Guest guest Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Namaste` Family, Jai Maa and blessing to all for dedicated seva to the onine satsang group. Regarding finding one's Guru....like so many others, it has been my experience that She found me. The short version is that I picked up a poster with a photo of Shree Maa and her message written on it many years ago. I did not know how to find her but carried it around with me for years. Eventually through a Devi Mandir publication, the Chandi Path, I was reunited. I have had an intimate relationship with the Divine Mother since childhood, and in time, She also revealed herself to me in the form of Shree Maa. After finding Shree Maa and Swamiji, I studied, read, posted to the group, emailed Swamiji, Nanda, and Shree Maa and in time was granted permission to visit the Devi Mandir. There I met my Family. Nanda introduced me to our Gurus, Parvati showed me how to do puja, Surath made me feel welcomed and provided a sattvic example, Bhuv and Gotham demonstrated their love of Mother, Ramya fed me healing food, Srini answered my many questions, Kiran provided an example of the most amazing efficency I have ever seen, and many other devotees created a bhava that carried my spirit to the higher ideal I strive for. Jai Maa. I live far from the Devi Mandir, but thanks to the Seva of beautiful sadhaks the temple sounds and scenes come into my home every morning and evening at the very least, and in the temple in my home I join with my Guru for worship. Jai Maa Shree Maa and Swamiji are as close as my own heart. Yours too if you choose it. Below is a poem/message written for Mother this past Shiva Ratri. Om Tat Sat For Shree Maa I dreamed you Mother Since childhood I dreamed you I dreamed you Mother Your likeness graced my home Song for you filled my heart I dreamed you Mother How could I know you Unless you also knew me I dreamed you Mother I could not have dreamed you Unless you also dreamed me The seed was planted It has grown since childhood What will be its fruition Dear Mother Sadhu Maa, Shiva Ratri 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2007 Report Share Posted February 22, 2007 Love your poem. It's beautiful. Jai Maa! Chris , "Sadhu Maa" <sadumaa wrote: > > Namaste` Family, > > Jai Maa and blessing to all for dedicated seva to the onine satsang group. > > Regarding finding one's Guru....like so many others, it has been my > experience that She found me. The short version is that I picked up a > poster with a photo of Shree Maa and her message written on it many > years ago. I did not know how to find her but carried it around with > me for years. Eventually through a Devi Mandir publication, the Chandi > Path, I was reunited. I have had an intimate relationship with the > Divine Mother since childhood, and in time, She also revealed herself > to me in the form of Shree Maa. After finding Shree Maa and Swamiji, I > studied, read, posted to the group, emailed Swamiji, Nanda, and Shree > Maa and in time was granted permission to visit the Devi Mandir. There > I met my Family. Nanda introduced me to our Gurus, Parvati showed me > how to do puja, Surath made me feel welcomed and provided a sattvic > example, Bhuv and Gotham demonstrated their love of Mother, Ramya fed > me healing food, Srini answered my many questions, Kiran provided an > example of the most amazing efficency I have ever seen, and many other > devotees created a bhava that carried my spirit to the higher ideal I > strive for. Jai Maa. > > I live far from the Devi Mandir, but thanks to the Seva of beautiful > sadhaks the temple sounds and scenes come into my home every morning > and evening at the very least, and in the temple in my home I join > with my Guru for worship. Jai Maa > > Shree Maa and Swamiji are as close as my own heart. Yours too if you > choose it. > > Below is a poem/message written for Mother this past Shiva Ratri. > Om Tat Sat > > For Shree Maa > > I dreamed you Mother > Since childhood > I dreamed you > > I dreamed you Mother > Your likeness graced my home > Song for you filled my heart > > I dreamed you Mother > How could I know you > Unless you also knew me > > I dreamed you Mother > I could not have dreamed you > Unless you also dreamed me > > The seed was planted > It has grown since childhood > What will be its fruition Dear Mother > > Sadhu Maa, Shiva Ratri 2007 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2007 Report Share Posted February 22, 2007 Regarding being vegetarian. This is a personal choice. The reason for being vegetarian is primarily to avoid causing harm to the higher/more sentient beings. We all kill to live, but plants feel the killing much less than animals. When mammals are killed they know what is going on and release a lot of fear and anxiety toxins into their systems. Also, meat is hard to digest, and can carry serious diseases. Being vegetarian is a bit of a pain in the ass in the west. It is much easier in California, where you can get a vegeburger in most restaurants as well as fresh salads and fruits, and good veggie dishes like pasta marinara and Mexican food (bean tostada, cheese enchaladas, etc.) are all over the place. What I found was