Guest guest Posted October 8, 2007 Report Share Posted October 8, 2007 Namaste Richard: I understand your questions very well. I have experienced your confusion. Swami and Shree Maa have provided me with ample intellectual and experiential understanding to satisfy and clarify the confusion between my heart and mind. I will provide their explanations. Swami has said that there is only One God, and we can experience Him /Her in many forms. Just as you are a brother, son, uncle, father, you are still you, but people experience you differently based on their relationship with you. Each scripture, whether describing worship of Shiva, Chandi, Durga, Kali, Lakshim, etc., states that the worship of that God/Goddess is the best way to experience the Divine. So it is easy to become confused when each scripture states that this path is whole and complete. It implies another may not be whole and complete. Maa and Swami state that each is whole and perfect, and each person needs to determine which is most suited to their life and goals. However, there is only one God, with many names and forms. All worship will lead to the experience of the One. So, how to choose one path, one form of worship? Swami says, choose a method of worship which attracts you, and if you feel a connection, continue. If you do not, try another. There are no mistakes, especially if one is performing with pure devotion. God sees one's heart. That is the key to understanding and transcending this dilemma. For example, for many years I performed Shiva puja daily. I was withdrawing from the world, yet, I had a family and worldly responsibilities. I could not afford to withdraw into a cave and leave the world behind. So, in this confused state of heart and mind, one day I felt an impulse to try Durga puja. After some time, performing Shiva and Durga pujas daily, I felt more balance and coherence in my life. The impulse to withdraw from the world subsided. The balance of Shiva and Shaki was restored as a result of worhsipping those 2 aspects of the One God. There is no " mistake " in whom one worships. You did not waste anytime by worshipping Shiva for years, you enhanced your relationship with Shiva, and with Your Self, for you are Shiva. I love Shiva too, and have worshiped Him daily for 11 years. But I also worship Durga and other forms of God/ Goddess. Shiva is the " consciousness of Infinite Goodness " , He is everything, so one could say that all worship is of Him. Whether one worships a lingum, or a Shalagram, can one say that Shiva is NOT EVERYWHERE? Is there someplace He is not? So if you feel to worship another aspect of God, respect that tradition, and perform the worship as that tradition decrees. Learn the proper worship of the shalagram and perform it to the best of your ability. Then, look into yourself, and determine if that worship is bringing you closer to your goal. If it is, continue, If not, move on. Daily I perform Shiva , then Durga pujas. I also chant mantras to Ganesh. Each is an aspect of the One God, and to me, each represents a thread in the tapestry of the Divine Whole, the Divine One. Worhsipping each aspect of God / Goddess, makes me whole, helps me to experience my Wholeness, My Self. That is my goal. And if my daily worship takes me closer to my goal, I continue it. As the need arises, or as Maa or Swami determines it is helpful to include worship of a different aspect of God, I " go with the flow " . For example, every month, on the full moon, the Mandir family worships Visnu to help one live in harmony with Truth, to speak and act in Truth. In another example of taking threads and weaving them into a whole, the Cosmic puja is performed daily in the Devi Mandir. In it, one performs worship to Shiva, Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati, etc, in one long puja. One is weaving all the threads of one's being into a whole cloth. Maa and Swami consider the Cosmic Puja to be a very powerful and unifying puja. One can watch this being performed daily on the Devi Mandir website. A devotee will begin about 6AM daily, Pacific time. As Maa states, Shiva is the Supreme Guru, and will lead you to the your goal. Take refuge in Him. In conclusion, I respectfully suggest following your heart. Pray to Shiva for guidance and follow the impulse which presents itself. This is YOUR personal relationship with God, and your choice will be the best for you at this time. There are no mistakes, Shiva will protect and guide you. Have no fear. May Shiva bless you. Jai Maa Jai Swami vishweshwar > > Namaste, > I have a question that has been really disturbing me > for some time now. I am hoping some body can help me. In the Skanda > Puranas (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 5/396 from SKANDA PURANA) it says, Lord > Siva speaking to Skanda states, " In this mortal world, if anyone > does not worship Salagram Sila, I do not at all accept any of