to Chris and all:Chandi Sankalpa: Studying and learning together! :)

[Guest guest]

Namaste Chris: good thoughts, all. I like the story of the sage

jumping. That resonates well with me. Much like my daily

experiences: feel protected, yet something always slips thru the

armor and gives me a slight scratch. I know my faith is lacking

ripeness, fullness, and God keeps reminding me to surrender

everything, instead of just what is comfortable.

Well, Maa always finds ways to keep us on our toes, pushing us to

expand our boundaries into the unknown.

A story I love: a sage is offered a room in the palace, but he is so

comfortable in his worn our hut that he keeps refusing to leave it.

Leaky roof, no plumbing, no heat, a dump. Ultimately, he is forced to

leave, and upon entering the palace, wonders aloud: why did I resist,

this is beautiful. Home sweet home.

 

Jai Maa Jai Swami

 

vishweshwar

 

 

-- In , " Chris " <sadyojataya wrote:

>

> Hi Vish,

>

> I think these are great questions. I would really like to hear what

> Swamiji has to say.

>

> I think some level of objective verification could be gained by simply

> paying attention to how one feels at the end of a day of bumping

> elbows in the outside world. It seems like Maa recommends the kavach

> as a shield for our inner serenity against the psychic currents and

> crosscurrents of worldly life. If one feels better at the end of those

> days when one has recited, that is at least a personally satisfying

> proof, if not entirely scientific.

>

> As to the level of protection, I am remembering a story I read once.

> It was supposed to be a true account of a very famous sage, though, as

> usual with me, I can't remember his name.

>

> Anyway, it was during the time when Buddhism was dominant in India.

> The sage in question was a devotee of God (which aspect, I don't

> remember), who practiced ceremonial worship. He wanted to learn about

> Buddhism, but worshipers of God weren't allowed entrance to the

> monasteries. He was very advanced, and well known, but somehow managed

> to disguise himself and gain entrance as a student, and he attended

> for some time.

>

> One day, while sitting in class, someone recognized him - perhaps he

> asked the wrong kind of question, I don't remember. The whole class

> became very agitated and attempted to lay hands on him in order to

> kill him. He ran to the outside wall of the monastery, and even though

> it was a very high wall, high enough to ensure the death of a normal

> man, he was sure of his attainment, and of his faith in God and his

> gurudeva, and did not believe he would be hurt. Yet, he was a highly

> intelligent man, with a highly critical mind, as well as a man of

> great faith, so way in the back of his mind was lurking an idea of the

> possibility of his death if he jumped. He jumped, and when he hit the

> ground he broke his leg. Still, he managed his escape.

>

> The sage met with his gurudeva and asked him, " Guruji, why was it that

> when I knew I would be protected, I nevertheless broke my leg? " and

> his guru replied that it was because of that small seed of doubt in

> the back of his mind. His faith in God saved his life, but his doubt

> caused him to be injured.

>

> Jai Maa!

> Chris

>

>

>

>

>

> , " inspectionconnection108 "

> <inspectionconnection108@> wrote:

> >

> > Namaste Srini and Ramya: thanks so much for bringing us all this gift.

> > I have a question: while I have great faith that the kavach works,

> > how can one know objectively that one is putting on Chandi's armor? I

> > can understand that a pure soul can have total protection, but if a

> > devotee of limited awakening puts on Her armor, does that devotee only

> > gain partial protection?

> > And, if that is so, what can one do to increase the power of Her

> > protection?

> >

> > Jai Ma Jai Swami

> >

> > love

> >

> > vishweshwar

> >

> >

> >

> > , " n_ramya108 " <n_ramya108@> wrote:

> > >

> > > Jai Maa Everybody,

> > >

> > > With Swamiji's blessings, we are breaking down the Chandi Path into

> > > little bits that we can focus on each week - to make the sankalpa

> > > manageable and easy and fun!!!

> > >

> > > Each week, we will focus on one section of the Chandi e.g. part of a

> > > chapter, and read that section every day of the week. If everyday is

> > > difficult, you can make your own sankalpa, read it 3 or 5 days that

> > > week -- the goal is that in that week we will become familiar with

> > > that section of the Chandi.

> > >

> > > Next week, we will take another step to another section...and

week by

> > > week, we will chant and study together till we are familiar and

> > > comfortable with the Sidha Path, as Swamiji suggested.

> > >

> > > This week, we start with Devi Kavach (verses 1 to 22). Please read

> > > these verses and bring any questions/thoughts/discussion.

> > >

> > > Please write back and let us know if you would like to

participate in

> > > this - and any ideas for how we can make it better for all of us to

> > > learn together and share and grow in our love for Divine Mother!!

> > >

> > > Thank you very much! Jai Maa!

> > >

> > > srini and ramiya

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Vish,

 

This story has always been with me since I first came across it. I

have a critical mind and generally refuse to believe anything without

reservation until I have " proof " . So, for me there is almost always

some level of doubt, and this story always reminds me that on the

spiritual path, at some point all doubt must be put aside in the

pursuit of that which has no limitations (no unreality). But, the

story and its lesson, despite the fact that I believe it, is still one

that I hold a small whisper of doubt about - until I have " proof " of

its " truth " . (Yes, I'm full of contradictions.)