that my family resisted my being vegetarian strongly for about 10 years. I heard over and over, "I need meat", "You need meat", "you can get mentally imbalanced not eating meat" many many times. After about ten years, they came around. They saw that I was the one with the best health, did not go crazy, and came to actually want to accommodate me. At Thanksgiving they began to make tofurky, and mushroom gravy (thank God! it was hard to hold my tongue with that big dead stinky bird on the table). By being a good example, you will find they start saying things like, "I could be vegetarian", "I am almost vegetarian now, I only eat..._______ (fish or some meat when xxx fixes it, or similar statements)." They DO become more and more tolerant, if you just be a good example....but give them lots of time. Russell Don't pick lemons. See all the new 2007 cars at Autos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2007 Report Share Posted February 22, 2007 -"higher/more sentient beings" That would be us wouldn't be? The thing to also know about being vegetarian is that meat has such a strong effect on the system that it suppresses all of the other nutrients in our system. The nutrition from other foods enters our system in a depleted state. The result of poor nutrition has an effect on our willpower. We may be able to think about all the things we want to do, but end up lacking the will to accomplish our goals, like increasing our sadhana. Michael -- In , Russell Shields <rshieldslaw wrote: > Regarding being vegetarian. This is a personal choice. The reason for being vegetarian is primarily to avoid causing harm to the higher/more sentient beings. We all kill to live, but plants feel the killing much less than animals. When mammals are killed they know what is going on and release a lot of fear and anxiety toxins into their systems. Also, meat is hard to digest, and can carry serious diseases. > > Being vegetarian is a bit of a pain in the ass in the west. It is much easier in California, where you can get a vegeburger in most restaurants as well as fresh salads and fruits, and good veggie dishes like pasta marinara and Mexican food (bean tostada, cheese enchaladas, etc.) are all over the place. > > What I found was that my family resisted my being vegetarian strongly for about 10 years. I heard over and over, "I need meat", "You need meat", "you can get mentally imbalanced not eating meat" many many times. After about ten years, they came around. They saw that I was the one with the best health, did not go crazy, and came to actually want to accommodate me. At Thanksgiving they began to make tofurky, and mushroom gravy (thank God! it was hard to hold my tongue with that big dead stinky bird on the table). By being a good example, you will find they start saying things like, "I could be vegetarian", "I am almost vegetarian now, I only eat..._______ (fish or some meat when xxx fixes it, or similar statements)." They DO become more and more tolerant, if you just be a good example....but give them lots of time. > > Russell > > > > > > Don't pick lemons. > See all the new 2007 cars at Autos. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2007 Report Share Posted February 23, 2007 Thank you Russell, this is a great post on the topic. Really had a good laugh about the "big dead stinky bird on the table". It's true they will start to come around. This is how karma works - the good ideas start to get spread around. Jai Maa ! Russell Shields <rshieldslaw > wrote: Regarding being vegetarian. This is a personal choice. The reason for being vegetarian is primarily to avoid causing harm to the higher/more sentient beings. We all kill to live, but plants feel the killing much less than animals. When mammals are killed they know what is going on and release a lot of fear and anxiety toxins into their systems. Also, meat is hard to digest, and can carry serious diseases. Being vegetarian is a bit of a pain in the ass in the west. It is much easier in California, where you can get a vegeburger in most restaurants as well as fresh salads and fruits, and good veggie dishes like pasta marinara and Mexican food (bean tostada, cheese enchaladas, etc.) are all over the place. What I found was that my family resisted my being vegetarian strongly for about 10 years. I heard over and over, "I need meat", "You need meat", "you can get mentally imbalanced not eating meat" many many times. After about ten years, they came around. They saw that I was the one with the best health, did not go crazy, and came to actually want to accommodate me. At Thanksgiving they began to make tofurky, and mushroom gravy (thank God! it was hard to hold my tongue with that big dead stinky bird on the table). By being a good example, you will find they start saying things like, "I could be vegetarian", "I am almost vegetarian now, I only eat..._______ (fish or some meat when xxx fixes it, or similar statements)." They DO become more and more tolerant, if you just be a good example....but give them lots of time. Russell Don't pick lemons. See all the new 2007 cars at Autos. Everyone is raving about the all-new Mail beta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.