Guest guest Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 To my beloved Devi Mandir family, As I sit here, trying to write about my weekend at the Devi Mandir, I find that it is difficult to express in words what it was like for me to be there again, this time with Sam. Sam had been looking forward to this visit for quite some time – and the night before we arrived, he took my hand in his hand and gently stroked it, and with a heart filled with love, and eyes filled with devotion, he looked at me and in a soft voice said, " Mom, tomorrow we will see Shree Maa and Swamiji. Isn't that great? " And the smile on his face said it all. This was the beginning of a journey for Sam that, to me, appeared both new and familiar at the same time. Sam's joy at the Devi Mandir, from the very moment we arrived, was a sight to behold. I don't think there was a single moment when he wasn't smiling and feeling at home with his Devi Mandir family. He fully participated in every possible activity he could, including his first Shiva puja – guided by Vish's loving instruction, gardening with Gautam, moving the wood pile and making Sanskrit recordings with Surath, and even searching for wildlife with Lav and Kush (two boys visiting from Switzerland). And on Sunday morning, with one very brief exit to get some tissues, he sat through and followed along for the entire Chandi Path recitation, determinedly sneaking closer to the front row so he could offer the rice directly into the homa. Sam did get to meet Shree Maa, early in the morning, after Her worship. I stood back and watched him standing there, talking, with Maa's arm around him and I knew, in that moment, he was united with the Divine Mother, being filled with blessings that will continue to fill him for a long time, and that all was well. Another highlight of Sam's visit was when he sang to Swamiji. He had been planning this for months, and he wanted it to be perfect. He brought a CD of the music (thank you Gauri for saving the day and getting your computer to play the music) and he sat down in the temple with Swamiji sitting directly opposite him – they sat there eye to eye, smiling, with a connection to each other that was, to put it mildly, a magnificent sight to behold. Sam was so filled with joy that he could barely sing without laughing. But he pulled it together and sang a beautiful song to Swamiji and even managed to get everyone to sing along at the end. I just stood there, with tears flowing, in awe, and filled with great humility at the privilege of watching such pure, uninhibited, unconditional love being expressed. And now, once again, I sit here at my desk, listening to Shree Maa singing, looking at photos of Shree Maa and Swamiji, and writing about Sam. My head is spinning, but when I think about Sam and where he is in his life right now, I see yet another lesson for me to learn from him. That it is possible, with few words, with few thoughts, with few practices, to live a spiritual life. I witness a young man who lives from his heart, who truly has love for everyone he meets, and simply yearns to have more love in his life. It doesn't matter who he is talking to, he really does see everyone as the same – making the song he sang that much more meaningful. And so, I present the words to you now, as my way of sending you a timeless teaching, which I now see is Sam's teaching in this life. Jai Maa!! With love and blessings to you Wendy, mother of Sam ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Namaste Song (words and lyrics by Suzy Frank and Linda Lara) La, la, la… sing joy! Na, na, na…Namaste! My heart connects with you, Your heart connects with me, Beating all over the world. My hand joins with yours, Your hand joins with mine, Dancing all over the world. We're all special and We're all different, but Really we are all just the same. La, la, la… sing joy! Na, na, na…Namaste! The light in me Sees the light in you, Shining all over the world. The best in me Sees the best in you, Bringing peace all over the world. We're all special and We're all different, but Really we are all just the same. La, la, la… sing joy! Na, na, na…Namaste! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 Dear Wendy, This is so beautifully, i too wished that i were there to witness this very special event. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, feelings, the lesson(s)learnt and the simply but profound words of Sam's song. You have brought tears of joy to my eyes. Thank you Sam, i hope to meet you and your mom one day. Jai Maa Jai Swami -- In , " way131 " <wendy131 wrote: > > To my beloved Devi Mandir family, > > As I sit here, trying to write about my weekend at the Devi Mandir, I > find that it is difficult to express in words what it was like for me > to be there again, this time with Sam. > > Sam had been looking forward to this visit for quite some time � and > the night before we arrived, he took my hand in his hand and gently > stroked it, and with a heart filled with love, and eyes filled with > devotion, he looked at me and in a soft voice said, " Mom, tomorrow we > will see Shree Maa and Swamiji. Isn't that great? " And the smile on > his face said it all. This was the beginning of a journey for Sam > that, to me, appeared both new and familiar at the same time. > > Sam's joy at the Devi Mandir, from the very moment we arrived, was a > sight to behold. I don't think there was a single moment when he > wasn't smiling and feeling at home with his Devi Mandir family. He > fully participated in every possible activity he could, including his > first Shiva puja � guided by Vish's loving instruction, gardening > with Gautam, moving the wood pile and making Sanskrit recordings with > Surath, and even searching for wildlife with Lav and Kush (two boys > visiting from Switzerland). And on Sunday morning, with one very > brief exit to get some tissues, he sat through and followed along for > the entire Chandi Path recitation, determinedly sneaking closer to > the front row so he could offer the rice directly into the homa. > > Sam did get to meet Shree Maa, early in the morning, after Her > worship. I stood back and watched him standing there, talking, with > Maa's arm around him and I knew, in that moment, he was united with > the Divine Mother, being filled with blessings that will continue to > fill him for a long time, and that all was well. > > Another highlight of Sam's visit was when he sang to Swamiji. He had > been planning this for months, and he wanted it to be perfect. He > brought a CD of the music (thank you Gauri for saving the day and > getting your computer to play the music) and he sat down in the > temple with Swamiji sitting directly opposite him � they sat there > eye to eye, smiling, with a connection to each other that was, to put > it mildly, a magnificent sight to behold. Sam was so filled with joy > that he could barely sing without laughing. But he pulled it together > and sang a beautiful song to Swamiji