to Vish - MEDITATION - WHAT IT IS- TO RYAN and All family

February 2, 2007

Namaste Vish,

I hope you can clear up some confusion that has arisen in my mind. As

I live at the other side of the planet from the Devi Mandir, visiting

for me is quite an undertaking, not to mention the careful

introduction and preparation process needed in the family circle. I am

working on it, but need to plan and save and tread carefully.

So I have been happy to plod along quietly, strengthened by the idea

that physical distance does not matter and that Maa and Swamiji are in

my heart, and so are all pilgrimage places. But now I hear that

meditation cannot be taught by post or book, and I am wondering what I

have been doing all this time. I understand that those who live in

close proximity to the Guru receive many blessings, and although I

realize there are special blessings assocciated with being actually

physically near the Guru, I have always derived comfort from the

thought that there are many ways of being 'near' the Guru. Have I

misunderstood the importance of physical presence?

with love,

Henny

s.com, "inspectionconnection108" <inspectionconnection108

wrote:

>

> Namaste Ryan:

>

> I talked to Swami about your questions on meditation. Swami

suggested

> you tune into the live Gita study class nightly at 6:30 PM Pacific

> time, or watch the classes afterwards from the archives. Swami says

> the Gita is full of knowledge and discussions about meditation.

Also,

> if you are interested in learning to meditate, visit the Devi Mandir

> in person. because meditation cannot be taught by post or a book, it

> is a direct transmission from teacher to student.

> Visit the Devi Mandir web site at : www.shreemaa.org

>

> Jai Maa Jai Swami

>

> Vishweshwar

>

February 3, 2007

Hennyji,

Please don't let your faith be shaken by Swamiji's advice to another

person. All of your experiences are true. You are pure of heart and

mind and blessed with Mother's bhaava and bhava (I just know it's true).

You definitely do not need to be in physical proximity to get ANYTHING

from the guru - providing you are open to it. I say this from

experience. Not only have Mother and Swamiji been with me from their

abode in Napa, but my beloved Gurudeva once blessed me with the

highest of graces, and I never saw his face in this world.

I have certainly had my share of doubts. In fact, my mind sometimes

overflows with them. They do nothing but create chaos. In concert with

the desires one harbors toward the guru, they can become a force to

throw you completely off the path. Trust your process, your sadhana,

your experience. Are you growing? If the answer is yes, then trust

your intuitive experience and keep growing. If you have love for them

in your heart, they will not abandon you.

I'm sure Vish will take this to Swamiji, and Swamiji will allay your

doubts about distance, as he has with others on this forum, from time

to time. In the meantime, please take my words to heart. They are true.

Jai Maa!

Chris

, "henny_v_i" <henny_v_i wrote:

>

> Namaste Vish,

>

> I hope you can clear up some confusion that has arisen in my mind. As

> I live at the other side of the planet from the Devi Mandir, visiting

> for me is quite an undertaking, not to mention the careful

> introduction and preparation process needed in the family circle. I am

> working on it, but need to plan and save and tread carefully.

> So I have been happy to plod along quietly, strengthened by the idea

> that physical distance does not matter and that Maa and Swamiji are in

> my heart, and so are all pilgrimage places. But now I hear that

> meditation cannot be taught by post or book, and I am wondering what I

> have been doing all this time. I understand that those who live in

> close proximity to the Guru receive many blessings, and although I

> realize there are special blessings assocciated with being actually

> physically near the Guru, I have always derived comfort from the

> thought that there are many ways of being 'near' the Guru. Have I

> misunderstood the importance of physical presence?

>

> with love,

> Henny

>

> s.com, "inspectionconnection108" <inspectionconnection108@>

> wrote:

> >

> > Namaste Ryan:

> >

> > I talked to Swami about your questions on meditation. Swami

> suggested

> > you tune into the live Gita study class nightly at 6:30 PM Pacific

> > time, or watch the classes afterwards from the archives. Swami says

> > the Gita is full of knowledge and discussions about meditation.

> Also,

> > if you are interested in learning to meditate, visit the Devi Mandir

> > in person. because meditation cannot be taught by post or a book, it

> > is a direct transmission from teacher to student.

> > Visit the Devi Mandir web site at : www.shreemaa.org

> >

> > Jai Maa Jai Swami

> >

> > Vishweshwar

> >

>

February 3, 2007

Om Namah Shivaya!

You need not be shaken by the words of Swamiji. They are said in

a context. The love we see in a message contains joy and truth. If we

find fear in a message, it is not truth for us. You can clarify the

same with Swamiji and you will get the instructions based on your

position.

Cheers,

Mahadevan venkitaraman

, "henny_v_i" <henny_v_i wrote:

>

> Namaste Vish,

>

> I hope you can clear up some confusion that has arisen in my mind.

As

> I live at the other side of the planet from the Devi Mandir,

visiting

> for me is quite an undertaking, not to mention the careful

> introduction and preparation process needed in the family circle. I

am

> working on it, but need to plan and save and tread carefully.

