To Marsha and all:Chandi Sadhana Discussion

[Guest guest]

Namaste Marsha and all: Your thoughts about Maa manifesting caused me

to ponder Maa's manifestation myself. If we agree that the verses of

the Chandi represent the experiences of our daily life, then, consider

that each time we realize we are overcome by the Great Ego, we pray

for Her help, and She " manifests " .

But does She really " manifest " , or is She ALWAYS PRESENT?

The scriptures tell us She is always present and available, it is just

we who are not able to experience Her.

For example, before the microscope was invented, no one knew that

microbes existed. Yet they were always present, and always effecting

our lives.

Likewise, Maa is always present and having an effect on this universe,

in fact, without Her there would be no universe, no manifestation.

So, our individual sadhana, chanting the Chandi, or performing Durga

puja, etc., refines our senses, removes some stress, opens our heart,

and amplifies our cries for help. That combination of events, coupled

with Her Grace, causes Her to become visibly manifest to us.

I recall the many times during the day when I realize that I am

ovecome with stress and frustration, and suddenly, I remember that Maa

has promised to manifest whenever I need Her.

So, my next thought is: " Maa Please Help Me, I am lost, again. "

Then, She comes. Immediately I feel Her in my heart, and a soothing

warmth spreads through me, and I remember my true nature.

Yes, I fall into darkness again, and again, but, each time I remember

Her, and ask for Her help, She is Present, She manifests for me. She

reminds me that I am One with Her Always, Forever and Ever.

That is my literal experience of the Chandi and the mystery hidden

within the mantras.

It is not complicated, it is not magical, it is REAL. She is

Everything. Just sit back and remember. Just sit back and enjoy.

 

Jai Maa Jai Swami

 

vishweshwar

 

 

 

 

 

, " Marsha " <FarrarE wrote:

>

> Namaste All,

>

>

>

> I began study of chapter one by listening to Swamiji's talk on the CD.

> (I've listened to it four times now and hear something new each time.)

> Early in his commentary he states that the central issue of Chandi

is how

> to make the mind be still. I immediately thought of the second sutra of

> Patanjali ~ Yogas citta vrtti nirodhah and was extremely excited

since I

> have been weaving in and out of the sutras for many years. Near the

end of

> his commentary he quotes this sutra and says that Chandi is Astanga

Yoga.

> It seems I have made a grand circle and beginning another. This is a

most

> auspicious sign!

>

>

>

> It occurred to me to start a Chandi Journal and weave in the sutras

through

> the study, and to begin by considering Durga's weapons in light of

my own

> circumstance. How to use the weapons to slay Too Much and Too

Little . (I

> have both fully operative) .first this will require the Bow of

Determination

> to slay my thoughts of 'too little' time and 'too much' to do!

>

>

>

> So, the goal is to embody Durga's attributes? Durga Puja and Chandi as

> sadhana? I am not clear on what constitutes sadhana. What should

> constitute my sadhana?

>

>

>

> In regards to 'She becomes manifest': verse 68 - pg. 135

>

> Does this mean that Maa became manifest from sadhana of those before us,

> and, in addition, we have made Her manifest in our lives by our

discovery of

> Her or being led/called to Her? (Don't know if this makes sense or

not .

> can't seem to word it the way it is in my heart.)

>

> For anyone who does not have the CD that goes along with the Chandi

book I

> would highly recommend it. It has Swamiji's English commentary as

well as

> the entire book recited in Sanskrit by either Shree Maa or Swamiji.

>

>

>

> Jai Maa ~ Jai Swamiji

>

> Marsha

>