their > worship and obeisances. " Well I consider my self a Shavite and Sai > devotee, and have worshiped the shiva lingam at home, at others > homes and at temples in the past. I have never worshipped the the > Shila Shalagram but I am thinking of doing that. The reason is the > previous statement. Will Lord Shiva only accept my obeisance or all > other worship of him only if I worship the Shalagram? Has all my > previous worship been for nought because I did not worship the > Shalagram. I am confused and perturbed about this. > > I would like, especially if the above is true, to > worship the Shila Shalagram, especially the one that is shaped like > and representative of the Shiva Lingam (there are of course many > different kinds). Some one please let me know what is the best > thing to do. thank you, sincerely, > Richard > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Namaste Vishveshwar, Wow!! I may not have asked the question, but your answer spoke directly to me. Many times I have found myself questioning my practice -- sometimes I discovered that it was simply not resonating with me, and sometimes I found that I needed to stick with it a little longer and suddenly the bhava came. With easy access to endless information via Internet, books, teachers, classes, etc.,etc., I find it is so easy to get caught in a kind of spiritual maya. Everything seems good, everything seems important, and if I start thinking that if I don't do everything, I won't experience God. Shree Maa and Swamiji have definitely calmed those waters for me. They are shining examples of what true devotion and pure love can bring to an individual. I work hard at my sadhana to open my heart and let the love in, so that I can turn it around and spread it around. Your response to Richard's question has clarified many things for me. Thank you for taking the time to write a very thoughtful response. Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji!! love wendy , " inspectionconnection108 " <inspectionconnection108 wrote: > > Namaste Richard: I understand your questions very well. I have > experienced your confusion. Swami and Shree Maa have provided me with > ample intellectual and experiential understanding to satisfy and > clarify the confusion between my heart and mind. I will provide their > explanations. > Swami has said that there is only One God, and we can experience Him > /Her in many forms. Just as you are a brother, son, uncle, father, you > are still you, but people experience you differently based on their > relationship with you. > Each scripture, whether describing worship of Shiva, Chandi, Durga, > Kali, Lakshim, etc., states that the worship of that God/Goddess is > the best way to experience the Divine. So it is easy to become > confused when each scripture states that this path is whole and > complete. It implies another may not be whole and complete. > Maa and Swami state that each is whole and perfect, and each person > needs to determine which is most suited to their life and goals. > However, there is only one God, with many names and forms. All > worship will lead to the experience of the One. > So, how to choose one path, one form of worship? Swami says, choose a > method of worship which attracts you, and if you feel a connection, > continue. If you do not, try another. There are no mistakes, > especially if one is performing with pure devotion. God sees one's > heart. That is the key to understanding and transcending this dilemma. > For example, for many years I performed Shiva puja daily. I was > withdrawing from the world, yet, I had a family and worldly > responsibilities. I could not afford to withdraw into a cave and > leave the world behind. > So, in this confused state of heart and mind, one day I felt an > impulse to try Durga puja. After some time, performing Shiva and > Durga pujas daily, I felt more balance and coherence in my life. The > impulse to withdraw from the world subsided. The balance of Shiva and > Shaki was restored as a result of worhsipping those 2 aspects of the > One God. > There is no " mistake " in whom one worships. You did not waste anytime > by worshipping Shiva for years, you enhanced your relationship with > Shiva, and with Your Self, for you are Shiva. > I love Shiva too, and have worshiped Him daily for 11 years. But I > also worship Durga and other forms of God/ Goddess. > Shiva is the " consciousness of Infinite Goodness " , He is everything, > so one could say that all worship is of Him. Whether one worships a > lingum, or a Shalagram, can one say that Shiva is NOT EVERYWHERE? Is > there someplace He is not? > So if you feel to worship another aspect of God, respect that > tradition, and perform the worship as that tradition decrees. Learn > the proper worship of the shalagram and perform it to the best of your > ability. Then, look into yourself, and determine if that worship is > bringing you closer