Devi Bakta--Thanks

[Guest guest]

Devi Bakta, Namaste:Thanks for the reply.  I really enjoy reciting the Kadgamala

Stotram along with Sri Karunamayi, so I'm glad that was not forbidden somehow.I

kind of the get idea that if a respected guru has some books, CDs with stotrams

or  mantras that these do not require diksha.

 

Thanks,

Shankari

 

 

 

>

 

>

 

> Hi Shankari:

 

>

 

> Thanks for your questions -- I suspect they are more rhetorical than

 

> literal, but for the benefit of anyone in this group who may be in doubt,

 

> I'll add my two cents.

 

>

 

> *** If the Kadgamala Stotram will blow your mind if you don't have a guru,

 

> [...] is chanting along with a guru acceptable or not acceptable? ***

 

>

 

> As ganpra correctly noted, stotrams are devotional hymns not mantras. Now I

 

> cannot hope to hold a candle to his electrically illuminated analysis

 

> (rimshot!) of strotrams in general, so I'll address your query specifically:

 

> Anyone who wishes to chant the Khadgamala Stotram can do so without fear of

 

> harm. In fact, it'd be awfully hard to avoid it doing some good. ;-) You

 

> mention that Sri Karunamayi recommends it; so does Sri Amritananda Natha; so

 

> does Sri Bhasurananda Natha. I've never seen it forbidden.

 

>

 

> *** The next question or problem is that many of us in the West will never

 

> be able to find a guru considering how distant we are from India. How are we

 

> supposed to worship in that case? ***

 

>

 

> Start where you are. Using a mantra that requires diksha when you do not

 

> have diksha is (usually) harmless enough, but also rather pointless. It

 

> could also be compared to using a chainsaw to cut wood when there's no gas

 

> or electricity powering it. You might eventually accomplish something, but

 

> when you're working manually, it's generally more much effective to use

 

> manual tools. And when you're working without diksha, use mantras that don't

 

> require diksha.

 

>

 

> *** The next issue is that someone said that a Bakta cannot become

 

> enlightened. ***

 

>

 

> That's the sort of wisdom that usually issues from the back end of a horse.

 

> Bhakti is an eminently valid path to enlightenment.

 

>

 

> *** If one is trying to get power for oneself or develop siddhis doesn't

 

> this just inflame the ego. ***

 

>

 

> Siddhis, properly gained, are mere byproducts of sadhana. Those who pursue

 

> them as ends unto themselves are sailing into some very dark waters.

 

>

 

> aim mAtangyai namaH