Guest guest Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 , " Chris Kirner " <chriskirner1956 wrote: > > Hi Sal, > > In my opinion it is an old and well-worn trick of the ego that makes > us ask ourselves why all of this is necessary. For our every breath > to be a prayer and our every thought the name of God is our natural > state. Anything else is the effect of an unpurified ego and its > continual focus on ME. It is only the ego which makes it seem > unnatural. If your mind and heart never express anything but God, then > none of it is necessary. > > God certainly wants us to achieve the purpose of life. The principle > of Guru is an integral part of this creation. How can Guru not find > joy in the progress of Her students? > > Oh yeah, and thank you for the sweet words...but you'll just have to > trust me on this. > > Jai Maa! > Chris > > > > , " sal. " <salpaulsen@> wrote: > > > > A few questions I have to ask are: > > > > Is God then selfish to want us to spend all our time in communion > > with Him/Her? If we don't, are we then denied His/Her love? Because > > man has attached all these conditions, labels, words to ponder in our > > search to find God, have we then given Him/Her an ego to please? > > I've always struggled with the aspect of conditional/unconditional > > love of the universe, being told I have to worship. Does All That Is > > emotionally care if one meditates, with the understanding of > > meditation being hours of sitting and chanting and reflection, or are > > we simply expected to be always be kind? > > > > Chris K, I do not think you are lazy. If you are out doing something > > with complete joy and share that joy and beauty with others, you are > > in communion with God. Your flower story shows that. It was lovely. > > > > I cannot think of a more loving, selfless, tireless embodiment of > > action and communion with God than Mother Teresa. God saw the need, > > she was the instrument to fill it. Would anyone question that she > > was not a self-realized woman of God? > > > > The fact of the maya is, Earth is a garden for the human experience. > > God sees the need to tend the garden and He/She chooses his gardeners > > carefully. If that need is to vibrationally raise global > > consciousness, or tend to a disabled child, the love or service, and > > the devotion given to it, should be no less worthy to the attainment > > of bliss. The paths are many. > > > > With all respect, and peace to all, > > sal. > > > > > > , " inspectionconnection108 " > > <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > > > > > Namaste: I randomly opened the book: " Ramakrishna, The Nectar of > > > Eternal Bliss " , by Maa and Swami, and on the page it said, and I > > > paraphrase, " this life is not meant for action, it is meant to > > realize > > > God. Pray to God to decrease the need for action, so, you can > > > meditate more on Him. " > > > > > > A devotee asked Him, " Dear Sir, I feel the need to build hospitals > > for > > > the sick, and help them. Isn't it selfish to just focus on God and > > > ignore the needs of those less fortunate than us? " > > > > > > Again Ramakrishna said: " we are not here for action, but to realize > > > God. If God desires, He will build the hospitals and help the > > needy. > > > We have to meditate on Him. " > > > > > > I thought of Maa and Swami, following the example of their Guru > > > Ramakrishna. They are the best examples we have of humans living > > God > > > centered lives. > > > > > > yet even with these incredible examples, so often we are > > overshadowed > > > by the " need to act, the impulse do some something, anything, > > anything > > > but sit and pray or chant. We have to pray with all our might to > > have > > > God strengthen our resolve, and remove the obstacles, so we can sit > > to > > > communion with God. > > > > > > Life is so short, time passes so quickly, and at the end of it all, > > > what will we have to show for it? A few earthly treasures? > > > > > > If God created this Earth as a place to strive to know Him, then, we > > > had better work day and night to reach that goal. > > > > > > On Sunday, a man brought his family to the Devi Mandir for the first > > > time. He told me how his heart was crying out for the Lord. How > > > hungry he was to taste the bliss of God. Before I could help > > myself, > > > the words blurted out of my mouth, " talking is a waste, chant the > > name > > > of God, do japa all the time, in your car, walking the street, > > waiting > > > for an appointment " . > > > He looked at me, taken aback at the abruptness of my statement, and > > > continued on with his talk about his desire. I indicated that I had > > > to get back to work cleaning the Temple, and turned and walked away. > > > > > > Dear reader, I had no right to judge another, and I am sorry if I > > > offended the man, but, I know too well the story of my own desire, > > and > > > how I talk and talk and do so little to know God. > > > I realized that when I spoke to him, I was talking to myself. > > > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > > > > > vishweshwar > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 Dear Sal,A few quotes from Swami Vivekananda, the great apostle of Sri Ramakrishna, for those who (like Mother Teresa) feel called to selfless service:"What the world wants today is twenty men and women who can dare to stand in the street yonder and say that they possess nothing but God. Who will go?He alone is the child of Sri Ramakrishna who is moved to pity for all creatures, and exerts himself for them even at the risk of incurring personal damnation.This is the test: he who is Ramakrishna's child does not seek his personal good.Off with your ideas of Mukti and Bhakti! There is only one way in the world, 'the good live for other's alone'. 