Kirk and all: Religious Conflict

[Guest guest]

Namaste Kirk and all: last evening in the Devi Mandir Temple Swami

commented that the Devi Mandir family accepts and joyfully worships

God / Goddess in all their forms. We do not limit ourselves to

worshipping and accepting that God / Goddess only manifested in one

form, i.e., Krishna, Ram, Shiva,etc.

This universal point of view frees the worshiper, and helps them to

open their inner vision to begin seeing God / Goddess in everything

and everyone, and, most importantly, in themselves.

As a westerner, I was introduced to Shiva by Shree Maa and Swami, and

fell in love with Him, and began His worship in earnest as soon as Maa

and Swami taught me. Then, after several years of daily worship, I

began to feel very unbalanced, that something was missing, and Maa

whispered to me that I should begin worship of Durga.

I began Her worship, and continued Shiva worship. The worhsip of Shiva

and Shakti began to bring fullness, wholeness, and harmony into my life.

As time passed, Maa introduced me to worship of Vishnu, Hanuman,

Lakshmi, Saraswati, and all the major Gods and Goddesses on the Cosmic

altar at the Devi Mandir.

Now, I see their light in the faces of each person I meet, for each of

their predominate qualities is within each of us, and focusing on

their worship opens and unfolds and strengthens those qualities in me.

These spiritual techniques are designed to help us experience the

universal values of life, and expand our boundaries and limitations

until we realize our true selves.

I hope this helps you. However, all my words cannot convey the

essence of the love which Maa and Swami feel for us. So, I recommend

praying to them for clarity. They hear and respond to our cries. They

have helped me more than I can ever describe.

 

Jai Ma Jai Swami

 

vishweshwar

 

 

-- In , " Kirk " <kirk_bernhardt wrote:

>

> Hello All, I have been a fan of Devi Mandir for awhile. I have also

made a

> few small donations over the last few years and have corresponded

with the

> Swami a few times.

>

> I have a religious conundrum however. I am Buddhist, of the Tibetan

school.

> I have taken such as vows. I also do such as practices. But I still

am in

> love with Devi and I still feel the great desire to practice on the

> Mahashodashi, which was given to me by Swami Amritananda of Devipuram.

>

> So I feel conflict between the non-God tradition of Buddhism which I do

> love, and with the Goddess traditions, especially of Lalita, which

I also

> love.

>

> In Tibetan Buddhism we have deities as well. Kurukulle is very much

similar

> to Lalita, and this helps to confuse the issue because my intellect

finds it

> hard to see any real differences in the two deities.

>

> Does anyone find it to be wrong to have a foot in both camps, or do

I have

> to decide to fully just go the Buddhist way? I am not able to stop

being

> Buddhist because such would be considered a defeat of vows, in which

case

> much of what I have based my life on would become meaningless.

>

> Thank you for considering this. Peace.

> -Kirk

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks to the group. I have received many private emails and so I guess I am

in good company here. Many Tibetan Buddhists who still like their

Hindu/Dravidian Devas. It has been good for the heart. So thanks to

everybody for replying. It has done me well. Happy Mahashivaratri.