Guest guest Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Namaste Vish and all, thank you for calling the 32 names of Durga to mind; sometimes when one least expects it, reading the names can have a startling effect. It gave me the shivers, because it opened my eyes to how there is a tendency to postpone calling on Her 'until I have dealt with the difficulty and feel like praying', instead of asking Her to remove the difficulty while in the midst of difficulties. Powerful names, they are. Another quote from the Ramakrishna book, which I think is relevant: " You may discriminate a thousand times, yet the " I " who is the thinker does not leave. For devotees to regard me with devotion is a very good thing. To the devotees I am the Supreme Divinity embodied in a human form, meaning that the Supreme Divinity Beyond Form has taken on qualities. When individuals take a form, they express through that form, and God listens to the prayers of a pure individual. Those who worship with form offer prayers to God with form. They are not Vedanta philosophers. They are not jnanis. They are devotees. " (p.74). we cannot think our way into the great silence to be found at Her feet, but love will lead us there. Thank you for being such an example of devotion, Jai Maa, Jai Swamiji Henny , " inspectionconnection108 " <inspectionconnection108 wrote: > > Namaste Henny and all: Your words, so true, so true. Yes indeed, we > need to be aware of that sacred silence which underlies and permeates > all creation, before we act. That silence is Shiva, and the activity > is Her Shakti. > That awareness, can be realized thru sadhana, or, Maa's Grace. It is > up to Her. > So, we worship Shiva, and chant the Chandi. We worship Shiva and > Shakti seeking to " wake up " . We call on Durga / Chandi to remove the > great ego, to cure us of the greatest disease. Recall the 32 names of > Durga in the Chandi Path, page, 361, listen to some of Her names: " She > who cuts down difficulties, The Mother of Difficulties, Who searches > through difficulties, The continued existence of difficulties, The > lady of difficulties, Who cuts off difficulties. " > Shree Ramakrishna, whose life demonstrated the evolution of > consciousness to the highest realization, declared: " Until you have > the vision of God, the ego will remain. If you find someone who is > without ego, surely they have had the vision of God. " Page 183, > Swami's translation of Ramakrishna, The Nectar of eternal Bliss. > > Thanks for staying with the club and joining us in satsunga. For > without our communion, I would drift into the shadows. > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > vishweshwar > > > > , " henny_v_i " <henny_v_i@> wrote: > > > > Namaste Vishweshwar, > > > > you are so right in pointing out that Maa gives us every opportunity > > to let go and surrender. It is sometimes difficult for me to believe > > that She never gives up on me, because I am getting very tired of my > > own mistakes and stubbornness. But I know it is true, because She > > brought me here to the Devi Mandir group and She keeps me here:) > > > > I too struggle with the 'how I think things should be' thing, and > > just now I begin to realize the importance of Swamiji's teaching about > > the moment of remembrance before reacting to a situation. How can we > > remember it is She who arranges all if we are too busy hanging on to > > what we think is right. Many times I don't even realize I am only > > reacting to my own imaginings, I am so fast asleep. > > But if I could just be awake enough to pause before reacting > > automatically and just look at what is there, perhaps She would allow > > me a glimpse of Her movements. Perhaps then I would be able to see Her > > gentle hand, carefully arranging the events in my life. To me, to be > > able to find these moments of pause is the blessing of Lord Shiva, > > and, in these moments, to be able to perceive Divine Mother's dance, > > is Her grace. Even if I don't deserve any of it, I pray for the > > blessing and grace of our Divine Parents. To those Parents, who, with > > infinite patience, are guiding their children home, I bow, > > > > with love, > > Henny > > > > > > > > > > > > > > , " inspectionconnection108 " > > <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > > > > > Namaste Henny: every word touched my soul. Thanks for that quote. > > > How hard I struggle every day to rid myself of these attachements to > > > " how I think things should be " , and " I want things to stay the way > > > they are " . > > > Even as Swami tells us over and over, : Maa Shakti will change, it > > is > > > Her nature, change She does and change She will: I still fall prey > > to > > > " i want it my way " . > > > So, guess what, every day Maa gives me so many chances to " let go " , > > > and " go with the flow " . She sets up event after event, giving me > > every > > > chance to surrender to Her. And still I resist. > > > I thank Her for never giving up on me. I thank Her with all my > > heart > > > for reminding me over and over that She is the doer, and I must give > > > up all idea of control. > > > So Shiva, we bow to You, and ask that You destroy all attachments, > > and > > > bring us peace. > > > > > > Jai Ma Jai Swami > > > > > > vishweshwar > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > , " henny_v_i " <henny_v_i@> wrote: > > > > > > > > Namaste friends, > > > > > > > > taken from Swamiji's Introduction to the Shiva Puja, here's yet > > > > another reason to perform worship of the Reliever of Sufferings: > > > > > > > > " We create our own pain by our attachment to the way we think > > things > > > > should be. Shiva, as the Great Destroyer, will destroy our > > attachment > > > > too. That is His function as the Consciousness of Continual > > > > Transformation. > > > > By worshiping Shiva, we cultivate the qualities of > > inifinite > > > > consciousness, unattachment, and freedom from bondage to this > > world of > > > > objects and their relationships. We cultivate the attitude of > > > > perceiving the intrinsic reality, not the extrinsic appearance. We > > > > indentify with that which does not change. We become the witness > > of > > > > the changes of nature. From that perception, we act and interact > > with > > > > the world. Remembering the eternal reality, we free ourselves from > > > > pain and fear. We see them as passing states of mind and accept > > the > > > > will of God. " > > > > > > > > > > > > with love, > > > > Henny > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > , " inspectionconnection108 " > > > > <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Namaste: As we discuss the 16 Monday sankalpa, I contemplated > > why > > > > we > > > > > perfrom worship of the Lord. > > > > > I opened the Shiva puja text to review the opening verse. Here > > is > > > > the > > > > > translation: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Om, We meditate upon the Perfect, Full, Complete, Always > > Continuing, > > > > > Consciousness of Infinite Goodness; contemplate He Whose > > Thousand > > > > Eyes > > > > > see everywhere. May that Giver of Bliss grant up increase. > > > > > > > > > > Maa and Swami have instructed us to begin each Shiva puja by > > > > > performing the following technique. > > > > > > > > > > Close the eyes, and imagine the greatest love you can imagine, > > > > imagine > > > > > it in your heart. Then, keep expanding it, watch it grow and > > grow, > > > > > and when it cannot grow any larger, at that point begin puja. > > > > > > > > > > The goal is to realize the Consciousness of Infinite Goodness in > > > > your > > > > > heart. > > > > > > > > > > What a goal. > > > > > > > > > > Thanks Maa and Swami for giving us the chance to worship the > > Lord > > > > and > > > > > may all beings realize this Divine and Perfect Consciousness of > > > > > Infinite Goodness. > > > > > > > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > > > > > > > > > vishweshwar > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > , devi <student61754@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > So glad you asked these questions Henny. This is one of the > > > > things > > > > > I like about our group, so many wonderful things to learn. > > Never a > > > > > dull moment. So much love and growth. > > > > > > > > > > > > I never thought of it the way you see it, now there's another > > > > facet > > > > > on the Siva puja to enjoy. I've used lingam like this off and > > on > > > > > instead of coconut but you have opened upsome new ideas and > > > > questions > > > > > as to the engery removal part of the puja. WOW > > > > > > > > > > > > Thank you, > > > > > > Devi > > > > > > > > > > > > inspectionconnection108 <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > > > > > > Namaste Henny: Here is Swami's response > > from > > > > > your e mail, which I > > > > > > forwarded to him. His answers are embedded into your > > question. > > > > Hope > > > > > > you can understand it. This can help others who wish to > > expand > > > > their > > > > > > worship of Shiva. > > > > > > > > > > > > HENNY: I have some questions about prana pratishta in Shiva > > > > puja. > > > > > > > In a discussion of the Cosmic Puja it was mentioned that > > prana > > > > > > > pratishta can also be performed on the lingam instead of > > > > > > establishing a pot. So for some time now I have been trying > > to > > > > expand > > > > > > my Shiva puja by adding the establishment of life part. But I > > get > > > > into > > > > > > trouble about where to insert the procedure, get worried > > about > > > > making > > > > > > mistakes and go back to the familiar pattern. But that does > > not > > > > feel > > > > > > right either, there is a definite push to go further. So here > > are > > > > my > > > > > > questions: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Normally, following the extended Shiva Puja as taught by > > > > Parvati some > > > > > > > time ago, I purify water and flowers (and after this I have > > > > inserted > > > > > > > bhuta shuddhi), then > > > > > > > > > > > > SWAMI: dhyanam/nyasa - establishment of life - japa and puja > > > > naivedya. > > > > > > > > > > > > > Where would I > > > > > > > insert the establishment of life in the lingam? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > If the establishment of life is done in the lingam (instead > > of > > > > > > > establishing a pot), how is it done? Do we use all the > > mantras > > > > for > > > > > > > establishing a pot (including touching the earth and > > offering > > > > baths > > > > > > > and powders etc.)