'The wise should sacrifice themselves for others'. I can secure my own good only by doing you good. There is no other way, none whatsoever.The only way of getting our divine nature manifested is by helping others to do the same.Must the teaching, "atmavat sarvabhuteshu"-looking on all beings as your own self-be confined to books alone?He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore love for love's sake, because it is the only law of life, just as you breathe to live.The infinite power of the Spirit brought to bear upon matter, evolves material development; made to act upon thought, evolves intellectuality; and made to act upon itself, makes of man a god. Manifest the divinity within you and everything will be harmoniously arranged around it.Madness of love, and yet in it no bondage. Matter changed into spirit by the force of love. That is the gist of our Vedanta. There is but One-seen by the ignorant as matter, by the wise as God.This indeed is worship, worship of the Lord in the human tabernacle, 'not this that people worship'.It is the heart that conquers, not the brain. Books and learning, yoga and meditation and illumination-all are but dust compared with love.It is this that is called liberation-in-life: when the last trace of egoism and selfishness is gone.I look back and scarcely find any action I have done for self-even my wicked deeds were not done for self. So I am content." -VivekanandaRespectfully,Tanmaya , "sal." <salpaulsen wrote:>> A few questions I have to ask are:> > Is God then selfish to want us to spend all our time in communion > with Him/Her? If we don't, are we then denied His/Her love? Because > man has attached all these conditions, labels, words to ponder in our > search to find God, have we then given Him/Her an ego to please? > I've always struggled with the aspect of conditional/unconditional > love of the universe, being told I have to worship. Does All That Is > emotionally care if one meditates, with the understanding of > meditation being hours of sitting and chanting and reflection, or are > we simply expected to be always be kind?> > Chris K, I do not think you are lazy. If you are out doing something > with complete joy and share that joy and beauty with others, you are > in communion with God. Your flower story shows that. It was lovely.> > I cannot think of a more loving, selfless, tireless embodiment of > action and communion with God than Mother Teresa. God saw the need, > she was the instrument to fill it. Would anyone question that she > was not a self-realized woman of God?> > The fact of the maya is, Earth is a garden for the human experience. > God sees the need to tend the garden and He/She chooses his gardeners > carefully. If that need is to vibrationally raise global > consciousness, or tend to a disabled child, the love or service, and > the devotion given to it, should be no less worthy to the attainment > of bliss. The paths are many.> > With all respect, and peace to all, > sal.> > > , "inspectionconnection108" > inspectionconnection108@ wrote:> >> > Namaste: I randomly opened the book: "Ramakrishna, The Nectar of> > Eternal Bliss", by Maa and Swami, and on the page it said, and I> > paraphrase, "this life is not meant for action, it is meant to > realize> > God. Pray to God to decrease the need for action, so, you can> > meditate more on Him."> > > > A devotee asked Him, "Dear Sir, I feel the need to build hospitals > for> > the sick, and help them. Isn't it selfish to just focus on God and> > ignore the needs of those less fortunate than us?"> > > > Again Ramakrishna said: "we are not here for action, but to realize> > God. If God desires, He will build the hospitals and help the > needy. > > We have to meditate on Him."> > > > I thought of Maa and Swami, following the example of their Guru> > Ramakrishna. They are the best examples we have of humans living > God> > centered lives. > > > > yet even with these incredible examples, so often we are > overshadowed> > by the "need to act, the impulse do some something, anything, > anything> > but sit and pray or chant. We have to pray with all our might to > have> > God strengthen our resolve, and remove the obstacles, so we can sit > to> > communion with God. > > > > Life is so short, time passes so quickly, and at the end of it all,> > what will we have to show for it? A few earthly treasures? > > > > If God created this Earth as a place to strive to know Him, then, we> > had better work day and night to reach that goal.> > > > On Sunday, a man brought his family to the Devi Mandir for the first> > time. He told me how his heart was crying out for the Lord. How> > hungry he was to taste the bliss of God. Before I could help > myself,> > the words blurted out of my mouth, "talking is a waste, chant the > name> > of God, do japa all the time, in your car, walking the street, > waiting> > for an appointment".