Guest guest Posted August 17, 2007 Report Share Posted August 17, 2007 My brother, a naval officer in India, has been reading " The Secret " by Rhonda Byrne – you know, the runaway best seller that asserts you can solve all your problems, from " eradicating disease " to getting luxury cars and mansions, just by correctly aligning your thoughts and aspirations. A friend of his highly recommended the book, saying that he has been able to accomplish a lot of things by applying the principles mentioned in it. But my brother didn't feel the same way after reading the book. He observed that, whenever he reads these sorts of books, he always reverts back to his old, habitual pattern of thinking soon afterward, and – once again, in the case of " The Secret " – he doubted his ability to apply the principles effectively in his everyday life. Soon after my brother finished reading " The Secret, " someone suggested to him that our own spiritual traditions had been effectively " aligning thoughts and aspirations " for millennia – and advised that he simply try reciting the Durga Chalisa. I am in Canada right now. I recently wrote to my brother to follow up on how he was doing, and for whatever reason a couple of the SS moderators encouraged me to post my comments here as well, in case anyone might find them useful in their own life and sadhana. I have my doubts, to be honest. Unlike the authors of " The Secret, " I am unable to promise any instant gratification or guaranteed happy endings. My comments are tentative at best, I suppose. Just one possible way of approaching the " work in progress " that all of our lives ultimately are. But here is what I wrote: " Are you doing the Durga Chalisa jaap everyday? I hope you are – it gives a lot of strength if you can call upon the devotion and recite it as though you were actually addressing Durga, standing right in front of you in all Her beauty and splendour, and with all of Her compassion and love. " You know, in my experience, if you find it difficult to internalise the 'Secrets' and to affirm and manifest them in your life, there is an easier option – or at least it is easier in my estimation: Tell Her what you want and She will give it to you. She will! I have experienced it myself. " Well now, some people may find it difficult to call upon someone or something they have never seen – so, take your a pick. As for me, I sometimes doubt my ability to visualise effectively but – though I may doubt my ability as a Co-Creator – I never doubt Her as the Creator. " There are challenges here too – sometimes there are dry spells when one just fails to feel any connection with Her. That is when one can begin to sink into a well of despair and despondency. For example, I had a tough time renewing my sadhana when I came to Canada. The energy is different here. As Swami Kriyananda says, India's soil is imbued with spiritual energy – it is much easier to connect in India. It's not as easy here. " It took a pretty long time before I could find my bearings in that area. Even now, it is not the same. Back in India, there were days when I didn't enjoy my puja as much – there was too much restlessness in my mind at times; but those days were far and few in between. Over here, it is not exactly the opposite, but I'm afraid it is closer to being the opposite. In any event, I do really miss India's vibration. But I have to overcome that obstacle – that is the latest lesson, it seems. " So I am still learning; again, as far as I know, life is like that. Sadhana is like that. But for whatever it may be worth, those are my thoughts today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 Namaste Thank you. I needed this. , " durgangam " <durgangam wrote: > > My brother, a naval officer in India, has been reading " The Secret " > by Rhonda Byrne – you know, the runaway best seller that asserts you > can solve all your problems, from " eradicating disease " to getting > luxury cars and mansions, just by correctly aligning your thoughts > and aspirations. > > A friend of his highly recommended the book, saying that he has been > able to accomplish a lot of things by applying the principles > mentioned in it. But my brother didn't feel the same way after > reading the book. He observed that, whenever he reads these sorts of > books, he always reverts back to his old, habitual pattern of > thinking soon afterward, and – once again, in the case of " The > Secret " – he doubted his ability to apply the principles effectively > in his everyday life. > > Soon after my brother finished reading " The Secret, " someone > suggested to him that our own spiritual traditions had been > effectively " aligning thoughts and aspirations " for millennia – and > advised that he simply try reciting the Durga Chalisa. > > I am in Canada right now. I recently wrote to my brother to follow > up on how he was doing, and for whatever reason a couple of the SS > moderators encouraged me to post my comments here as well, in case > anyone might find them useful in their own life and sadhana. > > I have my doubts, to be honest. Unlike the authors of " The Secret, " > I am unable to promise any instant gratification or guaranteed happy > endings. My comments are tentative at best, I suppose. Just one > possible way of approaching the " work in progress " that all of our > lives ultimately are. But here is what I wrote: > > " Are you doing the Durga Chalisa jaap everyday? I hope you are – it > gives a lot of strength if you can call upon the devotion and recite > it as though you were actually addressing Durga, standing right in > front of you in all Her beauty and splendour, and with all of Her > compassion and love. > > " You know, in my experience, if you find it difficult to internalise > the 'Secrets' and to affirm and manifest them in your life, there is > an easier option – or at least it is easier in my estimation: Tell > Her what you want and She will give it to you. She will! I have > experienced it myself. > > " Well now, some people may find it difficult to call upon someone or > something they have never seen – so, take your a pick. As for me, I > sometimes doubt my ability to visualise effectively but – though I > may doubt my ability as a Co-Creator – I never doubt Her as the > Creator. > > " There are challenges here too – sometimes there are dry spells when > one just fails to feel any connection with Her. That is when one can > begin to sink into a well of despair and despondency. For example, I > had a tough time renewing my sadhana when I came to Canada. The > energy is different here. As Swami Kriyananda says, India's soil is > imbued with spiritual energy – it is much easier to connect in > India. It's not as easy here. > > " It took a pretty long time before I could find my bearings in that > area. Even now, it is not the same. Back in India, there were days > when I didn't enjoy my puja as much – there was too much > restlessness in my mind at times; but those days were far and few in > between. Over here, it is not exactly the opposite, but I'm afraid > it is closer to being the opposite. In any event, I do really miss > India's vibration. But I have to overcome that obstacle – that is > the latest lesson, it seems. " > > So I am still learning; again, as far as I know, life is like that. > Sadhana is like that. But for whatever it may be worth, those are my > thoughts today. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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