> So I have been happy to plod along quietly, strengthened by the

idea

> that physical distance does not matter and that Maa and Swamiji are

in

> my heart, and so are all pilgrimage places. But now I hear that

> meditation cannot be taught by post or book, and I am wondering

what I

> have been doing all this time. I understand that those who live in

> close proximity to the Guru receive many blessings, and although I

> realize there are special blessings assocciated with being actually

> physically near the Guru, I have always derived comfort from the

> thought that there are many ways of being 'near' the Guru. Have I

> misunderstood the importance of physical presence?

>

> with love,

> Henny

>

> s.com, "inspectionconnection108" <inspectionconnection108@>

> wrote:

> >

> > Namaste Ryan:

> >

> > I talked to Swami about your questions on meditation. Swami

> suggested

> > you tune into the live Gita study class nightly at 6:30 PM Pacific

> > time, or watch the classes afterwards from the archives. Swami

says

> > the Gita is full of knowledge and discussions about meditation.

> Also,

> > if you are interested in learning to meditate, visit the Devi

Mandir

> > in person. because meditation cannot be taught by post or a book,

it

> > is a direct transmission from teacher to student.

> > Visit the Devi Mandir web site at : www.shreemaa.org

> >

> > Jai Maa Jai Swami

> >

> > Vishweshwar

> >

>

February 3, 2007

Dear Henny:

There is a story in the Mahabharata. It goes like this. There was a young man who wanted to learn archery from the great master, but he was too far away, and too poor to receive training. He wanted to study from the great master who was teaching Arjuna, but he could not.

He created an image. It was the image of the master, and everyday he practiced. He became very adept, and finally one day the master did discover him, because he was far more skilled than even Arjuna.

Of course the last part of the story is not so inspiring at least for me. The guru decided that for payment he would take this young man's right hand. Weird story, but anyway, the moral here is, take the guru's teaching to heart. Distance would then not be an issue.

Peace,

Shankari Kali

Mahadevan venkitaraman

, "henny_v_i" <henny_v_i wrote:

>

> Namaste Vish,

>

> I hope you can clear up some confusion that has arisen in my mind.

As

> I live at the other side of the planet from the Devi Mandir,

visiting

> for me is quite an undertaking, not to mention the careful

> introduction and preparation process needed in the family circle. I

am

> working on it, but need to plan and save and tread carefully.

> So I have been happy to plod along quietly, strengthened by the

idea

> that physical distance does not matter and that Maa and Swamiji are

in

> my heart, and so are all pilgrimage places. But now I hear that

> meditation cannot be taught by post or book, and I am wondering

what I

> have been doing all this time. I understand that those who live in

> close proximity to the Guru receive many blessings, and although I

> realize there are special blessings assocciated with being actually

> physically near the Guru, I have always derived comfort from the

> thought that there are many ways of being 'near' the Guru. Have I

> misunderstood the importance of physical presence?

>

> with love,

> Henny

>

Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels

in 45,000 destinations on Travel to find your fit.

February 3, 2007

Guru Drohna took the thumb of the right hand of the student, as payment because the student was originally rejected by Drona. Drona had said that Arjuna would be the best in the world, so he refused to teach the would be student. So, by taking the student's right thumb as payment, the young student could no longer function as an archer. It was because Drona did'nt want to teach him, but the boy created a murthi, and worshipped Drona anyway, and therefore he got the Darshan of the Guru, even when the Guru had forbidden it. In this wasy, he became a great archer.

It's an interesting story. Just taking a guess at the meaning - Darshan of the Guru is possible even from a great distance, because of devotion. But, there is a warning here to be sure one has the permission of the Guru. Lucky for us, Maa and Swami are'nt as rutheless as Guru Drona was. (Drona was a Guru for warriors). Also, Maa and Swami want us to learn from them and develop pure love and devotion.

Jai Maa, Jai Swamiji

Shankari Kali <shankari_kali > wrote: Dear Henny:

There is a story in the Mahabharata. It goes like this. There was a young man who wanted to learn archery from the great master, but he was too far away, and too poor to receive training. He wanted to study from the great master who was teaching Arjuna, but he could not.

He created an image. It was the image of the master, and everyday he practiced. He became very adept, and finally one day the master did discover him, because he was far more skilled than even Arjuna.

Of course the last part of the story is not so inspiring at least for me. The guru decided that for payment he would take this young man's right hand. Weird story, but anyway, the moral here is, take the guru's teaching to heart. Distance would then not be an issue.

Peace,

Shankari Kali

Mahadevan venkitaraman

, "henny_v_i" <henny_v_i wrote:

>

> Namaste Vish,

>

> I hope you can clear up some confusion that has arisen in my mind.

As

> I live at the other side of the planet from the Devi Mandir,

visiting

> for me is quite an undertaking, not to mention the careful

> introduction and preparation process needed in the family circle. I

am

> working on it, but need to plan and save and tread carefully.