> > He looked at me, taken aback at the abruptness of my statement, and> > continued on with his talk about his desire. I indicated that I had> > to get back to work cleaning the Temple, and turned and walked away.> > > > Dear reader, I had no right to judge another, and I am sorry if I> > offended the man, but, I know too well the story of my own desire, > and> > how I talk and talk and do so little to know God. > > I realized that when I spoke to him, I was talking to myself.> > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami> > > > vishweshwar> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 Bravo, Tanmaya....! I am grateful for your extensive reference knowledge of such delicious morsels.... respectfully, sal. , " ty_maa " <dsjames wrote: > > > Dear Sal, > > A few quotes from Swami Vivekananda, the great apostle of Sri > Ramakrishna, for those who (like Mother > Teresa) feel called to selfless service: > > " What the world wants today is twenty men and women who can dare to > stand in the street yonder and say that they possess nothing but God. > Who will go? > > He alone is the child of Sri Ramakrishna who is moved to pity for all > creatures, and exerts himself for them even at the risk of incurring > personal damnation. > > This is the test: he who is Ramakrishna's child does not seek his > personal good. > > Off with your ideas of Mukti and Bhakti! There is only one way in the > world, 'the good live for other's alone'. 'The wise should sacrifice > themselves for others'. I can secure my own good only by doing you > good. There is no other way, none whatsoever. > > The only way of getting our divine nature manifested is by helping > others to do the same. > > Must the teaching, " atmavat sarvabhuteshu " -looking on all beings as your > own self-be confined to books alone? > > He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore love for > love's sake, because it is the only law of life, just as you breathe to > live. > > The infinite power of the Spirit brought to bear upon matter, evolves > material development; made to act upon thought, evolves intellectuality; > and made to act upon itself, makes of man a god. > > Manifest the divinity within you and everything will be harmoniously > arranged around it. > > Madness of love, and yet in it no bondage. Matter changed into spirit > by the force of love. That is the gist of our Vedanta. There is but > One-seen by the ignorant as matter, by the wise as God. > > This indeed is worship, worship of the Lord in the human tabernacle, > 'not this that people worship'. > > It is the heart that conquers, not the brain. Books and learning, yoga > and meditation and illumination-all are but dust compared with love. > > It is this that is called liberation-in-life: when the last trace of > egoism and selfishness is gone. > > I look back and scarcely find any action I have done for self-even my > wicked deeds were not done for self. > So I am content. " > -Vivekananda > > > Respectfully, > > Tanmaya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 Sal,It may be that the purpose of your presence and story is to invoke the understanding that habits-including illnesses, addictions, and spiritual ignorance-are essentially one and the same. And that one who has gathered the fortitude, and acquired the understanding, to transcend one can transcend the others as well using the same principles.That there are no limits.T. , "sal." <salpaulsen wrote:>> Bravo, Tanmaya....!> > I am grateful for your extensive reference knowledge of such > delicious morsels....> > respectfully,> sal.> > > > , "ty_maa" dsjames@ wrote:> >> > > > Dear Sal,> > > > A few quotes from Swami Vivekananda, the great apostle of Sri> > Ramakrishna, for those who (like Mother> > Teresa) feel called to selfless service:> > > > "What the world wants today is twenty men and women who can dare to> > stand in the street yonder and say that they possess nothing but > God.> > Who will go?> > > > He alone is the child of Sri Ramakrishna who is moved to pity for > all> > creatures, and exerts himself for them even at the risk of incurring> > personal damnation.> > > > This is the test: he who is Ramakrishna's child does not seek his> > personal good.> > > > Off with your ideas of Mukti and Bhakti! There is only one way in > the> > world, 'the good live for other's alone'. 'The wise should sacrifice> > themselves for others'. I can secure my own good only by doing you> > good. There is no other way, none whatsoever.> > > > The only way of getting our divine nature manifested is by helping> > others to do the same.> > > > Must the teaching, "atmavat sarvabhuteshu"-looking on all beings as > your> > own self-be confined to books alone?> > > > He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore love for> > love's sake, because it is the only law of life, just as you > breathe to> > live.> > > > The infinite power of the Spirit brought to bear upon matter, > evolves> > material development; made to act upon thought, evolves > intellectuality;> > and made to act upon itself, makes of man a god.> > > > Manifest the divinity within you and everything will be harmoniously> > arranged around it.