Guest guest Posted May 6, 2007 Report Share Posted May 6, 2007 Hi Everyone!I was thinking I should share this response from Swamiji to my recent email. Why should I keep his wisdom all to myself? I think it may be helpful or inspiring. The subject refers to a question I asked during the recent live Q & A. If you missed it, it will likely be up soon in the archive. Jai Maa!ChrisSwami Satyananda wrote: Swami Satyananda Re: SamadhiThu, 3 May 2007 18:15:53 -0700chris kirner On May 3, 2007, at 2:43 PM, chris kirner wrote:Hi Swamiji!I was very moved by your answer last night. Thank you...Now, I have a question or two. It is one thing to say that samadhi cannot be a goal, and another to know how to keep it from being one. I can see how constantly chasing the state in meditation can create the kind of paradox you seemed to be talking about, where it can never be reached simply because it is always being "held". That's what you meant when you said to Mother, "He's trying too hard," is'nt it? So there's a letting go that's necessary...But isn't there an intention tending toward...something...that is also necessary? In the Tripura Rahasya it says (actually I think Dattatreya said it, but I can't remember for sure) that it is necessary to believe that one can attain samadhi in order for one to attain it. Isn't that another way of saying that there must be some kind of a subtle intention, or willing, in order to pierce the bindu (not to mention the will required to support the efforts of the tapasya that leads you there)?Absolutely! We must have the faith in order to begin the sadhana. But once we engage in the tapasya, we want to become so concentrated in the present moment that we forget the goal to be attained in the future.Also, I do not see how I can simply turn-off my desire for samadhi. In fact, I want that hunger for it to return to what it was, and even more. It is a hunger for everything I want in this life: real balance and grace, purity of devotion and knowledge, sovereignty (a pressing need at this particular time), a dynamic will, all of which add up to real happiness, real contentment in every circumstance. How does one turn that off?We don't want to turn off that passion. We want to direct it to a point of one-pointed focus, where we can't pay attention to anything else.I know my focus here is all about ME, but samadhi, to me, seems like being in God's presence. In God's presence all that is lacking is filled, and all that is hurting is healed. Intellectually, I know that this is still just sattwa guna, the grace of Mahalakshmi, but, well, it's good enough for now!Actually, in samadhi all that is left is THEE.So, if you could guide me, help me to see where the balance lies between desire,zealous effort, and resting in the hope of grace, between the application of will toward a desired end, and just letting go, I would appreciate it very much. I can see that there is a bhava, I'm just not quite sure what it is, or how to manifest it.When the desire is towards the zealous effort, not towards the goal or fruits which it might or might not bring, then we can focus on the effort and not on the reward.You have given me some of my hope back. Now I need to know how to make it bigger, and how to use it properly. Keep going forward and enkindle the homa fire.Thank you again...Jai Maa!Chris 8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time with the Search movie showtime shortcut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2007 Report Share Posted May 8, 2007 Thanks very much Chris for sharing! there is so much wisdom in each of Swamiji's answers and i am so grateful that you have shared so kindly your well thought out answers and Swamiji's teachings! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Feels like we are all little children walking together and helping each other to reach God's Holy Feet! Jai Maa! Thank you! , chris kirner <chriskirner1956 wrote: > > Hi Everyone! > > I was thinking I should share this response from Swamiji to my recent email. Why should I keep his wisdom all to myself? I think it may be helpful or inspiring. The subject refers to a question I asked during the recent live Q & A. If you missed it, it will likely be up soon in the archive. > > Jai Maa! > Chris > > Swami Satyananda wrote: Swami Satyananda > Re: Samadhi > Thu, 3 May 2007 18:15:53 -0700 > chris kirner > > On May 3, 2007, at 2:43 PM, chris kirner wrote: > > Hi Swamiji! > > I was very moved by your answer last night. Thank you... > > Now, I have a question or two. > > It is one thing to say that samadhi cannot be a goal, and another to know how to keep it from being one. > > I can see how constantly chasing the state in meditation can create the kind of paradox you seemed to be talking about, where it can never be reached simply because it is always being " held " . That's what you meant when you said to Mother, " He's trying too hard, " is'nt it? So there's a letting go that's necessary...But isn't there an intention tending toward...something...that is also necessary? In the Tripura Rahasya it says (actually I think Dattatreya said it, but I can't remember for sure) that it is necessary to believe that one can attain samadhi in order for one to attain it. Isn't that another way of saying that there must be some kind of a subtle intention, or willing, in order to pierce the bindu (not to mention the will required to support the efforts of the tapasya that leads you there)? > > > > > Absolutely! We must have the faith in order to begin the sadhana. But once we engage in the tapasya, we want to become so concentrated in the present moment that we forget the goal to be attained in the future. > > Also, I do not see how I can simply turn-off my desire for samadhi. In fact, I want that hunger for it to return to what it was, and even more. It is a hunger for everything I want in this life: real balance and grace, purity of devotion and knowledge, sovereignty (a pressing need at this particular time), a dynamic will, all of which add up to real happiness, real contentment in every circumstance. How does one turn that off? > > > We don't want to turn off that passion. We want to direct it to a point of one-pointed focus, where we can't pay attention to anything else. > > I know my focus here is all about ME, but samadhi, to me, seems like being in God's presence. In God's presence all that is lacking is filled, and all that is hurting is healed. Intellectually, I know that this is still just sattwa guna, the grace of Mahalakshmi, but, well, it's good enough for now! > > > Actually, in samadhi all that is left is THEE. > > So, if you could guide me, help me to see where the balance lies between desire, > zealous effort, and resting in the hope of grace, between the application of will toward a desired end, and just letting go, I would appreciate it very much. I can see that there is a bhava, I'm just not quite sure what it is, or how to manifest it. > > > When the desire is towards the zealous effort, not towards the goal or fruits which it might or might not bring, then we can focus on the effort and not on the reward. > > You have given me some of my hope back. Now I need to know how to make it bigger, and how to use it properly. > > > Keep going forward and enkindle the homa fire. > > Thank you again... > > Jai Maa! > Chris > > > > > > > > > > > 8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time > with the Search movie showtime shortcut. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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