> So I have been happy to plod along quietly, strengthened by the

idea

> that physical distance does not matter and that Maa and Swamiji are

in

> my heart, and so are all pilgrimage places. But now I hear that

> meditation cannot be taught by post or book, and I am wondering

what I

> have been doing all this time. I understand that those who live in

> close proximity to the Guru receive many blessings, and although I

> realize there are special blessings assocciated with being actually

> physically near the Guru, I have always derived comfort from the

> thought that there are many ways of being 'near' the Guru. Have I

> misunderstood the importance of physical presence?

>

> with love,

> Henny

>

Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels

in 45,000 destinations on Travel to find your fit.

The fish are biting.

Get more visitors on your site using Search Marketing.

February 4, 2007

Om Namah Shivaya!

The story has more meanings. Guru Drona taught about using high

level weapons. And so he is not a Sadguru. He had his own protocol

which says the weapons could be taught only to Princes. So he refused

to teach Ekalavya who was a hunter boy. Ekalavya was determined to

study weapon using and so he was able to do that. It shows a Guru is

mandatory for spiritual progress and not for getting Worldly

knowledge. If every Tom, Dick and Harry is having weapons with high

destructive capability, who is to check them? Do they know where to

use them? And if they use them aginst the King? If Drona is committed

to the King, isn't he supposed to do something to check Ekalavya?

Also can't Ekalavya use his intelligence to study things other than

to be an expert in using destructive arms?

Cheers,

Mahadevan venkitaraman

, Nirmalananda Saraswati

<nirmalananda1008 wrote:

>

> Guru Drohna took the thumb of the right hand of the student, as

payment because the student was originally rejected by Drona. Drona

had said that Arjuna would be the best in the world, so he refused to

teach the would be student. So, by taking the student's right thumb

as payment, the young student could no longer function as an archer.

It was because Drona did'nt want to teach him, but the boy created a

murthi, and worshipped Drona anyway, and therefore he got the Darshan

of the Guru, even when the Guru had forbidden it. In this wasy, he

became a great archer.

>

> It's an interesting story. Just taking a guess at the meaning -

Darshan of the Guru is possible even from a great distance, because

of devotion. But, there is a warning here to be sure one has the

permission of the Guru. Lucky for us, Maa and Swami are'nt as

rutheless as Guru Drona was. (Drona was a Guru for warriors). Also,

Maa and Swami want us to learn from them and develop pure love and

devotion.

> Jai Maa, Jai Swamiji

>

> Shankari Kali <shankari_kali

wrote: Dear Henny:

>

> There is a story in the Mahabharata. It goes like this. There was a

young man who wanted to learn archery from the great master, but he

was too far away, and too poor to receive training. He wanted to

study from the great master who was teaching Arjuna, but he could not.

>

> He created an image. It was the image of the master, and everyday

he practiced. He became very adept, and finally one day the master

did discover him, because he was far more skilled than even Arjuna.

>

> Of course the last part of the story is not so inspiring at least

for me. The guru decided that for payment he would take this young

man's right hand. Weird story, but anyway, the moral here is, take

the guru's teaching to heart. Distance would then not be an issue.

>

> Peace,

> Shankari Kali

>

> Mahadevan venkitaraman

> , "henny_v_i" <henny_v_i@> wrote:

> >

> > Namaste Vish,

> >

> > I hope you can clear up some confusion that has arisen in my

mind.

> As

> > I live at the other side of the planet from the Devi Mandir,

> visiting

> > for me is quite an undertaking, not to mention the careful

> > introduction and preparation process needed in the family

circle. I

> am

> > working on it, but need to plan and save and tread carefully.

> > So I have been happy to plod along quietly, strengthened by the

> idea

> > that physical distance does not matter and that Maa and Swamiji

are

> in

> > my heart, and so are all pilgrimage places. But now I hear that

> > meditation cannot be taught by post or book, and I am wondering

> what I

> > have been doing all this time. I understand that those who live

in

> > close proximity to the Guru receive many blessings, and

although I

> > realize there are special blessings assocciated with being

actually

> > physically near the Guru, I have always derived comfort from the

> > thought that there are many ways of being 'near' the Guru. Have

I

> > misunderstood the importance of physical presence?

> >

> > with love,

> > Henny

> >

>

> Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels

> in 45,000 destinations on Travel to find your fit.

>

> The fish are biting.

> Get more visitors on your site using Search Marketing.

>

February 5, 2007

Ahh , this is GREAT !

Thank you for posting this. I have learned more about the story from your post! These stories are so full of meaning and inspiration.

Another interesting twist to the story:

Drona told Arjuna that he would be the best in the world, but made him promise that, if they ever had to face each other in battle, that Arjuna would fight, and fight to kill. At the begining of the battle,when Arjuna temporarily lost his will to fight, one reason was that he saw his old master, Drona, in the ranks of the opposing army. Drona was sworn by duty to serve Duryondana, and had to fullfill his dharma, thus Arjuna and his master Drona wound up on opposing sides.

Hari Krishna !

mahadevanv <mahadevanv > wrote: Om Namah Shivaya!