Guest guest Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Namaste: Thanks Henny, I too have to remember to call Her when in the midst of difficulties. As you stated previously, we become so overshadowed by the problem, that we forget to call on Her for help. Well, that is Her will too. She brings the problem to us, as well as the solution. Within Her are all opposites: pleasure and pain, sickness and health, etc. She only wants us to surrender to Her, and remember She is the Doer. Tonight in class, Ramakrishna said in the text: " Ramakrishna: The Nectar of Eternal Bliss " , Page 192: " What is ignorance? Ignorance is the concept of " I and mine " . ..... " The idea that " I am the doer " is ignorance. The thought, " Oh God, You are the doer. I do nothing at all. You are the craftsman. I am merely the tool in your hands. " That is wisdom. " Page 193: " That is why I say that those who live in the world of attachments and desires should do all their duties and have all the interactions of life, but always remember that none of this is your own. Do your duty with your whole mind focused on God. " Wow, living this life, this level of consciousness, what joy one would feel. I can only imagine it. What Grace that we have access to this knowledge, the techniques to realize this supreme state of life, and the teachers to quide us. So, we start from where we are and move forward with hope and faith. Thank God for Ramakrishna and Shree Maa, Pure examples of Realized Beings to light the way Home. Jai Maa Jai Swami vishweshwar -- In , " henny_v_i " <henny_v_i wrote: > > 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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