to your goal. If it is, continue, If not, move on. > Daily I perform Shiva , then Durga pujas. I also chant mantras to > Ganesh. Each is an aspect of the One God, and to me, each represents > a thread in the tapestry of the Divine Whole, the Divine One. > Worhsipping each aspect of God / Goddess, makes me whole, helps me to > experience my Wholeness, My Self. That is my goal. And if my daily > worship takes me closer to my goal, I continue it. As the need > arises, or as Maa or Swami determines it is helpful to include worship > of a different aspect of God, I " go with the flow " . > For example, every month, on the full moon, the Mandir family worships > Visnu to help one live in harmony with Truth, to speak and act in Truth. > In another example of taking threads and weaving them into a whole, > the Cosmic puja is performed daily in the Devi Mandir. In it, one > performs worship to Shiva, Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati, etc, in > one long puja. One is weaving all the threads of one's being into a > whole cloth. Maa and Swami consider the Cosmic Puja to be a very > powerful and unifying puja. One can watch this being performed daily > on the Devi Mandir website. A devotee will begin about 6AM daily, > Pacific time. > > As Maa states, Shiva is the Supreme Guru, and will lead you to the > your goal. Take refuge in Him. > > In conclusion, I respectfully suggest following your heart. Pray to > Shiva for guidance and follow the impulse which presents itself. This > is YOUR personal relationship with God, and your choice will be the > best for you at this time. There are no mistakes, Shiva will protect > and guide you. Have no fear. > May Shiva bless you. > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > vishweshwar > > > > > > > > Namaste, > > I have a question that has been really disturbing me > > for some time now. I am hoping some body can help me. In the Skanda > > Puranas (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 5/396 from SKANDA PURANA) it says, Lord > > Siva speaking to Skanda states, " In this mortal world, if anyone > > does not worship Salagram Sila, I do not at all accept any of their > > worship and obeisances. " Well I consider my self a Shavite and Sai > > devotee, and have worshiped the shiva lingam at home, at others > > homes and at temples in the past. I have never worshipped the the > > Shila Shalagram but I am thinking of doing that. The reason is the > > previous statement. Will Lord Shiva only accept my obeisance or all > > other worship of him only if I worship the Shalagram? Has all my > > previous worship been for nought because I did not worship the > > Shalagram. I am confused and perturbed about this. > > > > I would like, especially if the above is true, to > > worship the Shila Shalagram, especially the one that is shaped like > > and representative of the Shiva Lingam (there are of course many > > different kinds). Some one please let me know what is the best > > thing to do. thank you, sincerely, > > Richard > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Dear Vishweshwar, thank you so much for delivering Shree Maa and Swami's clarity about this question. As I read your answer, I could physically feel tension releasing from, well, everywhere. I too have had confusion about this and have heard different answers but for some reason, this answer, in its thoroughness and care-full-ness, has lifted the confusion. I especially appreciate the vision of weaving many threads into one cloth. I have always found beauty in the many ways that Divine Mother presents herself. I am grateful for this post, because it has helped me to just relax and delight in the many ways that She reaches out to us. Thanks again, Jennifer , " inspectionconnection108 " <inspectionconnection108 wrote: > > Namaste Richard: I understand your questions very well. I have > experienced your confusion. Swami and Shree Maa have provided me with > ample intellectual and experiential understanding to satisfy and > clarify the confusion between my heart and mind. I will provide their > explanations. > Swami has said that there is only One God, and we can experience Him > /Her in many forms. Just as you are a brother, son, uncle, father, you > are still you, but people experience you differently based on their > relationship with you. > Each scripture, whether describing worship of Shiva, Chandi, Durga, > Kali, Lakshim, etc., states that the worship of that God/Goddess is > the best way to experience the Divine. So it is easy to become > confused when each scripture states that this path is whole and > complete. It implies another may not be whole and complete. > Maa and Swami state that each is whole and perfect, and each person > needs to determine which is most suited to their life and goals. > However, there is only one God, with many names and forms. All > worship will lead to the experience of the