Guest guest Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 Peace to you, Vish, I agree with your premise that we need teachers to guide us along the way. There is an inherent gene within the human brain that predisposes us, once provoked (cause), to search for a higher truth (effect). Emphasis on provoked. Because we're frolicking in this Earthly dimension, something external must trigger the search, especially for those of us not incarnated with ascended master consciousness. Until fire is sparked within us, no amount of credible preaching, teaching, do this-do that, I've-seen-the-light-now-you-must-do-it- too, is going to make a Himalayan hill of difference. An obvious example is for anyone who has struggled with or has witnessed addiction. No one sobered me up, and I am the only one who can keep me sober. I am the cause and the effect. I also have realized my limits in that there is absolutely nothing I can do to convince another addict to become and stay sober. I can try, I can rant all I want, I can model cleaner living, I can lead the way, but until one internalizes that self-realization - or that ultimate victory in total surrender of the ego, anything less than complete surrender to a higher consciousness is a dishonor to your soul. It has to come from within. Yes, Jesus said, " so you sow... " but the addict, especially the addict, cannot intellectually make the connection to those certain natural laws of cause and affect. How many people actually, intelligently, clearly live this way anyhow? You can teach them, but will they learn. At some level inside of you, one has to decide, enough is enough, and take action. Then and only then is the fire lit. Tending the fire is entirely another story...you are correct that it takes intense discipline. Tanmaya's relevant, thoughtful post was sort of like a sacred Twelfth Step. Thank you for your insights in this thoughtful dialogue. Anyone else want to join in ? with respect, and peace to all, sal. , " inspectionconnection108 " <inspectionconnection108 wrote: > > Namaste Sal, At the Devi Mandir, we are taught that God is love, Shiva > is the Consciousness of Infinite Goodness. He is everything. He sits > in Divine Union. He does not judge us, or mock us, or punish us. He > has set creation into motion, with certain unalterable laws. Those > laws work whether we believe or not. One universal law is cause and > effect. > If we have a body, then we are governed by cause and effect. However > we act, good or bad, there is an equal and opposite reaction. As > Jesus said, " as you sow, so shall you reap. " So, it does not really > matter what we think, or what our mind tells us is true, but, what the > rishis, seers, and saints teach us. They are the travelers who have > gone to the mountaintop, seen the face of God, and come back to help > us see the light. They have all taught the same thing: have a goal, > create a plan to reach the goal, and work the plan ceaselessly. > As Chris said, and as Maa and Swami have taught us, the Ego will work > long and hard to convince us that we do not have to have a plan, or a > goal, and that meditation is not important, that we can just " be " > whatever we want, and do whatever we want, and all will be fine. That > is the ego's job, to create division so it can stay in control. It > does not want to give over control to anything or anyone. That would > lead to its downfall and destruction. > However, the lives of the great ones, Maa, Swami, Ramakrishna, Mother > Teresa, Jesus, Buddha, have taught us differently. They all shared > one common trait: they all achieved their goals thru incredible > disciple. They began with inspiration, then they learned about the > object of their desire or affection, and then they practiced-over and > over, whatever discipline which their Guru taught them, and gradually, > thru discipline, devotion, seva-selfless service, meditation, > satsunga-the community of like minded people, japa-repeatation of > God's name, homa-sacred fire ceremony, and prayer, they reached their > goals. > As a teacher and support of those less fortunate than yourself, you > know the value of dedication, hard work, and you have experienced that > each person is born with a different capacity. Yet, within each of > us, there is a drive, a passion, to manifest some higher purpose, > That is the seed which God planted in each of our hearts. It is up to > us to water and nourish that seed so it grows to its fullest > potential. It is up to us. > The Great Ones gave us those tools. We have to use them. And if we > don't use them now, we will have numerous future incarnations to > perfect ourselves. > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > vishweshwar > , " 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...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.