 

I liked your story, too.

 

Jai Maa!

Chris

 

 

, " inspectionconnection108 "

<inspectionconnection108 wrote:

>

> Namaste Chris: good thoughts, all. I like the story of the sage

> jumping. That resonates well with me. Much like my daily

> experiences: feel protected, yet something always slips thru the

> armor and gives me a slight scratch. I know my faith is lacking

> ripeness, fullness, and God keeps reminding me to surrender

> everything, instead of just what is comfortable.

> Well, Maa always finds ways to keep us on our toes, pushing us to

> expand our boundaries into the unknown.

> A story I love: a sage is offered a room in the palace, but he is so

> comfortable in his worn our hut that he keeps refusing to leave it.

> Leaky roof, no plumbing, no heat, a dump. Ultimately, he is forced to

> leave, and upon entering the palace, wonders aloud: why did I resist,

> this is beautiful. Home sweet home.

>

> Jai Maa Jai Swami

>

> vishweshwar

>

>

> -- In , " Chris " <sadyojataya@> wrote:

> >

> > Hi Vish,

> >

> > I think these are great questions. I would really like to hear what

> > Swamiji has to say.

> >

> > I think some level of objective verification could be gained by simply

> > paying attention to how one feels at the end of a day of bumping

> > elbows in the outside world. It seems like Maa recommends the kavach

> > as a shield for our inner serenity against the psychic currents and

> > crosscurrents of worldly life. If one feels better at the end of those

> > days when one has recited, that is at least a personally satisfying

> > proof, if not entirely scientific.

> >

> > As to the level of protection, I am remembering a story I read once.

> > It was supposed to be a true account of a very famous sage, though, as

> > usual with me, I can't remember his name.

> >

> > Anyway, it was during the time when Buddhism was dominant in India.

> > The sage in question was a devotee of God (which aspect, I don't

> > remember), who practiced ceremonial worship. He wanted to learn about

> > Buddhism, but worshipers of God weren't allowed entrance to the

> > monasteries. He was very advanced, and well known, but somehow managed

> > to disguise himself and gain entrance as a student, and he attended

> > for some time.

> >

> > One day, while sitting in class, someone recognized him - perhaps he

> > asked the wrong kind of question, I don't remember. The whole class

> > became very agitated and attempted to lay hands on him in order to

> > kill him. He ran to the outside wall of the monastery, and even though

> > it was a very high wall, high enough to ensure the death of a normal

> > man, he was sure of his attainment, and of his faith in God and his

> > gurudeva, and did not believe he would be hurt. Yet, he was a highly

> > intelligent man, with a highly critical mind, as well as a man of

> > great faith, so way in the back of his mind was lurking an idea of the

> > possibility of his death if he jumped. He jumped, and when he hit the

> > ground he broke his leg. Still, he managed his escape.

> >

> > The sage met with his gurudeva and asked him, " Guruji, why was it that

> > when I knew I would be protected, I nevertheless broke my leg? " and

> > his guru replied that it was because of that small seed of doubt in

> > the back of his mind. His faith in God saved his life, but his doubt

> > caused him to be injured.

> >

> > Jai Maa!

> > Chris

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > , " inspectionconnection108 "

> > <inspectionconnection108@> wrote:

> > >

> > > Namaste Srini and Ramya: thanks so much for bringing us all this

gift.

> > > I have a question: while I have great faith that the kavach works,

> > > how can one know objectively that one is putting on Chandi's

armor? I

> > > can understand that a pure soul can have total protection, but if a

> > > devotee of limited awakening puts on Her armor, does that

devotee only

> > > gain partial protection?

> > > And, if that is so, what can one do to increase the power of Her

> > > protection?

> > >

> > > Jai Ma Jai Swami

> > >

> > > love

> > >

> > > vishweshwar

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > , " n_ramya108 " <n_ramya108@>

wrote:

> > > >

> > > > Jai Maa Everybody,

> > > >

> > > > With Swamiji's blessings, we are breaking down the Chandi Path

into

> > > > little bits that we can focus on each week - to make the sankalpa

> > > > manageable and easy and fun!!!

> > > >

> > > > Each week, we will focus on one section of the Chandi e.g.

part of a

> > > > chapter, and read that section every day of the week. If

everyday is

> > > > difficult, you can make your own sankalpa, read it 3 or 5 days

that

> > > > week -- the goal is that in that week we will become familiar with

> > > > that section of the Chandi.

> > > >

> > > > Next week, we will take another step to another section...and

> week by

> > > > week, we will chant and study together till we are familiar and

> > > > comfortable with the Sidha Path, as Swamiji suggested.

> > > >

> > > > This week, we start with Devi Kavach (verses 1 to 22). Please read

> > > > these verses and bring any questions/thoughts/discussion.

> > > >

> > > > Please write back and let us know if you would like to

> participate in

> > > > this - and any ideas for how we can make it better for all of

us to

> > > > learn together and share and grow in our love for Divine Mother!!

> > > >

> > > > Thank you very much! Jai Maa!

> > > >

> > > > srini and ramiya

> > > >

> > >

> >

>