? > > > > > > > > > > > > SWAMI: That's best. > > > > > > > > > > > > > Or do we skip the mantras for filling the pot and > > > > > > > start by establishing stillness, followed by the mantras > > for > > > > prana > > > > > > > pratishta (om am aam etc.)? > > > > > > > > > > > > SWAMI: If you're in a hurry this works. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Once we have installed life in the lingam, do we then > > perform > > > > the > > > > > > > complete puja naivedya (i.e. offer baths and powders again) > > ? > > > > > > > > > > > > > Or add > > > > > > > only food and drinking water? > > > > > > > > > > > > SWAMI: Above is best. This also works in a shorter puja. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > And when do we remove the divine energy; is this done > > > > immediately > > > > > > > after ending the puja in the morning or later in the > > evening? > > > > It is > > > > > > > probably a silly thing, but it does not feel right to > > establish > > > > life > > > > > > > and then go out to work, leaving Him all alone on the > > altar:). > > > > > > > > > > > > SWAMI: In the evening, after we have served him all day long > > > > > through our > > > > > > various functions. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > HENNY: dear family, it is wonderful to be able to ask these > > > > questions. > > > > > > Even though I have not been posting much, I read all the > > posts > > > > and > > > > > > derive great inspiration and help from them. This group is a > > > > lifeline. > > > > > > And above all, my heartfelt gratitude goes out to Shree Maa > > and > > > > > > Swamiji, who never waver in their devotion to demonstrating > > > > truth, > > > > > > beauty and love to their children. > > > > > > > > > > > > SWAMI: Jai Maa! So nice to hear from you. > > > > > > We send you all our love and blessings. > > > > > > - > > > > > > > > > > > > JAI MAA JAI SWAMI > > > > > > > > > > > > VISHWESHWAR > > > > > > > > > > > > , " henny_v_i " <henny_v_i@> > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Namaste Vish, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > please accept my heartfelt appreciation for the seva you > > are > > > > doing > > > > > > > here on this forum; your posts are truly inspirational. > > Your > > > > > speaking > > > > > > > about how a relationship is built with Shiva by starting > > with > > > > the > > > > > > > basic puja and then expanding, has rekindled a fire in my > > > > heart. > > > > > > > I perform the expanded puja Maa Parvati taught us (the > > > > 'lessons' > > > > > were > > > > > > > posted here, so they must be in the archives, and this > > provided > > > > us > > > > > > > with a wonderful way to expand the basic puja as taught by > > > > Nandaji), > > > > > > > and now I would like to take it a step further. Some time > > ago, > > > > I > > > > > asked > > > > > > > a question about it in the group, but no response came. So > > > > > perhaps it > > > > > > > was not the right time or there was some other reason. But > > just > > > > in > > > > > > > case my question was overlooked, I have the audacity to > > bring > > > > post > > > > > > > 25042 to your attention, because I would dearly love to > > have > > > > the > > > > > > > answer. If my insistence is inappropriate, I will > > understand > > > > and I > > > > > > > will continue my practice as it is, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > with love, > > > > > > > Henny > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > , > > " inspectionconnection108 " > > > > > > > <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Namaste Eric and all: if you have never performed Shiva > > > > puja, and > > > > > > > are > > > > > > > > not comfortable with the process and techniques of > > worship, > > > > it > > > > > would > > > > > > > > be best to begin with the Beginner Shiva puja text. It is > > > > > simple and > > > > > > > > straight forward. > > > > > > > > Also, the puja in the Advanced text takes quite a bit of > > > > time, > > > > > while > > > > > > > > the Beginner can take 20-30 minutes, once you know how to > > do > > > > it. > > > > > > > > It is all up to you. What is your goal? How long do you > > have > > > > each > > > > > > > > Monday? How experienced are you with puja performance? > > > > > > > > If your goal is to begin a relationship with Shiva, then > > > > start > > > > > > > simple, > > > > > > > > and become very familiar with the basic beginner puja. > > Learn > > > > it by > > > > > > > > heart so that you can focus on worship, and not on > > reading > > > > the text > > > > > > > > and fumbling with the book and the articles of worship. > > > > > > > > In my own experience, I have found I could focus more on > > > > building a > > > > > > > > relationship with Shiva by keeping my practice simple, > > rather > > > > than > > > > > > > > getting into more elaborate and technically challenging > > > > > techniques. > > > > > > > > Then in time, after I mastered the basic puja, I > > naturally > > > > > wanted to > > > > > > > > expand my puja because I wanted to find more ways to tell > > > > Shiva how > > > > > > > > much I love him. then I added mantras from the advanced > > puja > > > > text. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > vishweshwar > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > , Eric Cassils > > > > <Quanchula1@> > > > > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Namaste Vish, Devi et All, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > For the 16 Monday worship, if we have the advanced > > > > > > > > > Shiva puja book is it acceptable to use this book as > > > > > > > > > well. I know it would have been better to start with > > > > > > > > > something less advanced, but I was very attracted by > > > > > > > > > the cover of this book, and by it's sheer > > > > > > > > > completeness. > > > > > > > > > Jai Swami Jai Maa, Jai Maa Jai Swami > > > > > > > > > eric > > > > > > > > > --- inspectionconnection108 > > > > > > > > > <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Namaste Carie: Order the $10 book, SHIVA PUJA FOR > > > > > > > > > > BEGINNERS. Once > > > > > > > > > > you receive it, come to this club site, and on the > > > > > > > > > > left margin, you > > > > > > > > > > see a word " FILES " , click on FILES and you will see > > > > > > > > > > a folder for > > > > > > > > > > LEARNING SHIVA PUJA. This will give you point by > > > > > > > > > > point instructions, > > > > > > > > > > following the book, to perform the puja. > > > > > > > > > > also, you can contact me and I will be glad to help. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jai Ma Jai Swami > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Vishweshwar > > > > > > > > > > , " Carie M " > > > > > > > > > > <m.cirene@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Is that the book for 10.00? Peace, Carie > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Nov 28, 2007 9:00 AM, gauri_108 <gauri_108@> > > > > > > > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Namaste Carrie, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > This is a great sankalpa to take on. The > > > > > > > > > > begiiner Siva puja book is > > > > > > > > > > > > where a lot of us started out. It has all the > > > > > > > > > > components in a simple > > > > > > > > > > > > form that should not take more than 1/2 hou to > > > > > > > > > > do once you get > > > > > > > > > > > > compfortable with it. I always had a good time > > > > > > > > > > getting up in the > > > > > > > > > > > > morning, " cooking Siva breakfast " and then > > > > > > > > > > offering it in the puja. > > > > > > > > > > > > The sankalpa says that you perform the worship > > > > > > > > > > for 16 weeks...you can > > > > > > > > > > > > make it as simple or as elaborate as you like -- > > > > > > > > > > it's all about > > > > > > > > > > > > showing your love. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > , " Carie M " > > > > > > > > > > <m.cirene@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I read it it is a beautiful story. What is > > > > > > > > > > required? > > > > > > > > > > > > > Peace, Carie > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 11/26/07, devi <student61754@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Has anyone checked out the calendar at the > > > > > > > > > > > > Shreemaa.org > > > > > > > > > > <http://shreemaa.org/><http://shreemaa.org/> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > It's great! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Today is a good day to start the Siva > > > > > > > > > > Sankalpa for 16 Mondays! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Anyone want to join in? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > We can all share questions & experiences in > > > > > > > > > > group. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > This is going to be fun. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Look forward to seeing your posts. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > May each of your Mondays be blessed by > > > > > > > > > > haveing the honor of > > > > > > > > > > doing Siva > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Puja. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Devi > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jai Maa, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Devi > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with > > > > > > > > > > friends inside > > > > > > > > > > Mail. See > > > > > > > > > > > > > > how. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > <http://us.rd./evt=51732/*http://overview. > > mail. > > > > . > > > > > > > com/> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > > > > > > > > > " Wherever you stand... be the soul of that > > > > > > > > > > place. " > > > > > > > > > > > > > - Rumi > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > " It's the blood of the Ancients > > > > > > > > > > > > > That runs in our veins > > > > > > > > > > > > > And the forms pass > > > > > > > > > > > > > But the circle of life remains " > > > > > > > > > > > > > ~Charlie Murphy > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > www.myspace.com/taraerin58 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Please visit us online at > > > > > > > > > > http://www.ShreeMaa.org<http://www.shreemaa.org/> > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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