> > > > Madness of love, and yet in it no bondage. Matter changed into > spirit> > by the force of love. That is the gist of our Vedanta. There is but> > One-seen by the ignorant as matter, by the wise as God.> > > > This indeed is worship, worship of the Lord in the human tabernacle,> > 'not this that people worship'.> > > > It is the heart that conquers, not the brain. Books and learning, > yoga> > and meditation and illumination-all are but dust compared with love.> > > > It is this that is called liberation-in-life: when the last trace of> > egoism and selfishness is gone.> > > > I look back and scarcely find any action I have done for self-even > my> > wicked deeds were not done for self.> > So I am content."> > -Vivekananda> > > > > > Respectfully,> > > > Tanmaya> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 Namaste: I believe that Maa and Swami would repeat the same message as Vivekananda. I have observed that They live to help this world, They live to bring peace to us all. They live on this Earth, teaching and guiding and removing our stresses, that we might live unencumbered by the ego, and eternally united with God. They have sacrificed all Earthly comforts, and laid down their very lives in order that every being on this Earth knows their true Self. And, They will continue to work for the welfare of all mankind, as long as there is suffering. What Divine examples They are. May we all rise to Their level and help with this Divine Work. Jai Maa Jai Swami vishweshwar , " ty_maa " <dsjames wrote: > > > Dear Sal, > > A few quotes from Swami Vivekananda, the great apostle of Sri > Ramakrishna, for those who (like Mother > Teresa) feel called to selfless service: > > " What the world wants today is twenty men and women who can dare to > stand in the street yonder and say that they possess nothing but God. > Who will go? > > He alone is the child of Sri Ramakrishna who is moved to pity for all > creatures, and exerts himself for them even at the risk of incurring > personal damnation. > > This is the test: he who is Ramakrishna's child does not seek his > personal good. > > Off with your ideas of Mukti and Bhakti! There is only one way in the > world, 'the good live for other's alone'. 'The wise should sacrifice > themselves for others'. I can secure my own good only by doing you > good. There is no other way, none whatsoever. > > The only way of getting our divine nature manifested is by helping > others to do the same. > > Must the teaching, " atmavat sarvabhuteshu " -looking on all beings as your > own self-be confined to books alone? > > He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore love for > love's sake, because it is the only law of life, just as you breathe to > live. > > The infinite power of the Spirit brought to bear upon matter, evolves > material development; made to act upon thought, evolves intellectuality; > and made to act upon itself, makes of man a god. > > Manifest the divinity within you and everything will be harmoniously > arranged around it. > > Madness of love, and yet in it no bondage. Matter changed into spirit > by the force of love. That is the gist of our Vedanta. There is but > One-seen by the ignorant as matter, by the wise as God. > > This indeed is worship, worship of the Lord in the human tabernacle, > 'not this that people worship'. > > It is the heart that conquers, not the brain. Books and learning, yoga > and meditation and illumination-all are but dust compared with love. > > It is this that is called liberation-in-life: when the last trace of > egoism and selfishness is gone. > > I look back and scarcely find any action I have done for self-even my > wicked deeds were not done for self. > So I am content. " > -Vivekananda > > > Respectfully, > > Tanmaya > > > > > , " sal. " <salpaulsen@> wrote: > > > > A few questions I have to ask are: > > > > Is God then selfish to want us to spend all our time in communion > > with Him/Her? If we don't, are we then denied His/Her love? Because > > man has attached all these conditions, labels, words to ponder in our > > search to find God, have we then given Him/Her an ego to please? > > I've always struggled with the aspect of conditional/unconditional > > love of the universe, being told I have to worship. Does All That Is > > emotionally care if one meditates, with the understanding of > > meditation being hours of sitting and chanting and reflection, or are > > we simply expected to be always be kind? > > > > Chris K, I do not think you are lazy. If you are out doing something > > with complete joy and share that joy and beauty with others, you are > > in communion with God. Your flower story shows that. It was lovely. > > > > I cannot think of a more loving, selfless, tireless embodiment of > > action and communion with God than Mother Teresa. God saw the need, > > she was the instrument to fill it. Would anyone question that she > > was not a self-realized woman of God? > > > > The fact of the maya is, Earth is a garden for the human experience. > > God sees the need to tend the garden and He/She chooses his gardeners > > carefully. If that need is to vibrationally raise global > > consciousness, or tend to a disabled child, the love or service, and > > the devotion given to it, should