One. > So, how to choose one path, one form of worship? Swami says, choose a > method of worship which attracts you, and if you feel a connection, > continue. If you do not, try another. There are no mistakes, > especially if one is performing with pure devotion. God sees one's > heart. That is the key to understanding and transcending this dilemma. > For example, for many years I performed Shiva puja daily. I was > withdrawing from the world, yet, I had a family and worldly > responsibilities. I could not afford to withdraw into a cave and > leave the world behind. > So, in this confused state of heart and mind, one day I felt an > impulse to try Durga puja. After some time, performing Shiva and > Durga pujas daily, I felt more balance and coherence in my life. The > impulse to withdraw from the world subsided. The balance of Shiva and > Shaki was restored as a result of worhsipping those 2 aspects of the > One God. > There is no " mistake " in whom one worships. You did not waste anytime > by worshipping Shiva for years, you enhanced your relationship with > Shiva, and with Your Self, for you are Shiva. > I love Shiva too, and have worshiped Him daily for 11 years. But I > also worship Durga and other forms of God/ Goddess. > Shiva is the " consciousness of Infinite Goodness " , He is everything, > so one could say that all worship is of Him. Whether one worships a > lingum, or a Shalagram, can one say that Shiva is NOT EVERYWHERE? Is > there someplace He is not? > So if you feel to worship another aspect of God, respect that > tradition, and perform the worship as that tradition decrees. Learn > the proper worship of the shalagram and perform it to the best of your > ability. Then, look into yourself, and determine if that worship is > bringing you closer to your goal. If it is, continue, If not, move on. > Daily I perform Shiva , then Durga pujas. I also chant mantras to > Ganesh. Each is an aspect of the One God, and to me, each represents > a thread in the tapestry of the Divine Whole, the Divine One. > Worhsipping each aspect of God / Goddess, makes me whole, helps me to > experience my Wholeness, My Self. That is my goal. And if my daily > worship takes me closer to my goal, I continue it. As the need > arises, or as Maa or Swami determines it is helpful to include worship > of a different aspect of God, I " go with the flow " . > For example, every month, on the full moon, the Mandir family worships > Visnu to help one live in harmony with Truth, to speak and act in Truth. > In another example of taking threads and weaving them into a whole, > the Cosmic puja is performed daily in the Devi Mandir. In it, one > performs worship to Shiva, Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati, etc, in > one long puja. One is weaving all the threads of one's being into a > whole cloth. Maa and Swami consider the Cosmic Puja to be a very > powerful and unifying puja. One can watch this being performed daily > on the Devi Mandir website. A devotee will begin about 6AM daily, > Pacific time. > > As Maa states, Shiva is the Supreme Guru, and will lead you to the > your goal. Take refuge in Him. > > In conclusion, I respectfully suggest following your heart. Pray to > Shiva for guidance and follow the impulse which presents itself. This > is YOUR personal relationship with God, and your choice will be the > best for you at this time. There are no mistakes, Shiva will protect > and guide you. Have no fear. > May Shiva bless you. > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > vishweshwar > > > > > > > > Namaste, > > I have a question that has been really disturbing me > > for some time now. I am hoping some body can help me. In the Skanda > > Puranas (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 5/396 from SKANDA PURANA) it says, Lord > > Siva speaking to Skanda states, " In this mortal world, if anyone > > does not worship Salagram Sila, I do not at all accept any of their > > worship and obeisances. " Well I consider my self a Shavite and Sai > > devotee, and have worshiped the shiva lingam at home, at others > > homes and at temples in the past. I have never worshipped the the > > Shila Shalagram but I am thinking of doing that. The reason is the > > previous statement. Will Lord Shiva only accept my obeisance or all > > other worship of him only if I worship the Shalagram? Has all my > > previous worship been for nought because I did not worship the > > Shalagram. I am confused and perturbed about this. > > > > I would like, especially if the above is true, to > > worship the Shila Shalagram, especially the one that is shaped like > > and representative of the Shiva Lingam (there are of course many > > different kinds). Some one please let me know what is the best > > thing to do. thank you, sincerely, > > Richard > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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