How to start reciting Lalitha Sahasranama ( Step Five)

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Step Five: Sacrifice and Self-surrender

 

The true devotee is conscious of the power that works through

him/her. Otherwise he/she is nothing; he/she does not want anything

independent of that Divine Power. He/She knows that Devi does her

own work: that he/she has no right to take any credit or blame upon

himself/herself. Everything is all right as long as we do not

forget her.

 

When there is Devi why should we be devoted to a Guru who however

much superior to us, is not perfect.

 

Devi is inaccessible to most of us. We need guidance. When you

seek guidance we naturally need to sacrifice our freedom. A Guru

will talk to us; constrain us, to help us. The Guru will want us to

see, hear, feel, touch and be aware of a chosen path. When this

path is chosen we must always think of our Guru before reciting any

prayer or sloka, etc. The Guru would normally progress us to the

abstract form of Devi and moving us through our understanding away

from Devi with form to Devi without form. In effect, what we are

doing is Devi's will through the Guru. You are always constrained

to do Guru's will. Just as Hanuman does what Rama directs him to

do. You are consumed by Guru's action.

 

When however we take upon ourselves to follow our atma then what we

mean is you emulate to become Devi herself. Here your guidance is

yourself. Stand like a rock in your faith and devotion and let Devi

hold your hand. When we hold Devi's hand there is some danger of

our loosening our hold, but when she holds there is no more fear of

falling down. So we must make ourselves free from every danger by

always trusting in Her divine will. Do not allow other things but

her to occupy your pure heart. Do not be depressed by any foolish

thought, fear or anxiety. Know that nothing is impossible for Her.

Have intense faith and feel free.

 

In this material, world the second path is a very serious

sacrifice. One can be put to a very serious test like complete

surrender. One should be prepared to go to the mouth of the Canon

without asking why? You must be prepared to shy away from idol

worship also. This is to lose duality, which means there is no

object or subject. Sakthi becomes energy. The dualistic view is of

Mother and Child, but it contains the seeds of the realization of

Oneness, because at one time, the mother and child were one. You are

now getting to the state of oneness.

 

Raga-svarupa-pashadhya (8) – Desire is the noose, which binds. So

she has the noose of Desire in her hands. This Desire is to bind

our mind and senses to the ultimate i.e. Devi. This is critical

sacrifice and self-surrender.

 

When reciting Lalitha Sahasranama you need the presence of your

chosen guru always by your side so that they are always by your side

when you are praising God. The Para Brahman, the source of first

cause, or truth. Essentially this means that sacrifice and self-

surrender is a necessary component at the time of reciting any

mantra.

 

" He who has supreme devotion to the Lord, and the same devotion for

his own Guru, to him alone the meaning of these words become

clear " . Swetashwatara Upanishad.

 

R Ravi Sankar