be no less worthy to the attainment > > of bliss. The paths are many. > > > > With all respect, and peace to all, > > sal. > > > > > > , " inspectionconnection108 " > > inspectionconnection108@ wrote: > > > > > > Namaste: I randomly opened the book: " Ramakrishna, The Nectar of > > > Eternal Bliss " , by Maa and Swami, and on the page it said, and I > > > paraphrase, " this life is not meant for action, it is meant to > > realize > > > God. Pray to God to decrease the need for action, so, you can > > > meditate more on Him. " > > > > > > A devotee asked Him, " Dear Sir, I feel the need to build hospitals > > for > > > the sick, and help them. Isn't it selfish to just focus on God and > > > ignore the needs of those less fortunate than us? " > > > > > > Again Ramakrishna said: " we are not here for action, but to realize > > > God. If God desires, He will build the hospitals and help the > > needy. > > > We have to meditate on Him. " > > > > > > I thought of Maa and Swami, following the example of their Guru > > > Ramakrishna. They are the best examples we have of humans living > > God > > > centered lives. > > > > > > yet even with these incredible examples, so often we are > > overshadowed > > > by the " need to act, the impulse do some something, anything, > > anything > > > but sit and pray or chant. We have to pray with all our might to > > have > > > God strengthen our resolve, and remove the obstacles, so we can sit > > to > > > communion with God. > > > > > > Life is so short, time passes so quickly, and at the end of it all, > > > what will we have to show for it? A few earthly treasures? > > > > > > If God created this Earth as a place to strive to know Him, then, we > > > had better work day and night to reach that goal. > > > > > > On Sunday, a man brought his family to the Devi Mandir for the first > > > time. He told me how his heart was crying out for the Lord. How > > > hungry he was to taste the bliss of God. Before I could help > > myself, > > > the words blurted out of my mouth, " talking is a waste, chant the > > name > > > of God, do japa all the time, in your car, walking the street, > > waiting > > > for an appointment " . > > > He looked at me, taken aback at the abruptness of my statement, and > > > continued on with his talk about his desire. I indicated that I had > > > to get back to work cleaning the Temple, and turned and walked away. > > > > > > Dear reader, I had no right to judge another, and I am sorry if I > > > offended the man, but, I know too well the story of my own desire, > > and > > > how I talk and talk and do so little to know God. > > > I realized that when I spoke to him, I was talking to myself. > > > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > > > > > vishweshwar > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 Amen and amen, T. , " inspectionconnection108 " <inspectionconnection108 wrote: > > Namaste: I believe that Maa and Swami would repeat the same message > as Vivekananda. I have observed that They live to help this world, > They live to bring peace to us all. They live on this Earth, teaching > and guiding and removing our stresses, that we might live unencumbered > by the ego, and eternally united with God. > They have sacrificed all Earthly comforts, and laid down their very > lives in order that every being on this Earth knows their true Self. > And, They will continue to work for the welfare of all mankind, as > long as there is suffering. > What Divine examples They are. May we all rise to Their level and > help with this Divine Work. > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > vishweshwar , " ty_maa " dsjames@ wrote: > > > > > > Dear Sal, > > > > A few quotes from Swami Vivekananda, the great apostle of Sri > > Ramakrishna, for those who (like Mother > > Teresa) feel called to selfless service: > > > > " What the world wants today is twenty men and women who can dare to > > stand in the street yonder and say that they possess nothing but God. > > Who will go? > > > > He alone is the child of Sri Ramakrishna who is moved to pity for all > > creatures, and exerts himself for them even at the risk of incurring > > personal damnation. > > > > This is the test: he who is Ramakrishna's child does not seek his > > personal good. > > > > Off with your ideas of Mukti and Bhakti! There is only one way in the > > world, 'the good live for other's alone'. 'The wise should sacrifice > > themselves for others'. I can secure my own good only by doing you > > good. There is no other way, none whatsoever. > > > > The only way of getting our divine nature manifested is by helping > > others to do the same. > > > > Must the teaching, " atmavat sarvabhuteshu " -looking on all beings as your > > own self-be confined to books alone? > > > > He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore love for > > love's sake, because it is the only law of life, just as you breathe to > > live. > > > > The infinite power of the Spirit brought to bear upon matter, evolves > > material development; made to act upon thought, evolves intellectuality; > > and made to act upon itself, makes of man a god. > > > > Manifest the divinity within you and everything will be harmoniously > > arranged around it. > > > > Madness of love, and yet in it no bondage. Matter