himself that the energy of certain aspects of worship do

not resonate with him. That he chose to use the "label" lazy seemed

almost satirical. Kudos to Chris that he continues to question and

explore the richness of all of (H)is/(H)er Truth. I, for one, am

grateful for his insightful dialogue and unabashed clarity.

 

peace,

sal.

 

, nierika wrote:

> Dear Chris ~ recently, when I wrote to Henny about all the

offerings in the Advanced Shiva Puja (and remember, I am mostly doing

my recitation, sitting up or reclining on my bed), and she reminded

me that Swamiji said it is more important to do the worship than to

worry about collecting the items. Perhaps you could berate yourself

less and do what you DO connect with. It sounds like you are doing a

lot of sadhana, and that seems the important thing. If you are

rebelling, fighting yourself won't help, I believe. This has never

worked for me. Just continue your practice with no judgement for not

including all the objects. Or do as henny suggested, and just have a

flower on a plate and imagine you are taking the objects from your

heart. I remember the first time I saw Swamiji and Shree Maa ... they

were doing a Homa on the bank of a river somewhere in Colorado (I

can't remember where now). Swamiji said, for all of us, like me, who

just showed up without a clue, that the items offered could be taken

from our hearts. I still do this ... I actually love doing this ...

at the beginning of any puja, for the eta gandapushpe part (offering

the flowers). Somehow, the feeling of taking the flower from inside

my own heart and offering it seems very special.

>

If you are just being lazy, berating yourself won't help there

either. To this little turtle, it appears you are doing a lot, and

doing what you are already doing, you can't possibly go wrong. Jai

Maa , Jai Swamiji ~ Linda