Non-squabbling comment for Rory

[Guest guest]

Rory wrote:

any advice that devotees of Devi could give, just starting out would be

greatly appreciated.

thank you for this wonderful list!

Rory

 

 

Dear Rory,

 

As a no-caste white Hindu chanting and adoring Devi for 37 years on Bhakti

path, I would say, we all are in Mother's lap together, so jump on in and

cuddle up!! Bring all the tunes you'd like to sing and start singing. Not to

worry about pronunciation, since Mother Herself said, " When the baby

starts talking, he may not say the words right, but Mother understands and

loves

him anyway. "

 

Govinda hare, Gopala hare,

Eprabhudina dayala hare.

 

(I probably spelled that wrong.)

 

Jai Ma-a-a-a!!

Her little sheep,

Nancy

 

(PS In case anyone thinks it's disrespectful to bleat at Mother, I explain

that this was my response to a flaming letter on another list, accusing

that we, Her devotees, were just a bunch of sheep. I still use it to remind

mainly myself that I am completely insignificant. Just my little leela,

playing with my toes in Mother's lap.......)

[Guest guest]

I have the great good fortune of living close to a very active Devi

temple, so my own experience probably isn't so useful as a guide. But

here are a few things I've learned already:

 

1. For me the body is key, especially the subtle or energetic body.

Hatha yoga is really good for quieting the mind and opening me to its

presence.

 

2. Ritual is good. Do things. Make offerings.

 

2. India has the best devotional pop music going and a lot of it is

about the Devi. It's great to have songs about her playing in the car or

when cooking dinner or any old time. I tend to prefer recordings in

Tamil--South India is Rajarajeshwari country, after all, and besides I

love the sound of the language. Among my favorites are " Sakthi " , by

Chithra, and Mahanadhi Shobana's " Durga Lakshmi Saraswathi " . They're

both on eMusic, which has more great Indian music than all of us could

listen to in our entire lifetimes, and I think on Amazon too.

 

3. Bhakti bhakti bhakti. It's all about experiencing real reality, and

that's something most of us are terrified of. (I speak from personal

experience.) Nothing drives out fear the way love does.

 

Jai ma!

 

Michael Steinberg