Guest guest Posted May 17, 2008 Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 Namaste Brother and sister: Those are really powerful questions. I have forwarded them to Swami. I have heard Swami say that if one makes a sankalpa to perform worship, and keeps that commitment no matter what, that one receives great merit. He also said that if one continues to perform the sadhana of one's sankalpa, in spite of it being difficult or uncomfortable, boring, etc, that one will receive greatest benefit. He said it is important to demonstrate one's devotion and commitment to God, and that completing one's sankalpa is very important. I find that there are times when I feel so tired and cranky that I do not want to perform my sankalpa. But, because I have made the sankalpa, I perform the worship. I do not care how I feel during the worship, I pray to God to accept whatever I can offer, and to help me to worship with as much focus as possible, as that it is the best I can give. And, when I have completed the worship, I thank God for helping me complete my vow of worship. Ultimately, my devotion has grown as a result of keeping my sankalpa. Regarding the question of whether loving God is worship and sadhana, I think there are many parts of my life where I can demonstrate and practice my love of God: worship, seva-SELFLESS SERVICE, my job, my family interactions, etc. Maa and Swami say that work is worship if one gives all of one's self to the task and one seeks to help this universe become a better place. Swami reminds us constantly that a sadhu is one who gives more than they take and leaves this world a better place. Let's see how Swami guides us. Jai Ma Jai Swami vishweshwar , " sharanam_lalitambike " <prats74 wrote: > > Namaste Vishveshwar, > From personal experience, I have a question. If we perform sadhana > mechanically (while our minds are wandering) does it still help to > keep doing the sadhana regularly? > > Can we hope that one day (in spite of the disinterested sadhana) we > will gain the faith and devotion that makes the sadhana more > fulfilling to our hearts? > > Jai Maa, > Prathibha > > , Ray Happy <amritanandamoyi@> wrote: > > > > Dear Vishweshwar, > > > > For someone who does not know what devotion is, or for someone who > may be new to all this (spirituality, discipline etc... ) does sadhana > give devotion as well ? > > > > I read once (I think in this group) that to love god is to do > sadhana... is that right ? > > > > Jai Maa, > > Prasana. > > > > > > > > inspectionconnection108 <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > Namaste all family: recently our family has been very > quiet. How is > > everyone? What topics would you like to cover? What questions do you > > have for Maa or Swami? > > How are you feeling regarding the turmoil in the world? How is your > > sadhana? > > I have been pondering what it means to be a disciple of a Divine > > Master. Today I had a chance to talk to Maa. She indicated that it > > is so important to perform sadhana. Sadhana purifies one and allows > > one to become more subtle. As one becomes more subtle, the Guru is > > able to align with the disciple, and help them grow closer. > > The Guru will do anything required to help the disciple work through > > their karmas. And, they can take some of that karma from the > > disciple, and lessen their burden. Even if it effects the Guru's > > physical body. > > I cannot fathom the love and commitment the Guru has for their > > disciple, but I am certainly thankful for it. > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > > > vishweshwar > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 Dear Vishweshwar,Thank you for forwarding the questions.I asked the question because some days when work gets busy or if it is always not going well, then it is hard to keep up that level of devotion. However, when some days go well it becomes more spontaneous. Some other days, because there is excitement, it does not feel like a puja was done at all... so its hard to maintain the right state of mind to do puja effectively. Yes, it has felt sometimes for me that sadhana does increase devotion...Dear Morningsong, I agree that the point is to bring the attention back !I look forward to the answers,Prasanainspectionconnection108 <inspectionconnection108 wrote: Namaste Brother and sister: Those are really powerful questions. I have forwarded them to Swami. I have heard Swami say that if one makes a sankalpa to perform worship, and keeps that commitment no matter what, that one receives great merit. He also said that if one continues to perform the sadhana of one's sankalpa, in spite of it being difficult or uncomfortable, boring, etc, that one will receive greatest benefit. He said it is important to demonstrate one's devotion and commitment to God, and that completing one's sankalpa is very important. I find that there are times when I feel so tired and cranky that I do not want to perform my sankalpa. But, because I have made the sankalpa, I perform the worship. I do not care how I feel during the worship, I pray to God to accept whatever I can offer, and to help me to worship with as much focus as possible, as that it is the best I can give. And, when I have completed the worship, I thank God for helping me complete my vow of worship. Ultimately, my devotion has grown as a result of keeping my sankalpa. Regarding the question of whether loving God is worship and sadhana, I think there are many parts of my life where I can demonstrate and practice my love of God: worship, seva-SELFLESS SERVICE, my job, my family interactions, etc. Maa and Swami say that work is worship if one gives all of one's self to the task and one seeks to help this universe become a better place. Swami reminds us constantly that a sadhu is one who gives more than they take and leaves this world a better place. Let's see how Swami guides us. Jai Ma Jai Swami vishweshwar , "sharanam_lalitambike" <prats74 wrote: > > Namaste Vishveshwar, > From personal experience, I have a question. If we perform sadhana > mechanically (while our minds are wandering) does it still help to > keep doing the sadhana regularly? > > Can we hope that one day (in spite of the disinterested sadhana) we > will gain the faith and devotion that makes the sadhana more > fulfilling to our hearts? > > Jai Maa, > Prathibha > > , Ray Happy <amritanandamoyi@> wrote: > > > > Dear Vishweshwar, > > > > For someone who does not know what devotion is, or for someone who > may be new to all this (spirituality, discipline etc... ) does sadhana > give devotion as well ? > > > > I read once (I think in this group) that to love god is to do > sadhana... is that right ? > > > > Jai Maa, > > Prasana. > > > > > > > > inspectionconnection108 <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > Namaste all family: recently our family has been very > quiet. How is > > everyone? What topics would you like to cover? What questions do you > > have for Maa or Swami? > > How are you feeling regarding the turmoil in the world? How is your > > sadhana? > > I have been pondering what it means to be a disciple of a Divine > > Master. Today I had a chance to talk to Maa. She indicated that it > > is so important to perform sadhana. Sadhana purifies one and allows > > one to become more subtle. As one becomes more subtle, the Guru is > > able to align with the disciple, and help them grow closer. > > The Guru will do anything required to help the disciple work through > > their karmas. And, they can take some of that karma from the > > disciple, and lessen their burden. Even if it effects the Guru's > > physical body. > > I cannot fathom the love and commitment the Guru has for their > > disciple, but I am certainly thankful for it. > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > > > vishweshwar > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Dear Vishveshwar, Thank you for your response. I am learning more each day - doing the beginner's Shiva puja has been a boon. Jai bom bhole nath! Jai Maa, Prathibha , " inspectionconnection108 " <inspectionconnection108 wrote: > > Namaste Brother and sister: > Those are really powerful questions. I have forwarded them to Swami. > I have heard Swami say that if one makes a sankalpa to perform > worship, and keeps that commitment no matter what, that one receives > great merit. > He also said that if one continues to perform the sadhana of one's > sankalpa, in spite of it being difficult or uncomfortable, boring, > etc, that one will receive greatest benefit. > He said it is important to demonstrate one's devotion and commitment > to God, and that completing one's sankalpa is very important. > I find that there are times when I feel so tired and cranky that I do > not want to perform my sankalpa. But, because I have made the > sankalpa, I perform the worship. I do not care how I feel during the > worship, I pray to God to accept whatever I can offer, and to help me > to worship with as much focus as possible, as that it is the best I > can give. And, when I have completed the worship, I thank God for > helping me complete my vow of worship. > Ultimately, my devotion has grown as a result of keeping my sankalpa. > > Regarding the question of whether loving God is worship and sadhana, I > think there are many parts of my life where I can demonstrate and > practice my love of God: worship, seva-SELFLESS SERVICE, my job, my > family interactions, etc. Maa and Swami say that work is worship if > one gives all of one's self to the task and one seeks to help this > universe become a better place. Swami reminds us constantly that a > sadhu is one who gives more than they take and leaves this world a > better place. > Let's see how Swami guides us. > > Jai Ma Jai Swami > > vishweshwar > > > , " sharanam_lalitambike " > <prats74@> wrote: > > > > Namaste Vishveshwar, > > From personal experience, I have a question. If we perform sadhana > > mechanically (while our minds are wandering) does it still help to > > keep doing the sadhana regularly? > > > > Can we hope that one day (in spite of the disinterested sadhana) we > > will gain the faith and devotion that makes the sadhana more > > fulfilling to our hearts? > > > > Jai Maa, > > Prathibha > > > > , Ray Happy <amritanandamoyi@> wrote: > > > > > > Dear Vishweshwar, > > > > > > For someone who does not know what devotion is, or for someone who > > may be new to all this (spirituality, discipline etc... ) does sadhana > > give devotion as well ? > > > > > > I read once (I think in this group) that to love god is to do > > sadhana... is that right ? > > > > > > Jai Maa, > > > Prasana. > > > > > > > > > > > > inspectionconnection108 <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > > Namaste all family: recently our family has been very > > quiet. How is > > > everyone? What topics would you like to cover? What questions do you > > > have for Maa or Swami? > > > How are you feeling regarding the turmoil in the world? How is your > > > sadhana? > > > I have been pondering what it means to be a disciple of a Divine > > > Master. Today I had a chance to talk to Maa. She indicated that it > > > is so important to perform sadhana. Sadhana purifies one and allows > > > one to become more subtle. As one becomes more subtle, the Guru is > > > able to align with the disciple, and help them grow closer. > > > The Guru will do anything required to help the disciple work through > > > their karmas. And, they can take some of that karma from the > > > disciple, and lessen their burden. Even if it effects the Guru's > > > physical body. > > > I cannot fathom the love and commitment the Guru has for their > > > disciple, but I am certainly thankful for it. > > > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > > > > > vishweshwar > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.