changed into spirit > > by the force of love. That is the gist of our Vedanta. There is but > > One-seen by the ignorant as matter, by the wise as God. > > > > This indeed is worship, worship of the Lord in the human tabernacle, > > 'not this that people worship'. > > > > It is the heart that conquers, not the brain. Books and learning, yoga > > and meditation and illumination-all are but dust compared with love. > > > > It is this that is called liberation-in-life: when the last trace of > > egoism and selfishness is gone. > > > > I look back and scarcely find any action I have done for self-even my > > wicked deeds were not done for self. > > So I am content. " > > -Vivekananda > > > > > > Respectfully, > > > > Tanmaya > > > > > > > > > > , " sal. " <salpaulsen@> wrote: > > > > > > A few questions I have to ask are: > > > > > > Is God then selfish to want us to spend all our time in communion > > > with Him/Her? If we don't, are we then denied His/Her love? Because > > > man has attached all these conditions, labels, words to ponder in our > > > search to find God, have we then given Him/Her an ego to please? > > > I've always struggled with the aspect of conditional/unconditional > > > love of the universe, being told I have to worship. Does All That Is > > > emotionally care if one meditates, with the understanding of > > > meditation being hours of sitting and chanting and reflection, or are > > > we simply expected to be always be kind? > > > > > > Chris K, I do not think you are lazy. If you are out doing something > > > with complete joy and share that joy and beauty with others, you are > > > in communion with God. Your flower story shows that. It was lovely. > > > > > > I cannot think of a more loving, selfless, tireless embodiment of > > > action and communion with God than Mother Teresa. God saw the need, > > > she was the instrument to fill it. Would anyone question that she > > > was not a self-realized woman of God? > > > > > > The fact of the maya is, Earth is a garden for the human experience. > > > God sees the need to tend the garden and He/She chooses his gardeners > > > carefully. If that need is to vibrationally raise global > > > consciousness, or tend to a disabled child, the love or service, and > > > the devotion given to it, should be no less worthy to the attainment > > > of bliss. The paths are many. > > > > > > With all respect, and peace to all, > > > sal. > > > > > > > > > , " inspectionconnection108 " > > > inspectionconnection108@ wrote: > > > > > > > > Namaste: I randomly opened the book: " Ramakrishna, The Nectar of > > > > Eternal Bliss " , by Maa and Swami, and on the page it said, and I > > > > paraphrase, " this life is not meant for action, it is meant to > > > realize > > > > God. Pray to God to decrease the need for action, so, you can > > > > meditate more on Him. " > > > > > > > > A devotee asked Him, " Dear Sir, I feel the need to build hospitals > > > for > > > > the sick, and help them. Isn't it selfish to just focus on God and > > > > ignore the needs of those less fortunate than us? " > > > > > > > > Again Ramakrishna said: " we are not here for action, but to realize > > > > God. If God desires, He will build the hospitals and help the > > > needy. > > > > We have to meditate on Him. " > > > > > > > > I thought of Maa and Swami, following the example of their Guru > > > > Ramakrishna. They are the best examples we have of humans living > > > God > > > > centered lives. > > > > > > > > yet even with these incredible examples, so often we are > > > overshadowed > > > > by the " need to act, the impulse do some something, anything, > > > anything > > > > but sit and pray or chant. We have to pray with all our might to > > > have > > > > God strengthen our resolve, and remove the obstacles, so we can sit > > > to > > > > communion with God. > > > > > > > > Life is so short, time passes so quickly, and at the end of it all, > > > > what will we have to show for it? A few earthly treasures? > > > > > > > > If God created this Earth as a place to strive to know Him, then, we > > > > had better work day and night to reach that goal. > > > > > > > > On Sunday, a man brought his family to the Devi Mandir for the first > > > > time. He told me how his heart was crying out for the Lord. How > > > > hungry he was to taste the bliss of God. Before I could help > > > myself, > > > > the words blurted out of my mouth, " talking is a waste, chant the > > > name > > > > of God, do japa all the time, in your car, walking the street, > > > waiting > > > > for an appointment " . > > > > He looked at me, taken aback at the abruptness of my statement, and > > > > continued on with his talk about his desire. I indicated that I had > > > > to get back to work cleaning the Temple, and turned and walked away. > > > > > > > > Dear reader, I had no right to judge another, and I am sorry if I > > > > offended the man, but, I know too well the story of my own desire, > > > and > > > > how I talk and talk and do so little to know God. > > > > I realized that when I spoke to him, I was talking to myself. > > > > > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > > > > > > > vishweshwar > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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