and even managed to get everyone > to sing along at the end. I just stood there, with tears flowing, in > awe, and filled with great humility at the privilege of watching such > pure, uninhibited, unconditional love being expressed. > > And now, once again, I sit here at my desk, listening to Shree Maa > singing, looking at photos of Shree Maa and Swamiji, and writing > about Sam. My head is spinning, but when I think about Sam and where > he is in his life right now, I see yet another lesson for me to learn > from him. That it is possible, with few words, with few thoughts, > with few practices, to live a spiritual life. I witness a young man > who lives from his heart, who truly has love for everyone he meets, > and simply yearns to have more love in his life. It doesn't matter > who he is talking to, he really does see everyone as the same � > making the song he sang that much more meaningful. And so, I present > the words to you now, as my way of sending you a timeless teaching, > which I now see is Sam's teaching in this life. > > Jai Maa!! > > With love and blessings to you > Wendy, mother of Sam > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Namaste Song > (words and lyrics by Suzy Frank and Linda Lara) > > La, la, la� sing joy! > Na, na, na�Namaste! > > My heart connects with you, > Your heart connects with me, > Beating all over the world. > > My hand joins with yours, > Your hand joins with mine, > Dancing all over the world. > > We're all special and > We're all different, but > Really we are all just the same. > > La, la, la� sing joy! > Na, na, na�Namaste! > > The light in me > Sees the light in you, > Shining all over the world. > > The best in me > Sees the best in you, > Bringing peace all over the world. > > We're all special and > We're all different, but > Really we are all just the same. > > La, la, la� sing joy! > Na, na, na�Namaste! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 Hi Wendy, That was really beautiful. I have not been to the Mandir, but I have been to see Shree Maa and Swamiji when they used to bring the Mandir to us, on tour. Describing the divine magic they create by their presence is next to impossible - there just are no words. I'm so glad to hear of both of your happiness. It really warms my heart. Jai Maa! Chris , " way131 " <wendy131 wrote: > > To my beloved Devi Mandir family, > > As I sit here, trying to write about my weekend at the Devi Mandir, I > find that it is difficult to express in words what it was like for me > to be there again, this time with Sam. > > Sam had been looking forward to this visit for quite some time – and > the night before we arrived, he took my hand in his hand and gently > stroked it, and with a heart filled with love, and eyes filled with > devotion, he looked at me and in a soft voice said, " Mom, tomorrow we > will see Shree Maa and Swamiji. Isn't that great? " And the smile on > his face said it all. This was the beginning of a journey for Sam > that, to me, appeared both new and familiar at the same time. > > Sam's joy at the Devi Mandir, from the very moment we arrived, was a > sight to behold. I don't think there was a single moment when he > wasn't smiling and feeling at home with his Devi Mandir family. He > fully participated in every possible activity he could, including his > first Shiva puja – guided by Vish's loving instruction, gardening > with Gautam, moving the wood pile and making Sanskrit recordings with > Surath, and even searching for wildlife with Lav and Kush (two boys > visiting from Switzerland). And on Sunday morning, with one very > brief exit to get some tissues, he sat through and followed along for > the entire Chandi Path recitation, determinedly sneaking closer to > the front row so he could offer the rice directly into the homa. > > Sam did get to meet Shree Maa, early in the morning, after Her > worship. I stood back and watched him standing there, talking, with > Maa's arm around him and I knew, in that moment, he was united with > the Divine Mother, being filled with blessings that will continue to > fill him for a long time, and that all was well. > > Another highlight of Sam's visit was when he sang to Swamiji. He had > been planning this for months, and he wanted it to be perfect. He > brought a CD of the music (thank you Gauri for saving the day and > getting your computer to play the music) and he sat down in the > temple with Swamiji sitting directly opposite him – they sat there > eye to eye, smiling, with a connection to each other that was, to put > it mildly, a magnificent sight to behold. Sam was so filled with joy > that he could barely sing without laughing. But he pulled it together > and sang a beautiful song to Swamiji and even managed to get everyone > to sing along at the end. I just stood there, with tears flowing, in > awe, and filled with great humility at the privilege of watching such > pure, uninhibited, unconditional love being expressed. > > And now, once again, I sit here at my desk, listening to Shree Maa > singing, looking at photos of Shree Maa and Swamiji, and writing > about Sam. My head is spinning, but when I think about Sam and where > he is in his life right now, I see yet another lesson for me to learn > from him. That it is possible, with few words, with few thoughts, > with few practices, to live a spiritual life. I witness a young man > who lives from his heart, who truly has love for everyone he meets, > and simply yearns to have more love in his life. It doesn't matter > who he is talking to, he really does see everyone as the same – > making the song he sang that much more meaningful. And so, I present > the words to you now, as my way of sending you a timeless teaching, > which I now see is Sam's teaching in this life. > > Jai Maa!! > > With love and blessings to you > Wendy, mother of Sam > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Namaste Song > (words and lyrics by Suzy Frank and Linda Lara) > > La, la, la… sing joy! > Na, na, na…Namaste! > > My heart connects with you, > Your heart connects with me, > Beating all over the world. > > My hand joins with yours, > Your hand joins with mine, > Dancing all over the world. > > We're all special and > We're all different, but > Really we are all just the same. > > La, la, la… sing joy! > Na, na, na…Namaste! > > The light in me > Sees the light in you, > Shining all over the world. > > The best in me > Sees the best in you, > Bringing peace all over the world. > > We're all special and > We're all different, but > Really we are all just the same. > > La, la, la… sing joy! > Na, na, na…Namaste! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 Namaste Kaliananda and Chris Thank you for your response to my post. Yes, it was a wonderful weekend. I'm glad to know that I was able to at least begin to express what it was like. There was a lot of joy all around-- love w Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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